2019 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT suspension

PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
WARNING: Vehicle modifications
involving braking system, aftermarket roof
racks, suspension, steering system, tire
construction and wheel and tire size may
change the handling characteristics of your
vehicle and may adversely affect the
performance of the electronic stability
control system. In addition, installing any
stereo loudspeakers may interfere with
and adversely affect the electronic stability
control system. Install any aftermarket
stereo loudspeaker as far as possible from
the front center console, the tunnel, and
the front seats in order to minimize the risk
of interfering with the electronic stability
control sensors. Reducing the
effectiveness of the electronic stability
control system could lead to an increased
risk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle
rollover, personal injury and death. WARNING:
Remember that even
advanced technology cannot defy the laws
of physics. It’ s always possible to lose
control of a vehicle due to inappropriate
driver input for the conditions. Aggressive
driving on any road condition can cause
you to lose control of your vehicle
increasing the risk of personal injury or
property damage. Activation of the
electronic stability control system is an
indication that at least some of the tires
have exceeded their ability to grip the road;
this could reduce the operator ’s ability to
control the vehicle potentially resulting in
a loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover,
personal injury and death. If your electronic
stability control system activates, SLOW
DOWN.
The system automatically turns on each
time you switch the ignition on. If a fault occurs in either the stability
control or the traction control system, you
may experience the following conditions:
•
The stability and traction control light
illuminates steadily.
• The stability control and traction
control systems do not enhance your
vehicle's ability to maintain traction of
the wheels.
If a driving condition activates either the
stability control or the traction control
system you may experience the following
conditions:
• The stability and traction control light
flashes.
• Your vehicle slows down.
• Reduced engine power.
• A vibration in the brake pedal.
• The brake pedal is stiffer than usual.
• If the driving condition is severe and
your foot is not on the brake, the brake
pedal may move as the system applies
higher brake force.
The stability control system has several
features built into it to help you maintain
control of your vehicle:
Electronic Stability Control
The system enhances your vehicle ’s ability
to prevent skids or lateral slides by
applying brakes to one or more of the
wheels individually and, if necessary,
reducing engine power.
Roll Stability Control
The system enhances your vehicle ’s ability
to prevent rollovers by detecting your
vehicle ’s roll motion and the rate at which
it changes by applying the brakes to one
or more wheels individually.
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2019 Transit Connect (CHC) Canada/United States of America, CG3739en enUSA, Edition date: 201804, First-Printing Stability Control

DRIVER ALERT
WARNING: The system is designed
to aid the driver. It is not intended to
replace your attention and judgment. You
are still responsible to drive with due care
and attention. WARNING:
At all times, you are
responsible for controlling your vehicle,
supervising the system and intervening, if
required. Failure to take care may result in
the loss of control of your vehicle, serious
personal injury or death. WARNING:
The system may not
operate properly if the sensor is blocked.
Keep the windshield free from obstruction. WARNING:
Take regular rest breaks
if you feel tired. Do not wait for the system
to warn you. WARNING:
Certain driving styles
may result in the system warning you even
if you are not feeling tired. WARNING:
In cold and severe
weather conditions the system may not
function. Rain, snow and spray can all limit
sensor performance. WARNING:
The system will not
operate if the sensor cannot track the road
lane markings. WARNING:
If damage occurs in the
immediate area surrounding the sensor,
have your vehicle checked as soon as
possible. WARNING:
The system may not
correctly operate if your vehicle is fitted
with a suspension kit not approved by us.
The system is designed to alert you if it
calculates that you are becoming drowsy
or if your driving deteriorates.
The system calculates your alertness level
based upon your driving behavior in relation
to the lane markings and other factors
when the vehicle speed is greater than
approximately
40 mph (65 km/h).
Driver Alert System Warnings
The warning system has two stages:
1. A temporary warning is issued to advise
you to take a rest. This message only
appears for a short time.
2. If you do not rest and the system continues to detect that your driving
deteriorates, it issues a further warning.
This remains in the information display
until you cancel it.
Note: The system does not warn you if the
vehicle speed falls below approximately
40 mph (65 km/h)
.
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2019 Transit Connect (CHC) Canada/United States of America, CG3739en enUSA, Edition date: 201804, First-Printing Driving Aids

Resetting Driver Alert
You can reset the system by:
•
Switching the ignition off and on when
your vehicle is stationary.
• Opening and closing the driver door
when your vehicle is stationary.
Driver Alert System Messages Action
Message
Displays when we recommend that you take a break due to
low alertness levels.
Driver Alert Warning Rest
Suggested
Displays when you must take a break due to low alertness
levels.
Driver Alert Warning Rest
Now
LANE KEEPING SYSTEM WARNING: The system is designed
to aid the driver. It is not intended to
replace your attention and judgment. You
are still responsible to drive with due care
and attention. WARNING:
At all times, you are
responsible for controlling your vehicle,
supervising the system and intervening, if
required. Failure to take care may result in
the loss of control of your vehicle, serious
personal injury or death. WARNING:
The system may not
function if the sensor is blocked. WARNING:
The sensor may
incorrectly track lane markings as other
structures or objects. This can result in a
false or missed warning. WARNING:
In cold and severe
weather conditions the system may not
function. Rain, snow and spray can all limit
sensor performance. WARNING:
Large contrasts in
outside lighting can limit sensor
performance. WARNING:
The system will not
operate if the sensor cannot track the road
lane markings. WARNING:
If damage occurs in the
immediate area surrounding the sensor,
have your vehicle checked as soon as
possible. WARNING:
The system may not
correctly operate if your vehicle is fitted
with a suspension kit not approved by us.
The system is designed to alert you by
providing a temporary steering torque input
or steering wheel vibration when it detects
an unintended lane departure. The system
detects and tracks the road lane markings
using a camera mounted behind the
interior mirror. The system only operates
when the vehicle speed is greater than
approximately
40 mph (65 km/h). You
can view the system status in the
instrument cluster.
Note: The system works when the camera
can detect at least one lane marking.
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2019 Transit Connect (CHC) Canada/United States of America, CG3739en enUSA, Edition date: 201804, First-Printing Driving Aids

STEERING
Electric Power Steering
WARNING: The electric power
steering system has diagnostic checks that
continuously monitor the system. If a fault
is detected, a message displays in the
information display. Stop your vehicle as
soon as it is safe to do so. Switch the
ignition off. After at least 10 seconds,
switch the ignition on and watch the
information display for a steering system
warning message. If a steering system
warning message returns, have the system
checked by an authorized dealer. WARNING: If the system detects an
error, you may not feel a difference in the
steering, however a serious condition may
exist. Obtain immediate service from an
authorized dealer, failure to do so may
result in loss of steering control.
Your vehicle has an electric power steering
system. There is no fluid reservoir. No
maintenance is required.
If your vehicle loses electrical power while
you are driving, electric power steering
assistance is lost. The steering system still
operates and you can steer your vehicle
manually. Manually steering your vehicle
requires more effort.
Extreme continuous steering may increase
the effort required for you to steer your
vehicle. This increased effort prevents
overheating and permanent damage to
the steering system. You do not lose the
ability to steer your vehicle manually.
Typical steering and driving maneuvers
allow the system to cool and return to
normal operation. Steering Tips
If the steering wanders or pulls, check for:
•
Correct tire pressures.
• Uneven tire wear.
• Loose or worn suspension
components.
• Loose or worn steering components.
• Improper vehicle alignment.
Note: A high crown in the road or high
crosswinds may also make the steering
seem to wander or pull.
Adaptive Learning
The electronic power steering system
adaptive learning helps correct road
irregularities and improves overall handling
and steering feel. It communicates with
the brake system to help operate
advanced stability control and accident
avoidance systems. Additionally, whenever
the battery is disconnected or a new
battery installed, you must drive your
vehicle a short distance before the system
relearns the strategy and reactivates all
systems.
PRE-COLLISION ASSIST WARNING:
You are responsible for
controlling your vehicle at all times. The
system is designed to be an aid and does
not relieve you of your responsibility to
drive with due care and attention. Failure
to follow this instruction could result in the
loss of control of your vehicle, personal
injury or death. WARNING:
The system does not
operate during hard acceleration or
steering. Failure to take care may lead to
a crash or personal injury.
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2019 Transit Connect (CHC) Canada/United States of America, CG3739en enUSA, Edition date: 201804, First-Printing Driving Aids

TOWING A TRAILER
WARNING: Towing trailers
beyond the maximum
recommended gross trailer weight
exceeds the limit of your vehicle
and could result in engine
damage, transmission damage,
structural damage, loss of vehicle
control, vehicle rollover and
personal injury. WARNING:
Do not exceed
the GVWR or the GAWR specified
on the certification label.
Note: See
Recommended
Towing Weights (page 231).
Your vehicle may have electrical
items, such as fuses or relays,
related to towing. See
Fuses
(page 254).
Your vehicle's load capacity
designation is by weight, not by
volume, so you cannot necessarily
use all available space when
loading a vehicle or trailer.
Towing a trailer places an extra
load on your vehicle's engine,
transmission, axle, brakes, tires
and suspension. Inspect these
components periodically during,
and after, any towing operation. Load Placement
To help minimize how trailer
movement affects your vehicle
when driving:
•
Load the heaviest items closest
to the trailer floor.
• Load the heaviest items
centered between the left and
right side trailer tires.
• Load the heaviest items above
the trailer axles or just slightly
forward toward the trailer
tongue. Do not allow the final
trailer tongue weight to go
above or below 10-15% of the
loaded trailer weight.
• Select a ball mount with the
correct rise or drop and load
capacity. When both the
loaded vehicle and trailer are
connected, the trailer frame
should be level, or slightly
angled down toward your
vehicle, when viewed from the
side.
When driving with a trailer or
payload, a slight takeoff vibration
or shudder may be present due to
the increased payload weight.
Additional information regarding
proper trailer loading and setting
your vehicle up for towing is
located in another chapter of this
manual. See
Load Limit (page
225).
You can also find information in
the
RV & Trailer Towing Guide
available at your authorized
dealer, or online.
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describes the fundamental
characteristics of the tire and also
provides a U.S. DOT Tire
Identification Number for safety
standard certification and in case
of a recall.
This begins with the letters DOT
and indicates that the tire meets
all federal standards. The next
two numbers or letters are the
plant code designating where it
was manufactured, the next two
are the tire size code and the last
four numbers represent the week
and year the tire was built. For
example, the numbers 317 mean
the 31st week of 1997. After 2000
the numbers go to four digits. For
example, 2501 means the 25th
week of 2001. The numbers in
between are identification codes
used for traceability. This
information is used to contact
customers if a tire defect requires
a recall.
Tire Replacement
Requirements
Your vehicle is equipped with tires
designed to provide a safe ride
and handling capability.
WARNING: Only use
replacement tires and wheels that
are the same size, load index,
speed rating and type (such as
P-metric versus LT-metric or
all-season versus all-terrain) as
those originally provided by Ford.
The recommended tire and wheel size may be found on either the
Safety Compliance Certification
Label (affixed to either the door
hinge pillar, door-latch post, or the
door edge that meets the
door-latch post, next to the
driver's seating position), or the
Tire Label which is located on the
B-Pillar or edge of the driver
’s
door. If this information is not
found on these labels, then you
should contact your authorized
dealer as soon as possible. Use of
any tire or wheel not
recommended by Ford can affect
the safety and performance of
your vehicle, which could result in
an increased risk of loss of vehicle
control, vehicle rollover, personal
injury and death. Additionally the
use of non-recommended tires
and wheels could cause steering,
suspension, axle, transfer case or
power transfer unit failure. If you
have questions regarding tire
replacement, contact your
authorized dealer as soon as
possible. WARNING:
When mounting
replacement tires and wheels, you
should not exceed the maximum
pressure indicated on the sidewall
of the tire to set the beads without
additional precautions listed
below. If the beads do not seat at
the maximum pressure indicated,
re-lubricate and try again.
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2019 Transit Connect (CHC) Canada/United States of America, CG3739en enUSA, Edition date: 201804, First-Printing Wheels and Tires

Highway Hazards
No matter how carefully you drive
there is always the possibility that
you may eventually have a flat tire
on the highway. Drive slowly to the
closest safe area out of traffic.
This may further damage the flat
tire, but your safety is more
important.
If you feel a sudden vibration or
ride disturbance while driving, or
you suspect your tire or vehicle
has been damaged, immediately
reduce your speed. Drive with
caution until you can safely pull
off the road. Stop and inspect the
tires for damage. If a tire is
under-inflated or damaged,
deflate it, remove wheel and
replace it with your spare tire and
wheel. If you cannot detect a
cause, have the vehicle towed to
the nearest repair facility or tire
dealer to have the vehicle
inspected.
Tire and Wheel Alignment
A bad jolt from hitting a curb or
pothole can cause the front end
of your vehicle to become
misaligned or cause damage to
your tires. If your vehicle seems to
pull to one side when you are
driving, the wheels may be out of
alignment. Have an authorized
dealer check the wheel alignment
periodically.
Wheel misalignment in the front
or the rear can cause uneven and
rapid treadwear of your tires and
should be corrected by an
authorized dealer. Front-wheel
drive vehicles and those with an
independent rear suspension (if
equipped) may require alignment
of all four wheels.
The tires should also be balanced
periodically. An unbalanced tire
and wheel assembly may result in
irregular tire wear.
Tire Rotation
WARNING: If the tire label
shows different tire pressures for
the front and rear tires and the
vehicle is equipped with a tire
pressure monitoring system, then
the settings for the system
sensors need to be updated.
Always perform the system reset
procedure after tire rotation. If the
system is not reset, it may not
provide a low tire pressure
warning when necessary. See Tire
Pressure Monitoring System
(page
316).
Note: If your tires show uneven
wear ask an authorized dealer to
check for and correct any wheel
misalignment, tire imbalance or
mechanical problem involved
before tire rotation.
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2019 Transit Connect (CHC) Canada/United States of America, CG3739en enUSA, Edition date: 201804, First-Printing Wheels and Tires

Multi-Point Inspection
Hazard warning system operation
Accessory drive belt(s)
Horn operation
Battery performance
Radiator, cooler, heater and air conditioninghoses
Engine air filter
Suspension components for leaks ordamage
Exhaust system
Steering and linkage
Exterior lamps operation
Tires (including spare) for wear and properpressure2
Fluid levels 1
; fill if necessary
Windshield for cracks, chips or pits
For oil and fluid leaks
Washer spray and wiper operation
Half-shaft dust boots
1 Brake, coolant recovery reservoir, automatic transmission and window washer
2 If your vehicle is equipped with a temporary mobility kit, check the tire sealant expiration
Use By date on the canister. Replace as needed.
Be sure to ask your dealership service
advisor or technician about the multi-point
vehicle inspection. It is a comprehensive
way to perform a thorough inspection of
your vehicle. Your checklist gives you
immediate feedback on the overall
condition of your vehicle.
NORMAL SCHEDULED
MAINTENANCE
Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor™
Your vehicle is equipped with an Intelligent
Oil-Life Monitor that determines when you
should change the engine oil based on how
your vehicle is used. By using several
important factors in its calculations, the
monitor helps reduce the cost of owning
your vehicle and reduces environmental
waste at the same time. This means you do not have to remember
to change the oil on a mileage-based
schedule. Your vehicle lets you know when
an oil change is due by displaying a
message in the information display.
The following table provides examples of
vehicle use and its impact on oil change
intervals. It is a guideline only. Actual oil
change intervals depend on several factors
and generally decrease with severity of
use.
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2019 Transit Connect (CHC) Canada/United States of America, CG3739en enUSA, Edition date: 201804, First-Printing Scheduled Maintenance