Note:The system turns on each time youswitch the ignition on and you shift intoreverse (R). If you temporarily switch thesystem off, it turns on the next time youswitch the ignition on.
Note:The system may not correctly operatewhen towing a trailer. For vehicles with atrailer tow module and tow bar approved byus, the system turns off when you attach atrailer. For vehicles with an aftermarkettrailer tow module or tow bar, werecommend that you switch the system offwhen you attach a trailer.
To permanently switch the system off,contact an authorized dealer.
STEERING
Electric Power Steering
WARNING: The electric power steeringsystem has diagnostic checks thatcontinuously monitor the system. If a fault isdetected, a message displays in theinformation display. Stop your vehicle assoon as it is safe to do so. Switch the ignitionoff. After at least 10 seconds, switch theignition on and watch the information displayfor a steering system warning message. If asteering system warning message returns,have the system checked by an authorizeddealer.
WARNING: If the system detects anerror, you may not feel a difference in thesteering, however a serious condition mayexist. Obtain immediate service from anauthorized dealer, failure to do so may resultin loss of steering control.
Your vehicle has an electric power steeringsystem. There is no fluid reservoir. Nomaintenance is required.
If your vehicle loses electrical power whileyou are driving, electric power steeringassistance is lost. The steering system stilloperates and you can steer your vehiclemanually. Manually steering your vehiclerequires more effort.
Extreme continuous steering may increasethe effort required for you to steer yourvehicle. This increased effort preventsoverheating and permanent damage to thesteering system. You do not lose the abilityto steer your vehicle manually. Typicalsteering and driving maneuvers allow thesystem to cool and return to normaloperation.
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.
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Driving Aids
LOAD LIMIT
Vehicle Loading - with and without aTrailer
This section guides you in the properloading of your vehicle, trailer, or both.Keep your loaded vehicle weight withinits design rating capability, with orwithout a trailer. Properly loading yourvehicle provides maximum return ofvehicle design performance. Before youload your vehicle, become familiar withthe following terms for determining yourvehicle’s weight rating, with or withouta trailer, from the vehicle’s Tire andLoading Information label or SafetyCompliance Certification label.
Tire and Loading Label InformationExample:
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Payload
Payload is the combined weight of cargoand passengers that your vehicle iscarrying. The maximum payload for yourvehicle appears on the Tire and Loadinglabel. The label is either on the B-pillaror the edge of the driver door. Vehiclesexported outside the US and Canadamay not have a tire and loading label.Look for “The combined weight ofoccupants and cargo should neverexceed XXX kg OR XXX lb” formaximum payload. The payload listedon the Tire and Loading Informationlabel is the maximum payload for yourvehicle as built by the assembly plant. If
you install any additional equipment onyour vehicle, you must determine thenew payload. Subtract the weight of theequipment from the payload listed onthe Tire and Loading label. When towing,trailer tongue weight or king pin weightis also part of payload.
WARNING: The appropriateloading capacity of your vehicle can belimited either by volume capacity (howmuch space is available) or by payloadcapacity (how much weight the vehicleshould carry). Once you have reached
the maximum payload of your vehicle,do not add more cargo, even if there isspace available. Overloading orimproperly loading your vehicle cancontribute to loss of vehicle control andvehicle rollover.
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Load CarryingE143816PAYLOAD
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)
GAWR is the maximum allowable weightthat a single axle (front or rear) can carry.These numbers are on the SafetyCompliance Certification label. The labelis located on the door hinge pillar,door-latch post, or the door edge thatmeets the door-latch post, next to thedriver seating position.
The total load on each axle must neverexceed its Gross Axle Weight Rating.
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)
GVWR is the maximum allowable weightof the fully loaded vehicle. This includesall options, equipment, passengers andcargo. It appears on the Safety
Compliance Certification label. The labelis located on the door hinge pillar,door-latch post, or the door edge thatmeets the door-latch post, next to thedriver seating position.
The gross vehicle weight must neverexceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.
Safety Compliance Certification LabelExample:
WARNING: Exceeding the SafetyCompliance Certification label vehicleweight rating limits could result insubstandard vehicle handling orperformance, engine, transmissionand/or structural damage, seriousdamage to the vehicle, loss of controland personal injury.
Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight
Maximum loaded trailer weight is thehighest possible weight of a fully loadedtrailer the vehicle can tow. Consult anauthorized dealer (or the RV and TrailerTowing Guide available at an authorizeddealer) for more detailed information.
GCWR (Gross Combined WeightRating)
GCWR is the maximum allowable weightof the vehicle and the loaded trailer,including all cargo and passengers, thatthe vehicle can handle without riskingdamage. (Important: The towingvehicle’s braking system is rated foroperation at Gross Vehicle WeightRating, not at Gross Combined Weight
Rating.) Separate functional brakesshould be used for safe control of towedvehicles and for trailers where the GrossCombined Weight of the towing vehicleplus the trailer exceed the Gross VehicleWeight Rating of the towing vehicle.
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The gross combined weight must neverexceed the Gross Combined WeightRating.
Note: For trailer towing informationrefer to the RV and Trailer Towing Guideavailable at an authorized dealer.
WARNING: Do not exceed theGVWR or the GAWR specified on theSafety Compliance Certification label.
WARNING: Do not usereplacement tires with lower loadcarrying capacities than the original tiresbecause they may lower your vehicle’sGVWR and GAWR limitations.Replacement tires with a higher limitthan the original tires do not increase
the GVWR and GAWR limitations.
WARNING: Exceeding any vehicleweight rating limitation could result inserious damage to your vehicle,personal injury or both.
Steps for determining the correct loadlimit:
1.Locate the statement "The combinedweight of occupants and cargoshould never exceed XXX kg or XXXlb." on your vehicle’s placard.
2.Determine the combined weight ofthe driver and passengers that willbe riding in your vehicle.
3.Subtract the combined weight of thedriver and passengers from XXX kgor XXX lb.
4. The resulting figure equals theavailable amount of cargo andluggage load capacity. For example,if the “XXX” amount equals 1,400 lb.and there will be five 150 lb.
passengers in your vehicle, theamount of available cargo andluggage load capacity is 650 lb.(1400-750 (5 x 150) = 650 lb.)
5.Determine the combined weight ofluggage and cargo being loaded onthe vehicle. That weight may notsafely exceed the available cargoand luggage load capacity calculatedin Step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing a trailer,load from your trailer will betransferred to your vehicle. Consultthis manual to determine how thisreduces the available cargo andluggage load capacity of yourvehicle.
Helpful examples for calculating theavailable amount of cargo andluggage load capacity
Suppose your vehicle has a 1400-pound
(635-kilogram) cargo and luggagecapacity. You decide to go golfing. Isthere enough load capacity to carry you,four of your friends and all the golf bags?You and four friends average 220pounds (99 kilograms) each and the golfbags weigh approximately 30 pounds(13.5 kilograms) each. The calculationwould be: 1400 - (5 x 220) - (5 x 30) =
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Load Carrying
TOWING A TRAILER
WARNING: Never tow a trailer withan MKZ Hybrid. This powertrain is notdesigned to tow.
TOWING THE VEHICLE ON FOUR
WHEELS
Emergency Towing
In the event your vehicle becomes disabled(without access to wheel dollies, car-haulingtrailer, or flatbed transport vehicle), it can beflat-towed (all wheels on the ground,regardless of the powertrain/transmissionconfiguration) under the following conditions:
•The vehicle is facing forward so that it istowed in a forward direction.
•Place the transmission in position N. Ifyou cannot move the transmission intoN, you must override it and enable stayin neutral mode. Failing to do so mayresult in damage to the transmission. SeeTransmission (page 191).
•Maximum speed is 35 mph (56 km/h).
•Maximum distance is 50 mi (80 km).
Recreational Towing
Note: Put your climate control system inrecirculated air mode to prevent exhaustfumes from entering your vehicle. SeeClimate Control (page 141).
Follow these guidelines if you have a needfor recreational (RV) towing. An example ofrecreational towing would be towing yourvehicle behind a motorhome. Theseguidelines are designed to ensure that yourtransmission is not damaged.
Your vehicle can be towed with all fourwheels on the ground using the Stay inNeutral mode feature, or with all four wheelsoff the ground using a vehicle transporttrailer. If you are using a vehicle transporttrailer, follow the instruction specified by theequipment provider.
If you tow your vehicle with all four wheelson the ground:
•Tow only in the forward direction.
•Release the parking brake.
•Place the vehicle in Stay in Neutral mode.See Automatic Transmission (page 191).
•Do not exceed 65 mph (105 km/h).
Note:If the parking brake is applied, amessage appears in the information display.
Note:Start the engine and allow it to run fora few minutes at the beginning of each day,and every six hours or fewer. With the enginerunning and your foot on the brake, shift intodrive (D) and then into reverse (R) beforeshifting back into neutral (N). BEFORECONTINUING TO TOW, YOU MUSTRE-ENABLE STAY IN NEUTRAL MODE.
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Towing
ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE
Vehicles Sold in the United States:Getting Roadside Assistance
To fully assist you should you have a vehicleconcern, Lincoln Motor Company offers acomplimentary roadside assistance program. This program is separate from the NewVehicle Limited Warranty.
The service is available:
•Throughout the life of the vehicle fororiginal owners.
•For six years from the warranty start dateor 70,000 mi (110,000 km), whichevercomes first, for subsequent owners.
Roadside Assistance covers:
•A flat tire change with a good spare(except vehicles supplied with a tireinflation kit, which may need a tow to thenearest Lincoln dealer).
•Battery jump start.
•Lock-out assistance (key replacementcost is the client's responsibility).
•Fuel delivery — independent servicecontractors, if not prohibited by state,local or municipal law shall deliver up to2 gal (8 L) of gasoline or 5 gal (20 L) ofdiesel fuel to a disabled vehicle.Roadside Assistance limits fuel deliveryservice to two no-charge occurrenceswithin a 12-month period.
•Winch out — available within 100 ft (30 m)of a paved or county maintained road,no recoveries.
•Towing — independent servicecontractors, if not prohibited by state,local or municipal law shall tow Lincolneligible vehicles to the client's selling orpreferred dealer within 100 mi (160 km)of the disablement location or to thenearest Lincoln dealer. If a client requestsa tow to a selling or preferred dealer thatis more than 100 mi (160 km) from thedisablement location, the client isresponsible for any mileage costs inexcess of 100 mi (160 km).
•Roadside Assistance includes up to $200for a towed trailer if the disabled eligiblevehicle requires service at the nearestauthorized dealer.
Vehicles Sold in the United States:Using Roadside Assistance
United States clients who require roadsideassistance, call 1-800-521-4140.
If you need to arrange roadside assistancefor yourself, Lincoln Motor Companyreimburses a reasonable amount for towingto the nearest Lincoln dealership within100 mi (160 km). To obtain reimbursementinformation, United States clients, call1-800-521-4140. Clients need to submit theiroriginal receipts.
Vehicles Sold in Canada: GettingRoadside Assistance
To fully assist you should you have a vehicleconcern, Lincoln Motor Company offers acomplimentary roadside assistance program. This program is eligible within Canada or thecontinental United States.
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Roadside Emergencies
Your vehicle has limited engine power whenin the fail-safe mode, drive your vehicle withcaution. Your vehicle does not maintainhigh-speed operation and the engine mayoperate poorly.
Remember that the engine is capable ofautomatically shutting down to preventengine damage. In this situation:
1. Pull off the road as soon as safelypossible and switch the engine off.
2. If you are a member of a roadsideassistance program, we recommend thatyou contact your roadside assistanceservice provider.
3.If this is not possible, wait a short periodfor the engine to cool.
4. Check the coolant level. If the coolantlevel is at or below the minimum mark,add prediluted coolant immediately.
5.When the engine temperature cools, youcan re-start the engine. Have your vehiclechecked as soon as possible to minimizeengine damage.
Note:Driving your vehicle without repairincreases the chance of engine damage.
Engine Coolant TemperatureManagement (If Equipped)
WARNING: To reduce the risk of crashand injury, be prepared that the vehiclespeed may reduce and the vehicle may notbe able to accelerate with full power until thecoolant temperature reduces.
If you tow a trailer with your vehicle, theengine may temporarily reach a highertemperature during severe operatingconditions, for example ascending a long orsteep grade in high ambient temperatures.
At this time, you may notice the coolanttemperature gauge moves toward the redzone and a message may appear in theinformation display.
You may notice a reduction in vehicle speedcaused by reduced engine power in orderto manage the engine coolant temperature. Your vehicle may enter this mode if certainhigh-temperature and high-load conditionstake place. The amount of speed reductiondepends on vehicle loading, grade andambient temperature. If this occurs, there isno need to pull off the road. You cancontinue to drive your vehicle.
The air conditioning may automatically turnon and off during severe operatingconditions to protect the engine fromoverheating. When the coolant temperaturedecreases to the normal operatingtemperature, the air conditioning turns on.
If the coolant temperature gauge moves fullyinto the red zone, or if the coolanttemperature warning or service engine soonmessages appear in your information display,do the following:
1. Pull off the road as soon as safelypossible and shift the transmission intopark (P).
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Maintenance