high-speed operation, and maycompletely shut down without warning,potentially losing engine power, powersteering assist, and power brake assist,which may increase the possibility of acrash resulting in serious injury.
WARNING: Do not remove thecoolant reservoir cap when the engine ison or the cooling system is hot. Wait 10minutes for the cooling system to cooldown. Cover the coolant reservoir capwith a thick cloth to prevent thepossibility of scalding and slowly removethe cap. Failure to follow this instructioncould result in personal injury.
Your vehicle has limited engine powerwhen in the fail-safe mode, drive yourvehicle with caution. Your vehicle does notmaintain high-speed operation and theengine may operate 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 recommendthat you contact your roadsideassistance service provider.
3.If this is not possible, wait for a shortperiod of time for 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,you can re-start the engine. Have yourvehicle checked as soon as possible tominimize engine damage.
Note:Driving your vehicle without repairincreases the chance of engine damage.
Engine Coolant TemperatureManagement (If Equipped)
WARNING: To reduce the risk ofcrash and injury, be prepared that thevehicle speed may reduce and thevehicle may not be able to acceleratewith full power until the coolanttemperature reduces.
If you tow a trailer with your vehicle, theengine may temporarily reach a highertemperature during severe operatingconditions, for example ascending a longor steep grade in high ambienttemperatures.
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 vehiclespeed caused by reduced engine power inorder to manage the engine coolanttemperature. Your vehicle may enter thismode if certain high-temperature andhigh-load conditions take place. Theamount of speed reduction depends onvehicle loading, grade and ambienttemperature. If this occurs, there is noneed to stop your vehicle. You cancontinue to drive.
The air conditioning may automaticallyturn on and off during severe operatingconditions to protect the engine fromoverheating. When the coolanttemperature decreases to the normaloperating temperature, the air conditioningturns on.
If the coolant temperature gauge movesfully into the red zone, or if the coolanttemperature warning or service enginesoon messages appear in your informationdisplay, do the following:
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Rotating your tires at therecommended interval will helpyour tires wear more evenly,providing better tire performanceand longer tire life. Sometimesirregular tire wear can becorrected by rotating the tires. SeeScheduled Maintenance (page476).
Tire Rotation Diagram
Rear-wheel drive and Four-wheeldrive vehicles, front tires at left ofdiagram.
USING SUMMER TIRES
Summer tires provide superiorperformance on wet and dry roads.Summer tires do not have the Mud andSnow (M+S or M/S) tire traction rating onthe tire side wall. Since summer tires donot have the same traction performanceas All-season or Snow tires, we do notrecommend using summer tires whentemperatures drop to about 45°F (7°C) orbelow (depending on tire wear andenvironmental conditions) or in snow and
ice conditions. Like any tire, summer tireperformance is affected by tire wear andenvironmental conditions. If you must drivein those conditions, we recommend usingMud and Snow (M+S, M/S), All-season orSnow tires.
Always store your summer tires indoors attemperatures above 19°F (-7°C). Therubber compounds used in these tires loseflexibility and may develop surface cracksin the tread area at temperatures below19°F (-7°C). If the tires have beensubjected to 19°F (-7°C) or less, warmthem in a heated space to at least 41°F(5°C) for at least 24 hours before installingthem on a vehicle, or moving the vehiclewith the tires installed, or checking tireinflation. Do not place tires near heatersor heating devices used to warm the roomwhere the tires are stored. Do not applyheat or blow heated air directly on the tires.Always inspect the tires after storageperiods and before use.
USING WINTER TIRES
Inflate the winter tires to the same tirepressures as those listed in the tirepressures table.
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Your vehicle can be driven in such a waythat dilutes and increases the level of oilby short trips that do not allow the engineto get to operating temperature, extendedidling, and low speed driving for longperiods of time.
When the oil change message appears inthe instrument cluster display, it is time foran oil change. Make sure you perform theoil change within two weeks or 500 mi(800 km) of the message appearing. Makesure you reset the Intelligent Oil-LifeMonitor after each oil change. See OilChange Indicator Reset (page 320).
If your instrument cluster display resetsprematurely or becomes inoperative, youshould perform the oil change interval atsix months or 5,000 mi (8,000 km) fromyour last oil change. Never exceed one yearor 10,000 mi (16,000 km) between oilchange intervals,
Your vehicle is very sophisticated and builtwith multiple, complex performancesystems. Every manufacturer developsthese systems using differentspecifications and performance features.That is why it is important to rely upon yourdealership to properly diagnose and repairyour vehicle.
We have recommended maintenanceintervals for various parts and componentsystems based upon engineering testing.We rely upon this testing to determine themost appropriate mileage for replacementof oils and fluids to protect your vehicle atthe lowest overall cost to you andrecommends against maintenanceschedules that deviate from the scheduledmaintenance information.
We strongly recommend the use of onlyour genuine manufactured or ourauthorized re-manufactured replacementparts engineered for your vehicle.
Additives and Chemicals
This owner's manual and our WorkshopManual list the recommended additivesand chemicals for your vehicle. We do notrecommend using chemicals or additivesnot approved by us as part of your vehicle’snormal maintenance. Please consult yourwarranty information.
Oils, Fluids and Flushing
In many cases, fluid discoloration is anormal operating characteristic and, byitself, does not necessarily indicate aconcern or that the fluid needs to bechanged. However, a qualified expert, suchas the factory-trained technicians at yourdealership, should inspect discolored fluidsthat also show signs of overheating orforeign material contaminationimmediately.
Make sure to change your vehicle’s oils andfluids at the specified intervals or inconjunction with a repair. Flushing is aviable way to change fluid for many vehiclesub-systems during scheduledmaintenance. It is critical that systems areflushed only with new fluid that is the sameas that required to fill and operate thesystem or using our approved flushingchemical.
Owner Checks and Services
Make sure you perform the following basicmaintenance checks and inspections everymonth or at six-month intervals.
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Exterior Mirrors - ST......................................96
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Fastening the Seatbelts..............................39Flat TireSee: Changing a Road Wheel........................370Floor Mats......................................................289Fog Lamps - FrontSee: Front Fog Lamps........................................88Ford Credit.........................................................12Ford Protect...................................................474Four-Wheel Drive........................................203Principle of Operation......................................203Front Fog Lamps............................................88Front Parking Aid..........................................227Front Passenger Sensing System............48Front Wiper BladesSee: Changing the Front Wiper Blades......336Fuel and Refueling........................................181Fuel Consumption.........................................191Fuel Filler Funnel Location........................183Fuel Filter........................................................336Fuel Quality - E85.........................................181Fuel Quality - Gasoline...............................183Fuel Shutoff...................................................292Fuses................................................................305Fuse Specification Chart..........................305
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Garage Door Opener...................................160Garage Door Opener Limitations...........160Garage Door Opener Precautions.........160Garage Door Opener RadioFrequencies.................................................163Gauges - Vehicles With: 12.3 InchInstrument Cluster DisplayScreen............................................................102Gauges - Vehicles With: 4.2 InchInstrument Cluster DisplayScreen...........................................................104Gauges - Vehicles With: 6.5 InchInstrument Cluster DisplayScreen.............................................................101GearboxSee: Transmission...............................................197
General Information on RadioFrequencies...................................................57General Maintenance Information........476Getting Assistance Outside the U.S. andCanada..........................................................301Getting the Services You Need..............298Global Opening...............................................95
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Hazard Flashers............................................292Headlamp AdjustingSee: Adjusting the Headlamps.....................335Headlamp Exit Delay....................................87HeadrestSee: Head Restraints.........................................144Head Restraints............................................144Heated Exterior Mirrors...............................142Heated Rear Window..................................142Heated Seats.................................................156Heated Steering Wheel................................82Heated Windshield.......................................141HeatingSee: Climate Control..........................................137High Voltage Battery...................................196General Information - Hybrid ElectricVehicle (HEV).................................................196Hill Descent Control....................................224Hill Descent Control Indicator.................224Hill Start Assist..............................................213Hints on Controlling the InteriorClimate..........................................................139Hints on Driving With Anti-LockBrakes..............................................................211Hood LockSee: Opening and Closing the Hood...........315Horn.....................................................................82How Does 911 Assist Work..........................55How Does Adaptive Cruise Control WithStop and Go Work.....................................241How Does Drive Mode ControlWork...............................................................273How Does the Garage Door OpenerWork...............................................................160How Does the Rear Occupant AlertSystem Work...............................................158
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