2023 LINCOLN AVIATOR steering wheel

SITTING IN THE CORRECT
POSITION
WARNING: Sitting improperly, out of
position or with the seatback reclined too
far can take weight off the seat cushion
and affect the decision of the passenger
sensing system, resulting in serious injury
or death in the event of a crash. Always sit
upright against your seat back, with your
feet on the floor.
WARNING: Do not recline the seat
backrest too far as this can cause the
occupant to slide under the seatbelt,
resulting in personal injury in the event of
a crash.
WARNING: Do not place objects
higher than the top of the seat backrest.
Failure to follow this instruction could result
in personal injury or death in the event of
a sudden stop or crash.
E68595
When you use them properly, the seat, head
restraint, seatbelt and airbags will provide
optimum protection in the event of a crash.
We recommend that you follow these
guidelines:
• Sit in an upright position with the base of
your spine as far back as possible.
• Do not recline the seat backrest so that
your torso is more than 30 degrees from
the upright position.• Adjust the head restraint so that the top
of it is level with the top of your head and
as far forward as possible. Make sure that
you remain comfortable.
• Keep sufficient distance between
yourself and the steering wheel. We
recommend a minimum of 10 in (25 cm)
between your breastbone and the airbag
cover.
• Hold the steering wheel with your arms
slightly bent.
• Bend your legs slightly so that you can
press the pedals fully.
• Position the shoulder strap of the seatbelt
over the center of your shoulder and
position the lap strap tightly across your
hips.
Make sure that your driving position is
comfortable and that you can maintain full
control of your vehicle.
176
Seats

AUTO-START-STOP - EXCLUDING:
PLUG-IN HYBRID ELECTRIC
VEHICLE (PHEV)
The system helps reduce fuel consumption
by automatically stopping and restarting the
engine when your vehicle has stopped. The
engine restarts automatically when you
release the brake pedal.
In some situations, your vehicle may restart
automatically, for example:
• To maintain interior comfort.
• To recharge the battery.
Note:Power assist steering turns off when
the engine is off.
Note:If your vehicle is flex fuel capable,
Auto-Start-Stop will be inhibited for a short
time after a refuel event while the system is
verifying the fuel type being used.
WARNING: Apply the parking brake,
shift into park (P), switch the ignition off
and remove the key before you leave your
vehicle. Failure to follow this instruction
could result in personal injury or death.
WARNING: Apply the parking brake,
shift into park (P), switch the ignition off
and remove the key before you open the
hood or have any service or repair work
completed. If you do not switch the ignition
off, the engine could restart at any time.
Failure to follow this instruction could result
in personal injury or death.
WARNING: The system may require
the engine to automatically restart when
the auto-start-stop indicator illuminates
green or flashes amber. Failure to follow
this instruction could result in personal
injury.
The Auto-Start-Stop system status is
available at a glance within the information
display. See Information Displays (page
136).
Enabling Auto-Start-Stop
The system automatically enables every time
you start your vehicle if:
• Your vehicle exceeds an initial speed of
3 mph (5 km/h) after you have initially
started your vehicle.
• You have stopped your vehicle.
• Your foot is on the brake pedal.
• The driver door is closed.
• The interior compartment has cooled or
warmed to an acceptable level.
• The front windshield defroster is off.
• You have not turned the steering wheel
rapidly or you do not have it at a sharp
angle.
• The vehicle is not on a steep road grade.
• The battery is within optimal operating
conditions (battery state of charge and
temperature in range).
• The engine coolant is near operating
temperature.
• Elevation is below about 12,000 ft
(3,650 m).
• Ambient temperature is moderate.
215
Unique Driving Characteristics

USING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE
WARNING: Vehicles with a higher
center of gravity (utility and four-wheel
drive vehicles) handle differently than
vehicles with a lower center of gravity
(passenger cars). Avoid sharp turns,
excessive speed and abrupt steering in
these vehicles. Failure to drive cautiously
increases the risk of losing control of your
vehicle, vehicle rollover, personal injury
and death.
WARNING: Do not become
overconfident in the ability of all-wheel
drive vehicles. Although an all-wheel drive
vehicle may accelerate better than a
two-wheel drive vehicle in low traction
situations, it won't stop any faster than
two-wheel drive vehicles. Always drive at
a safe speed.The intelligent AWD system continuously
monitors vehicle conditions and adjusts the
power distribution between the front and
rear wheels. It combines transparent
all-surface operation with highly capable
all-wheel drive.
The AWD system is always active and
requires no driver input. It is capable of
handling all road conditions including street
and highway driving as well as off-road and
winter driving. You can optimize more AWD
control by selecting different drive modes.
See Selecting a Drive Mode (page 343).
Note:A warning message displays in the
information display when an AWD system
fault is present. See Information Messages
(page 142). A AWD system fault causes the
AWD system to default to rear-wheel drive
only mode. When this warning message
displays, have your vehicle serviced.Note:A warning message displays in the
information display if the AWD system
overheats. See Information Messages
(page 142). This condition could occur if you
operate your vehicle in extreme conditions
with excessive wheel slip, such as deep
sand. To resume normal AWD function as
soon as possible, stop the vehicle in a safe
location and stop the engine for at least 10
minutes. After you restart the engine and the
AWD system adequately cools, the warning
message turns off and normal AWD function
returns.Operating All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
Vehicles With Spare Tires
Do not use a different size spare tire other
than the tire provided. If the mini-spare tire
is installed, the AWD system will disable and
enter rear-wheel drive only mode to protect
driveline components. Some limited AWD
traction could be provided if the mini-spare
is installed on one of the front wheels. If you
are in driving conditions where limited AWD
traction is needed while the mini-spare is
installed, it is recommended the mini-spare
be installed on the front axle.
264
All-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)

If the mini-spare is installed, this condition is
indicated by a warning in the information
display.
The slip response system could activate if
the mini spare is installed on the front
wheels. If the mini spare was installed on the
rear wheels the slip response system will
fully disable. In situations where there is a
wintery mix or an off road situation, and you
need to use a mini spare, you must install
the mini spare in the front tire position and
move a full size tire to the rear tire position
for the slip response system to function.
Operating ALL-Wheel Drive (AWD)
Vehicles with Mismatched Tires
WARNING: Only use replacement
tires and wheels that are the same size,
load index, speed rating, and type as those
originally provided for your vehicle. The
recommended tire and wheel sizes can be
found on the Tire Label on the driver side
door frame or the edge of the driver door.
If this information is not found in those
locations, or for additional options, contact
your authorized dealer. Use of any tire or
wheel not recommended, could 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.
Major dissimilar tire sizes between the front
and rear axles (for example, 17 inch low
profile tires on the front axle and 22 inch high
profile tires on the rear axle) could cause the
AWD system to stop functioning and default
to rear-wheel drive or damage the AWD
system.
For optimum AWD Performance, it is
recommended to follow the tire rotation
maintenance schedule. To avoid potential
AWD malfunction or AWD system damage,
it is recommended to replace all four tires
rather than mixing significantly worn tires
with new tires. For example, using 3 worn
tread tires and 1 new tread tire all of the same
original tire size/brand, can be tolerated by
the AWD system as long as the worn tires
still have usable tread depth.How Your Vehicle Differs from Other
Vehicles
Truck and utility vehicles can differ from
some other vehicles. Your vehicle could be
higher to allow it to travel over rough terrain
without getting hung up or damaging
underbody components.
The differences that make your vehicle so
versatile also make it handle differently than
an ordinary passenger car.
Maintain steering wheel control at all times,
especially in rough terrain. Since sudden
changes in terrain can result in abrupt
steering wheel motion, make sure you grip
the steering wheel from the outside. Do not
grip the spokes.
Drive cautiously to avoid vehicle damage
from concealed objects such as rocks and
stumps.
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All-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)

You should either know the terrain or
examine maps of the area before driving.
Map out your route before driving in the area.
To maintain steering and braking control of
your vehicle, you must have all four wheels
on the ground and they must be rolling, not
sliding or spinning.
Driving in Special Conditions With All-
Wheel Drive (AWD)
Note:Use of the AWD system in slippery,
deep snow and sand drive modes on dry
surfaces could produce some vibration and
driveline bind up and, or excessive tire wear,
as the intent of these drive modes are for
slippery and loose surfaces.
Note:You can use AWD vehicles for driving
on sand, snow, mud and rough roads and
have operating characteristics that are
somewhat different from conventional
vehicles, both on and off the highway.Basic Operating Principles in Special
Conditions
• Drive slower in strong crosswinds which
can affect the normal steering
characteristics of your vehicle.
• Be extremely careful when driving on
pavement made slippery by loose sand,
water, gravel, snow or ice.If Your Vehicle Goes Off the Edge of the
Pavement
• If your vehicle goes off the edge of the
pavement, slow down, but avoid severe
brake application, ease the vehicle back
onto the pavement only after reducing
your speed. Do not turn the steering
wheel too sharply while returning to the
road surface.
• It could be safer to stay on the apron or
shoulder of the road and slow down
gradually before returning to the
pavement. You could lose control if you
do not slow down or if you turn the
steering wheel too sharply or abruptly.
• It often could be less risky to strike small
objects, such as highway reflectors, with
minor damage to your vehicle rather than
attempt a sudden return to the pavement
which could cause the vehicle to slide
sideways out of control or rollover.
Remember, your safety and the safety of
others should be your primary concern.
266
All-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)

If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck
WARNING: Apply the parking brake,
shift into park (P), switch the ignition off
and remove the key before you leave your
vehicle. Failure to follow this instruction
could result in personal injury or death.
WARNING: If the parking brake is
fully released, but the brake warning lamp
remains illuminated, the brakes may not
be working properly. Have your vehicle
checked as soon as possible.
WARNING: Do not spin the wheels
at over 34 mph (55 km/h). The tires may
fail and injure a passenger or bystander.
If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow it
could be rocked out by shifting between
forward and reverse gears, stopping
between shifts, in a steady pattern. Press
lightly on the accelerator in each gear.
It could be beneficial to disengage Traction
Control while attempting to rock the vehicle.Note:Do not rock the vehicle if the engine
is not at normal operating temperature or
damage to the transmission could occur.
Note:Do not rock the vehicle for more than
a few minutes or damage to the transmission
and tires could occur or the engine could
overheat.
Emergency Maneuvers
• In an unavoidable emergency situation
where a sudden sharp turn must be
made, remember to avoid "over-driving"
your vehicle (i.e., turn the steering wheel
only as rapidly and as far as required to
avoid the emergency). Excessive steering
can result in less vehicle control, not
more. Additionally, smooth variations of
the accelerator and/or brake pedal
pressure should be utilized if changes in
vehicle speed are called for. Avoid abruptsteering, acceleration or braking which
could result in an increased risk of loss
of vehicle control, vehicle rollover and/or
personal injury. Use all available road
surface to return the vehicle to a safe
direction of travel.
• In the event of an emergency stop, avoid
skidding the tires and do not attempt any
sharp steering wheel movements.
• If the vehicle goes from one type of
surface to another (i.e., from concrete to
gravel) there is a change in the way the
vehicle responds to a maneuver
(steering, acceleration or braking). Again,
avoid these abrupt inputs.
Sand
When driving over sand, try to keep all four
wheels on the most solid area of the trail.
Avoid reducing the tire pressures but shift
to a lower gear and drive steadily through
the terrain. Apply the accelerator slowly and
avoid spinning the wheels.
267
All-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)

When climbing a steep slope or hill, start in
a lower gear rather than downshifting to a
lower gear from a higher gear once the
ascent has started. This reduces strain on
the engine and the possibility of stalling.
If you do stall out, do not try to turn around
because you might roll over. It is better to
back down to a safe location.
Apply just enough power to the wheels to
climb the hill. Too much power can cause
the tires to slip, spin or lose traction, resulting
in loss of vehicle control.Descend a hill in the same gear you would
use to climb up the hill to avoid excessive
brake application and brake overheating. Do
not descend in neutral; instead, disengage
overdrive or manually shift to a lower gear.
When descending a steep hill, avoid sudden
hard braking as you could lose control. The
front wheels have to be turning in order to
steer the vehicle.
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, therefore
apply the brakes steadily. Do not “pump” the
brakes.
Driving on Snow and Ice
WARNING: If you are driving in
slippery conditions that require tire chains
or cables, then it is critical that you drive
cautiously. Keep speeds down, allow for
longer stopping distances and avoid
aggressive steering to reduce the chances
of a loss of vehicle control which can lead
to serious injury or death. If the rear end
of your vehicle slides while cornering, steer
in the direction of the slide until you regain
control of your vehicle.Note:Excessive tire slippage can cause
driveline damage.
AWD vehicles have advantages over 2WD
vehicles in snow and ice but can skid like
any other vehicle.
Should you start to slide while driving on
snowy or icy roads, turn the steering wheel
in the direction of the slide until you regain
control.
Avoid sudden applications of power and
quick changes of direction on snow and ice.
Apply the accelerator slowly and steadily
when starting from a full stop.
Avoid sudden braking as well. Although an
AWD vehicle could accelerate better than a
two-wheel drive vehicle in snow and ice, it
will not stop any faster, because as in other
vehicles, braking occurs at all four wheels.
Do not become overconfident as to road
conditions.
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All-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)

Make sure you allow sufficient distance
between you and other vehicles for stopping.
Drive slower than usual and consider using
one of the lower gears. In emergency
stopping situations, apply the brake steadily.
Since your vehicle is equipped with a four
wheel (ABS), do not “pump” the brakes. See
Hints on Driving With Anti-Lock Brakes
(page 272).
Maintenance and Modifications
The suspension and steering systems on
your vehicle have been designed and tested
to provide predictable performance whether
loaded or empty and durable load carrying
capability. For this reason, we strongly
recommend that you do not make
modifications such as adding or removing
parts (such as lowering kits or stabilizer bars)
or by using replacement parts not equivalent
to the original factory equipment.Any modifications to a vehicle that raise the
center of gravity can make it more likely the
vehicle will rollover as a result of a loss of
control. We strongly recommend that caution
be used with any vehicle equipped with a
high load or device (such as ladder or
luggage racks).
Failure to maintain your vehicle properly
could void the warranty, increase your repair
cost, reduce vehicle performance and
operational capabilities and adversely affect
driver and passenger safety. Frequent
inspection of vehicle chassis components is
recommended if the vehicle is subjected to
off-highway usage.
270
All-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)