steering LINCOLN AVIATOR 2023 Owner's Guide

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.
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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.
269
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)

GENERAL INFORMATION
Note: Occasional brake noise is normal. If
a metal-to-metal, continuous grinding or
continuous squeal sound is present, the
brake linings may be worn. Have your
vehicle checked. If your vehicle has
continuous vibration or shudder in the
steering wheel when braking, have your
vehicle checked.
Note: Brake dust may accumulate on the
wheels, even under normal driving
conditions. Some dust is inevitable as the
brakes wear and does not contribute to
brake noise. Wet brakes result in reduced
braking efficiency. Gently press the brake
pedal a few times when driving from a car
wash or standing water to dry the brakes.
See Cleaning the Wheels (page 427).
Brake Over Accelerator
In the event the accelerator pedal becomes
stuck or entrapped, apply steady and firm
pressure to the brake pedal to slow the
vehicle and reduce engine power. If you
experience this condition, apply the brakes
and bring your vehicle to a safe stop. Move
the transmission to park (P), switch the
engine off and apply the parking brake.
Inspect the accelerator pedal for any
interference. If none are found and the
condition persists, have your vehicle
checked. If your vehicle has to be towed,
we recommend that you contact a
professional towing service.
Emergency Brake Assist
Emergency brake assist detects when you
brake heavily by measuring the rate at which
you press the brake pedal. It provides
maximum braking efficiency as long as you
press the pedal. Emergency brake assist
can reduce stopping distances in critical
situations.Note:Depending on applicable laws and
regulations in the country for which your
vehicle was originally built, your brake lamps
may flash during heavy braking. Following
this, your hazard lights may also flash when
your vehicle comes to a stop.
Anti-lock Brake System
This system helps you maintain steering
control during emergency stops by keeping
the brakes from locking.
This lamp illuminates momentarily
when you switch the ignition on to
confirm the lamp is functional.
If the warning lamp does not illuminate
during start up, remains on or flashes, the
system may be disabled. Have the system
checked. If the anti-lock brake system is
disabled, normal braking is still operational.
See Warning Lamps and Indicators (page
131).
Note:Indicators vary depending on region.
271
Brakes

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This lamp illuminates momentarily
when you switch the ignition on to
confirm the lamp is functional. If it
does not illuminate when you
switch the ignition on, or if it begins
to flash at any time except the time
during applying or releasing the parking
brake, have the system checked.
HINTS ON DRIVING WITH ANTI-
LOCK BRAKES
The anti-lock brake system does not
eliminate the risks when:
• You drive too closely to the vehicle in
front of you.
• Your vehicle is hydroplaning.
• You take corners too fast.
• The road surface is poor.
Note: If the system activates, the brake
pedal could pulse and may travel further.
Maintain pressure on the brake pedal. You
may also hear a noise from the system. This
is normal.
ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE
WARNING: Apply the parking brake
and shift into park (P) before leaving your
vehicle.
WARNING: If you drive extended
distances with the parking brake applied,
you could cause damage to the brake
system.
WARNING: The electric parking
brake does not operate if the vehicle
battery has run out of charge.
Your vehicle has an electric parking brake.
You operate it with a switch instead of a
lever. The switch is on the center console or
to the left-hand side of the steering wheel,
on the lower part of the instrument panel.
Note:The electric parking brake makes
noises during operation. This is normal.
Applying the Electric Parking Brake
E267156Pull the switch up.
E270480
The red warning lamp flashes
during operation and illuminates
when the parking brake is applied.
Note:It remains illuminated for a short
period of time after you switch the ignition
off.
If it continues to flash or does not illuminate,
the system has malfunctioned. Have your
vehicle checked as soon as possible.
Note:You can apply the electric parking
brake when the ignition is off.
Note:If you shift your vehicle into park (P)
on a slope and the transmission cannot
securely hold the vehicle, the electric parking
brake automatically applies. See
Transmission (page 259).
272
Brakes

WARNING: Do not use the system
with accessories that extend beyond the
front or rear of your vehicle, for example a
trailer hitch or bike rack. The system is not
able to make corrections for the additional
length of the accessories.
The system only applies the brakes for a
short period of time when an event occurs.
Act as soon as you notice the brakes apply
to remain in control of the vehicle. If you do
not intervene the vehicle may start to move
again.
Note:Certain add-on devices around the
bumper or fascia may create false alerts. For
example, large trailer hitches, bicycle or
surfboard racks, license plate brackets,
bumper covers or any other device that may
block the normal detection zone of the
system. Remove the add-on device to
prevent false alerts.
Note:The system does not react to small or
moving objects, particularly those close to
the ground.Note:The system does not operate during
hard acceleration or steering.
Note:If your vehicle sustains damage to the
bumper or fascia leaving it misaligned or
bent, it could alter the sensing zone causing
inaccurate measurement of obstacles or
false alerts.
Note:Vehicle loading and suspension
changes can impact the angle of the sensors
and may change the normal detection zone
of the system resulting in inaccurate
measurement of obstacles or false alerts.
Note:When you connect a trailer, the system
may detect the trailer and provide an alert,
or the system turns off. If the system does
not turn off, manually switch the system off
after you connect the trailer.
Note:You may experience reduced system
performance on road surfaces that limit
deceleration. For example, roads with ice,
loose gravel, mud or sand.
SWITCHING REVERSE BRAKING
ASSIST ON AND OFF
You can switch the system on or off through
the touchscreen. See Settings (page 555).
Note:The system is unavailable when rear
parking aid or cross traffic alert is off.
OVERRIDING REVERSE BRAKING
ASSIST
There could be instances when unexpected
or unwanted braking occurs. Firmly pressing
the accelerator pedal or switching the feature
off overrides the system.
REVERSE BRAKING ASSIST
INDICATORS
If the system determines that a collision with
an obstacle may occur, full braking may
apply.
E293490
A message and warning indicator
appear when the system applies
the brakes.
278
Reverse Braking Assist (If Equipped)

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 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 systems applies higher
brake forces.
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.
282
Stability Control

5. Press and hold the brake pedal.
6. Release the steering wheel and shift into
neutral (N).
7. Press and hold the active park assist
button.
8. Release the brake pedal to allow the
vehicle to park.
Note:When parallel parking between
objects, the system parks closer to the object
in front of your vehicle to allow easier access
to your trunk.
Note:When perpendicular parking, the
system aligns the front end of your vehicle
with the lane side of the object next to it.
Note:When perpendicular parking, if the
system detects only one object, it allows
enough distance to open the door on either
side.
Note:You can slow down your vehicle at
any time by pressing the brake pedal.Note:When parking is complete the vehicle
shifts into park (P).
Leaving a Parking Space
The system assists leaving only parallel
parking spaces.
1. Press the parking aid button.
2. Use the direction indicator lever to
choose the direction to leave.
3. Press and hold the brake pedal.
4. Release the steering wheel and shift into
neutral (N).
5. Release the parking brake.
6. Press and hold the active park assist
button.
7. Release the brake pedal to allow the
vehicle to move.
Note: You can slow down your vehicle at
any time by pressing the brake pedal.Note:After the system drives your vehicle
to a position where you can exit the parking
space in a forward movement, a message
appears instructing you to take full control
of your vehicle.
Canceling Active Park Assist
To cancel parking assistance at any time,
shift out of neutral (N).
Note:If you turn the steering wheel or open
the driver door, the parking assistance also
cancels.
Pausing Active Park Assist
To pause parking assistance at any time,
release the parking aid button.
The vehicle stops moving until you press and
hold the parking aid button again.
Note:If you open the passenger or rear
doors, the parking assistance also pauses.
294
Parking Aids

Fixed guideline: Yellow zone D
Fixed guideline: Red zone E
Rear bumper F
Active guidelines are only shown with fixed
guidelines. To use active guidelines, turn
the steering wheel to point the guidelines
toward an intended path. If you change the
steering wheel position while reversing, your
vehicle might deviate from the original
intended path.
The fixed and active guidelines fade in and
out depending on the steering wheel
position. The active guidelines do not display
when the steering wheel position is straight.
Always use caution while reversing. Objects
in the red zone are closest to your vehicle
and objects in the green zone are farther
away. Objects are getting closer to your
vehicle as they move from the green zone
to the yellow or red zones. Use the side view
mirrors and rear view mirror to get better
coverage on both sides and rear of the
vehicle.Object Distance Indicator (If Equipped)
E190459
The system provides an image of your
vehicle and the sensor zones. The zones
highlight green, yellow and red when the
parking aid sensors detect an object in the
coverage area.
Rear Camera On Demand (If Equipped)
Press the camera button while in park (P),
neutral (N) or drive (D) and under a speed of
6 mph (10 km/h) to bring up the rear camera
view in the display screen. The guidelines
appear as white and you are able to use the
manual zoom feature by pressing the zoom
button on the display screen.
Manual Zoom
WARNING: When manual zoom is
on, the full area behind your vehicle may
not show. Be aware of your surroundings
when using the manual zoom feature.
Note:Manual zoom is only available when
the transmission is in reverse (R).
Note:When you enable manual zoom, only
the centerline is shown.
Selectable settings for this feature are Zoom
in (+) and Zoom out (-). Press the symbol in
the camera screen to change the view. The
default setting is Zoom OFF.
299
Parking Aids

WHAT IS CRUISE CONTROL
Cruise control lets you maintain a set speed
without keeping your foot on the accelerator
pedal.
Requirements
Use cruise control when the vehicle speed
is greater than 20 mph (30 km/h).
SWITCHING CRUISE CONTROL ON
AND OFF
WARNING: Do not use cruise control
on winding roads, in heavy traffic or when
the road surface is slippery. This could
result in loss of vehicle control, serious
injury or death.
The cruise controls are on the steering
wheel.
Switching Cruise Control On
E71340
Press the button to put the system
in standby mode.
Switching Cruise Control Off
E71340
Press the button when in standby
mode or switch the ignition off.
Note:When you switch cruise control off the
set speed clears.
SETTING THE CRUISE CONTROL
SPEED
WARNING: When you are going
downhill, your vehicle speed could
increase above the set speed. The system
does not apply the brakes.
Drive to the speed you prefer.
Press either button to set the
current speed.
Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
Note:The indicator changes color in the
information display.
Changing the Set Speed
Press and release the button to
increase the set speed in small
increments.
Press and hold the button to accelerate.
Release the button when you reach your
preferred speed.
Press and release the button to
decrease the set speed in small
increments.
Press and hold the button to decelerate.
Release the button when you reach your
preferred speed.
303
Cruise Control