brakes LINCOLN MKT 2012 User Guide

3. Attach the trailer to the vehicle without the weight distributing bars
connected.
4. Measure the height of the top of the front wheel opening on the
fender a second time, this is H2.
5. Install and adjust the tension in the weight distributing bars so that
the height of the front fender is approximately halfway between H1 and
H2.
6. Check that the trailer is level. If not level, adjust the ball height
accordingly and repeat Steps 3–6.
WARNING:Do not adjust a weight-distributing hitch to any
position where the rear bumper of the vehicle is higher than it
was before attaching the trailer. Doing so will defeat the function of
the weight-distributing hitch, which may cause unpredictable handling,
and could result in serious personal injury.
Safety chains
Always connect the trailer’s safety chains to the frame or hook retainers
of the vehicle hitch. To connect the trailer’s safety chains, cross the
chains under the trailer tongue and allow slack for turning corners.
If you use a rental trailer, follow the instructions that the rental agency
gives to you.
Do not attach safety chains to the bumper.
Trailer brakes
Electric brakes and manual, automatic or surge-type trailer brakes are
safe if installed properly and adjusted to the manufacturer’s
specifications. The trailer brakes must meet local and Federal
regulations.
WARNING:Do not connect a trailer’s hydraulic brake system
directly to your vehicle’s brake system. Your vehicle may not
have enough braking power and your chances of having a collision
greatly increase.
The braking system of the tow vehicle is rated for operation at the
GVWR not GCWR.
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Driving while you tow
When towing a trailer:
•Turn off the speed control. The speed control may shut off
automatically when you are towing on long, steep grades.
•It is recommended to select the “M” gear position when additional
engine braking is needed. In situations such as prolonged downhill
driving on steep grades (i.e., driving in mountainous areas), additional
engine braking is needed to reduce the load on the vehicle’s regular
brake system to prevent them from overheating. For more information
on transmission operation and gear positions, seeAutomatic
transmission operationin theDrivingchapter.
•Allow more distance for stopping with a trailer attached; anticipate
stops and brake gradually.
Trailer towing tips
•Practice turning, stopping and backing-up before starting on a trip to
get the feel of the vehicle-trailer combination. When turning, make
wider turns so the trailer wheels will clear curbs and other obstacles.
•To aid in engine/transmission cooling and A/C efficiency during hot
weather while stopped in traffic, place the gearshift lever in P (Park).
•After you have traveled 50 miles (80 km), thoroughly check your
hitch, electrical connections and trailer wheel lug nuts.
•If you are driving down a long or steep hill, shift to a lower gear. Do
not apply the brakes continuously, as they may overheat and become
less effective.
•Vehicles with trailers should not be parked on a grade. If you must
park on a grade, place wheel chocks under the trailer’s wheels.
RECREATIONAL TOWING
Follow these guidelines for your specific powertrain combination to tow
your vehicle for personal travel (such as behind a motor home or a
truck).
Note:Put your climate control system in recirculated air mode to
prevent exhaust fumes from entering the vehicle. Refer to theClimate
Controlschapter for more information.
In case of a roadside emergency with a disabled vehicle, please refer to
Wrecker towingin theRoadside Emergencieschapter.
These guidelines are designed to prevent damage to your vehicle after it
is hooked-up to the RV or tow dolly.
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STARTING
Ignition modes
1. Off — This position shuts the engine and all electrical accessories off.
Press and release the START/STOP button without applying the brake
pedal when your vehicle is in accessory or on modes or when the engine
is running and there is no vehicle speed.
Note:In order to switch off the engine while the vehicle is in motion,
press and hold the START/STOP button for at least one second or press
the START/STOP button three times within two seconds. Then, shift to
neutral and use the brakes to bring the vehicle to a safe stop. After the
vehicle has stopped, turn the engine off and shift into park.
2. Accessory — This allows electrical accessories such as the radio to
operate while the engine is not running. Press and release the
START/STOP button without applying the brake pedal. ACCESSORY
POWER ACTIVE and PRESS BRAKE TO START will be displayed in the
message center. Refer toMessage centerin theInstrument Cluster
chapter for more information.
3. On — This will power your vehicle’s electrical system and the warning
lights in the instrument cluster will illuminate, but the engine will remain
off. Press and hold the START/STOP button for at least one second
without applying the brake pedal.
4. Start — Cranks the engine. Press the START/STOP button (for any
length of time) while applying the brake pedal.
Starting your vehicle
This system meets all Canadian interference-causing equipment standard
requirements regulating the impulse electrical field strength of radio
noise.
Don’t press the accelerator before or during starting. Only use the
accelerator when you have difficulty starting the engine. For more
information on starting the vehicle, refer toStarting the enginein this
chapter.
To avoid potential transmission damage at extremely cold temperatures
(below -20°F [-30°C]), it is recommended that the vehicle be warmed up
to normal operating temperature before driving at highway speeds above
50 mph (80 km/h). Normal operating temperature is normally reached
after 10 minutes of moderate driving or idling.
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•Be sure that areas where the vehicle is parked are clean and clear of
all combustibles such as petroleum products, dust, rags, paper and
similar items.
•Be sure that the engine block heater, heater cord and extension cord
are solidly connected. A poor connection can cause the cord to
become very hot and may result in an electrical shock or fire. Be sure
to check for heat anywhere in the electrical hookup once the system
has been operating for approximately a half hour.
•Finally, have the engine block heater system checked during your fall
tune-up to be sure it’s in good working order.
How to use the engine block heater
Ensure the receptacle terminals are clean and dry prior to use. To clean
them, use a dry cloth.
Depending on the type of factory installed equipment, your engine block
heater will use .4 to 1.0 kilowatt-hours of energy per hour of use. Your
factory installed block heater system does not have a thermostat;
however, maximum temperature is attained after approximately three
hours of operation. Block heater operation longer than three hours will
not improve system performance and will unnecessarily use additional
electricity.
Make sure system is unplugged and properly stowed before driving the
vehicle. While not in use, make sure the protective cover seals the
prongs of the engine block heater cord plug.
BRAKES
Occasional brake noise is normal. If a metal-to-metal, continuous grinding
or continuous squeal sound is present, the brake linings may be worn-out
and should be inspected by an authorized dealer. If the vehicle has
continuous vibration or shudder in the steering wheel while braking, the
vehicle should be inspected by an authorized dealer.
Refer toWarning lights and
chimesin theInstrument Cluster
chapter for information on the brake
system warning light.
Four-wheel anti-lock brake system (ABS)
Your vehicle is equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS). This
system helps you maintain steering control during emergency stops by
keeping the brakes from locking. Noise from the ABS pump motor and
P!
BRAKE
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brake pedal pulsation may be observed during ABS braking and the
brake pedal may suddenly travel a little farther as soon as ABS braking is
done and normal brake operation resumes. These are normal
characteristics of the ABS and should be no reason for concern.
Using ABS
When hard braking is required, apply continuous force on the brake
pedal. Do not pump the brake pedal since this will reduce the
effectiveness of the ABS and will increase your vehicle’s stopping
distance. The ABS will be activated immediately, allowing you to retain
steering control during hard braking and on slippery surfaces. However,
the ABS does not decrease stopping distance.
Brake assist
The brake assist system provides full braking force during panic braking
situations. It detects a rapid application of the brake pedal and uses the
ABS system to achieve maximum braking pressure. Once a panic brake
application is detected, the system will remain activated as long as the
brake pedal is pressed or ABS is engaged. The system is deactivated by
either releasing the brake pedal or coming to a complete stop. When the
system activates, noise from the ABS pump motor and brake pedal
pulsation may be observed; this is normal.
ABS warning lamp
The ABS lamp in the instrument
cluster momentarily illuminates
when the ignition is turned on. If
the light does not illuminate during
start up, remains on or flashes, the
ABS is disabled due to a malfunction and needs to be serviced.
Even when the ABS is disabled,
normal braking is still effective. If
your BRAKE warning lamp
illuminates with the parking brake
released, have your brake system
serviced immediately.
Brake over accelerator
This vehicle is equipped with a brake over accelerator feature. In the
event the accelerator pedal becomes stuck or entrapped, applying steady
and firm pressure to the brake pedal will both slow the vehicle and
reduce engine power. If you experience this condition, apply the brakes
ABS
P!
BRAKE
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and bring your vehicle to a safe stop. Turn the engine off, shift to P
(Park) and apply the parking brake, and then inspect the accelerator
pedal for any interferences. If none are found and the condition persists,
have your vehicle towed to the nearest authorized dealer.
Parking brake
Apply the parking brake whenever
the vehicle is parked. To set the
parking brake, press the parking
brake pedal down until the pedal
stops.
The BRAKE warning lamp in the
instrument cluster illuminates and
remains illuminated (when the
ignition is turned on) until the
parking brake is released.
WARNING:Always set the parking brake fully and make sure
that the gearshift is securely latched in P (Park).
The parking brake is not recommended to stop a moving vehicle.
However, if the normal brakes fail, the parking brake can be used to stop
your vehicle in an emergency. Since the parking brake applies only the
rear brakes, the vehicle’s stopping distance will increase greatly and the
handling of your vehicle will be adversely affected.
Press the parking brake pedal
downward again to release the
parking brake. Driving with the
parking brake on will cause the
brakes to wear out quickly and
reduce fuel economy.
Note:If the vehicle is driven with
the parking brake applied, a chime
will sound.
P!
BRAKE
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Traction control system (TCS)
Traction control is a driver aid feature that helps your vehicle maintain
traction of the wheels, typically when driving on slippery and/or hilly
road surfaces, by detecting and controlling wheel spin.
Excessive wheel spin is controlled in two ways, which may work
separately or in tandem: engine traction control and brake traction
control. Engine traction control works to limit drive-wheel spin by
momentarily reducing engine power. Brake traction control works to limit
wheel spin by momentarily applying the brakes to the wheel that is
slipping. Traction control is most active at low speeds.
During TCS events, the stability control light in the instrument cluster
will flash.
If the TCS is activated excessively in a short period of time, the braking
portion of the system may become temporarily disabled to allow the
brakes to cool down. In this situation, TCS will use only engine power
reduction or transfer to help control the wheels from over-spinning.
When the brakes have cooled down, the system will regain all features.
Anti-lock braking, RSC, and ESC will continue to function during the
cool-down period.
The engine traction control and brake traction control system may be
deactivated in certain situations. See theSwitching off traction control
section following.
Electronic stability control (ESC)
Electronic stability control (ESC) may enhance your vehicle’s directional
stability during adverse maneuvers, for example when cornering severely
or avoiding objects in the roadway. ESC operates by applying brakes to
one or more of the wheels individually and, if necessary, reducing engine
power if the system detects that the vehicle is about to skid or slide
laterally.
During ESC events, the stability control light in the instrument cluster
will flash.
Certain adverse driving maneuvers may activate the ESC system, which
include but are not limited to:
•Taking a turn too fast
•Maneuvering quickly to avoid an accident, pedestrian or obstacle
•Driving over a patch of ice or other slippery surfaces
•Changing lanes on a snow-rutted road
•Entering a snow-free road from a snow-covered side street, or vice
versa
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•Entering a paved road from a gravel road, or vice versa
•Cornering while towing a heavily loaded trailer (refer toTrailer
towingin theTires, Wheels and Loadingchapter).
Roll Stability Control™ (RSC)
Roll Stability Control™ (RSC) may help to maintain roll stability of the
vehicle during adverse maneuvers. RSCoperates by detecting the
vehicle’s roll motion and the rate at which it changes and by applying the
brakes to one or more wheels individually.
During an event that activates the RSCsystem, the stability control
light in the instrument cluster will flash.
Certain adverse driving maneuvers may activate the RSCsystem, which
include:
•Emergency lane-change
•Taking a turn too fast
•Quick maneuvering to avoid an accident, pedestrian or obstacle
Switching off traction control
If the vehicle is stuck in snow, mud or sand, and seems to lose engine
power, switching off the traction control feature of the AdvanceTrac
with RSCsystem may be beneficial because the wheels are allowed to
spin. This will restore full engine power and will enhance momentum
through the obstacle.
To turn off traction control, press
the AdvanceTracbutton. The
button could look like either of the
two graphics shown. Full features of
the TCS can be restored by pressing
the traction control button again or
by turning off and restarting the
engine.
If you switch off the traction
control, the stability control off light
will illuminate steadily. Pressing the
traction control button again will
turn off the stability control light.
In R (Reverse), ABS and the engine traction control and brake traction
control features will continue to function; however, ESC and RSCare
disabled.
OFF
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If the steering wanders or pulls equipped with either EPS or hydraulic
steering system, check for:
•an improperly inflated tire
•uneven tire wear
•loose or worn suspension components
•loose or worn steering components
•improper vehicle alignment
A high crown in the road or high crosswinds may also make the steering
seem to wander/pull.
WARNING:Obtain immediate service if a system error is
detected. You may not notice any difference in the feel of your
steering, but a serious condition may exist. Failure to do so may result
in loss of steering control.
BRAKE-SHIFT INTERLOCK
This vehicle is equipped with a brake-shift interlock feature that prevents
the gearshift lever from being moved from P (Park) when the ignition is
in the on position unless the brake pedal is applied. If you cannot move
the gearshift lever out of P (Park) when the ignition is on and the brake
pedal applied, it is possible that a fuse has blown or the vehicle’s brake
lamps are not operating properly. Refer toFuses and relaysin the
Roadside Emergencieschapter.
If the fuse is not blown and the brake lamps are working properly, you
will need to have your vehicle towed to an authorized dealer.
WARNING:Do not drive your vehicle until you verify that the
brake lamps are working.
WARNING:Always set the parking brake fully and make sure
the gearshift lever is latched in P (Park). Switch the ignition to
off and remove the key whenever you leave your vehicle.
WARNING:If the parking brake is fully released, but the brake
warning lamp remains illuminated, the brakes may not be
working properly. See your authorized dealer.
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COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM (IF EQUIPPED)
The collision warning with brake support, is designed to alert the driver
of certain collision risks with a red warning light located above the
dashboard and an audible warning chime. The brake support assists the
driver in reducing the collision speed, by pre-charging the brakes.
WARNING:This system is designed to be a supplementary
driving aid. It is not intended to replace the driver’s attention,
and judgment, or the need to apply the brakes. This system does NOT
activate the brakes automatically. Failure to press the brake pedal to
activate the brakes may result in a collision.
WARNING:The collision warning system with brake support
cannot help prevent all collisions. Do not rely on this system to
replace driver judgment and the need to maintain distance and speed.
Note:The collision warning with brake support will not detect, warn, or
respond to potential collisions with vehicles to the rear or sides of the
vehicle.
Operation
The radar sensor detects vehicles
ahead that are moving in the same
direction as your vehicle.
If the radar detects that your
vehicle is rapidly closing in on
another vehicle, a red warning light
will illuminate and an audible
warning chime will sound.
After that, if the risk of collision
further increases after the warning
light, the brake support prepares
the brake system for rapid braking.
This may be apparent to the driver.
However, the system will not
automatically activate the brakes.
The vehicle will not stop unless the driver presses the brake pedal. If the
brake pedal is pressed then braking is implemented with full brake
function, even if the force on the brake pedal is light.
The collision warning system is active at speeds above approximately
5 mph (8 km/h).
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