warning LINCOLN MKZ 2014 Manual Online

Driving In Special Conditions
With All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
AWD vehicles are equipped 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.
Under severe operating conditions,
the A/C may cycle on and off to
protect overheating of the engine.
Basic operating principles in
special conditions
• Drive slower in strong crosswindswhich 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 may be safer to stay on the apron or shoulder of the road and
slow down gradually before
returning to the pavement. You
may lose control if you do not slow
down or if you turn the steering
wheel too sharply or abruptly.
• It often may 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.
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck
WARNINGS
Always set the parking brake
fully and make sure the
transmission is in P (Park). Turn the
ignition to the lock position or turn the
vehicle off using the start/stop button
and remove the key whenever you
leave your vehicle.
174
All-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)

WARNINGS
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.
Do not spin the wheels at over
35 mph (56 km/h). The tires may
fail and injure a passenger or
bystander.
Note: Do not rock the vehicle if the
engine is not at normal operating
temperature or damage to the
transmission may occur.
Note: Do not rock the vehicle for more
than a few minutes or damage to the
transmission and tires may occur or the
engine may overheat.
If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or
snow it may 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.
If your vehicle is equipped with
AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability
Control™, it may be beneficial to
disengage the AdvanceTrac® with
Roll Stability Control™ system while
attempting to rock the vehicle.
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 will 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 abrupt steering,
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 will be 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.
Do not drive your AWD vehicle in deep
sand. This will cause the AWD system
to overheat. After the system has
cooled down, normal AWD function
will return.
175
All-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)

Driving on Hilly or Sloping Terrain
Note:Avoid driving crosswise or
turning on steep slopes or hills. A
danger lies in losing traction, slipping
sideways and possibly rolling over.
Whenever driving on a hill, determine
beforehand the route you will use. Do
not drive over the crest of a hill without
seeing what conditions are on the other
side. Do not drive in reverse over a hill
without the aid of an observer.
Although natural obstacles may make
it necessary to travel diagonally up or
down a hill or steep incline, you should
always try to drive straight up or
straight down.
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
turnaround 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 will cause the tires to slip, spin
or lose traction, resulting in loss of
vehicle control.
E143949
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 the vehicle slides while
cornering, steer in the direction of the
slide until you regain control of the
vehicle.
177
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-out. Have the
system checked by an authorized
dealer. If your vehicle has continuous
vibration or shudder in the steering
wheel while braking, have it checked
by an authorized dealer.
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. See
Cleaning the Alloy Wheels (page 293).
E144522
See Warning Lamps and
Indicators (page 96).
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.
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 selector lever to position 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 towed to the nearest
authorized dealer.
Brake Assist
Brake assist detects when you brake
rapidly by measuring the rate at which
you press the brake pedal. It provides
maximum braking efficiency as long
as you press the pedal, and can
reduce stopping distances in critical
situations.
Anti-lock Brake System
This system helps you maintain
steering control during emergency
stops by keeping the brakes from
locking.
This lamp momentarily
illuminates when you turn
the ignition on. If the light
does not illuminate during start up,
remains on or flashes, the system may
be disabled. Have the system checked
by an authorized dealer.
E144522
If the system is disabled,
normal braking is still
effective. If the brake
warning lamp illuminates when you
release the parking brake, have the
system checked by an authorized
dealer.
179
Brakes

HINTS ON DRIVING WITH
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES
Note:When the system is operating,
the brake pedal will pulse and may
travel further. Maintain pressure on the
brake pedal. You may also hear a noise
from the system. This is normal.
The anti-lock braking system will 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.
ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE
The electric parking brake replaces
the conventional handbrake. The
operating switch is located on the
instrument panel to the left of the
steering wheel.
WARNING
Always set the parking brake and
leave your vehicle with the
transmission selector lever in position
P.
Note: When you apply the electric
parking brake in certain conditions, for
example on a steep hill, the electric
parking brake may reapply the brakes
within three to ten minutes.
Note: You may notice various noises
when you apply and release the electric
parking brake. This is normal and no
cause for concern.
Applying the electric parking
brake
WARNING
If the brake system warning lamp
does not illuminate or flashes,
there could be a problem with your
electric parking brake. Have the
system checked by an authorized
dealer as soon as possible.
Note: The brake system warning lamp
will illuminate for ten seconds if you
have turned the ignition off after the
electric parking brake has been applied,
or the electric parking brake has been
applied after the ignition has been
turned off.
Note: The electric parking brake will
not automatically apply. You must
apply the electric parking brake using
the electric parking brake switch.
E169085
Pull the switch to apply the electric
parking brake.
The brake system warning lamp will
illuminate to confirm that the electric
parking brake has been applied. See
Information Displays (page 101).
180
Brakes

Applying the electric parking
brake when the vehicle is
moving
WARNINGS
Applying the electric parking
brake while moving will result in
use of the anti-lock braking system.
Do not use the electric parking brake
system when the vehicle is moving
unless the normal brake system is
unable to stop the vehicle.
With the exception of emergency
conditions (for example, the
brake pedal does not work or is
blocked), do not apply the electric
parking brake while the vehicle is
moving. On bends, or poor road
surfaces or weather conditions,
emergency braking can cause the
vehicle to skid out of control or off the
road.
If you apply the electric parking brake
when your vehicle is moving, the brake
system warning lamp will illuminate
and a warning chime will sound. See
Information Displays (page 101).
If your vehicle speed is above 4 mph
(6 km/h), the braking force is applied
as long as the switch is applied.
Release or press the switch or press
the accelerator pedal to stop the
braking force.
Releasing the electric parking
brake
E169086
You can release the electric parking
brake either manually by pressing the
bottom of the switch or automatically.
Manual release
WARNING
If the brake system warning light
remains illuminated or flashes
after you have released the parking
brake, there could be a problem with
you braking system. Have the system
checked by an authorized dealer as
soon as possible.
You can manually release the electric
parking brake by turning the ignition
on, pressing the brake pedal and then
pressing the electric parking brake
switch down.
When the electric parking brake is
released, the brake system warning
lamp will turn off.
181
Brakes

Driving with a Trailer
Depending on the grade and the
weight of the trailer, your vehicle and
trailer may roll backwards slightly
when you start on a slope. To prevent
this from happening, do the following:
1. Pull the switch and hold it in thisposition.
2. Drive your vehicle, then release the switch when you notice that the
engine has developed sufficient
driving force.
Automatic release - drive away
release
Note: The driver's door must be closed
and the driver's safety belt must be
fastened before this feature will
operate.
Note: If the electric parking brake
warning lamp stays illuminated, the
electric parking brake will not
automatically release. You must
release the electric parking brake using
the electric parking brake switch.
Note: The engine must be running and
the accelerator pedal must be pressed
before the drive away release feature
will operate.
The brake system warning lamp will
go off to confirm that the electric
parking brake has been released. Note:
The electric parking brake drive
away release makes starting on a hill
easier. This feature will release the
parking brake automatically when the
vehicle has sufficient drive force to
move up the hill. To assure drive away
release when starting uphill, press the
accelerator pedal quickly.
Battery With No Charge
WARNING
You will not be able to apply or
release the electric parking brake
if the battery is low or has no charge.
If the battery is low or has no charge,
use jumper cables and a booster
battery.
HILL START ASSIST
WARNINGS
The system does not replace the
parking brake. When you leave
your vehicle, always apply the parking
brake and put the vehicle in position
P.
You must remain in your vehicle
once you have activated the
system.
During all times, you are
responsible for controlling your
vehicle, supervising the system and
intervening, if required.
If the engine is revved
excessively, or if a malfunction
is detected, the system will be
deactivated.
182
Brakes

PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
The traction control system helps
avoid drive wheel spin and loss of
traction.
If your vehicle begins to slide, the
system applies the brakes to
individual wheels and, when needed,
reduces engine power at the same
time. If the wheels spin when
accelerating on slippery or loose
surfaces, the system reduces engine
power in order to increase traction.
USING TRACTION
CONTROL
In certain situations (for example,
stuck in snow or mud), turning the
traction control off may be beneficial
as this allows the wheels to spin with
full engine power. Turn off the traction
control system through the
information display. See General
Information (page 101).
System Indicator Lights and
Messages
WARNING
If a failure has been detected
within the AdvanceTrac system,
the stability control light will
illuminate steadily. Verify that the
AdvanceTrac system was not
manually disabled through the
information display. If the stability
control light still illuminates steadily,
have the system serviced by an
authorized dealer immediately.
Operating your vehicle with
AdvanceTrac disabled could lead to
an increased risk of loss of vehicle
control, vehicle rollover, personal
injury and death.
E138639
The stability control light
temporarily illuminates on
engine start-up and flashes
when a driving condition activates the
stability system.
The stability control off light
temporarily illuminates on
engine start-up and stays on
when you turn the traction control
system off.
When you turn the traction control
system off or on, a message appears
in the information display showing
system status.
184
Traction Control

PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
WARNINGS
Vehicle modifications involving
braking system, aftermarket roof
racks, suspension, steering system,
tire construction and wheel and tire
size may change the handling
characteristics of the vehicle and may
adversely affect the performance of
the AdvanceTrac system. In addition,
installing any stereo loudspeakers
may interfere with and adversely
affect the AdvanceTrac 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 AdvanceTrac sensors. Reducing
the effectiveness of the AdvanceTrac
system could lead to an increased risk
of loss of vehicle control, vehicle
rollover, personal injury and death.
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
AdvanceTrac system is an indication
that at least some of the tires have
exceeded their ability to grip the road;
WARNINGS
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 AdvanceTrac system
activates, SLOW DOWN.
The AdvanceTrac Control system
helps you keep control of your vehicle
when on a slippery surface. The
electronic stability control portion of
the system helps avoid skids and
lateral slides. The traction control
system helps avoid drive wheel spin
and loss of traction. See Using
Traction Control (page 184).
E72903
A
AA
B
BB
B
Vehicle without
AdvanceTrac skidding off its
intended route.
A
Vehicle with AdvanceTrac
maintaining control on a
slippery surface.
B
185
Stability Control

PARKING AID (IF EQUIPPED)
WARNINGS
To help avoid personal injury,
please read and understand the
limitations of the system as contained
in this section. Sensing is only an aid
for some (generally large and fixed)
objects when moving in reverse on a
flat surface at parking speeds. Traffic
control systems, inclement weather,
air brakes, and external motors and
fans may also affect the function of
the sensing system; this may include
reduced performance or a false
activation.
To help avoid personal injury,
always use caution when in R
(Reverse) and when using the sensing
system.
This system is not designed to
prevent contact with small or
moving objects. The system is
designed to provide a warning to
assist the driver in detecting large
stationary objects to avoid damaging
the vehicle. The system may not
detect smaller objects, particularly
those close to the ground.
Certain add-on devices such as
large trailer hitches, bike or
surfboard racks and any device that
may block the normal detection zone
of the system, may create false beeps.
Note: Keep the sensors, located on the
bumper or fascia, free from snow, ice
and large accumulations of dirt. If the
sensors are covered, the system’s
accuracy can be affected. Do not clean
the sensors with sharp objects.
Note: If your vehicle sustains damage
to the bumper or fascia, leaving it
misaligned or bent, the sensing zone
may be altered causing inaccurate
measurement of obstacles or false
alarms.
Note: If your vehicle is equipped with
MyKey®, it is possible to prevent
turning the sensing system off. See
MyKey™ (page 57).
The sensing system warns the driver
of obstacles within a certain range of
the bumper area. The system turns on
automatically whenever the ignition
is switched on.
When receiving a detection warning,
the radio volume is reduced to a
predetermined level. After the warning
goes away, the radio volume returns
to the previous level.
The system can be switched off
through the information display menu
or from the pop-up message that
appears once the transmission is
shifted into R. See General
Information (page 101).
If a fault is present in the system, a
warning message appears in the
information display and does not
allow the driver to switch the faulted
system on. See Information
Messages (page 106).
187
Parking Aids