Ford Five Hundred (2007 year). Manual — part 46

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
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.

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.)

ABS

P

!

BRAKE

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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.

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.

Push 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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187

TRACTION CONTROL

姟 (IF EQUIPPED)

Your vehicle may be equipped with a Traction Control

娂 system. This

system helps you maintain the stability and steerability of your vehicle. It
is especially useful on slippery road surfaces. The system operates by
detecting and controlling wheel spin. The system borrows many of the
electronic elements already present in the anti-lock braking system
(ABS).

Wheel-speed sensors allow excess wheel spin to be detected by the
Traction Control

娂 portion of the ABS computer. Excess wheel spin is

controlled through engine torque reduction. This is realized via the fully
electronic engine control system. This process is very sensitive to driving
conditions and very fast acting. The wheels “search” for optimum
traction several times a second and adjustments are made accordingly.

The Traction Control

娂 system will allow your vehicle to make better use

of available traction on slippery surfaces. The system is a driver aid
which makes your vehicle easier to handle primarily on snow and ice
covered roads.

During Traction Control

娂 operation the engine will not “rev-up” when

you push further on the accelerator. This is normal system behavior.

If you should become stuck in deep
snow or on a very slippery road
surface, try switching the Traction
Control

娂 system off. This may allow

excess wheel spin to “dig” the
vehicle out or enable a successful
“rocking” maneuver.

Aggressive driving in any road conditions can cause you to lose
control of your vehicle increasing the risk of severe personal

injury or property damage. The occurrence of a Traction Control

娂

event is an indication that at least some of the tires have exceeded
their ability to grip the road; this may lead to an increased risk of loss
of vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal injury and death. If you
experience a severe road event, SLOW DOWN.

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188

STEERING

To help prevent damage to the power steering system, never hold the
steering wheel at its furthest turning points (until it stops) for more than
a few seconds when the engine is running.

It is also important to maintain a proper power steering fluid level in the
power steering fluid reservoir:
• Do not operate the vehicle with a low power steering pump fluid level.

See Checking and adding power steering fluid in the Maintenance
and Specifications chapter.

• Some noise is normal during operation. If the noise is excessive, check

for low power steering pump fluid level before seeking service by your
authorized dealer.

• Heavy or uneven steering efforts may be caused by low power steering

pump fluid level. Check for low power steering pump fluid level before
seeking service by your authorized dealer.

• Do not fill the power steering pump reservoir above the maximum

level, as this may result in leaks from the reservoir. See Checking and
adding power steering fluid in the Maintenance and Specifications
chapter.

If the power steering system breaks down (or if the engine is turned
off), you can steer the vehicle manually, but it takes more effort.

If the steering wanders or pulls, check for:
• an improperly inflated tire
• uneven tire wear
• loose or worn suspension components
• loose or worn steering components
• improper steering alignment

AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE OPERATION

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 depressed.

If you cannot move the gearshift lever out of P (Park) with ignition in
the ON position and the brake pedal depressed:

1. Remove the trim ring around the gearshift lever.

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