Ford Fusion Hybrid (2014 year). Manual — part 38

USING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE

All-wheel drive uses all four wheels to
power the vehicle. This increases traction,
enabling you to drive over terrain and road
conditions that a conventional two-wheel
drive vehicle cannot. The AWD system is
active all the time and requires no input
from the operator.

Note: Your AWD vehicle is not intended for
off-road use. The AWD feature gives your
vehicle some limited off-road capabilities
in which driving surfaces are relatively level,
obstruction-free and otherwise similar to
normal on-road driving conditions.
Operating your vehicle under other than
those conditions could subject the vehicle
to excessive stress which might result in
damage which is not covered under your
warranty.

Note: A warning message will be displayed
in the information display when an AWD
system fault is present See Information
Messages (page 93). An AWD system fault
will cause the AWD system to default to
front-wheel drive only mode. When this
warning message is displayed, have your
vehicle serviced at an authorized dealer

Note: A warning message will be displayed
in the information display if the AWD system
has overheated See Information
Messages (page 93). This condition may
occur if the vehicle was operated 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 the
engine has been restarted and the AWD
system has adequately cooled, the warning
message will turn off and normal AWD
function will return.

Do not use a spare tire of a different size
other than the tire provided. If the
mini-spare tire is installed, the AWD
system may disable automatically and
enter front-wheel drive only mode to
protect driveline components. This
condition will be indicated by a warning in
the information display See Information
Messages (page 93). If there is a warning
message in the information display from
using the spare tire, this indicator should
turn off after reinstalling the repaired or
replaced normal road tire and cycling the
ignition off and on. It is recommended to
reinstall the repaired or replaced road tire
as soon as possible. Major dissimilar tire
sizes between the front and rear axles
could cause the AWD system to stop
functioning and default to front-wheel
drive or damage the AWD system.

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 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.

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All-Wheel Drive

(If Equipped)

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.

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.

156

All-Wheel Drive

(If Equipped)

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.

Under severe operating conditions, the A/C
may cycle on and off to protect
overheating of the engine.

Avoid excessive speed because vehicle
momentum can work against you and
cause the vehicle to become stuck to the
point that assistance may be required from
another vehicle. Remember, you may be
able to back out the way you came if you
proceed with caution.

Mud and Water

If you must drive through high water, drive
slowly. Traction or brake capability may
be limited.

When driving through water, determine the
depth; avoid water higher than the bottom
of the wheel rims (for cars) or the bottom
of the hubs (for trucks) (if possible) and
proceed slowly. If the ignition system gets
wet, the vehicle may stall.

E142667

Once through water, always try the brakes.
Wet brakes do not stop the vehicle as
effectively as dry brakes. Drying can be
improved by moving your vehicle slowly
while applying light pressure on the brake
pedal.

Be cautious of sudden changes in vehicle
speed or direction when you are driving in
mud. Even AWD vehicles can lose traction
in slick mud. As when you are driving over
sand, apply the accelerator slowly and
avoid spinning your wheels. If the vehicle
does slide, steer in the direction of the slide
until you regain control of the vehicle.

After driving through mud, clean off residue
stuck to rotating driveshafts and tires.
Excess mud stuck on tires and rotating
driveshafts causes an imbalance that
could damage drive components.

Note: Driving through deep water may
damage the transmission.

If the front or rear axle is submerged in
water, the axle lubricant and AWD PTU
(Power Transfer Unit) lubricant should be
checked and changed if necessary.

E143950

“Tread Lightly” is an educational program
designed to increase public awareness of
land-use regulations and responsibilities
in our nations wilderness areas. Ford Motor
Company joins the U.S. Forest Service and
the Bureau of Land Management in
encouraging you to help preserve our
national forest and other public and private
lands by “treading lightly.”

157

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.

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.

158

All-Wheel Drive

(If Equipped)