Ford Fusion: Transmission

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WARNING: Always fully apply the parking brake and make sure you shift into park (P). Failure to follow this instruction could result in personal injury or death.

WARNING: Do not apply the brake pedal and accelerator pedal simultaneously. Applying both pedals simultaneously for more than a few seconds will limit engine performance, which may result in difficulty maintaining speed in traffic and could lead to serious injury.

WARNING: When your vehicle is stationary, keep the brake pedal fully pressed when shifting gears. Failure to follow this instruction could result in personal injury, death or property damage.

Note: You may not be able to shift out of park (P) unless the intelligent access key is inside your vehicle.

Understanding the Positions of Your Rotary Shift Transmission

Sport (S)

Low (L)

Your vehicle has an electronic transmission shifter. The transmission selector is on the center console, below the climate control system.

To place your vehicle in gear from park (P):

1. Fully press down and hold on the brake pedal through shifts out of park (P).
2. Rotate the outer ring of the transmission selector clockwise from park (P), until the desired gear illuminates on the transmission selector. The instrument cluster also displays the current gear selected.
3. Release the brake pedal and the transmission remains in the selected gear.

Park (P)

With the transmission in park (P), your vehicle locks the transmission and prevents the wheels from turning. Always come to a complete stop before putting your vehicle into and out of park (P). An audible chime sounds once you select park (P).

When the ignition is turned off, your vehicle automatically shifts into park (P). If the ignition is turned off when the vehicle is moving, it first shifts into neutral (N) until a slow enough speed is reached and then shifts into park (P) automatically.

Automatic Return to Park

Note: This feature does not operate when your vehicle is in Stay in Neutral mode or neutral tow.

Your vehicle has a feature that automatically shifts your vehicle into park (P) when any of the following conditions occur:

• You turn the vehicle off.
• You open the driver's door with your seatbelt unlatched.
• Your seatbelt is unlatched when the driver's door is open.

If you turn your vehicle off when moving, your vehicle first shifts into neutral (N) until it slows down enough to shift into park (P) automatically.

Note: If you have waited an extended period of time (2-15 minutes) before starting your vehicle, unlatching your seatbelt causes this feature to activate, even with the driver's door closed.

Note: This feature may not work properly if the door ajar switch is malfunctioning. If your door ajar indicator does not illuminate when you open the driver’s door or the indicator illuminates with the driver’s door closed, see your authorized dealer.

Reverse (R)

With the selector in reverse (R), your vehicle moves backward. Always come to a complete stop before shifting into and out of reverse (R).

Neutral (N)

With the selector in neutral (N), your vehicle can be started and is free to roll. Hold the brake pedal down when in this position.

Stay in Neutral Mode

Note: Always put your vehicle in Stay in Neutral mode when entering an automatic car wash. Failure to do this could result in vehicle damage not covered by warranty.

Note: When entering an automatic car wash, always shift to Neutral (N). If you are exiting the vehicle before the car wash, Stay in Neutral Mode is available.

Stay in Neutral mode allows your vehicle to stay in neutral when you exit your vehicle. Your vehicle must be stationary to enter this mode.

To enter Stay in Neutral mode:

1. Switch your vehicle on but do not start the engine.
2. Place your foot on the brake pedal and rotate the transmission selector to neutral (N).

   Note:When in neutral (N), a message appears in the display screen informing you how to access Stay in Neutral mode.

3. Press either the low (L) or sport (S) button in the middle of the transmission selector to enter Stay in Neutral mode.

A message appears in the display screen confirming your vehicle is in Stay in Neutral mode. The neutral (N) indicator light on the transmission selector also flashes. To exit Stay in Neutral mode, place your foot on the brake pedal and rotate the transmission selector to park (P).

Drive (D)

Drive (D) is the normal driving position for the best fuel economy. The overdrive function allows automatic upshifts and downshifts through gears one through six.

Grade Assist - If Equipped

Press the grade assist button to activate grade assist. The grade assist lamp appears in the instrument cluster when the system is active. Press the button again to switch it off.

Grade assist:

• Provides additional grade braking with a combination of engine motoring and high-voltage battery charging to help maintain vehicle speed when descending a grade.
• As your vehicle determines the amount of engine motoring and high-voltage battery charging, you may notice the engine speed increasing and decreasing to help maintain your vehicle speed when descending a grade.
• The grade assist lamp in the instrument cluster is illuminated.

Sport (S) (If Equipped)

Putting the vehicle in sport (S):

• Provides additional engine braking and extends lower gear operation to enhance performance for uphill climbs, hilly terrain or mountainous areas. This increases engine RPM during engine braking.
• Provides additional lower gear operation through the automatic transmission shift strategy.
• Provides gear selection more quickly and at higher engine speeds.

Low (L) (If Equipped)

• Provides maximum engine braking.
• The transmission may be shifted into low (L) at any vehicle speed.
• Is not intended for use under extended or normal driving conditions and results in lower fuel economy.

SelectShift™ Automatic Transmission (If Equipped)

Your vehicle is equipped with a SelectShift Automatic transmission. The SelectShift Automatic transmission gives you the ability to change gears up or down, without a clutch as desired.

In order to prevent the engine from running at too low an RPM, which may cause it to stall, SelectShift still automatically makes some downshifts if it has determined that you have not downshifted in time. Although SelectShift makes some downshifts for you, it still allows you to downshift at any time as long as the SelectShift determines that damage to the engine does not occur from over-revving.

Note: Engine damage may occur if you maintain excessive engine revving without shifting.

SelectShift does not automatically upshift, even if the engine is approaching the RPM limit. It must be shifted manually by pressing the + button.

Pull the + paddle on the steering wheel to activate SelectShift.

• Pull the right paddle (+) to upshift.
• Pull the left paddle (–) to downshift.

SelectShift in drive (D):

• Provides a temporary manual mode for performing more demanding maneuvers where extra control of gear selection is required (for example, when towing or overtaking). This mode holds a selected gear for a temporary period of time dependent on driver inputs (for example, steering or accelerator pedal input).

SelectShift in sport (S):

• Provides a permanent manual gear selection where full control of gear selection is required.

To exit SelectShift mode shift the transmission into another gear (for example, drive [D]).

Upshift to the recommended shift speeds according to the following chart:

The instrument cluster displays your currently selected gear. If a gear is requested but not available due to vehicle conditions (low speed, too high engine speed for requested gear selection), the current gear flashes three times.

Note: At full accelerator pedal travel, the transmission automatically downshifts for maximum performance.

Brake-Shift Interlock Override

WARNING: When doing this procedure, you need to take the transmission out of park (P) which means your vehicle can roll freely. To avoid unwanted vehicle movement, always fully apply the parking brake prior to doing this procedure. Use wheels chocks if appropriate.

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 drive your vehicle until you verify that the stoplamps are working.

Note: See your authorized dealer as soon as possible if this procedure is used.

Note: For some markets this feature is disabled.

Note: This feature only functions if your 12-volt battery has power. If vehicle battery voltage is not sufficient, an external 12-volt power source (for example, jumper cables, battery charger or jump pack) may be required to function the interlock override switch.

Use the brake-shift interlock override to move your transmission from the park position in the event of an electrical malfunction. If your vehicle has a dead battery, you need an external power source.

1. Apply the parking brake and turn your ignition off before performing this procedure.

   

2. Locate your brake-shift interlock access slot. The slot is located in your center console storage bin. The access slot does not have a label.

   Note: Make sure that you correctly identify the access hole as not to damage the media hub.

3. Using a tool, press and hold the brake shift interlock switch. The indication in the rotary dial flashes when your vehicle is in override mode.
4. With the override switch still held, rotate the selector to neutral (N) to shift from park (P).
5. Release the override button.
6. Your vehicle remains in Stay in Neutral mode for wrecker towing purposes or can be shifted to the desired gear and driven (if possible).
7. Release the parking brake.

Automatic Transmission Adaptive Learning. If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck In Mud or Snow

Automatic Transmission Adaptive Learning

This feature may increase durability and provide consistent shift feel over the life of your vehicle. A new vehicle or transmission may have firm shifts, soft shifts or both. This operation is considered normal and does not affect function or durability of the transmission. Over time, the adaptive learning process fully updates transmission operation.

If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck In Mud or Snow

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 minute or damage to the transmission and tires may occur, or the engine may overheat.

If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow, you may rock it out by shifting between forward and reverse gears, stopping between shifts in a steady pattern. Press lightly on the accelerator in each gear.