1997 FORD EXPEDITION maintenance

Before driving
Introduction 2
Instrumentation 5
Controls and features 20
Seating and safety restraints 72
Starting and driving
Starting 100
Driving 107
Roadside emergencies 134
Servicing
Maintenance and care 155
Capacities and specifications 213
Reporting safety defects 221
Index 222
Contents
1

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
WARNING LIGHTS AND
CHIMES
Your vehicle is equipped with the
following instrument cluster:
Low fuel
Illuminates when the fuel level is
low.
Engine coolant temperature
Illuminates briefly when the
ignition key is turned to On.
Illuminates when the engine
coolant temperature is high. Stop
the engine and check the engine
coolant level as soon as possible.
Refer toChecking and adding
engine coolantandWhat you
should know about fail-safe
coolingin theMaintenance and
caresection.
3
1050
3070
4080
120
140
40
20
0
10090 60
8060100
20 km/h
0010
0000052
4
5
6 01LH
CH
EF
818
THEFT
RPMx1000LOW
RANGE
4x4 FUEL
RESET CHECK
ENGINEABS
DOOR
AJARLOW
FUEL3
1050
3070
4080
120
140
40
20
0
10090 60
8060100
20 km/h
0010
0000052
4
5
6 01LH
CH
EF
818
THEFT
RPMx1000ABS
BRAKELOW
FUEL!
LOW
FUEL
exd_warning_lights
exd_fuel_low
exd_coolant_light
exd_washer_low
Instrumentation
8

Low washer fluid
Illuminates briefly when the
ignition is turned to On. Also
illuminates when the windshield
washer fluid is low.
Oil pressure
Illuminates briefly when the
ignition key is turned to On.
Illuminates when the oil pressure
is low. Stop the engine and check
the engine oil level as soon as
possible. Refer toChecking and
adding engine oilin the
Maintenance and caresection.
The oil pressure and engine
coolant warning lights share the
same lightbulb Ð if one of the
warning lights illuminates, they
both do.
Door ajar
Illuminates when the ignition
switch is in the ON or START
position and any door is open.
Charging system
Briefly illuminates when the
ignition is turned on and the
engine is off. The light also
illuminates when the battery is not
charging properly, requiring
electrical system service.
LOW
WASH
DOOR
AJAR
exd_oil_pressure_light
exd_door_ajar_light
exd_charging_system
com_brake_system.01
Instrumentation
9

Brake system warning
Extinguishes when the parking
brake is released. Illumination after
releasing the parking brake
indicates low brake fluid level.
Safety belt
Illuminates when the ignition is
switched on to remind you to
fasten your safety belts. For more
information, refer toUsing the
safety restraints properlyin the
Seating and safety restraints
chapter.
Air bag readiness
Briefly illuminates when the
ignition is turned to On. If the light
fails to illuminate, continues to
flash or remains on, have the
system serviced. For more
information, refer to
Supplemental restraints system
(SRS)in theSeating and safety
restraintschapter.
Check engine warning light
This light illuminates when the
engine's Emission Control System
requires service. It will also
illuminate when the ignition key is
in the On position and the engine
is off. Refer toWhat you should
know about the On-board
diagnostic (OBD II) systemin the
Maintenance and carechapter.
!
BRAKE
CHECK
ENGINE
com_safety_belt.01
exd_air_bag
exd_check_engine
exd_tcil_light
Instrumentation
10

Tachometer
Indicates the engine speed in
revolutions per minute.
Engine coolant temperature
gauge
Indicates the temperature of the
engine coolant. At normal
operating temperature, the needle
remains within the normal zone. If
it enters the red section, the
engine is overheating. Switch off
the engine and allow it to cool.
Refer toChecking and adding
engine coolantandWhat you
should know about fail-safe
coolingin theMaintenance and
carechapter.
Fuel gauge
For information on the capacity of
the fuel tank, refer to the
Capacities and specifications
chapter.
The fuel gauge displays
approximately how much fuel is in
the fuel tank only when the
ignition is ON. For proper fuel
gauge indication after adding fuel,
turn the ignition switch OFF while
refueling the vehicle.
0RPMx1000
3
2
4
5
6 1
LHLH
EF
exd_engine_coolant
exd_fuel_gauge
Instrumentation
15

The fuel gauge indicator may vary
slightly when the vehicle is in
motion. The most accurate reading
is obtained with the vehicle on
level ground.
With ignition switch OFF, the fuel
gage indicator may drift from the
ignition switch ON position.
Refer theIgnitioninformation in
theControls and featureschapter
for more information on the
positions of the ignition.
Charging system gauge
If the pointer moves and stays
outside of the normal range, have
the vehicle's electrical system
checked as soon as safely possible.
Engine oil pressure gauge
Indicates the engine oil pressure in
the system. Sufficient pressure
exists as long as the needle is in
the normal range. If the gauge
constantly indicates low pressure
at normal engine speed, refer to
Checking and adding engine oil
in theMaintenance and care
chapter.
If the gauge indicates a low
pressure and the engine oil level is
correct, switch off the engine
immediately and have the vehicle
818818
LHLH
exd_voltage exd_oil_pressure
Instrumentation
16

To raise the height of the shoulder
belt:
²Slide up.
²Pull down on the height adjuster
to make sure that it is locked in
place.
Safety belt maintenance
Check the safety belt systems
periodically to make sure that they
work properly and are not
damaged. If your vehicle has been
involved in an accident, have all
the safety belts and child seat
anchoring brackets (if equipped)
examined by a qualified technician.
Refer toCleaning and caring for
your vehiclein theMaintenance
and carechapter for more
information on maintaining your
safety belts.
Failure to replace the
safety belt assembly
under the above conditions
could result in severe
personal injuries in the event
of a collision.
Safety belt extension assembly
For some people, the safety belt
may be too short even when it is
fully extended. You can add about
20 cm (8 in.) to the belt length
with a safety belt extension
assembly (part # 611C22). Safety
exd_extension_assmebly
Seating and safety restraints
85

If the air bag is inflated,
the air bag will not
function again and must be
replaced immediately.Ifthe
air bag is not replaced, the
unrepaired area will increase the
risk of injury in a collision.
The SRS consists of:
²driver and passenger air bag
modules (which include the
inflators and air bags),
²one or more impact and safing
sensors,
²a readiness light and tone
²and the electrical wiring which
connects the components.
The diagnostic module monitors its
own internal circuits and the
supplemental air bag electrical
system readiness (including the
impact sensors), the system wiring,
the air bag system readiness light,
the air bag back up power and the
air bag ignitors.
Determining if the system is
operational
The SRS uses a readiness light in
the instrument cluster or a tone to
indicate the condition of the
system. Refer to theAir bag
readinesssection in the
Instrumentationchapter. Routine
maintenance of the air bag is not
required.
exd_determing_operational
Seating and safety restraints
90