1997 FORD EXPLORER brake light

the brake pedal is depressed. If
you cannot move the gearshift
lever from P (Park) with the brake
pedal depressed:
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Turn the ignition key to Lock,
then remove the key.
3. Insert the key and turn the
ignition off.
4. Apply the brake pedal and shift
into N (Neutral).
5. Start the vehicle.
If it is necessary to use this
procedure to move the gearshift
lever , it is possible that a fuse
may have blown and the vehicle's
brakelamps may not be working.
Refer toFuses and relaysin the
Roadside emergencieschapter.
Driving (4R70W
transmission-5.0L engines only)
DOverdriveThe normal driving
position for the best fuel economy.
Transmission operates in gears one
through four.
Dcan be deactivated by pressing
the switch selector lever. The
O/D
OFFlight will illuminate.
D DriveNot shown on the display.
Activate by pressing the
transmission control switch.
O/D
OFFwill illuminate in the
instrument cluster. Transmission
operates in gears one through
three. D (Drive) provides more
engine braking than
D(Overdrive) and is useful when
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122

Using the Control Trac system
Shifting between 4WD AUTO
and 4WD HIGH
Either shift can be done at a stop,
or at any forward speed.
²The 4WD HIGH light will
illuminate when you switch the
control to 4WD HIGH or turn off
if you switch to 4WD AUTO.
Shifting from 4WD AUTO or
4WD HIGH to 4WD LOW
To perform this shift, complete the
following steps:
1. Stop the vehicle and depress the
brake.
2. Place the automatic
transmission in N (Neutral) or
depress the manual transmission
clutch.
3. Rotate the 4WD control to 4WD
LOW.
Shifting from 4WD LOW to 4WD
AUTO or 4WD HIGH
To perform this shift, complete the
following steps:
1. Bring the vehicle to a stop.
2. Depress and hold the brake.
3. Place the automatic
transmission gearshift lever in N
(Neutral) or depress the manual
transmission clutch.
4. Move the 4WD control to the
4WD AUTO or 4WD HIGH position.
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129

accelerator slowly and avoid
spinning the wheels.
Driving through mud and water
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.
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 hubs
(if possible) and proceed slowly. If
the ignition system gets wet, the
vehicle may stall.
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.
If the transmission and transfer
case are submerged in water, their
fluids should be checked and
changed, if necessary.
If the rear axle is submerged in
water, the rear axle lubricant
should be checked and changed, if
necessary. The rear axle is filled
with a synthetic lubricant and does
not normally require a lubricant
change for the life of the vehicle.
Rear axle lubricant quantities
should not need to be checked
unless a leak is suspected.
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131

Driving Through Water
Do not drive quickly through
standing water, especially if the
depth is unknown. Traction or
brake capability may be limited
and if the ignition system gets wet,
your engine may stall. Water may
also enter your engine's air intake
and severely damage your engine.
If driving through deep or standing
water is unavoidable, proceed very
slowly. Never drive through water
that is higher than the bottom of
the hubs (truck) / wheel rims
(car).
Once through the 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.
Driving on hill or slope terrain
When driving on a hill, avoid
driving crosswise or turning on
steep slopes. You could lose
traction and slip sideways. Drive
straight up, straight down or avoid
the hill completely. Know the
conditions on the other side of a
hill before driving over the crest.
When climbing a steep 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.
Driving
132

Trailer weight range
The range is between zero and the
maximum trailer weight rating
found in this chapter.
Using trailer brakes
Use electric brakes or manual,
automatic or surge type hydraulic
brakes that meet Federal and local
regulations. Install and adjust
brakes according to the
manufacturer's instructions.
Do not connect a trailer's
hydraulic brake system
directly to your vehicle's brake
system. Your vehicle may not
have enough braking power and
your chances of having a
collision greatly increase.
Using safety chains
Always connect the trailer's safety
chains to the vehicle. To connect
the chains, cross the chains under
the trailer tongue and attach to the
vehicle frame or hook retainers
(not the bumper). Make sure there
is enough slack to allow the vehicle
to turn corners.
Using trailer lamps
See your local trailer retailer or
rental agency for proper
instructions and equipment for
hooking up trailer lamps.
Do not hook the trailer lights
directly into the vehicle's wiring
system. If the trailer lamps are not
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Driving
143

working properly, the warning
lights in the instrument cluster
may not work properly.
Using a hitch
Do not use hitches that:
²clamp onto the vehicle bumper
²attach to the axle.
Distribute the load so that only 10
to 15% of the total weight of the
trailer is on the tongue. tie down
the load so that it does not shift
and change the weight on the
hitch. Follow the towing
instructions of a reputable rental
agency.
Driving while towing a trailer
Do not drive faster than 70 km/h
(45 mph) while towing a 454 kg
(1000 lb) trailer. Do not drive
faster than 72 km/h (45 mph) with
any weight trailer while towing in
hilly terrain or on hot days.
Speed control (if equipped) may
not work properly while towing on
long, steep grades.
If driving with an automatic
transmission:
²use D or L rather than while
towing up or down steep hills
²anticipate stops and brake
gradually.
Towing behind another vehicle
Do not tow your vehicle behind
another vehicle, such as an RV,
unless front wheel dollies are used.
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144

Number Fuse Amperage
RatingCircuits Protected
13 15 amp PCM system,
stoplamps, AWD,
anti-lock brake, speed
control, trailer tow
14 10 amp Anti-lock system
15 7.5 amp Air bag system,
instrument cluster
16 30 amp Wiper run relay
17 25 amp Cigar lighter
18 15 amp A/C system
19 25 amp Ignition coil, PCM
system
20 7.5 amp Radio, power antenna,
GEM system,
anti-theft, cellular
phone
21 15 amp Turn/hazard flasher
22 10 amp Turn signals
23 10 amp Rear wiper system
24 10 amp Starter relay
25 7.5 amp Speedometer, GEM
system
26 10 amp 5R55E/4R7OW
overdrive, DRL
system, backup lamps,
AWD, rear defroster
27 10 amp Under hood lamp, map
lamps, glove box lamp,
dome lamp, visor
lamps, accessory
delay, dimmer switch
illumination, 4x4
system
Roadside emergencies
152

CLEANING AND CARING FOR
YOUR VEHICLE
Refer to the ªCustomer Assistance
Guideº for a list of Ford-approved
cleaners, polishes and waxes.
Washing your vehicle
Wash your vehicle regularly with
cold or lukewarm water. Never use
strong detergents or soap. If your
vehicle is particularly dirty, use a
quality car wash detergent. Always
use a clean sponge, washing glove
or similar device and plenty of
water for best results. To avoid
spots, avoid washing when the
hood is still warm, immediately
after or during exposure to strong
sunlight.
During winter months, it is
especially important to wash the
vehicle on a regular basis. Large
quantities of dirt and road salt are
difficult to remove, and they also
cause damage to the vehicle.
Remove any exterior accessories,
such as antennas, before entering
a car wash.
²After washing, apply the brakes
several times to dry them.
Waxing your vehicle
The best way to determine when
the paintwork needs waxing is by
noting when water stops beading
on the surface. This could be every
three or four months, depending
on operating conditions.
Use only carnauba or
synthetic-based waxes. Remove
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215