1997 FORD EXPLORER check engine

Checking the cooling system
hoses
Inspect all engine and heater
system hoses and hose connections
for:
²deterioration
²leaks
²loose hose clamps
CHECKING AND ADDING
POWER STEERING FLUID
Check the power steering fluid at
least twice a year by completing
the following steps:
1. Start the engine.
3
2
1
5
4
uno_checking_adding_power_st
Maintenance and care
184

water. If necessary, distilled water
may be substituted with tap water
that is not hard and does not have
high mineral or alkali content. If
the battery needs water often,
have the charging system checked
for a possible malfunction.
Relearning the idle function
Because your vehicle's engine is
electronically controlled, some
control conditions are maintained
by power from the battery. When
the battery is disconnected or a
new battery is installed, the
computer must ªrelearnº its idle
conditions before your vehicle can
drive properly. To begin this
process:
Maintenance and care
190

Changing your air cleaner filter
To change your air cleaner filter,
follow these steps:
1. Release the clamp locking clip
on the front portion of the
assembly.
2. Swing the left side of the
assembly open.
3. Remove the air cleaner filter
element from the open end of the
engine air cleaner assembly and
replace it with a new element.
4. Close the assembly and secure
the locking clamp.
The air cleaner filter shown is
typical of 4.0 L OHV and 5.0 L
engines. The 4.0 L SOHC is
comparable.
CHECKING AND REPLACING
WIPER BLADES
Checking wiper blades
Check the windshield wiper blades
at least twice a year or whenever
they seem to work less effectively
than usual. Substances such as
tree sap and some hot wax
treatments used by commercial car
washes can reduce the
effectiveness of wiper blades.
uno_wipers_title
uno_checking_wipers
Maintenance and care
193

the on-board diagnostic (OBD-II)
system. If your ªcheck
engine/service engine soonº light is
on, reference the applicable light
description in theWarning Lights
and Gaugessection of your
owners guide. Your vehicle may
not pass the I/M test with the
ªcheck engine/service engine soonº
light on.
If the vehicle's powertrain system
or its battery has just been
serviced, the OBD-II system is
reset to a ªnot ready for I/M testº
condition. To ready the OBD-II
system for I/M testing, a minimum
of 30 minutes of city and highway
driving is necessary as described
below:
²First, at least ten minutes of
driving on an expressway or
highway.
²Next, at least twenty minutes
driving in stop and go, city type
traffic with at least four idle
periods.
Allow the vehicle to sit for at least
8 hours without starting the
engine. Then, start the engine and
complete the above driving cycle.
The engine must warm up to it's
normal operating temperature.
Once started, do not turn off the
engine until the above driving
cycle is complete.
Maintenance and care
209

Fluid Ford Part
NameApplication Capacity-liters
(quarts)
Rear axle
fluid
1,2,3,4Motorcraft SAE
80W90 Axle
LubricantVehicles with
conventional
axles
2.9-3.1
(5.50-5.80 pints) Motorcraft SAE
75W140 High
Performance
Synthetic Rear
Axle LubricantRefer to
footnotes
2 and 3
Windshield
washer fluidUltra-Clear
Windshield
ConcentrateFront 2.6 (2.7)
Rear (if
equipped)3.1 (3.3)
1Fill to 3 mm (1¤4º to 9/16º) below
bottom of fill hole.
2Vehicles equipped with 4.0L
SOHC and 4.0L EI engines may
have a limited slip differential. If
your vehicles is equipped with a
limited slip differential, add 4
ounces of additive friction modifier
C8AZ-19B546-A, Ford specification
EST-M2C118±A, for complete refill
of 8.8 inch and 9.75 inch rear
axles.
3Vehicles equipped with 4.0L
SOHC or 4.0L EFI engines and
3.73 or 4.10 rear axle ratios or
5.0L engines require synthetic rear
axle lubricant. Rear axles
containing synthetic lubricant are
lubricated for life. These lubricants
are not to be checked or changed
unless a leak is suspected, service
required or the axle assembly has
been submerged in water. The axle
lubricant should be changed any
time the axle has been submerged
Capacities and specifications
224

Air bag supplemental restraint
system
and child safety seats ..............90
description ................................89
disposal ......................................94
indicator light ...........................93
passenger air bag .....................91
Air cleaner filter .......................192
replacing ..................................193
Air conditioning
manual heating and air
conditioning
system ...................28,29,30,31,32
Air suspension ...........................119
All wheel drive (AWD) .............134
Anti-theft system ........................65
arming the system ....................66
disarming a triggered system ..68
disarming an untriggered
system .......................................68
warning light .............................67
Autolamp system (see
Headlamps) .................................49
Automatic dimming mirror ...47,48
Battery .......................................188
battery saver ...........................192
servicing ....................188,189,190
Brakes
adjustment ..............................117
anti-lock ...................................117
fluid, checking and adding ....177
parking ....................................118
Break-in period .............................2
Built-in child seat .......102,107,108
Bulbs,
replacing ........208,210,211,212,213
specifications ..........................213
Capacities for refilling fluids ....225
Cargo area shade ........................64
Childproof locks ..........................55
Cleaning your vehicle ...............215
built-in child seat ...................220engine compartment ..............216
fabric ........................................219
instrument panel ....................219
plastic parts ............................218
safety belts ..............................220
tail lamps .................................218
washing ....................................215
waxing .....................................215
wheels ......................................216
Climate control system ..............28
automatic temperature
control ...................32,33,34,35,36
defrosting .............................59,60
Clutch
fluid ..........................................177
Compass, electronic ....................50
calibration .................................51
set zone adjustment .................51
Console, description ..............58,61
Control trac 4WD system .........128
Controls ..................................58,59
Coolant (see Engine coolant)
proper solution .......................181
Daytime running light system ...26
Differential fluid ........................187
Driveline universal joint and
slip yoke .............................176,187
Driving under special
conditions ..................................130
high water ...............................131
slippery roads ..................132,133
towing a trailer .......................144
Emission control system ..........206
Engine .................................228,231
service points ............170,171,172
Engine block heater .................116
Engine coolant
checking and adding .......180,183
checking hoses .......................184
disposal ....................................182
refill capacities ........................182
Index
233

Engine oil
changing oil and oil filter .......175
specifications ..........................173
Entry system
illumination ...............................66
Exhaust fumes ..........................112
Flashing the lights ......................45
Floor mats ..............................62,63
Foglamps .....................................27
Ford Extended Service Plan ....129
Four way head restraints ...........78
Four-Wheel Drive vehicles
control trac ........................38,128
driving off road .......................130
Fuel ............................................202
calculating fuel economy .......206
improving fuel economy ........146
octane rating ...........................204
quality ......................................205
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................202
Fuel gauge ...................................15
Fuel pump shut-off switch .......147
Fuses ..........................................148
Gauges, Mechanical
engine coolant temperature
gauge .........................................13
engine oil pressure gauge ........13
Hazard flashers ....................44,147
Head restraints ...........................78
Hitch ..........................................144
Hood ..........................................169
Identification Number, Vehicle
(VIN) ..........................................230
Ignition
positions of the ignition ...........39
Jack ..............................................63
Jump-starting your vehicle 160,162
attaching cables ......................161
disconnecting cables ..............162
Keyless entry system
autolock .....................................76keypad .......................................74
locking and unlocking doors ....74
programming entry code .........75
Lamps
instrument panel, dimming .....26
Liftgate ........................................57
Lights, warning and indicator
air bag ........................................11
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ............11
anti-theft .....................................9
brake ..........................................11
charging system ........................10
check engine ...............................9
door ajar ....................................10
four-wheel drive ..........................9
fuel reset ...................................10
high beam .................................11
overdrive off ................................8
safety belt .......................11,87,88
Luggage rack .............................146
Manual transmission
driving .......................121,125,127
fluid, checking and adding ....187
Message center ..16,17,18,19,20,52
air ride switch off .....................21
change oil soon .........................21
check air ride system ...............20
check charging system .............22
check engine temperature .......22
check exterior lamps ................22
door ajar ....................................24
low fuel level .............................24
low oil level ...............................24
low washer fluid .......................24
warning messages .....................20
Moon roof ....................................54
Motorcraft parts ........................222
Odometer .....................................14
Overdrive ................................45,46
Overhead console
storage compartment ...............52
Parking brake ..............................28
Index
234

Power door locks ........................54
Power steering
fluid, checking and adding ....184
Rear window
wiper .....................................37,38
Refill capacities for fluids ........223
Relays ..........................149,150,153
Remote entry system .................69
locking/unlocking doors ......69,70
panic alarm ...............................70
replacement/additional
transmitters ...............................73
replacing the batteries .............72
Reporting safety defects ..........232
Restraints, safety (see Safety
restraints)
head ...........................................78
Safety restraints
adjusting the safety belts ....86,87
energy absorbing sew
pattern ..................................88,89
for children ...............................95
proper use ..................83,84,85,86
Safety seats for children
attaching with tether straps ..101
automatic locking mode
(retractor) ............................97,98
Seats ............................................79
adjusting the seat, power ........80
bench (60-40 split) ..................79
Servicing your vehicle ..............165
precautions when servicing ...165
servicing when you tow .........145
Snowplowing .................................4
Special notice ................................3
ambulance conversions ..............3
utility-type vehicles ....................3
Specification chart, lubricants .225
Speed control ..............................40
indicator light ........................8,43
Speedometer ...............................14
Starting your vehicle ................110preparing to start your
vehicle .....................................112
starting a warm engine ..........115
Steering wheel
tilting .........................................44
Storage compartments
overhead storage
compartment .............................52
Tachometer
mechanical cluster ...................15
Tires
changing ..................................156
checking the pressure ............197
inspection and maintenance ..195
replacing ..................................199
rotating ....................................198
snow tires and chains ............201
spare tire .................................156
tire grades ...............................195
treadwear ................................196
Traction-lok rear axle ...............119
Trailer towing ............................138
safety chains ...........................143
tips ....................................139,144
trailer brakes ...........................143
trailer lamps ............................143
Transfer case (see Differential
fluid) ..........................................188
Transmission
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................186
Trip odometer .............................14
Turn signal
indicator lights ............................9
Two step lock ..............................54
Vehicle dimensions ...................228
Vehicle headlamp aiming
device (VHAD) .........................214
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................230
Ventilating your vehicle ...........111
Index
235