2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT weight

Driving while you tow
When towing a trailer:
²Ensure that you turn off your speed control. The speed control may
shut off automatically when you are towing on long, steep grades.
²Consult your local motor vehicle speed regulations for towing a trailer.
²Use a lower gear when towing up or down steep hills. This will
eliminate excessive downshifting and upshifting for optimum fuel
economy and transmission cooling.
²Anticipate stops and brake gradually.
Exceeding the GCWR rating may cause internal transmission
damage and void your warranty coverage.
Servicing after towing
If you tow a trailer for long distances, your vehicle will require more
frequent service intervals. Refer to your scheduled maintenance guide for
more information.
Trailer towing tips
²Practice turning, stopping and backing up before starting on a trip to
get the feel of the vehicle trailer combination. When turning, make
wider turns so the trailer wheels will clear curbs and other obstacles.
²Allow more distance for stopping with a trailer attached.
²The trailer tongue weight should be no more than 10±15% of the
loaded trailer weight.
²After you have traveled 80 km (50 miles), thoroughly check your
hitch, electrical connections and trailer wheel lug nuts.
²When stopped in traffic for long periods of time in hot weather, place
the gearshift in P (Park) (automatic transmissions) or N (Neutral)
(manual transmissions). This aids engine cooling and air conditioner
efficiency.
²Vehicles with trailers should not be parked on a grade. If you must
park on a grade, place wheel chocks under the trailer's wheels.
Launching or retrieving a boat
When backing down a ramp during boat launching or retrieval:
²do not allow the static water level to rise above the bottom edge of
the rear bumper and
Driving
148

²Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
²Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
Maintenance
²Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
²Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
²Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found in your vehicle scheduled maintenance guide.
Conditions
²Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
²Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
0.4 km/L [1 mpg] is lost for every 180 kg [400 lb] of weight carried).
²Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example bug
deflectors, rollbars/light bars, running boards, ski/luggage racks) may
reduce fuel economy.
²Using fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel economy.
²Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first
12±16 km (8±10 miles) of driving.
²Driving on flat terrain offers improved fuel economy as compared to
driving on hilly terrain.
²Transmissions give their best fuel economy when operated in the top
cruise gear and with steady pressure on the gas pedal.
²Four-wheel-drive operation (if equipped) is less fuel efficient than
two-wheel-drive operation.
²Close windows for high speed driving.
EPA window sticker
Every new vehicle should have the EPA window sticker. Contact your
dealer if the window sticker is not supplied with your vehicle. The EPA
window sticker should be your guide for the fuel economy comparisons
with other vehicles.
Maintenance and care
209

Trailer hitch bars and balls
Trailer hitch wiring adaptor
Protection and appearance equipment
Air bag anti-theft locks
Cargo liners, interior (hard and soft)
Carpet floor mats
Cleaners, waxes and polishes
Door edge guards
Front end covers (full and mini)
Front tow hooks
Hood deflectors
Locking gas cap
Lubricants and oils
Molded splash guards
Molded vinyl floor mats
Rear air deflectors
Side window air deflectors
Skid plates
Touch-up paint
Universal floor mats
For maximum vehicle performance, keep the following information in
mind when adding accessories or equipment to your vehicle:
²When adding accessories, equipment, passengers and luggage to your
vehicle, do not exceed the total weight capacity of the vehicle or of
the front or rear axle (GVWR or GAWR as indicated on the Safety
compliance certification label). Consult your dealer for specific weight
information.
Customer assistance
241

Engine ................................228±229
check engine/service engine
soon light ..................................10
cleaning ...................................220
coolant .....................................183
idle speed control ...................192
lubrication
specifications ..................226, 228
refill capacities ........................224
service points ..........................176
starting after a collision .........152
Engine block heater .................123
Engine oil ..................................177
checking and adding ..............177
dipstick ....................................177
filter, specifications ........179, 224
recommendations ...................179
refill capacities ........................224
specifications ..................226, 228
Exhaust fumes ..........................124
F
Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) ....200
Floor mats ...................................73
Fluid capacities .........................224
Foglamps .....................................20
Four-Wheel Drive
vehicles ................................14, 135
control trac ...............................27
description ..............................136
driving off road .......................138
electronic shift ..................27, 136
indicator light .........................136
preparing to drive your
vehicle .....................................128
Fuel ............................................200
calculating fuel economy .......206
cap .....................................11, 205capacity ...................................224
choosing the right fuel ...........203
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................209
detergent in fuel .....................205
filling your vehicle with
fuel ...........................200, 205, 207
filter, specifications ........206, 224
fuel pump shut-off switch .....152
gauge .........................................19
improving fuel economy ........206
octane rating ...........203, 228±229
quality ......................................204
running out of fuel .................205
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................200
Fuses ..................................154±155
G
Garage door opener ....................64
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ......11, 205
Gas mileage (see Fuel
economy) ...................................206
Gauges .........................................16
battery voltage gauge ...............18
engine coolant temperature
gauge .........................................17
engine oil pressure gauge ........18
fuel gauge ..................................19
odometer ...................................17
speedometer .............................16
tachometer ................................18
trip odometer ............................17
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight
Rating) .......................................141
calculating ...............................143
definition .................................141
driving with a heavy load ......141
location ....................................141
Index
247

GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating) .......................................141
calculating .......................141, 143
definition .................................141
driving with a heavy load ......141
location ....................................141
H
Hazard flashers .........................152
Head restraints .....................87, 91
Headlamps ...................................20
aiming ..............................216±217
bulb specifications ..................216
daytime running lights .............20
flash to pass ..............................21
high beam ...........................13, 21
replacing bulbs .......................212
turning on and off ....................20
warning chime ..........................15
Heating ........................................22
heating and air conditioning
system .......................................22
Hood ..........................................175
I
Ignition .........................56, 228±229
Infant seats (see Safety seats) 113
Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing ........................................211
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................221
cluster ................................10, 222
lighting up panel and
interior .......................................21
location of components ............10J
Jack ............................................161
positioning ...............................161
storage .....................................161
Jump-starting your vehicle ......166
K
Keyless entry system .................79
autolock .....................................82
keypad .......................................79
locking and unlocking doors ....81
programming entry code .........80
Keys .......................................83±85
key in ignition chime ...............15
positions of the ignition ...........56
L
Lamps
bulb replacement
specifications chart ................216
cargo lamps ...............................21
daytime running light ...............20
fog lamps ...................................20
headlamps .................................20
headlamps, flash to pass ..........21
instrument panel, dimming .....21
interior lamps ...................68, 216
replacing bulbs ..............211±212,
214±215
Lane change indicator (see
Turn signal) .................................56
Liftgate ........................................73
Lights, warning and indicator ....10
air bag ........................................12
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ....12, 126
anti-theft ...................................13
brake ..........................................12
Index
248