2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC Owners Manual

Habits
²Smooth, moderate operation can yield up to 10% savings in fuel.
²Steady speeds without stopping will usually give the best fuel
economy.
²Idling for long periods of time (greater than one minute) may waste
fuel.
²Anticipate stopping; slowing down may eliminate the need to stop.
²Sudden or hard accelerations may reduce fuel economy.
²Slow down gradually.
²Driving at reasonable speeds (traveling at 88 km/h [55 mph] uses 15%
less fuel than traveling at 105 km/h [65 mph]).
²Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce fuel economy.
²Using the air conditioner or defroster may reduce fuel economy.
²You may want to turn off the speed control in hilly terrain if
unnecessary shifting between third and fourth gear occurs.
Unnecessary shifting of this type could result in reduced fuel
economy.
²Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
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).
Maintenance and care
217

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.
It is important to note the box in the lower left corner of the window
sticker. These numbers represent the Range of L/100 km (MPG)
expected on the vehicle under optimum conditions. Your fuel economy
may vary depending upon the method of operation and conditions.
EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM
Your vehicle is equipped with various emission control components and a
catalytic converter which will enable your vehicle to comply with
applicable exhaust emission standards. To make sure that the catalytic
converter and other emission control components continue to work
properly:
²Use only unleaded fuel .
²Avoid running out of fuel.
²Do not turn off the ignition while your vehicle is moving, especially at
high speeds.
²Have the items listed in your scheduled maintenance guide performed
according to the specified schedule.
Maintenance and care
218

The scheduled maintenance items listed in the scheduled maintenance
guide are essential to the life and performance of your vehicle and to its
emissions system.
If other than Ford, Motorcraft or Ford-authorized parts are used for
maintenance replacements or for service of components affecting
emission control, such non-Ford parts should be equivalent to genuine
Ford Motor Company parts in performance and durability.
Do not park, idle, or drive your vehicle in dry grass or other dry
ground cover. The emission system heats up the engine
compartment and exhaust system, which can start a fire.
Illumination of the ªCheck Engineº light, charging system warning light
or the temperature warning light, fluid leaks, strange odors, smoke or
loss of engine power, could indicate that the emission control system is
not working properly.
Exhaust leaks may result in entry of harmful and potentially
lethal fumes into the passenger compartment.
Do not make any unauthorized changes to your vehicle or engine. By
law, vehicle owners and anyone who manufactures, repairs, services,
sells, leases, trades vehicles, or supervises a fleet of vehicles are not
permitted to intentionally remove an emission control device or prevent
it from working. Information about your vehicle's emission system is on
the Vehicle Emission Control Information Decal located on or near the
engine. This decal identifies engine displacement and gives some tune up
specifications.
Please consult your ªWarranty Guideº for complete emission warranty
information.
Maintenance and care
219

Readiness for Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) testing
In some localities, it may be a legal requirement to pass an I/M test of
the on-board diagnostics system. If your ªCheck Engine/Service Engine
Soonº light is on, refer to the description in theWarning lights and
chimessection of theInstrumentationchapter. 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 on-board diagnostics system is reset to a ªnot ready for I/M testº
condition. To ready the on-board diagnostics system for I/M testing, a
minimum of 30 minutes of city and highway driving is necessary as
described below:
²First, at least 10 minutes of driving on an expressway or highway.
²Next, at least 20 minutes driving in stop-and-go, city-type traffic with
at least four idle periods.
Allow the vehicle to sit for at least eight hours without starting the
engine. Then, start the engine and complete the above driving cycle. The
engine must warm up to its normal operating temperature. Once started,
do not turn off the engine until the above driving cycle is complete.
BULBS
Replacing exterior bulbs
Check the operation of the following lamps frequently:
²Headlamps
²Foglamps
²High-mount brakelamp
²Brakelamps
²Turn signals
²License plate lamp
²Tail lamps
²Back-up lamps
Do not remove lamp bulbs unless they can be replaced immediately with
new ones. If a bulb is removed for an extended period of time,
contaminants may enter the lamp housings and affect lamp performance.
Maintenance and care
220

Replacing headlamp bulbs
To remove the headlamp bulb:
1. Make sure headlamp switch is in
OFF position, then lift hood and lift
the plastic headlamp cover.
2. At the back of the headlamp, pry
up and remove the two retainer pins
to release the headlamp assembly
from the vehicle and pull headlamp
forward.
3. Disconnect the electrical
connector from the bulb by pulling
rearward.
4. Remove the bulb retaining ring by
rotating it counterclockwise (when
viewed from the rear) to free it
from the bulb socket, and slide the
ring off the plastic base. Keep the
ring to retain the new bulb.
5. Without turning, remove the old
bulb from the lamp assembly by
gently pulling it straight back out of
the lamp assembly.
To install the new bulb:
Handle a halogen headlamp bulb carefully and keep out of
children's reach. Grasp the bulb only by its plastic base and do
not touch the glass. The oil from your hand could cause the bulb to
break the next time the headlamps are operated.
Maintenance and care
221

1. With the flat side of the new bulb's plastic base facing upward, insert
the glass end of the bulb into the lamp assembly. Turn the bulb left or
right to align the grooves in the plastic base with the tabs in the lamp
assembly. When the grooves are aligned, push the bulb into the lamp
assembly until the plastic base contacts the rear of the lamp assembly.
2. Install the bulb retaining ring over the plastic base until it contacts the
rear of the socket by rotating it clockwise until you feel a ªstop.º
3. Connect the electrical connector into the rear of the plastic base until
it snaps, locking it into position.
4. Install the headlamp on vehicle by aligning the lamp on the vehicle,
push rearward and secure with two retainer pins.
5. Install the protective cover over headlamps locking it in place.
6. Turn the headlamps on and make sure they work properly. If the
headlamp was correctly aligned before you changed the bulb, you should
not need to align it again.
Replacing front parking lamp/turn signal bulbs
1. Remove screw from the lamp
assembly.
2. Disengage lamp assembly.
3. Rotate bulb socket
counterclockwise and remove from
lamp assembly.
4. Carefully pull bulb straight out of
socket and push in the new bulb.
5. Install bulb socket in lamp
assembly by turning clockwise.
6. Align the parking lamp assembly
and push to snap in place.
7. Install screw on lamp assembly.
Maintenance and care
222

Replacing tail lamp/turn/backup lamp bulbs
The tail lamp/turn/backup lamp bulbs are located in the same portion of
the tail lamp assembly, one just below the other. Follow the same steps
to replace either bulb:
1. Lower the tailgate to expose the
lamp assembly.
2. Remove the three rubber plugs,
screws and the lamp assembly from
vehicle.
3. Rotate bulb socket
counterclockwise and remove from
lamp assembly.
4. Carefully pull the bulb straight
out of the socket and push in the
new bulb.
5. Install the bulb socket in lamp
assembly by turning clockwise.
6. Install the lamp assembly and
secure with three screws and rubber
plugs.
Replacing foglamp bulbs
1. Remove the bulb socket from the
foglamp by turning
counterclockwise.
2. Disconnect the electrical
connector from the foglamp bulb.
3. Connect the electrical connector to the new foglamp bulb.
4. Install the bulb socket in the foglamp turning clockwise.
Replacing high-mount brakelamp and cargo lamp bulbs
The replacement of the high-mount brakelamp bulb and cargo lamp bulb
is basically the same. This procedure covers the high-mount brakelamp
bulb.
Maintenance and care
223

To remove the brakelamp assembly:
1. Remove the two screws and lamp
assembly from vehicle.
2. Remove the bulb socket from
lamp assembly by rotating it 45
degrees.
3. Carefully pull bulb straight out of
socket and push in the new bulb.
To install the brakelamp assembly:
1. Install the bulb socket into the
lamp assembly and rotate 45
degrees.
2. Install the lamp assembly on the vehicle and secure with two screws.
Replacing license plate lamp bulbs
The license plate bulbs are located
behind the rear bumper. To change
the license plate lamp bulbs:
1. Reach behind the rear bumper to
locate the bulb socket.
2. Twist the socket counterclockwise
and remove.
3. Pull out the old bulb from socket
and push in the new bulb.
4. Install the bulb socket in lamp
assembly by turning it clockwise.
USING THE RIGHT BULBS
Replacement bulbs are specified in the chart below. Headlamp bulbs
must be marked with an authorized ªD.O.T.º for North America and an
ªEº for Europe to assure lamp performance, light brightness and pattern
and safe visibility. The correct bulbs will not damage the lamp assembly
or void the lamp assembly warranty and will provide quality bulb burn
time.
Maintenance and care
224