2003 FORD EXPLORER ECO mode

contact your dealer for service as soon as possible. For further
information, refer toAdvanceTrac
stability enhancement systemin
theDrivingchapter.
ADVTRAC OFF T/C ON.Displayed on 4x4 vehicles only when 4x4 Low
Range is selected. In this mode, the stability enhancement portion of the
AdvanceTrac
is disabled, but the traction enhancement feature remains
enabled. For further information, refer toAdvanceTrac
stability
enhancement systemin theDrivingchapter.
DOOR AJAR.
Displayed when a door or liftgate is not completely closed.
CHANGE OIL SOON/OIL CHANGE REQUIRED.Displayed when the
engine oil life remaining is 5 percent or less. When oil life left is between
5% and 0%, the CHANGE OIL SOON message will be displayed. When oil
life left reaches 0%, the OIL CHANGE REQUIRED message will be
displayed.
An oil change is required whenever indicated by the message center.
USE ONLY RECOMMENDED ENGINE OILS.
To reset the oil monitoring system to 100% after each oil change
[approximately 8,000 km (5,000 miles) or 180 days] perform the
following:
1. Press the SETUP control to
access the System Check function.
2. Press and release the RESET
control to display“OIL LIFE XX%
HOLD RESET NEW”.
3. Press and hold the RESET
control for 2 seconds to display“IF
NEW OIL HOLD RESET”.
4. Press and hold the RESET
control to display OIL LIFE SET TO
100%. Your oil life is now reset.
Driver Controls
71

To reset the oil monitoring system to your personalized oil life %:
1. Press the SETUP control to
access the System Check function.
2. Press and release the RESET
control to display“OIL LIFE XX%
HOLD RESET NEW”.
3. Press and hold the RESET
control for 2 seconds to display“IF
NEW OIL HOLD RESET”.
4. Release the RESET control
momentarily, then press RESET and
SETUP controls at the same time to
activate a service mode which will
display OIL LIFE XX% RESET TO
ALTER.
5. Press RESET until you find your personalized OIL LIFE XX%.
6. With your personalized OIL LIFE XX% displayed, press SETUP to
continue the system check.
DATA ERR.These messages indicate improper operation of the vehicle
network communication between electronic modules.
•Fuel computer
•Oil life
•Charging system
•Door sensor•Washer fluid
•Brake fluid
•Compass
•Outside temperature
•Engine sensor
Contact your dealer as soon as possible if these messages occur on a
regular basis.
Driver Controls
72

5. The doors will lock, then unlock, to confirm that the programming
mode has been activated.
6. Within 20 seconds press any button on the remote entry transmitter.
Note:If more than 20 seconds have passed you will need to start the
procedure over again.
7. The doors will lock, then unlock, to confirm that this remote entry
transmitter has been programmed.
8. Repeat Step 6 to program each additional remote entry transmitter.
9. Turn the ignition to the 1 (LOCK) position after you have finished
programming all of the remote entry transmitters.
10. The doors will lock, then unlock, to confirm that the programming
mode has been exited.
Illuminated entry
The interior lamps illuminate when the remote entry system is used to
unlock the door(s) or sound the personal alarm.
The illuminated entry system will turn off the interior lights if:
•the ignition switch is turned to the ON position, or
•the remote transmitter lock control is pressed, or
•after 25 seconds of illumination.
The dome lamp control (if equipped) mustnotbe set to the OFF
position for the illuminated entry system to operate.
The inside lights will not turn off if:
•they have been turned on with the dimmer control, or
•any door is open.
The battery saver will shut off the interior lamps 10 minutes after the
ignition has been turned to the OFF position.
Locks and Security
82

2. Press and hold the 1•2 for two seconds. This must be done within
five seconds of completing step 1.
3. Press the 7•8 and the 9•0 at the same time. This must be done
within five seconds of completing step 2.
Your personal code is now erased and only the factory set 5–digit code
will work.
Anti-scan feature
If the wrong code has been entered 35 times, the keypad will go into an
anti-scan mode. This mode disables the keypad for one minute and the
keypad lamp will flash.
The anti-scan feature will turn off after:
•one minute of keypad inactivity.
•pressing the UNLOCK
control on the remote entry transmitter.
•the ignition is turned to the ON position.
•a key turned to the UNLOCK
position on the driver’s door (if the
vehicle is equipped with a perimeter anti-theft system).
Unlocking and locking the doors, liftgate and liftgate window using
keyless entry
To unlock the driver’s door,enter the factory set 5-digit code or your
personal code. Each number must be pressed within five seconds of each
other. The interior lamps will illuminate.
To unlock all doors and liftgate,press the 3•4 control within five
seconds.
To open the liftgate window,press the 5•6 control within five
seconds.
To lock all doors, liftgate and liftgate window,press the 7•8 and
the 9•0 at the same time.Note:The driver’s door must be closed. You
do notneed to enter the keypad code first.
Autolock
This feature will automatically lock all the doors when:
•all the doors are closed,
•the ignition key is in the ON position,
•the gearshift lever is shifted into R reverse or a forward gear and
•the brake pedal is released.
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84

The parking lamps will flash once when all doors/hood/liftgate and
liftgate window are closed indicating the vehicle is locked and entering
the 20 second countdown.
DISARMING THE SYSTEM
You can disarm the system by any of the following actions:
•Unlock the doors by using the
on the remote entry transmitter.
•Unlock the doors by using your keyless entry pad.
•Unlock the driver’s door with a key. Turn the key full travel (toward
the front of the vehicle) to make sure the alarm disarms.
•Turn ignition to ON.
•Press the
on the remote entry transmitter. This will only shut off
the horn and parking lamps when the alarm is sounding. The alarm
system will still be armed.
•Press the liftgate window control on the remote entry transmitter. The
liftgate and liftgate window are no longer armed, but the doors and
hood are still armed. To disarm the doors and hood, press the liftgate
power door lock control.
Pressing the power door UNLOCK trim switch within the 20 second
prearmed mode will return the vehicle to a disarmed state.
TRIGGERING THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM
The armed system will be triggered if:
•Any door, the liftgate, liftgate window or hood is opened without using
the door key, keypad or the remote entry transmitter.
Power door lock disable feature
This feature disables the power door locks and liftgate power door lock
control switches if all doors are closed and the perimeter alarm becomes
armed.
Once the locks are disabled, they only become active when the perimeter
alarm is disarmed or a door, liftgate, liftgate window or hood is open.
Locks and Security
89

When installing a child safety seat:
•Review and follow the information
presented in theAir bag
supplemental restraint system
(SRS) section in this chapter.
•Use the correct safety belt buckle
for that seating position (the
buckle closest to the direction the
tongue is coming from).
•Insert the belt tongue into the
proper buckle until you hear a
snap and feel it latch. Make sure the tongue is securely fastened in the
buckle.
•Keep the buckle release button pointing up and away from the safety
seat, with the tongue between the child seat and the release button,
to prevent accidental unbuckling.
•Place seat back in upright position.
•Put the safety belt in the automatic locking mode. Refer toAutomatic
locking mode(passenger side front and outboard rear seating
positions) (if equipped) section in this chapter.
Ford recommends the use of a child safety seat having a top tether
strap. Install the child safety seat in a seating position with a tether
anchor. For more information on top tether straps, refer toAttaching
child safety seats with tether straps.in this chapter.
Carefully follow all of the manufacturer’s instructions included
with the safety seat you put in your vehicle. If you do not install
and use the safety seat properly, the child may be injured in a sudden
stop or collision.
Rear-facing child seats or infant carriers should never be placed
in the front seats.
Seating and Safety Restraints
125

To put your vehicle in P (Park):
•Come to a complete stop
•Move the gearshift lever and securely latch it in P (Park)
Always set the parking brake fully and make sure the gearshift is
latched in P (Park). Turn the ignition to the LOCK position and
remove the key whenever you leave your vehicle.
R (Reverse)
With the gearshift lever in R (Reverse), the vehicle will move backward.
Always come to a complete stop before shifting into and out of R
(Reverse).
N (Neutral)
With the gearshift lever in N (Neutral), the vehicle can be started and is
free to roll. Hold the brake pedal down while in this position.
D(Overdrive)
The normal driving position for the best fuel economy. Transmission
operates in gears one through five. D (Overdrive) can be deactivated by
pressing the transmission control switch on the end of the gearshift
lever. This will illuminate the O/D OFF lamp and activate Drive.
Drive (not shown)
Drive is activated when the transmission control switch is pressed.
•This position allows for all forward gears except overdrive.
•O/D OFF lamp is illuminated.
•Provides engine braking.
•Use when driving conditions cause excessive shifting from O/D to
other gears. Examples: city traffic, hilly terrain, heavy loads, trailer
towing and when engine braking is required.
•To return to O/D (overdrive mode), press the transmission control
switch. The O/D OFF lamp will not be illuminated.
•O/D (Overdrive) is automatically returned each time the key is turned
off.
3 (Third)
Transmission operates in third gear only.
Used for improved traction on slippery roads. Selecting 3 (Third)
provides engine braking.
Driving
146

Parking
On some 4WD vehicles, when the transfer case is in the N (Neutral)
position, the engine and transmission are disconnected from the rest of
the driveline. Therefore, the vehicle is free to roll even if the automatic
transmission is in P (Park) or the manual transmission is in gear. Do not
leave the vehicle unattended with the transfer case in the N (Neutral)
position. Always set the parking brake fully and turn off the ignition
when leaving the vehicle.
4WD Systems
4WD (when you select a 4WD mode) uses all four wheels to power the
vehicle. This increases traction, enabling you to drive over terrain and
road conditions that a conventional two-wheel drive vehicle cannot.
Power is supplied to all four wheels
through a transfer case. On 4WD
vehicles, the transfer case allows
you to select 4WD when necessary.
Information on transfer case
operation and shifting procedures
can be found in theDriving
chapter. Information on transfer
case maintenance can be found in theMaintenance and specifications
chapter. You should become thoroughly familiar with this information
before you operate your vehicle.
Normal characteristics
On some 4WD models, the initial shift from two-wheel drive to 4x4 while
the vehicle is moving can cause some momentary clunk and ratcheting
sounds. This is the front drivetrain coming up to speed and the
automatic locking hubs engaging and is not cause for concern.
Sand
When driving over sand, try to keep all four wheels on the most solid
area of the trail. Avoid reducing the tire pressures but shift to a lower
gear and drive steadily through the terrain. Apply the accelerator slowly
and avoid spinning the wheels.
If you must reduce the tire pressure for whatever reason in sand, make
sure you re-inflate the tires as soon as possible.
Avoid excessive speed because vehicle momentum can work against you
and cause the vehicle to become stuck to the point that assistance may
be required from another vehicle. Remember, you may be able to back
out the way you came if you proceed with caution.
Driving
154