2004 FORD EXPLORER Owners Manual

Memory seat/easy entry/exit feature (if equipped)
This system allows automatic
positioning of the driver seat to
three programmable positions.
The memory seat control is located
on the driver door.
•To program position one, move
the driver seat to the desired
position using the seat controls.
Press the SET control. The SET
control indicator light will briefly
illuminate. While the light is illuminated, press control 1.
•To program position two, repeat the previous procedure using control
2.
•To program position three, push buttons 1 and 2 simultaneously.
A position can only be set or recalled when the transmission gearshift is
in Park or Neutral. A memory seat position may be programmed at any
time.
The memory seat positions are also recalled when you press your remote
entry transmitter UNLOCK control.
The third position is recalled when both buttons are depressed.
To program the memory seat to remote entry transmitter, refer to
Remote entry systemin theLocks and Securitychapter.
The easy entry/exit feature automatically moves the drivers seat
backwards slightly (if room is available) when the key is removed from
the ignition. It will automatically move the seat forward to the original
position when the key is inserted into the ignition.
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Using the manual lumbar support
For more lumbar support, turn the
lumbar support control toward the
front of vehicle.
For less lumbar support, turn the
lumbar support control toward the
rear of vehicle.
Heated seats (if equipped)
To operate the heated seats:
•Push control located on the seat
to activate.
•Push again to deactivate.
The heated seat icon in the dual electronic automatic temperature
control (DEATC) will illuminate when activated.
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REAR SEATS
Folding down the 60/40 rear seats (if equipped)
If the rear seat is equipped with adjustable head restraints, they should
be placed in the full down position before folding the seat back down.
1. Pull upward on the release handle
to cycle the seats to the load-floor
position.
2. Rotate the seatback downward
into the load floor position.
3. Press down on the top outboard
area of the seatback until a click is
heard. The seat is now latched in
the floor position.
To return the seat to the upright position:
•Pull the release handle upward to unlatch the seat.
•Rotate the seatback upward until the seatback latches in the upright
position. The seatback will click when it is locked into position.
Folding down the 40/20/40 rear seats or bucket seats
Ensure that the headrest is in the down position and no objects such as
books, purses or briefcases are on the floor in front of the second row
seats before folding them down.
Move front passenger seat forward so that the second row seat headrest
clears the front seat.
For assistance, refer to the label located on the lower position of the
opening.
1. Locate handle on the side of the
seat cushion by the door.
2. Pull forward on the upper portion
of the release handle and push the
seatback toward the front of the
vehicle.
3. Press down on the top outboard
area of the seatback until a click is
heard.
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Adjusting the 2nd row recline
The 2nd row reclines for additional comfort. To adjust the 2nd row
recline, pull the handle forward and push the seat back rearward.
Reclining the seatback can cause an occupant to slide under the
seat’s safety belt, resulting in severe personal injuries in the
event of a collision.
Operating the 2nd row seat for E-Z Entry (if equipped)
The E-Z Entry seat allows for easier entry and exit to and from the 3rd
row seat.
To enter the 3rd row seat:
1. Fold down the 2nd row seat.
2. Push the handle all the way
forward until the seat releases from
the floor.
3. Push the seat upward and fold
away from the third row.
Never drive with the seat flipped up in an unlatched condition.
To return the seat to a seating
position:
1. Push the seat down and latch to
the floor with a moderate amount of
effort and speed.
2. Make sure the seat is latched to
the floor.
3. Push the handle forward just
enough so that the seat back is
released.
4. Bring the seat back to an upright position. The seatback should lock
into position.
Note:If the seat back is “locked out” and cannot return to the upright
position, repeat Step 2 and unlatch the seat from the floor. Repeat
latching to the floor with a moderate amount of force and momentum.
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Your seats are equipped with an Interlock Safety Mechanism which will
not allow the seats to return to a usable position if the seat is not fully
latched to the floor!
To exit the 3rd row seat, pull the
red access control lever up releasing
the seat from the floor and rotate
the seat up towards the front seat.
Always latch the vehicle seat to the floor, whether the seat is
occupied or empty. If not latched, the seat may cause injury
during a sudden stop.
Folding the middle 2nd row seat (If equipped)
To fold the seatback down:
1. Locate the lever on the top left of
the seatback.
2. Pull the lever up and push the
seatback toward the front of the
vehicle.
3. Press down on the top outboard
area of the seatback until a click is
heard.
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To return the seatback to the
upright position:
1. Pull the lever and lift the
seatback toward the rear of the
vehicle.
2. Rotate the seatback until you
hear a click, locking it in the upright
position.
Third row seat (if equipped)
3rd row stow feature
The 3rd row seat has a tip/stow feature to increase cargo space without
removing the seat from the vehicle.
Lower the head restraints before putting the seat in the stowed position.
To put seat in stowed position:
1. Pull the seat release lever located
on top of the seatback while
pushing the seatback down onto the
seat cushion.
2. The seatback will latch into place.
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3. Push the closeout panel forward
over the space between the seats.
To put seat in upright position:
1. Pull back the slider panel on the
seatback to release the closeout
panel.
2. Pull the seat release lever located
on top of the seatback while lifting
the seatback into the upright
position.
3. The seatback will latch into place.
The third row seat is equipped with
combination lap and shoulder belts
in both seating positions. For
information on the proper operation
of the safety restraints, refer to
Safety Restraintsin this chapter.
SAFETY RESTRAINTS
Personal Safety System
The Personal Safety System provides an improved overall level of frontal
crash protection to front seat occupants and is designed to help further
reduce the risk of air bag-related injuries. The system is able to analyze
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different occupant conditions and crash severity before activating the
appropriate safety devices to help better protect a range of occupants in
a variety of frontal crash situations.
Your vehicle’s Personal Safety System consists of:
•Driver and passenger dual-stage air bag supplemental restraints.
•Front safety belts with pretensioners, energy management retractors,
and safety belt usage sensors.
•Driver’s seat position sensor.
•Front crash severity sensor.
•Restraints Control Module (RCM).
•Restraint system warning light and back-up tone.
•The electrical wiring for the air bags, crash sensor(s), safety belt
pretensioners, front safety belt usage sensors, driver seat position
sensor, and indicator lights.
How does the personal safety system work?
The Personal Safety System can adapt the deployment strategy of your
vehicle’s safety devices according to crash severity and occupant
conditions. A collection of crash and occupant sensors provides
information to the Restraints Control Module (RCM). During a crash, the
RCM activates the safety belt pretensioners and/or either one or both
stages of the dual-stage air bag supplemental restraints based on crash
severity and occupant conditions.
The fact that the pretensioners or air bags did not activate for both front
seat occupants in a collision does not mean that something is wrong with
the system. Rather, it means the Personal Safety System determined the
accident conditions (crash severity, belt usage, etc.) were not
appropriate to activate these safety devices. Front air bags are designed
to activate only in frontal and near-frontal collisions, not rollovers,
side-impacts, or rear-impacts unless the collision causes sufficient
longitudinal deceleration.
Driver and passenger dual-stage air bag supplemental restraints
The dual-stage air bags offer the capability to tailor the level of air bag
inflation energy. A lower, less forceful energy level is provided for more
common, moderate-severity impacts. A higher energy level is used for
the most severe impacts. Refer toAir bag Supplemental Restraints
section in this chapter.
Front crash severity sensor
The front crash severity sensor enhances the ability to detect the
severity of an impact. Positioned up front, it provides valuable
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