2006 FORD EXPLORER ECO mode

To reduce the risk of injury, do not deactivate/activate the
BeltMinderyfeature while driving the vehicle.
1. Turn the ignition switch to the RUN (or ON) position. (DO NOT
START THE ENGINE)
2. Wait until the safety belt warning light turns off. (Approximately 1
minute)
²Step 3 must be completed within 50 seconds after the safety belt
warning light turns off.
3. For the seating position being disabled, at a moderate speed, buckle
then unbuckle the safety belt 9 times, ending in the unbuckled state.
(Step 3 must be completed within 50 seconds after the safety belt
warning light turns off.)
²After Step 3, the restraint system warning light (airbag light) will be
turned on for three seconds.
4. Within 10 seconds of the light turning on, at a moderate speed, buckle
then unbuckle the safety belt.
²This will disable the BeltMinderyfeature for that seating position if it
is currently enabled. As confirmation, the restraint system warning
light will flash 4 times per second for 3 seconds.
²This will enable the BeltMinderyfeature for that seating position if it
is currently disabled. As confirmation, the restraint system warning
light will flash 4 times per second for 3 seconds, followed by 3
seconds with the light off, then followed by the restraint system
warning light flashing 4 times per second for 3 seconds again.
Safety belt maintenance
Inspect the safety belt systems periodically to make sure they work
properly and are not damaged. Inspect the safety belts to make sure
there are no nicks, tears or cuts. Replace if necessary. All safety belt
assemblies, including retractors, buckles, front safety belt buckle
assemblies, buckle support assemblies (slide bar-if equipped), shoulder
belt height adjusters (if equipped), shoulder belt guide on seatback (if
equipped), child safety seat LATCH and tether anchors, and attaching
hardware, should be inspected after a collision. Ford Motor Company
recommends that all safety belt assemblies in use in vehicles involved in
a collision be replaced. However, if the collision was minor and an
authorized dealer finds that the belts do not show damage and continue
to operate properly, they do not need to be replaced. Safety belt
Seating and Safety Restraints
140

Never use pillows, books, or towels to boost a child. They can
slide around and increase the likelihood of injury or death in a
collision.
SAFETY SEATS FOR CHILDREN
Child and infant or child safety seats
Use a safety seat that is recommended for the size and weight of the
child. Carefully follow all of the manufacturer's instructions 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.
When installing a child safety seat:
²Review and follow the information
presented in theairbag
supplemental restraint system
(SRS) section in this chapter.
²Use the correct safety belt buckle
for that seating position (the
buckle closest to the direction the
tongue is coming from).
²Insert 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.
²Keep 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.
²Place seat back in upright position.
²Put 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.
²LATCH lower anchors are recommended for use by children up to 48
lb. (22 kg) in a child restraint. Top tether anchors can be used for
children up to 60 pounds (27 kg) in a child restraint, and to provide
upper torso restraint for children up to 80 lb. (36 kg) using an upper
torso harness and a belt-positioning booster.
Seating and Safety Restraints
160

Power is supplied to all four wheels
through a transfer case or power
transfer unit. 4WD vehicles allow
you to select different drive modes
as necessary. Information on
transfer case operation and shifting
procedures can be found in the
Drivingchapter. Information on
transfer case maintenance can be found in theMaintenance and
Specificationschapter. You should become thoroughly familiar with this
information before you operate your vehicle.
On some 4WD models, the initial shift from two-wheel drive to 4WD
while the vehicle is moving can cause a momentary clunk and ratcheting
sound. These sounds are normal as the front drivetrain comes up to
speed and is not cause for concern.
Do not become overconfident in the ability of 4WD and AWD
vehicles. Although a 4WD or AWD vehicle may accelerate better
than two-wheel drive vehicle in low traction situations, it won't stop
any faster than two-wheel drive vehicles. Always drive at a safe speed.
How your vehicle differs from other vehicles
SUV and trucks can differ from
some other vehicles in a few
noticeable ways. Your vehicle may
be:
²Higher ± to allow higher load
carrying capacity and to allow it
to travel over rough terrain
without getting hung up or
damaging underbody components.
²Shorter ± to give it the capability
to approach inclines and drive
over the crest of a hill without
getting hung up or damaging
underbody components. All other
things held equal, a shorter
wheelbase may make your vehicle quicker to respond to steering
inputs than a vehicle with a longer wheelbase.
Tires, Wheels and Loading
171

Low Tire Pressure
Warning LightPossible cause Customer Action Required
Flashing Warning
Light (flashes for 20
to 30 seconds either
at start-up or while
driving)Spare tire in use Your temporary spare tire is in
use. Repair the damaged road
wheel and re-mount it on the
vehicle to restore system
functionality. For a description
of how the system functions
under these conditions, refer to
Changing tires with TPMSin
this section.
TPMS
malfunctionIf your tires are properly
inflated and your spare tire is
not in use and a flashing TPMS
warning light is still present,
have the system inspected by
your authorized dealer.
When inflating your tires
When putting air into your tires (such as at a gas station or in your
garage), the Tire Pressure Monitoring System may not respond
immediately to the air added to your tires. Here are the details:
²The tire pressure sensors mounted in your wheels updates your
vehicle with tire pressure information only once every minute,
therefore it may take up to two minutes of driving over 20 mph (32
km/h) for the light to turn OFF after you have filled your tires to the
recommended tire pressure.
²If your vehicle has been parked for over 30 minutes, the sensors go
into a low power mode to conserve battery life and therefore only
transmit about once every 6 hours. If you inflate your tires under
these conditions, it may take up to two minutes of driving over 20
mph (32 km/h) for the light to turn OFF after you have filled your
tires to the recommended tire pressure.
For these reasons, the low tire pressure warning light is NOT a
substitute for using an accurate tire gauge when checking and filling
your tires.
Tires, Wheels and Loading
190

D (Drive) without Overdrive
Overdrive can be deactivated by
pressing the transmission control
switch on the side of the gearshift
lever.
²This position allows for all
forward gears (1-4) except
overdrive.
²Provides engine braking.
²Use 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.
²O/D OFF lamp is illuminated.
²To return to O/D (overdrive mode), press the transmission control
switch. The O/D OFF lamp will not be illuminated.
²O/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.
2 (Second)
Use 2 (Second) to start-up on slippery roads or to provide additional
engine braking on downgrades.
O/D
OFF
Driving
220

D (Drive) without Overdrive
Overdrive can be deactivated by
pressing the transmission control
switch on the side of the shift lever.
²This position allows for all
forward gears (1-4) except
overdrive.
²Provides engine braking.
²Use 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.
²O/D OFF lamp is illuminated.
²To return to O/D (overdrive mode), press the transmission control
switch. The O/D OFF lamp will not be illuminated.
²O/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.
2 (Second)
Transmission operates in 2nd gear only.
Use 2 (Second) to start-up on slippery roads or to provide additional
engine braking on downgrades.
1 (First)
²Transmission operates in 1st gear only.
²Provides maximum engine braking.
O/D
OFF
Driving
223

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.
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.
If the parking brake is fully released, but the brake warning lamp
remains illuminated, the brakes may not be working properly.
See your authorized dealer.
4WD Systems
4WD 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.
Note:If your vehicle is equipped with the Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS), the system indicator light may illuminate depending on
Driving
230

²Use snow chains on the end of the vehicle with the dissimilar spare
tire
²Use more than one dissimilar spare tire at a time
²Use commercial car washing equipment
²Try to repair the dissimilar spare tire
Use of one of the dissimilar spare tires listed above at any one wheel
location can lead to impairment of the following:
²Handling, stability and braking performance
²Comfort and noise
²Ground clearance and parking at curbs
²Winter weather driving capability
²Wet weather driving capability
For vehicles equipped with 4WD, it is not recommended that the vehicle
be operated in 4WD modes with a temporary emergency spare tire. If
4WD operation is necessary, do not operate above speeds of 10 mph (16
km/h) or for distances above 50 miles (80 km).
3.Full-size dissimilar spare without label on wheel
When driving with the full-size dissimilar spare tire/wheel,do not:
²Exceed 70 mph (113 km/h)
²Use more than one dissimilar spare tire/wheel at a time
²Use commercial car washing equipment
²Use snow chains on the end of the vehicle with the dissimilar spare
tire/wheel
The usage of a full-size dissimilar spare tire/wheel can lead to
impairment of the following:
²Handling, stability and braking performance
²Comfort and noise
²Ground clearance and parking at curbs
²Winter weather driving capability
²Wet weather driving capability
²All-Wheel driving capability (if applicable)
²Load leveling adjustment (if applicable)
Roadside Emergencies
248