2006 FORD EXPLORER flat tire

Have a flat serviced by an authorized dealer in order to prevent damage
to the TPMS sensor, refer toChanging tires with TPMSin theTires,
Wheels and Loadingchapter. Replace the spare tire with a road tire as
soon as possible.
The use of tire sealants may damage your tires. The use of tire
sealants may also damage your Tire Pressure Monitoring System
and should not be used.
Refer toTire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)in the
Tires, Wheels and Loadingchapter for important information. If
the tire pressure monitor sensor becomes damaged, it will no longer
function.
Dissimilar spare tire/wheel information
Failure to follow these guidelines could result in an increased
risk of loss of vehicle control, injury or death.
If you have a dissimilar spare tire/wheel, then it is intended for
temporary use only. This means that if you need to use it, you should
replace it as soon as possible with a road tire/wheel that is the same size
and type as the road tires and wheels that were originally provided by
Ford. If the dissimilar spare tire or wheel is damaged, it should be
replaced rather than repaired.
A dissimilar spare tire/wheel is defined as a spare tire and/or wheel that
is different in brand, size or appearance from the road tires and wheels
and can be one of three types:
1.T-type mini-spare:This spare tire begins with the letter ªTº for tire
size and may have ªTemporary Use Onlyº molded in the sidewall
2.Full-size dissimilar spare with label on wheel:This spare tire has
a label on the wheel that states: ªTHIS TIRE AND WHEEL FOR
TEMPORARY USE ONLYº
When driving with one of the dissimilar spare tires listed above,do not:
²Exceed 50 mph (80 km/h)
²Load the vehicle beyond maximum vehicle load rating listed on the
Safety Compliance Label
²Tow a trailer
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247

When driving with the full-size dissimilar spare tire/wheel additional
caution should be given to:
²Towing a trailer
²Driving vehicles equipped with a camper body
²Driving vehicles with a load on the cargo rack
Drive cautiously when using a full-size dissimilar spare tire/wheel and
seek service as soon as possible.
Stopping and securing the vehicle
1. If you get a flat tire while driving,
do not apply the brake heavily;
instead, gradually decrease your
speed. Hold the steering wheel
firmly and slowly move to a safe
place on the side of the road.
2. Park on a level surface, activate
the hazard flashers and set the
parking brake.
3. Place gearshift lever in P (Park)
and turn engine OFF.
When one of the rear wheels is off the ground, the transmission
alone will not prevent the vehicle from moving or slipping off the
jack, even if the transmission is in P (Park).
Note:Passengers should not remain
in the vehicle when the vehicle is
being jacked.
4. Block the wheel that is diagonally
opposite of the flat tire using the
wheel chock provided with your
vehicle.
Location of the spare tire and tools
Note:If your vehicle is equipped with the tire pressure monitoring
system (TPMS), the system indicator light will illuminate when the spare
is in use. To restore the full functionality of the TPMS system, all road
wheels equipped with the tire pressure monitoring sensors must be
mounted on the vehicle
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249

If your vehicle is equipped with TPMS, have a flat tire serviced by an
authorized dealer in order to prevent damage to the TPMS sensor, refer
toChanging tires with TPMSin theTires, Wheels and Loading
chapter. Replace the spare tire with a road tire as soon as possible.
The spare tire and tools for your vehicle are stowed in the following
locations:
Tool Location
Spare tire Under the vehicle, just in front of
the rear bumper. The spare tire
winch drive nut is located at the
rear center of the cargo area
under a lid.
Jack, lug nut wrench, jack handle,
wheel chockBehind the rear seat under the
carpeted floor lid in the cargo
floor. The tools are located in a
bag attached to the jack.
Removing the jack and tools
1. Open liftgate and remove the
carpeted floor lid, then the jack.
2. Unscrew the wing bolt to detach
the tether from the jack.
3. Turn jack screw eyelet
counterclockwise and remove the
jack from the bracket.
4. Remove the tools from the
provided bag.
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250

To lessen the risk of
personal injury, do not put
any part of your body under the
vehicle while changing a tire. Do
not start the engine when your
vehicle is on the jack. The jack is
only meant for changing the tire.
²Never use the front or rear
differential as a jacking point.
5. Remove the lug nuts with the lug wrench.
6. Replace the flat tire with the spare tire, making sure the valve stem is
facing outward. Reinstall the lug nuts, cone side in, until the wheel is
snug against the hub. Do not fully tighten the lug nuts until the wheel
has been lowered.
7. Lower the wheel by turning the jack handle counterclockwise.
8. Remove the jack and fully tighten
the lug nuts in the order shown.
Refer toWheel lug nut torque
specificationslater in this chapter
for the proper lug nut torque
specification.
Stowing the flat/spare tire
Note:Failure to follow spare tire stowage instructions may result in
failure of cable or loss of spare tire.
1. Lay the tire on the ground with the valve stem facing up, toward the
vehicle.
2. Slide the wheel partially under the vehicle and install the retainer
through the wheel center. Pull on the cable to align the components at
the end of the cable.
3. Turn the lug wrench clockwise until the tire is raised to its stowed
position underneath the vehicle. The effort to turn the jack handle
increases significantly and the spare tire carrier ratchets or slips when
1
4 3
2 5
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254

the tire is raised to the maximum tightness. Tighten to the best of your
ability, to the point where the ratchet/slip occurs, if possible. The spare
tire carrier will not allow you to overtighten. If the spare tire carrier
ratchets or slips with little effort, take the vehicle to your authorized
dealer for assistance at your earliest convenience.
4. Check that the tire lies flat against the frame and is properly
tightened. Try to push or pull, then turn the tire to be sure it will not
move. Loosen and retighten, if necessary. Failure to properly stow the
spare tire may result in failure of the winch cable and loss of the tire.
5. If your vehicle is equipped with a spare tire lock and key, be sure to
install the spare tire lock into the bumper drive tube with the spare tire
lock key and jack handle.
6. Repeat this tightness check procedure when servicing the spare tire
pressure (every six months, perscheduled maintenance information),
or at any time that the spare tire is disturbed through service of other
components.
Re-stowing the jack and tools
1. Unblock the wheels.
2. Stow the wheel ornament (if removed) in a safe location in the vehicle
(such as the glove box or jack stowage compartment) so it will not
become damaged. Re-install the wheel ornament onto the wheel once the
tire is repaired or replaced.
3. Stow the jack and tools in their respective locations, making sure they
are fully secured so they do not rattle when you drive.
WHEEL LUG NUT TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
Retighten the lug nuts to the specified torque at 50±100 miles (80±160
km) after any wheel disturbance (rotation, flat tire, wheel removal, etc.).
Lug nut socket
size/Bolt sizeWheel lug nut torque*
lb.ft. N²m
Lug nut socket size:
3¤4º (19 mm) hex
Bolt size:1¤2x20100 135
* Torque specifications are for nut and bolt threads free of dirt and
rust. Use only Ford recommended replacement fasteners.
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255

²Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce fuel economy.
²Using the air conditioner or defroster may reduce fuel economy.
²
You 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.
²Use recommended engine oil. Refer toLubricant specificationsin
this chapter.
²Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found inscheduled maintenance information.
Conditions
²Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
²Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
1 mpg [0.4 km/L] is lost for every 400 lb [180 kg] 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.
²Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first
8±10 miles (12±16 km) 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.
Maintenance and Specifications
301

Tires ...........................172±174, 246
alignment ................................184
care ..........................................181
changing ..........................246, 252
checking the pressure ............177
inspecting and inflating .........175
label .........................................181
replacing ..........................183, 252
rotating ....................................185
safety practices .......................184
sidewall information ...............177
snow tires and chains ............192
spare tire .................247, 249, 251
terminology .............................174
tire grades ...............................173
treadwear ........................173, 182
Towing .......................................199
recreational towing .................205
trailer towing ..........................199
wrecker ....................................261
Transfer case
fluid checking .........................306
Transmission .............................217
brake-shift interlock (BSI) ....217
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................305
fluid, refill capacities ..............308lubricant specifications ..310, 313
Trunk .........................................102
Turn signal ..................................45
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................313
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................315
Vehicle loading ..........................192
Ventilating your vehicle ...........209
W
Warning lights (see Lights) .......12
Washer fluid ..............................280
Water, Driving through .............234
Windows
power .........................................57
rear wiper/washer .....................53
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers ..........................................52
checking and adding fluid .....280
liftgate reservoir .....................280
replacing wiper blades ...........281
Wrecker towing .........................261
Index
325