
1. Start the vehicle.
2. Locate the reset button on the compass sensor mounted on the base
of mirror.
3. To calibrate, press and hold the
reset button on the compass module
for approximately eight seconds and
release.
4. Slowly drive the vehicle in a
circle (less than 5 km/h [3 mph])
until the CIRCLE SLOW TO CALIBRATE display changes to
CALIBRATION COMPLETED. It will take up to five circles to complete
calibration.
5. The compass is now calibrated.
System warnings
System warnings alert you to possible problems or malfunctions in your
vehicle’s operating systems.
In the event of a multiple warning situation, the message center will
cycle the display to show all warnings by displaying each one for 4
seconds.
The message center will display the last selected feature if there are no
more warning messages. This allows you to use the full functionality of
the message center after you acknowledge the warning by pressing the
RESET control and clearing the warning message.
Warning messages are divided into four categories:
•They cannot be cleared until the condition is corrected.
•They will reappear on the display ten minutes from the reset if the
condition has not been corrected.
•They will not reappear until an ignition OFF-ON cycle has been
completed.
•They reappear if the condition clears then reoccurs within the same
ignition ON-OFF cycle.
This acts as a reminder that these warning conditions still exist within
the vehicle.
2008 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driver Controls
123

Warning display Status
Door ajar Warning cannot be reset
Fuel level low Warning returns after 10 minutes
Park brake engaged
Check brake system
Check park aid (if equipped) Warning returns only after the ignition
key is turned from OFF to ON.
Brake fluid level low
Check headlamp
Check highbeam lamp
Check turn lamp
Washer fluid level low
Oil change required
Engine oil change soon
Liftgate/glass ajar Warning returns after the condition
has cleared then reoccurs within the
same ignition ON-OFF cycle. Clear objects by pass seat
Check charging system
Low tire pressure
Tire monitor fault
Tire sensor fault
For 4x4 low stop vehicle (if
equipped)Temporary alert
For 4x4 low shift to N (if
equipped)
To exit 4x4 low stop vehicle (if
equipped)
To exit 4x4 low shift to N (if
equipped)
DOOR AJAR.Displayed when a door is not completely closed.
CLEAR OBJECTS BY PASS SEAT.Displayed when objects are by the
passenger seat. After the objects are moved away from the seat, if the
warning stays on or continues to come on contact your authorized
dealer.
CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM.Displayed when the electrical system is
not maintaining proper voltage when the engine is running. If you are
operating electrical accessories when the engine is idling at a low speed,
2008 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driver Controls
124

turn off as many of the electrical loads as soon as possible. If the
warning stays on or comes on when the engine is operating at normal
speeds, have the electrical system checked as soon as possible.
FUEL LEVEL LOW.Displayed as an early reminder of a low fuel
condition.
PARK BRAKE ENGAGED.Displayed when the manual park brake is
set, the engine is running and the vehicle is driven more than 3 mph (5
km/h). If the warning stays on after the park brake is released, contact
your authorized dealer as soon as possible.
CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM.Displayed when the braking system is not
operating properly. If the warning stays on or continues to come on,
contact your authorized dealer as soon as possible.
CHECK PARK AID (if equipped).Displayed when the transmission is
in R (Reverse) and the Reverse Sensing System (Park Aid) is disabled.
Refer toReverse Sensing System (Park Aid)in this section to enable.
LOW TIRE PRESSURE.Displayed when one or more tires on your
vehicle have low tire pressure. Refer toInflating your tiresin theTires,
Wheels and Loadingchapter.
TIRE MONITOR FAULT.Displayed when the Tire Pressure Monitoring
System is malfunctioning. If the warning stays on or continues to come
on, have the system inspected by your authorized dealer.
TIRE SENSOR FAULT.Displayed when a tire pressure sensor is
malfunctioning, or your spare tire is in use. For more information on how
the system operates under these conditions, refer toUnderstanding
your Tire Pressure Monitoring Systemin theTires, Wheels and
Loadingchapter. If the warning stays on or continues to come on, have
the system inspected by your authorized dealer.
BRAKE FLUID LEVEL LOW.Indicates the brake fluid level is low and
the brake system should be inspected immediately. Refer toBrake fluid
reservoirin theMaintenance and Specificationschapter.
CHECK HEADLAMP.Displayed when the headlamps are activated and
at least one bulb is burned out. Check the lamps as soon as possible and
have the burned out lamp replaced. Refer toReplacing headlamp bulbs
in theLightschapter.
CHECK HIGHBEAM LAMP.Displayed when the highbeam lamps are
activated and at least one bulb is burned out. Check the lamps as soon
as possible and have the burned out lamp replaced. Refer toReplacing
headlamp bulbsin theLightschapter.
2008 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driver Controls
125

OPTIONAL MESSAGE CENTER (IF EQUIPPED)
With the ignition in the ON position,
the message center, located on your
instrument cluster, displays
important vehicle information
through a constant monitor of
vehicle systems.You may select
display features on the message
center for a display of status. The
system will also notify you of potential vehicle problems with a display of
system warnings followed by an indicator chime.
Your display can show up to 6 reconfigurable telltales at one time. What
ever is displayed in the top left corner has the highest priority.
Selectable features
Reset
Press the RESET control to select
and reset functions shown in the
INFO menu, SETUP menu, text
warnings and reconfigurable telltale
warnings.
2008 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driver Controls
127

Info menu
The Info menu items are shown on
the top two lines of the message
center. Press the INFO control to
display the following:
•Trip odometer (Trip A and Trip
B)
•Distance to Empty
•Average Fuel Economy
•Instantaneous Fuel Economy
•Fuel Used
•Trip Elapsed Drive Time
•Blank
Trip odometer
Refer toGaugesin theInstrument Clusterchapter.
Distance to empty (DTE)
Selecting this function from the
INFO menu estimates approximately
how far you can drive with the fuel
remaining in your tank under
normal driving conditions.
Remember to turn the ignition OFF
when refueling to allow this feature
to correctly detect the added fuel.
The DTE function will display LOW FUEL LEVEL and sound a tone for
one second when you have approximately 50 miles (80 km) to empty. If
you RESET this warning message, this display and tone will return
within 10 minutes.
DTE is calculated using a running average fuel economy, which is based
on your recent driving history of 500 miles (800 km). This value is not
the same as the average fuel economy display. The running average fuel
economy is reinitialized to a factory default value if the battery is
disconnected.
2008 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driver Controls
128

System check
Selecting this function from the
SETUP MENU causes the message
center to cycle through each of the
systems being monitored. For each
of the monitored systems, the
message center will indicate either
an OK message or a warning
message for two seconds.
Pressing the RESET control cycles the message center through each of
the systems being monitored.
The sequence of the system check report and how it appears in the
message center is as follows:
1. OIL LIFE
2. CHARGING SYSTEM
3. WASHER FLUID
4. DOOR AJAR
5. EXTERIOR LAMP
6. BRAKE FLUID LEVEL
7. PARK BRAKE
8. FUEL LEVEL AND DISTANCE TO EMPTY
Units (English/Metric)
1. Select this function from the
SETUP MENU for the current units
to be displayed.
2. Press the RESET control to
change from English to Metric.
3. Press the RESET control for the
next SETUP MENU item or wait for
more than 4 seconds to return to
the INFO menu.
Language
Note:When entering the SETUP MENU and a non-English language has
been selected, “PRESS RESET FOR ENGLISH” will be displayed to
change back to English.
2008 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driver Controls
131

1. To disable/enable the easy exit
seat feature, select this function
from the SETUP MENU.
2. Press the RESET control to turn
the easy entry exit seat ON or OFF.
3. Press the RESET control for the
next SETUP MENU item or wait for
more than 4 seconds to return to
the INFO menu.
Reverse Sensing System (Park Aid) (if equipped)
This feature sounds a warning tone to warn the driver of obstacles near
the rear bumper, and functions only when R (Reverse) gear is selected.
1. To disable/enable the reverse
sensing system feature with the
vehicle in P (Park), select this
function from the SETUP MENU or
put the vehicle in R (Reverse).
2. Press the RESET control to turn
the park aid ON or OFF.
3. Press the RESET control for the
next SETUP MENU item or wait for more than 4 seconds to return to
the INFO menu.
Compass display (if equipped)
The compass reading may be affected when you drive near large
buildings, bridges, power lines and powerful broadcast antenna. Magnetic
or metallic objects placed in, on or near the vehicle may also affect
compass accuracy.
Usually, when something affects the compass readings, the compass will
correct itself after a few days of operating your vehicle in normal
conditions. If the compass still appears to be inaccurate, a manual
calibration may be necessary. Refer toCompass zone/calibration
adjustment.
Most geographic areas (zones) have a magnetic north compass point that
varies slightly from the northerly direction on maps. This variation is four
degrees between adjacent zones and will become noticeable as the
vehicle crosses multiple zones. A correct zone setting will eliminate this
error. Refer toCompass zone/calibration adjustment.
2008 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driver Controls
134

2. Press and hold the RESET control
for more than 2 seconds. Oil life is
set to 100% and “OIL CHANGE SET
TO 100%” is displayed.
Note:To change oil life 100% miles
value from 7,500 miles (12,070 km)
or 6 months to another value,
proceed to step 3.
3. Once “OIL LIFE SET TO XXX%”
is displayed, release and press the
RESET control switch to change the
Oil Life Start Value. Each release
and press will reduce the value by
10 percent.
Note:Oil Life Start Value of 100%
equals 7,500 miles (12,070 km) or 6
months. For example, setting Oil Life Start Value to 60% sets the Oil Life
Start Value to 3,000 miles (4,828 km) and 120 days.
System warnings
System warnings alert you to possible problems or malfunctions in your
vehicle’s operating systems.
In the event of a multiple warning situation, the message center will cycle
the display to show all warnings by displaying each one for 4 seconds.
The message center will display the last selected feature if there are no
more warning messages. This allows you to use the full functionality of
the message center after you acknowledge the warning by pressing the
RESET control and clearing the warning message.
Warning messages are divided into four categories:
•They cannot be cleared until the condition is corrected.
•They will reappear on the display ten minutes from the reset if the
condition has not been corrected.
•They will not reappear until an ignition OFF-ON cycle has been
completed.
•They reappear if the condition clears then reoccurs within the same
ignition ON-OFF cycle.
This acts as a reminder that these warning conditions still exist within
the vehicle.
2008 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driver Controls
137