2008 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC check engine light

Use the following guidelines to avoid electrostatic charge build-up when
filling an ungrounded fuel container:
•Place approved fuel container on the ground.
•DO NOT fill a fuel container while it is in the vehicle (including the
cargo area).
•Keep the fuel pump nozzle in contact with the fuel container while
filling.
•DO NOT use a device that would hold the fuel pump handle in the fill
position.
Fuel Filler Cap
Your fuel tank filler cap has an indexed design with a 1/4 turn on/off
feature.
When fueling your vehicle:
1. Turn the engine off.
2. Carefully turn the filler cap counterclockwise 1/4 of a turn to unscrew
the cap.
3. Pull to remove the cap from the fuel filler pipe.
4. Reinstall the cap on the filler pipe and turn it clockwise until at least
one click is heard.
If the check fuel cap light
or a “check fuel cap” message come on, the
fuel filler cap may not be properly installed. The light or message can
come on after several driving events after you’ve refueled your vehicle.
At the next opportunity, safely pull off of the road, remove the fuel filler
cap, align the cap properly and reinstall it. The check fuel cap
light
or “check fuel cap” message may not reset immediately; it may
take several driving cycles for the check fuel cap light
or “check fuel
cap” message to turn off. A driving cycle consists of an engine start-up
(after four or more hours with the engine off) followed by city and
highway driving.
Continuing to drive with the check fuel cap light
or “check fuel cap”
message on may cause the
light to turn on as well.
If you must replace the fuel filler cap, replace it with a fuel filler
cap that is designed for your vehicle. The customer warranty may
be void for any damage to the fuel tank or fuel system if the
correct genuine Ford or Motorcraft fuel filler cap is not used.
2008 07+ Explorer Sport Trac(esp)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
342

•You may want to turn off the speed control in hilly terrain if
unnecessary shifting between the top gears occurs. Unnecessary
shifting of this type could result in reduced fuel economy.
•Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
•Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
•Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
Maintenance
•Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
•Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
•Use recommended engine oil. Refer toMaintenance product
specifications and capacitiesin this chapter.
•Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found inscheduled maintenance information.
Conditions
•Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
•Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
1 mpg [0.4 km/L] is lost for every 400 lb [180 kg] of weight carried).
•Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example; bug
deflectors, rollbars/light bars, running boards, ski/luggage racks) may
reduce fuel economy.
•Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first
8–10 miles (12–16 km) of driving.
•Driving on flat terrain offers improved fuel economy as compared to
driving on hilly terrain.
•Transmissions give their best fuel economy when operated in the top
cruise gear and with steady pressure on the gas pedal.
•Four-wheel-drive operation (if equipped) is less fuel efficient than
two-wheel-drive operation.
•Close windows for high speed driving.
EPA window sticker
Every new vehicle should have the EPA window sticker. Contact your
authorized dealer if the window sticker is not supplied with your vehicle.
2008 07+ Explorer Sport Trac(esp)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
347

A
Accessory delay ........................102
AdvanceTrac ..............................256
Air cleaner filter ...............353–354
Air conditioning ..........................80
Airbag supplemental restraint
system ................183–184, 192, 194
and child safety seats ............185
description ..............184, 192, 194
disposal ....................................197
driver airbag ............186, 193, 195
indicator light .................192, 197
operation .................186, 193, 195
passenger airbag .....186, 193, 195
side airbag ...............................192
Ambulance packages ....................8
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................333
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ..............................254
Anti-theft system ......................158
Audio system
(see Radio) ......................22, 26, 34
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive .........................263, 266
fluid, adding ............................351
fluid, checking ........................351
fluid, refill capacities ..............355
fluid, specification ..................355
Auxiliary input jack (Line in) ....42
Auxiliary power point .................98
Axle
lubricant specifications ..........355
refill capacities ........................355
B
Battery .......................................331acid, treating emergencies .....331
jumping a disabled battery ....299
maintenance-free ....................331
replacement, specifications ...354
servicing ..................................331
Belt-Minder
.............................178
Booster seats .............................199
Brakes ........................................253
anti-lock ...................................254
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................254
fluid, checking and adding ....351
fluid, refill capacities ..............355
fluid, specifications .................355
lubricant specifications ..........355
parking ....................................255
shift interlock ..........................261
C
Calculating load ........................240
Capacities for refilling fluids ....355
Cargo cage .................................139
Cargo management system ......143
Cell phone use ..............................8
Changing a tire .........................290
Child safety restraints ..............198
child safety belts ....................198
Child safety seats ......................203
attaching with tether straps ..207
in front seat ............................204
in rear seat ..............................204
Child safety seats - booster
seats ...........................................199
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............315
instrument panel ....................317
interior .....................................318
2008 07+ Explorer Sport Trac(esp)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
363

Engine oil ..................................326
checking and adding ..............326
dipstick ....................................326
filter, specifications ........329, 354
recommendations ...................329
refill capacities ........................355
specifications ..........................355
Event data recording ....................7
Exhaust fumes ..........................251
F
Fail safe cooling ........................338
Family entertainment system ....50
Floor mats .................................137
Fluid capacities .........................355
Foglamps .....................................85
Four-Wheel Drive vehicles .......271
driving off road .......................272
indicator light .........................271
preparing to drive your
vehicle .....................................260
Fuel ............................................340
calculating fuel economy ......114,
126, 345
cap ...........................................342
capacity ...................................355
choosing the right fuel ...........343
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................347
detergent in fuel .....................344
filling your vehicle with
fuel ...........................340, 342, 345
filter, specifications ........339, 354
fuel pump shut-off switch .....282
improving fuel economy ........345
octane rating ...................343, 358
quality ......................................344
running out of fuel .................344safety information relating
to automotive fuels ................340
Fuses ..................................283–284
G
Garage door opener ....................98
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............342
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................345
Gauges .........................................19
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight
Rating)
calculating ...............................240
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating)
calculating ...............................240
H
Hazard flashers .........................281
Head restraints .........................161
Headlamps ...................................85
aiming ........................................87
bulb specifications ....................90
daytime running lights .............86
flash to pass ..............................86
high beam .................................86
turning on and off ....................85
Heating
heating and air conditioning
system .................................78, 80
Hood ..........................................322
How to get going ........................22
I
Ignition ...............................248, 358
2008 07+ Explorer Sport Trac(esp)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
365

Illuminated visor mirror .............96
Infant seats
(see Safety seats) .....................203
Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing ........................................350
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................317
cluster ........................................12
J
Jack ....................................290, 293
positioning .......................290, 294
storage .....................290, 292–293
Jump-starting your vehicle ......299
K
Keyless entry system ...............156
autolock ...........................146, 148
keypad .....................................156
locking and unlocking doors ..157
programming entry code .......156
Keys ...........................................159
positions of the ignition .........248
L
Lamps
bulb replacement
specifications chart ............89–90
daytime running light ...............86
fog lamps ...................................85
headlamps .................................85
interior lamps ...........................89
replacing bulbs .........................93
Lights, warning and indicator ....12
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..........254
Load limits .................................234
Loading instructions .................240Locks
autolock ...........................146, 148
childproof ................................151
doors ........................................146
Lubricant specifications ...........355
Lug nuts ....................................298
Luggage rack .............................144
Lumbar support, seats .....163, 165
M
Message center .................113, 124
english/metric button .....116, 128
system check button ......115, 128
warning messages ...........120, 133
Mirrors ...............................104–105
automatic dimming rearview
mirror ......................................104
fold away .................................106
heated ......................................106
side view mirrors (power) .....105
Moon roof ..................................112
Motorcraft parts ........319, 339, 354
N
Navigation system .......................77
O
Octane rating ............................343
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................326
P
Parking brake ............................255
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....354
Passenger Occupant
Classification Sensor .................169
2008 07+ Explorer Sport Trac(esp)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
366