2008 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC tailgate

Replacing front parking lamp/turn signal/sidemarker bulbs
1. Turn off the headlamps and open
the hood.
2. Remove three screws from the
headlamp assembly and pull
headlamp forward.
3. Rotate the bulb socket
counterclockwise and remove it
from the lamp assembly.
4. Pull the bulb straight out of the
socket.
Reverse steps to reinstall bulb(s).
Replacing tail/brake/turn/backup lamp bulbs
1. Turn the headlamp switch to OFF
and open the tailgate.
2. Remove the two bolts from the
lamp assembly.
3. Remove the lamp assembly.
2008 07+ Explorer Sport Trac(esp)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Lights
92

POSITIVE RETENTION FLOOR MAT
Do not install additional floor mats on top of the factory installed
floor mats as they may interfere with the accelerator or the
brake pedals.
Position the driver floor mat so that
the eyelet is over the pointed end of
the retention post and rotate
forward to lock in. Make sure that
the mat does not interfere with the
operation of the accelerator or the
brake pedal. To remove the floor
mat, reverse the installation
procedure.
TAILGATE LOCK
The tailgate lock is designed to help
prevent theft of the tailgate.
•Insert ignition key and turn to the
right to lock.
•Turn ignition key to the left to
unlock.
Tailgate removal
Vehicles equipped with a cap, keep passengers and pets out of
the pickup box area when vehicle is running to prevent exhaust
fumes from being drawn into the vehicle. Exhaust fumes contain
carbon monoxide which can injure your lungs and cause drowsiness
and even death.
2008 07+ Explorer Sport Trac(esp)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driver Controls
137

Your tailgate is removable to allow
more room for loading.
1. Lower the tailgate.
2. Use a screwdriver to pry the
spring clip (on each connector) past
the head of the support screw.
Disconnect cable.
3. Disconnect the other cable.
4. Lift tailgate to a 45–degree angle
from horizontal.
5. Lift right side off of its hinge.
6. Lift tailgate to a 80–degree angle from horizontal.
7. Remove tailgate from left side hinge by sliding tailgate to the right.
To install, follow the removal procedures in reverse order.
Exterior tiedown hooks
Exterior tiedown hooks mounted on
the side of the pickup box:
•can be used to secure loads
within the pickup box.
•can be used to secure half the
tonneau cover in an open
position.
2008 07+ Explorer Sport Trac(esp)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driver Controls
138

CARGO CAGE (IF EQUIPPED)
Your vehicle may be equipped with a cargo cage designed to extend the
pickup box for larger loads.
To extend the cargo cage:
1. Lower tailgate.
2. Pull the lever on each side of the
cargo cage to release it from the
pickup box.
3. Lift the cargo cage over onto the
tailgate.
4. Evenly push down on the cargo
cage and push the lever in on each
side locking it in place.
To stow the cargo cage, follow steps
one through four in reverse order.
The cargo cage may be used to
secure a load of up to 100 lb.
(46 kg) on the tailgate.
The cargo cage should always be
kept in the stowed position with
the tailgate closed when not in use.
Activating Cargo Cage Theft
Deterrent Device:
The following procedure can be
done with the cargo cage in the
stowed or extended position.
1. Locate the Phillips head screw in
the middle of the vertical brace on
the locking clip.
2. Turn the screw counterclockwise
until you hear an audible click.
3. To deactivate, turn the screw clockwise until the locking clip moves
freely.
2008 07+ Explorer Sport Trac(esp)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driver Controls
139

KEYS
One key operates the door, tailgate, and tonneau cover locks and starts
the vehicle. Always carry a spare key with you in case of an emergency.
Your door and ignition keys are programmed to your vehicle; using a
non-programmed key will not permit your vehicle to start. If you lose
your authorized dealer supplied keys, replacement keys are available
through your authorized dealer. Refer to theSecuriLock™ passive
anti-theft systemsection later in this chapter for more information.
POWER DOOR LOCKS
Press control to unlock or lock all
doors.
Smart unlocking feature
The smart unlocking feature helps prevent you from locking yourself out
of the vehicle. With the key in any ignition position, the driver’s door will
automatically unlock if it is locked using the lock control on the driver’s
door panel while the driver’s door is open.
Autolock
The autolock feature will lock all the doors when:
•all doors are closed,
•the ignition is in the 3 (ON) position,
•you shift into any gear putting the vehicle in motion, and
•the vehicle attains a speed greater than 12 mph (20 km/h).
The autolock feature repeats when:
•any door is opened then closed while the ignition is in the 3 (ON)
position and the vehicle speed is 9 mph (15 km/h) or lower, and
•the vehicle attains a speed greater than 12 mph (20 km/h).
2008 07+ Explorer Sport Trac(esp)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Locks and Security
146

Certain add-on devices such as large trailer hitches, bike or
surfboard racks and any device that may block the normal
detection zone of the RSS system may create false beeps.
The RSS detects obstacles up to six
feet (two meters) from the rear
bumper with a decreased coverage
area at the outer corners of the
bumper, (refer to the figures for
approximate zone coverage areas).
As you move closer to the obstacle,
the rate of the tone increases. When
the obstacle is less than 10 inches
(25.0 cm) away, the tone will sound
continuously. If the RSS detects a
stationary or receding object further
than 10 inches (25.0 cm) from the
side of the vehicle, the tone will
sound for only three seconds. Once
the system detects an object
approaching, the tone will sound
again.
While receiving a warning the radio volume will be reduced to a
predetermined level. After the warning goes away, the radio will return
to the previous value.
The RSS may have reduced performance or an increased chance of false
detection if the tailgate is not locked and in the upright position. If the
tailgate is down, the RSS tone may be heard intermittently or
continuously. The tone may also be heard if items in the truck bed
protrude rearward outside the bed.
The RSS automatically turns on when the gear selector is placed in R
(Reverse) and the ignition is ON. A control in the message center allows
the driver to disable the system only when the ignition is ON and the
gear selector is in R (Reverse). Refer toMessage centerin theDriver
Controlschapter for more information.
2008 07+ Explorer Sport Trac(esp)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driving
270

2. Insert the square end of the jack
handle extension into the rear
access hole located just above the
rear bumper and below the tailgate.
Forward motion will stop and
resistance to turning will be felt
when properly engaged.
3. Connect the jack handle to the
jack handle extension. Turn the
handle counterclockwise until the
tire is lowered to the ground and
the cable is slightly slack.
4. With the spare tire on the ground,
remove the retainer from the spare
tire.
Changing the spare tire
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).
To help prevent the vehicle from moving when you change a tire,
be sure the parking brake is set, then block the wheel that is
diagonally opposite (other end of the vehicle) to the tire being
changed.
If the vehicle slips off the jack, you or someone else could be
seriously injured.
Do not attempt to change a tire on the side of the vehicle close
to moving traffic. Pull far enough off the road to avoid the
danger of being hit when operating the jack or changing the wheel.
2008 07+ Explorer Sport Trac(esp)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Roadside Emergencies
294

Starting your
vehicle ........................248–249, 251
jump starting ..........................299
Steering wheel
controls ....................................109
tilting .........................................96
T
Tailgate ......................................137
Tilt steering wheel ......................96
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS)
Driving .....................................276
Roadside Emergencies ...........290
Tires, Wheels and Loading ....229
Warning Displays ......12, 120, 133
Tires ...........................214–216, 290
alignment ................................222
care ..........................................219
changing ..........................290, 294
checking the pressure ............219
inflating ...................................217
label .........................................228
replacing ..........................220, 294
rotating ....................................223
safety practices .......................222
sidewall information ...............224
snow tires and chains ............234
spare tire .........................290, 292
terminology .............................216
tire grades ...............................215
treadwear ........................215, 219
Tonneau cover ...........................140
Towing .......................................241
recreational towing .................247
trailer towing ..........................241
wrecker ....................................304Transfer case
fluid checking .........................352
Transmission .............................261
brake-shift interlock (BSI) ....261
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................351
fluid, refill capacities ..............355
lubricant specifications ..........355
Trunk .........................................142
Turn signal ..................................89
U
USB port ......................................44
V
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................359
Vehicle loading ..........................234
camper bodies ........................246
Ventilating your vehicle ...........251
W
Warning lights (see Lights) .......12
Washer fluid ..............................325
Water, Driving through .............279
Windows
power .......................................100
Windshield
defrosting ..................................83
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers ..........................................95
checking and adding fluid .....325
replacing wiper blades ...........326
Wrecker towing .........................304
2008 07+ Explorer Sport Trac(esp)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
368