Many lights will illuminate when you start your vehicle to make sure the
indicators work. If any light remains on after starting the vehicle, refer to
the respective system warning light for additional information.
Note:Some warning lights are reconfigurable telltale (RTT) indicators.
These indicators display in the lower line of the message center near the
odometer reading. They function the same as a warning light but do not
display on startup.
Service engine soon:The service
engine soon indicator light
illuminates when the ignition is first
turned to the on position to check
the bulb and to indicate whether the vehicle is ready for
Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) testing. Normally, the service engine soon
light will stay on until the engine is cranked, then turn itself off if no
malfunctions are present. However, if after 15 seconds the service engine
soon light blinks eight times, it means that the vehicle is not ready for
I/M testing. See theReadiness for Inspection/Maintenance (I/M)
testingin theMaintenance and Specificationschapter.
Solid illumination after the engine is started indicates the on-board
diagnostics system (OBD-II) has detected a malfunction. Refer to
On-board diagnostics (OBD-II)in theMaintenance and Specifications
chapter. If the light is blinking, engine misfire is occurring which could
damage your catalytic converter. Drive in a moderate fashion (avoid
heavy acceleration and deceleration) and contact your authorized dealer
as soon as possible.
WARNING:Under engine misfire conditions, excessive exhaust
temperatures could damage the catalytic converter, the fuel
system, interior floor coverings or other vehicle components, possibly
causing a fire.
Powertrain malfunction/reduced
power (RTT):Illuminates when a
powertrain or an 4WD fault has
been detected. Contact your
authorized dealer as soon as possible.
Instrument Cluster
13
2012 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
•Press the up/down arrow buttons
to move up/down through the
message center choices.
•Press the left/right arrow buttons
to move left/right through the
message center choices.
•Press the OK button to select
highlighted options and confirm
choices/messages.
Main menu
From the main menu screen you can choose the following:
Display Mode
Trip1&2
Fuel Economy
Settings
Information
Scroll up/down to highlight one of the options, then press the right arrow
key or OK to enter into that menu option.
Menu Control:You can choose a
different menu control operation to
suit your needs. In any screen which
shows these category icons (other
than the Main menu screen) and:
•Standard is set– then scrolling up and down will scroll through the
main categories.
•Memory on is set– then scrolling up and down will scroll through the
last selected sub-category/screen within a main category.
km/hMPH
Instrument Cluster
27
2012 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
To change the Menu Control between Standard or Memory On, refer to
Vehicle and Menu Controlfound in the table under theSettingssection
later in this chapter.
Display Mode
Press the right arrow on the left steering wheel mounted button when
display mode is selected. The boxes in the upper right corner of the
screen indicate that there are multiple screens that you can navigate
through. Each press of the right arrow will navigate to the next screen
until the last screen is reached. The white highlighted box indicates
which of the screens you are currently viewing:
Note:Regardless of display mode chosen, when SST is activated, the
cluster will change to the tachometer if not already selected, and the M
will light up in the shift select indicator and also in the message center.
Refer toAutomatic transmission operationin theDrivingchapter.
Distance to empty (DTE) + Fuel
gauge + Bar tachometer
•Distance to empty (DTE): Shows approximate fuel level before the
fuel tank reaches empty. The value is dynamic and can change (raise
or lower) depending on driving style.
•Fuel gauge: Indicates approximately how much fuel is left in the fuel
tank. The fuel gauge may vary slightly when the vehicle is in motion
or on a grade. When the fuel level becomes low (50 miles [80 km] to
empty), the level indicator will change to amber. When the fuel level
becomes critically low (0 miles [0 km] to empty), the level indicator
will change to red.
Note:When a MyKeyis in use, low fuel warnings will display earlier
.
•Bar tachometer: Indicates the engine speed in revolutions per minute.
Driving with your tachometer pointer continuously at the top of the
scale may damage the engine.
F6
4
RPM
1000+
2
0
01234.5mi
E
Instrument Cluster
28
2012 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
It is important to reset fuel economy after setting the speed control to
get accurate highway fuel economy readings.
For more information refer toEssentials of good fuel economyin the
Maintenance and Specificationschapter.
Settings/Vehicle Settings
In this mode, you can configure different driver setting choices. Press
the right arrow key (when in the Settings menu) to reach the listed
modes below:
Note:Some items are optional and may not appear.
Driver Assist
Traction Ctrl On / Off
Blind Spot On (default on key cycle) / Off
Collision Warning Sensitivity High / Normal / Low
Chimes On (default on key cycle) / Off
Warn On (default on key cycle) / Off
Cross Traffic On (default on key cycle) / Off
Cruise Control Adaptive or Normal
Rear Park Aid On (default on key cycle) / Off
Trailer Sway On (default on key cycle) / Off
Vehicle
Autolamp Delay Off, 10 / 20 (default setting) / 30 / 60 / 90 / 120 /
180 seconds
Easy Entry/Exit On / Off
Fuel DTE Calculation Normal or Towing
Locks Autolock, On / Off
Autounlock On / Off
Remote
UnlockingAll doors / Driver’s door
Menu Control Standard / Memory On
Oil Life Reset Set to 10–100%
Power Liftgate Enable / Disable
Instrument Cluster
33
2012 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Battery and
Charging System
MessagesAction / Description
TRANSPORT MODE
CONTACT DEALERContact your authorized dealer as soon as
possible.
FACTORY MODE
CONTACT DEALERContact your authorized dealer as soon as
possible.
LOW BATTERY
FEATURES
TEMPORARILY
TURNED OFFDisplayed when the battery management
system detects an extended low-voltage
condition. Various vehicle features will be
disabled to help preserve the battery. Turn off
as many of the electrical loads as soon as
possible to improve system voltage. If the
system voltage has recovered, the disabled
features will operate again as normal.
BLISMessages Action / Description
BLIND SPOT NOT
AVAILABLE
SENSOR BLOCKEDDisplayed when the blind spot information
system/cross traffic alert system sensors are
blocked. SeeBlind Spot Information System
(BLIS) with Cross Traffic Alertin the
Drivingchapter.
BLIND SPOT
SYSTEM FAULTDisplayed when a fault with the blind spot
information system has occurred. Contact your
authorized dealer as soon as possible.
CROSS TRAFFIC
NOT AVAILABLE
SENSOR BLOCKEDDisplayed when the blind spot information
system/cross traffic alert system sensors are
blocked. SeeBlind Spot Information System
(BLIS) with Cross Traffic Alertin the
Drivingchapter.
CROSS TRAFFIC
SYSTEM FAULTDisplayed when a fault with the cross traffic
alert system has occurred. Contact your
authorized dealer as soon as possible.
Instrument Cluster
39
2012 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Park Aid / Active
Park MessagesAction / Description
CHECK PARK AIDDisplayed when the transmission is in R
(Reverse) and the park aid is disabled.
CHECK REAR PARK
AIDDisplayed when the transmission is in R
(Reverse) and the park aid is disabled.
REAR PARK AID ON
OFFDisplays the rear park aid status.
ACTIVE PARK
FAULTDisplayed when a fault has occurred with the
active park assist system. Refer toActive park
assistin theDrivingchapter for more
information.
Passenger Sensing
System MessageAction / Description
REMOVE OBJECTS
NEAR PASS SEATDisplayed 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 as
soon as possible.
Terrain Management
/OffRoad/Hill
DescentAction / Description
FOR HILL
DESCENT REDUCE
SPEED 20 MPH OR
LESSDisplayed when hill descent speed exceeds
20 MPH (32 KM/H).
FOR HILL
DESCENT SHIFT
INTO GEARDisplayed when hill descent control mode
requires driver shift transmission into gear.
DRIVER RESUME
CONTROLDisplayed when the hill control mode requires
the driver to resume control.
HILL DESCENT
CONTROL ACTIVEDisplayed when hill descent control mode
becomes active.
Instrument Cluster
45
2012 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
•Select the Tune soft key then scroll through the frequencies by
using
/or the tune knob.
•Select the Mute soft key to mute the playing media. Press again to
return to the playing media.
•Press
/to seek to the previous/next station.
•Select the AST (Autostore) soft key to activate the auto store feature.
Autostore allows you to store the 10 strongest local stations available
from the AM and FM frequency band. Press and hold the AST soft key
and follow the screen prompts. When the search is complete, the
sound will return and the 10 strongest stations will be stored in the
memory presets (and overwrite any stations previously stored in the
AST band).
•To save a station in a memory preset, tune to the desired station.
Press and hold the desired preset. The sound will briefly mute and
then return indicating the station has been saved.
•View and access your saved presets by pressing
/orto
access a list of your saved presets. The display will indicate the preset
# the station was saved to. To exit, wait until the menu times out
(approximately eight seconds) or press the RADIO hard button.
Note:You can also manually store stations in the AST band. When the
AST band is active, simply tune to the desired station and press and hold
a memory preset. The new station will be saved and will override the
previously saved station.
Audio settings
To make adjustments to the sound settings, press MENU > Audio
Settings to access:
•Spd. Comp. Vol.:Scroll to select Speed Compensated Volume and
press OK to enter the menu. This feature automatically adjusts the
system’s volume to compensate for speed and wind noise. You can set
the system between off and +7. Press OK to confirm and close.
•Sound:Press OK to enter and scroll using the center control to select
from Treble, Bass, Middle, Balance, Fade. Use the center controls to
make adjustments and press OK to confirm and close.
Radio options
To access more options in radio mode, press MENU > Radio and select
from:
•Scan:Select to hear a brief sampling of all available radio stations.
Entertainment Systems
50
2012 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
•:Distributes air through the instrument panel vents.
•
:Distributes air through the instrument panel vents, demister
vents, floor vents and rear seat floor vents.
•
:Distributes air through the demister vents, floor vents and rear
seat floor vents.
6.A/C:Press to activate/deactivate air conditioning. Use with
recirculated air to improve cooling performance and efficiency. A/C
engages automatically in MAX A/C,
(defrost)
and
(floor/defrost).
7.
(Recirculated air):Press to activate/deactivate air recirculation
in the vehicle. Recirculated air may reduce the amount of time needed to
cool down the interior of the vehicle and may also help reduce undesired
odors from reaching the interior of the vehicle. Recirculated air engages
automatically when MAX A/C is selected or can be engaged manually in
any airflow mode except
(defrost). Recirculated air may turn off
automatically in all airflow modes except MAX A/C to reduce fog
potential.
8.MAX A/C (if equipped):Distributes recirculated air through the
instrument panel vents to cool the vehicle. This re-cooling of the interior
air is more economical and efficient than normal A/C mode. Recirculated
air may also help reduce undesirable odors from entering the vehicle.
Press the MAX A/C button again for normal A/C operation.
9.Temperature control:Controls the temperature of the airflow in the
vehicle.
Rear climate controls
10.
(Fan speed adjustment):Press to increase (+) or decrease (-)
the fan speed in the rear of the vehicle.
11.TEMP:Press to increase (+) or decrease (-) the temperature in the
rear of the vehicle.
12.REAR CTRL:Press to turn the rear controls on/off. When the rear
controls are on, the rear seat passengers will have control over the
settings.
13.
(Power):Press to turn the rear climate system on/off.
Climate Controls
61
2012 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)