2013 FORD EXPLORER Owners Manual

System Settings
The system has three optional setting menus available. To view or adjust
them, select Settings > Vehicle Settings > Driver Assist > Lane Keeping
Sys in the left-hand instrument cluster display using the OK button on
the steering wheel. The last-known selection for each of these settings is
stored by the system. You do not need to readjust your settings each
time you turn on the system.
Mode:This setting allows the driver to select which of the system
features will be enabled and turned on when the button is pressed.
•Alert only – Provides a steering wheel vibration when an unintended
lane departure is detected.
•Aid only – Provides a steering input toward the lane center when an
unintended lane departure is detected.
•Alert + Aid
Sensitivity:This setting affects where in the lane a warning is provided
(e.g. the increased sensitivity setting will move the warning zones in
closer). This setting does not impact the aid mode.
•Normal
•Increased
Intensity:This setting affects the intensity of the steering wheel vibration
used for the alert mode. This setting does not impact the aid mode.
•Low
•Medium
•High
System Display
When the system is turned on, an overhead graphic of a vehicle
with lane markings will be displayed in the left-hand instrument
cluster display. If the aid mode is selected when the system is
turned on, a separate white icon will also appear in the instrument cluster.
When the system is turned off, the lane marking graphics will not be
displayed.
Note:The overhead vehicle graphic may still be displayed if adaptive
cruise control is enabled.
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While the system is on, the color of the lane markings will change to
indicate the system status.
Gray: Indicates that the system is temporarily unable to provide a
warning or intervention on the indicated side(s). This may be because:
•the vehicle is under the activation speed
•the turn indicator is active
•the vehicle is in a dynamic maneuver
•the road has no or poor lane markings in the camera field-of-view
•the camera is obscured or unable to detect the lane markings due to
environmental conditions (e.g. significant sun angles or shadows, snow,
heavy rain, fog), traffic conditions (e.g. following a large vehicle that is
blocking or shadowing the lane), or vehicle conditions (e.g. poor
headlamp illumination).
SeeTroubleshootingfor additional information.
Green: Indicates that the system is available or ready to provide a
warning or intervention, on the indicated side(s).
Yellow: Indicates that the system is providing or has just provided a lane
keeping aid intervention.
Red: Indicates that the system is providing or has just provided a lane
keeping alert warning.
The system can be temporarily suppressed at any time by the following:
•Pressing the button
•Quick braking
•Fast acceleration
•Using the turn signal indicator
•Evasive steering maneuver
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Troubleshooting
Why is the feature not available (line markings are gray) when I
can see the lane markings on the road?
Vehicle speed is outside the operational range of the feature
Sun is shining directly into the camera lens
Quick intentional lane change
Staying too close to the lane marking
Driving at high speeds in curves
Previous feature activation happened within the last one second
Ambiguous lane markings (mainly in construction zones)
Rapid transition from light to dark or vice versa
Sudden offset in lane markings
ABS or AdvanceTrac activation
Camera blockage due to dirt, grime, fog, frost or water on the
windshield
Too close to the vehicle in front of you
Transitioning between no lane markings to lane markings or vice versa
Standing water on the road
Faint lane markings (partial yellow lane markings on concrete roads)
Lane width too narrow or too wide
Camera not calibrated after a windshield replacement
When driving on tight roads or on uneven roads
Why does the vehicle not come back into the middle of the lane
always, as expected, in the Aid or Aid + Alert mode?
High cross winds
Large road crown
Rough roads, grooves, shoulder drop-offs
Heavy uneven loading of the vehicle or improper tire inflation pressure
If the tires have been exchanged (including snow tires), or the
suspension has been modified
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BLIND SPOT INFORMATION SYSTEM (BLIS) WITH CROSS
TRAFFIC ALERT (CTA) (IF EQUIPPED)
WARNING:To help avoid injuries, NEVER use the BLISas a
replacement for using the interior and exterior mirrors and
looking over your shoulder before changing lanes. BLISis not a
replacement for careful driving and only an assist.
BLISaids the driver in detecting
vehicles that may have entered the
blind spot zone (A). The detection
area is on both sides of the vehicle,
extending rearward from the
exterior mirrors to approximately
10 feet (3 meters) beyond the
bumper. The system alerts you if
certain vehicles enter the blind spot
zone while driving.
BLISaids the driver in detecting vehicles that may have entered the
blind spot zone (A). The detection area is on both sides of the vehicle,
extending rearward from the exterior mirrors to approximately 10 feet
(3 meters) beyond the bumper. The system alerts you if certain vehicles
enter the blind spot zone while driving.
CTA warns the driver of vehicles approaching from the sides when the
transmission is in R (Reverse).
Note:BLISis not designed to prevent contact with other vehicles or
objects; or to detect parked vehicles, people, animals or infrastructure
(fences, guardrails, trees, etc.). It is designed to alert the driver to
vehicles in the blind zones.
Note:When a vehicle passes quickly through the blind zone (typically
fewer than two seconds), the system does not trigger.
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Using the Systems
BLISturns on when the engine is started and the vehicle is driven
forward above 3 mph (5 km/h); it remains on while the transmission is in
D (Drive) and N (Neutral). If shifted out of D (Drive) or N (Neutral), the
system enters CTA mode. Once shifted back into D (Drive), BLISturns
back on when the vehicle is driven above 3 mph (5 km/h).
Note:BLISdoes not function in R (Reverse) or P (Park) or provide
any additional warning when a turn signal is on.
CTA detects approaching vehicles from up to 45 feet (14 meters) away
though coverage decreases when the sensors are blocked. Reversing
slowly helps increase the coverage area and effectiveness.
WARNING:To help avoid personal injury, NEVER use the CTA
system as a replacement for using the interior and exterior
mirrors and looking over your shoulder before backing out of a parking
space. CTA is not a replacement for careful driving and only an assist.
In this first example, the left sensor is only partially obstructed; zone
coverage is nearly maximized.
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Zone coverage also decreases when parking at shallow angles. Here, the
left sensor is mostly obstructed; zone coverage on that side is severely
limited.
System Lights and Messages
The BLISand CTA systems
illuminate a yellow alert indicator in
the outside mirror on the side of the
vehicle the approaching vehicle is
coming from.
Note:The alert indicator dims when the headlamp switch is not in the
off position and nighttime darkness is detected.
CTA also sounds a series of tones and a message appears in the
information display indicating a vehicle is coming from the right or left.
CTA works with the reverse sensing system which sounds its own series
of tones; see theParking Aidschapter.
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System Sensors
WARNING:Just prior to the system recognizing a blocked
condition and alerting the driver, the number of missed objects
will increase. To help avoid injuries, NEVER use the BLISas a
replacement for using the side and rear view mirrors and looking over
your shoulder before changing lanes. BLISis not a replacement for
careful driving and only an assist.
Note:It is possible to get a blockage warning with no blockage present;
this is rare and known as a false blockage warning. A false blocked
condition either self-corrects or clears after a key cycle.
The system uses radar sensors
which are located behind the
bumper fascia on each side of the
vehicle. Do not allow these areas to
become obstructed by mud, snow or
bumper stickers, as this can cause
degraded system performance.
If the system detects a degraded performance condition,BLIND SPOT
NOT AVAILABLE,orCROSS TRAFFIC NOT AVAILABLEappear in
the information display and the alert indicator illuminates in the
appropriate mirror(s). The information display warning can be cleared
but the alert indicator remains illuminated.
When the blockage is removed, the system can be reset in two ways: 1)
when at least two objects are detected while driving, or 2) turn the
ignition key from on to off, then back on. If the blockage is still present
after the key cycle, the system senses again that it is blocked after
driving in traffic.
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Reasons for messages being displayed
The radar surface is
dirty or obstructedClean the fascia area in front of the radar or
remove the obstruction.
The radar surface is
not dirty or obstructedDrive normally in traffic for a few minutes to
allow the radar to detect passing vehicles so it
can clear the blocked state.
Heavy rainfall/snowfall
interferes with the
radar signalsNo action required. The system automatically
resets to an unblocked state once the
rainfall/snowfall rate decreases or stops. Do
not use BLISand/or CTA in these conditions.
System Limitations
The BLISand CTA systems do have their limitations; situations such as
severe weather conditions or debris build-up on the sensor area may
limit vehicle detection.
The following are other situations that may limit the BLIS:
•Certain maneuvering of vehicles entering and exiting the blind zone.
•Vehicles passing through the blind zone at very fast rates.
•When several vehicles forming a convoy pass through the blind zone.
The following are other situations that may limit the CTA system:
•Adjacently parked vehicles or objects obstructing the sensors.
•Approaching vehicles passing at speeds greater than 15 mph
(24 km/h).
•Driving in reverse faster than 3 mph (5 km/h).
•Backing out of an angled parking spot.
False Alerts
Note:When towing a trailer, the sensors detect may detect the trailer,
causing a false alert. You may want to turn the BLISoff if the false
alerts become annoying.
There may be certain instances when either the BLISor CTA systems
illuminate the alert indicator with no vehicle in the coverage zone; this is
known as a false alert. Some amount of false alerts are normal; they are
temporary and self-correct.
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