2013 FORD EXPLORER Owners Manual

CHANGING THE VEHICLE BATTERY
WARNING:Batteries normally produce explosive gases which
can cause personal injury. Therefore, do not allow flames, sparks
or lighted substances to come near the battery. When working near the
battery, always shield your face and protect your eyes. Always provide
proper ventilation.
WARNING:When lifting a plastic-cased battery, excessive
pressure on the end walls could cause acid to flow through the
vent caps, resulting in personal injury and/or damage to the vehicle or
battery. Lift the battery with a battery carrier or with your hands on
opposite corners.
WARNING:Keep batteries out of reach of children. Batteries
contain sulfuric acid. Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing.
Shield your eyes when working near the battery to protect against
possible splashing of acid solution. In case of acid contact with skin or
eyes, flush immediately with water for a minimum of 15 minutes and
get prompt medical attention. If acid is swallowed, call a physician
immediately.
WARNING:Battery posts, terminals and related accessories
contain lead and lead compounds. Wash hands after handling.
Your vehicle is equipped with a Motorcraftmaintenance-free battery which
normally does not require additional water during its life of service.
Note:If your battery has a cover/shield, make sure it is reinstalled after
the battery has been cleaned or replaced.
For longer, trouble-free operation, keep the top of the battery clean and
dry. Also, make certain the battery cables are always tightly fastened to
the battery terminals.
If you see any corrosion on the battery or terminals, remove the cables
from the terminals and clean with a wire brush. You can neutralize the
acid with a solution of baking soda and water.
It is recommended that the negative battery cable terminal be
disconnected from the battery if you plan to store your vehicle for an
extended period of time.
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Battery relearn
Because your vehicle’s engine is electronically controlled by a computer,
some control conditions are maintained by power from the battery. When
the battery is disconnected or a new battery is installed, the engine must
relearn its idle and fuel trim strategy for optimum driveability and
performance. To begin this process:
1. With the vehicle at a complete stop, set the parking brake.
2. Put the gearshift lever in P (Park), turn off all accessories and start
the engine.
3. Run the engine until it reaches normal operating temperature.
4. Allow the engine to idle for at least one minute.
5. Turn the A/C on and allow the engine to idle for at least one minute.
6. Drive the vehicle to complete the relearning process.
•The vehicle may need to be driven to relearn the idle and fuel trim
strategy.
•Note:If you do not allow the engine to relearn its idle trim, the idle
quality of your vehicle may be adversely affected until the idle trim is
eventually relearned.
When the battery is disconnected or a new battery installed, the
transmission must relearn its adaptive strategy. As a result of this, the
transmission may shift firmly. This operation is considered normal and
will not affect function or durability of the transmission. Over time the
adaptive learning process will fully update transmission operation to its
optimum shift feel.
If the battery has been disconnected or a new battery has been installed,
the clock and the preset radio stations must be reset once the battery is
reconnected.
Always dispose of automotive batteries in a responsible manner. Follow
your local authorized standards for disposal. Call your local authorized
recycling center to find out more about recycling automotive batteries.
Battery management system
The battery management system (BMS) monitors battery conditions and
takes actions to extend battery life. If excessive battery drain is detected,
the system may temporarily disable certain electrical features to protect
the battery. Those electrical accessories affected include rear defrost,
heated /cooled seats, climate control fan, heated steering wheel, audio
and navigation system. A message may be displayed on the instrument
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cluster or center stack display to alert the driver that battery protection
actions are active. See theInformation displaysin theInstrument
ClusterandEntertainment systemschapters for more information.
These messages are only for notification that an action is taking place,
and do not necessarily indicate that an electrical problem exists or that
the battery requires replacement.
Electrical accessory installation
To ensure proper operation of the BMS, any electrical devices that are
added to the vehicle should not have their ground connection made
directly at the negative battery post. A connection at the negative battery
post can cause inaccurate measurements of the battery condition and
potential incorrect system operation.
Note:Electrical or electronic accessories added to the vehicle by the
dealer or the owner may adversely affect battery performance and
durability and may also affect the performance of other electrical systems
in the vehicle.
When a battery replacement is required, the battery should only be
replaced with a Ford recommended replacement battery that matches
the electrical requirements of the vehicle. After battery replacement, or
in some cases after charging the battery with an external charger, the
BMS requires eight hours of vehicle sleep time (key off with doors
closed) to relearn the new battery state of charge. Prior to relearning
state of charge, the BMS may disable electrical features (to protect the
battery) earlier than normal.
CHECKING THE WIPER BLADES
Run the tip of your fingers over the edge of the blade
to check for roughness.
Clean the wiper blades with washer fluid or water
applied with a soft sponge or cloth.
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CHANGING THE WIPER BLADES
1. Pull the wiper blade and arm away from
the glass.
2. Squeeze the locking tabs to release the
blade from the arm and pull the blade away
from the arm to remove it.
3. Attach the new blade to the arm and snap
it into place.
Replace wiper blades at least once per year
for optimum performance.
Poor wiper quality can be improved by cleaning the wiper blades and the
windshield.
To prolong the life of the wiper blades, it is highly recommended to
scrape off the ice on the windshield before turning on the wipers. The
layer of ice has many sharp edges and can damage the micro edge of the
wiper rubber element.
Changing the rear window wiper blade
To replace the rear wiper blade:
1. Press the wiper blade against the
glass with one hand and hold it.
2. Pull the wiper arm away from the
wiper blade to separate.
3. To attach the new wiper to the
wiper arm, align the slot (1) and
cross pin (2) and firmly press the
wiper arm into the wiper blade until
a click is heard.
If you find this procedure too difficult, please see your dealer.
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AIR FILTER CHECK
WARNING:To reduce the risk of vehicle damage and/or personal
burn injuries do not start your engine with the air cleaner
removed and do not remove it while the engine is running.
When changing the air filter element, use only the air filter element
listed. Refer toMotorcraftpart numbersin the Capacities and
Specifications chapter.
For EcoBoost™ equipped vehicles: When servicing the air cleaner, it is
important that no foreign material enter the air induction system. The
engine and turbocharger are susceptible to damage from even small
particles.
Refer toScheduled Maintenancefor the appropriate intervals for
changing the air filter element.
Note:Failure to use the correct air filter element may result in severe
engine damage. The customer warranty may be void for any damage to
the engine if the correct air filter element is not used.
Changing the air filter element
1. Release the clamps that secure
the air filter housing cover.
2. Carefully separate the two halves
of the air filter housing.
3. Remove the air filter element
from the air filter housing.
4. Wipe the air filter housing and
cover clean to remove any dirt or
debris and to ensure good sealing.
5. Install a new air filter element. Be careful not to crimp the filter
element edges between the air filter housing and cover. This could cause
filter damage and allow unfiltered air to enter the engine if not properly
seated.
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6. Replace the air filter housing cover and secure the
clamps. Be sure that the air cleaner cover tabs are
engaged into the slots of the air cleaner housing.
ADJUSTING THE HEADLAMPS
The headlamps on your vehicle are properly aimed at the assembly plant.
If your vehicle has been in an accident, the alignment of your headlamps
should be checked by your authorized dealer.
Vertical aim adjustment
The headlamps on your vehicle can only be vertically adjusted. Your
vehicle does not require horizontal aim adjustments.
To adjust the headlamps:
1. Park your vehicle on a level surface about 25 feet (7.6 meters) away
from a vertical plain surface (3). Check your headlamp alignment at
night or in a dark area so that you can see the headlamp beam pattern.
•(1) 8 feet (2.4 m)
•(2) Center height of lamp to
ground
•(3) 25 feet (7.6 m)
•(4) Horizontal reference line
2. The center of the headlamp has a 3.0 mm circle on the lens. Measure
the height from the center of your headlamp to the ground (2) and mark
an 8 foot (2.4 m) long horizontal line on the plain surface (1) at this
height (masking tape works well).
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3. Turn on the low beam headlamps to illuminate the wall or screen and
open the hood. To see a clearer light pattern for adjusting, block the light
from one headlamp while adjusting the other.
For vehicles with halogen headlamps:
On the wall or screen you will
observe a flat zone of high intensity
light located at the top of the right
hand portion of the beam pattern. If
the top edge of the high intensity
light zone is not at the horizontal
reference line, the headlamp will
need to be adjusted.
For vehicles with HID headlamps:
There is a distinct cut-off (change
from light to dark) in the left
portion of the beam pattern. The
top edge of this cut-off should be
positioned two inches (50.8 mm)
below the horizontal reference line.
4. Open the hood.
5. Locate the vertical adjuster for
each headlamp. Using a Phillips #2
screwdriver, turn the adjuster
control either clockwise (to adjust
down) or counterclockwise (to
adjust up).
Note:HORIZONTAL AIMING IS
NOT REQUIRED FOR THIS
VEHICLE AND IS
NON-ADJUSTABLE.
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CHANGING A BULB
Lamp assembly condensation
Exterior lamps are vented to accommodate normal changes in pressure.
Condensation can be a natural by-product of this design. When moist air
enters the lamp assembly through the vents, there is a possibility that
condensation can occur when the temperature is cold. When normal
condensation occurs, a thin film of mist can form on the interior of the
lens. The thin mist eventually clears and exits through the vents during
normal operation. Clearing time may take as long as 48 hours under dry
weather conditions.
Examples of acceptable condensation are:
•Presence of thin mist (no streaks, drip marks or droplets)
•Fine mist covers less than 50% of the lens
Examples of unacceptable moisture (usually caused by a lamp water
leak) are:
•Water puddle inside the lamp
•Large water droplets, drip marks or streaks present on the interior of
the lens
Take your vehicle to a dealer for service if any of the above conditions of
unacceptable moisture are present.
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