2013 FORD EXPLORER maintenance

Introduction 9
Child Safety 18
Child seats...........................................20
Child seat positioning...................................20
Booster seats.........................................22
Installing child seats with lap and shoulder belts................25
Installing child safety seats with lower anchors and tethers for
children.............................................30
Installing child safety seats with tether straps..................32
Child safety locks......................................36
Safety Belts 37
Fastening the safety belts................................39
Safety belt height adjustment.............................42
Safetybeltwarninglightandindicatorchime..................43
Safety belt-minder.....................................43
Rear inflatable safety belt................................46
Child restraint and safety belt maintenance...................47
Personal Safety System 48
Supplementary Restraints System 49
Driver and passenger airbags..............................51
Front passenger sensing system............................53
Side airbags..........................................55
Safety canopy curtain airbags.............................57
Crash sensors and airbag indicator..........................59
Airbag disposal........................................60
Keys and Remote Control 61
General information on radio frequencies.....................61
Remote control........................................62
Keys...............................................62
Replacing a lost key or remote control.......................68
Table of Contents1
2013 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Towing 288
Trailertowing........................................288
Wrecker towing.......................................293
Recreational towing....................................294
Driving Hints 296
Economical driving....................................296
Floormats..........................................298
Roadside Emergencies 300
Getting roadside assistance..............................300
Hazard warning flashers................................301
Fuel cut-off switch....................................302
Jump-starting the vehicle...............................302
Customer Assistance 305
Reporting safety defects (U.S. only)........................312
Reporting safety defects (Canada only).....................312
Fuses 313
Changing a fuse......................................313
Fuses and relays......................................313
Fuse specification chart.................................314
Maintenance 323
General information...................................323
Opening and closing the hood............................324
Under hood overview..................................325
Engine oil dipstick....................................327
Engine oil check......................................327
Engine coolant check..................................328
Automatic transmission fluid check........................333
Brake fluid check.....................................336
Power steering fluid check..............................336
Fuel filter...........................................336
6Table of Contents
2013 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Accessories 400
Accessories..........................................400
Ford Extended Service Plan 403
Scheduled Maintenance 407
Normal scheduled maintenance and log.....................412
SYNC426
Pairing your phone for the first time.......................431
911 Assist™.........................................446
Vehicle Health Report..................................449
MyFord Touch™ 472
Infotainment display...................................479
Voice recognition.....................................480
Listening to music.....................................486
Phone features.......................................509
Information Menu.....................................516
Menu features........................................527
Settings............................................529
Climate features......................................536
Navigation system.....................................539
Appendices 551
Index 569
The information contained in this publication was correct at the time of going to
print. In the interest of continuous development, we reserve the right to change
specifications, design or equipment at any time without notice or obligation. No
part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, stored in a retrieval
system or translated into any language in any form by any means without our
written permission. Errors and omissions excepted.
© Ford Motor Company 2011
8Table of Contents
2013 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 65
WARNING:Some constituents of engine exhaust, certain vehicle
components, certain fluids contained in vehicles and certain
products of component wear contain or emit chemicals known to the
State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm.
PERCHLORATE MATERIAL
Note:Certain components in your vehicle such as airbag modules, safety
belt pretensioners, and remote control batteries may contain perchlorate
material. Special handling may apply for service or vehicle end of life
disposal. See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate for more
information.
FORD CREDIT (U.S. ONLY)
Ford Credit offers a full range of financing and lease plans to help you
acquire your vehicle. If you have financed or leased your vehicle through
Ford Credit, thank you for your business.
For your convenience we offer a number of ways to contact us, as well as
help manage your account.
Phone: 1-800-727-7000
For more information regarding Ford Credit, as well as access Account
Manager, please go to www.fordcredit.com.
REPLACEMENT PARTS RECOMMENDATION
Your vehicle has been built to the highest standards using quality parts.
We recommend that you demand the use of genuine Ford and Motorcraft
parts whenever your vehicle requires scheduled maintenance or repair.
You can clearly identify genuine Ford and Motorcraft parts by looking for
the Ford, FoMoCo or Motorcraft branding on the parts or their
packaging.
Scheduled Maintenance and Mechanical Repairs
One of the best ways for you to make sure that your vehicle provides
years of service is to have it maintained in line with our
recommendations using parts that conform to the specifications detailed
in this Owner’s Manual. Genuine Ford and Motorcraft parts meet or
exceed these specifications.
14Introduction
2013 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

•During a collision of sufficient force, the inflatable
belt will inflate from inside the webbing.
•The fully inflated belt’s increased diameter more
effectively holds the occupant in the appropriate
seating position, and spreads crash forces over more
area of the body than regular safety belts. This
helps reduce pressure on the chest and helps
control head and neck motion for passengers.
CHILD RESTRAINT AND SAFETY BELT MAINTENANCE
Inspect the vehicle safety belts and child safety seat systems periodically
to make sure they work properly and are not damaged. Inspect the
vehicle and child seat safety belts to make sure there are no nicks, tears
or cuts. Replace if necessary. All vehicle safety belt assemblies, including
retractors, buckles, front safety belt buckle assemblies, buckle support
assemblies (slide bar-if equipped), shoulder belt height adjusters (if
equipped), shoulder belt guide on seatback (if equipped), rear inflatable
safety belts (if equipped), child safety seat LATCH and tether anchors,
and attaching hardware, should be inspected after a collision. Refer to
the child restraint manufacturer’s instructions for additional inspection
and maintenance information specific to the child restraint. Ford Motor
Company recommends that all safety belt assemblies in use in vehicles
involved in a collision be replaced. However, if the collision was minor
and an authorized dealer finds that the belts do not show damage and
continue to operate properly, they do not need to be replaced. Safety
belt assemblies not in use during a collision should also be inspected and
replaced if either damage or improper operation is noted.
For proper care of soiled safety belts, refer toInteriorin theCleaning
chapter.
Safety Belts47
2013 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

WARNING:All occupants of the vehicle, including the driver,
should always properly wear their safety belts, even when an air
bag supplemental restraint system is provided.
The airbags are a supplemental restraint system and are designed to
work with the safety belts to help protect the driver and right front
passenger from certain upper body injuries. Airbags DO NOT inflate
slowly; there is a risk of injury from a deploying airbag.
Note:You will hear a loud bang and see a cloud of harmless powdery
residue if an airbag deploys. This is normal.
The airbags inflate and deflate rapidly upon activation. After airbag
deployment, it is normal to notice a smoke-like, powdery residue or smell
the burnt propellant. This may consist of cornstarch, talcum powder (to
lubricate the bag) or sodium compounds (e.g., baking soda) that result
from the combustion process that inflates the airbag. Small amounts of
sodium hydroxide may be present which may irritate the skin and eyes,
but none of the residue is toxic. While the system is designed to help
reduce serious injuries, contact with a deploying airbag may also cause
abrasions or swelling. Temporary hearing loss is also a possibility as a
result of the noise associated with a deploying airbag. Because airbags
must inflate rapidly and with considerable force, there is the risk of
death or serious injuries such as fractures, facial and eye injuries or
internal injuries, particularly to occupants who are not properly
restrained or are otherwise out of position at the time of airbag
deployment. Thus, it is extremely important that occupants be properly
restrained as far away from the airbag module as possible while
maintaining vehicle control.
Routine maintenance of the airbags is not required.
SOS POST-CRASH ALERT SYSTEM™
The system flashes the turn signal lamps and sounds the horn
(intermittently) in the event of a serious impact that deploys an airbag
(front, side, side curtain or Safety Canopy) or the safety belt
pretensioners.
The horn and lamps will turn off when:
•the hazard control button is pressed
•the panic button is pressed on the remote entry transmitter, or
•the vehicle runs out of power.
50Supplementary Restraints System
2013 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

CRASH SENSORS AND AIRBAG INDICATOR
WARNING:Modifying or adding equipment to the front end of
the vehicle (including frame, bumper, front end body structure
and tow hooks) may affect the performance of the airbag system,
increasing the risk of injury. Do not modify the front end of the vehicle.
The vehicle has a collection of crash and occupant sensors which provide
information to the Restraints Control Module (RCM) which deploys
(activates) the front safety belt pretensioners, rear inflatable safety belts,
driver airbag, passenger airbag, passenger knee airbag, seat mounted side
airbags, and the Safety Canopy. Based on the type of accident (frontal
impact, side impact or rollover) the restraints control module will deploy
the appropriate safety devices.
The restraints control module also monitors the readiness of the above
safety devices plus the crash and occupant sensors. The readiness of the
safety system is indicated by a warning indicator light in the instrument
cluster or by a backup tone if the warning light is not working. Refer to
Warning lamps and Indicatorsin theInstrument Clusterchapter.
Routine maintenance of the airbag is not required.
A difficulty with the system is indicated by one or more of the following:
•The readiness light will either flash or stay lit.
•The readiness light will not illuminate immediately after the
ignition is turned on.
•A series of five beeps will be heard. The tone pattern will repeat
periodically until the problem and/or light are repaired.
If any of these things happen, even intermittently, have the supplemental
restraint system serviced at an authorized dealer immediately. Unless
serviced, the system may not function properly in the event of a collision.
The safety belt pretensioners, rear inflatable safety belts and the airbag
supplemental restraint system are designed to activate when the vehicle
sustains longitudinal or lateral deceleration sufficient to cause the
restaints control module to deploy a safety device or when a certain
likelihood of a rollover event is detected by the rollover sensor.
Supplementary Restraints System59
2013 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Service engine soon
Theservice engine soonindicator 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 theFuel and Refuelingchapter.
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 theFuel and Refuelingchapter. 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 have your vehicle serviced immediately by your
authorized dealer.
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.
Speed control (if equipped) (RTT)
The speed control system indicator light changes color to
indicate what mode the system is in:
•On (gray light–type 1 and type 2): Illuminates when the speed control
system is turned on. Turns off when the speed control system is
turned off.
•Engaged (white light-type 1, green light-type 2): Illuminates when the
speed control system is engaged. Turns off when the speed control
system is disengaged.
120Instrument Cluster
2013 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)