2014 FORD EXPLORER traction control

Although natural obstacles may make it necessary to travel diagonally up
or down a hill or steep incline, you should always try to drive straight up
or straight down. Whenever driving on a hill, determine beforehand the
route you will use. Do not drive over the crest of a hill without seeing
what conditions are on the other side. Do not drive in reverse over a hill
without the aid of an observer.
When climbing a steep slope or hill, start in a lower gear rather than
downshifting to a lower gear from a higher gear once the ascent has
started. This reduces strain on the engine and the possibility of stalling.
If you do stall out, Do not try to turn around because you might roll
over. It is better to back down to a safe location.
Apply just enough power to the wheels to climb the hill. Too much
power will cause the tires to slip, spin or lose traction, resulting in loss of
vehicle control.
Descend a hill in the same gear you
would use to climb up the hill to
avoid excessive brake application
and brake overheating. Do not
descend in neutral; instead,
disengage overdrive or manually
shift to a lower gear. When
descending a steep hill, avoid
sudden hard braking as you could
lose control. When you brake hard,
the front wheels cannot turn and if
they are not turning, you will not be able to steer. The front wheels have
to be turning in order to steer the vehicle.
Since your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, apply the brakes steadily. Do not
“pump” the brakes.
Driving on snow and ice
WARNING:If you are driving in slippery conditions that require
tire chains or cables, then it is critical that you drive cautiously.
Keep speeds down, allow for longer stopping distances and avoid
aggressive steering to reduce the chances of a loss of vehicle control
which can lead to serious injury or death. If the rear end of the vehicle
slides while cornering, steer in the direction of the slide until you
regain control of the vehicle.
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PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION
The traction control system helps avoid drive wheel spin and loss of
traction.
If your vehicle begins to slide, the system applies the brakes to individual
wheels and, when needed, reduces engine power at the same time. If the
wheels spin when accelerating on slippery or loose surfaces, the system
reduces engine power in order to increase traction.
USING TRACTION CONTROL
In certain situations (for example, stuck in snow or mud), turning the
traction control off may be beneficial as this allows the wheels to spin
with full engine power. Turn the traction control system off through the
information display. See theInformation Displayschapter.
System Indicator Lights and Messages
WARNING:If a failure has been detected within the Traction
Control System, the stability control light will illuminate steadily.
Verify that the Traction Control System was not manually disabled
using the information display control. If the stability control light still
illuminates steadily, have the system serviced by an authorized dealer
immediately. Operating your vehicle with Traction Control disabled
could lead to an increased risk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle
rollover, personal injury and death.
The stability control light temporarily illuminates on engine
start-up and flashes when a driving condition activates the
stability system.
The stability control off light temporarily illuminates on engine
start-up and stays on when the traction control system is
turned off or if a problem occurs in the stability system.
When the traction control system is turned off or on, a message appears
in the information display showing system status.
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PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION
WARNING:Vehicle modifications involving braking system,
aftermarket roof racks, suspension, steering system, tire
construction and wheel or tire size may change the handling
characteristics of the vehicle and may adversely affect the performance
of the AdvanceTrac® system. In addition, installing any stereo
loudspeakers may interfere with and adversely affect the AdvanceTrac®
system. Install any aftermarket stereo loudspeaker as far as possible
from the front center console, the tunnel, and the front seats in order
to minimize the risk of interfering with the AdvanceTrac® sensors.
Reducing the effectiveness of the AdvanceTrac® system could lead to
an increased risk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal
injury and death.
WARNING:Remember that even advanced technology cannot
defy the laws of physics. It’s always possible to lose control of a
vehicle due to inappropriate driver input for the conditions. Aggressive
driving on any road condition can cause you to lose control of your
vehicle increasing the risk of personal injury or property damage.
Activation of the AdvanceTrac® system is an indication that at least
some of the tires have exceeded their ability to grip the road; this could
reduce the operator’s ability to control the vehicle potentially resulting
in a loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal injury and death. If
your AdvanceTrac® system activates, SLOW DOWN.
The AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control™ system helps you keep
control of your vehicle when on a slippery surface. The electronic
stability control portion of the system helps avoid skids and lateral slides,
curve control assists in vehicle handling in following the road during
adverse maneuvering and roll stability control helps avoid a vehicle
rollover. The traction control system helps avoid drive wheel spin and
loss of traction. See theTraction Controlchapter for details on traction
control system operation.
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AVehicle without AdvanceTrac®
with RSC® skidding off its intended
route.
BVehicle with AdvanceTrac® with
RSC® maintaining control on a
slippery surface.
USING ADVANCETRAC® WITH RSC®
The system automatically activates when you start your engine. The
AdvanceTrac® with RSC® system cannot be completely turned off, but
the electronic stability control and roll stability control portions of the
system are disabled when the transmission is in positionR.You can turn
curve control off by using the terrain management system. See the
Terrain Managementchapter. You can also turn off the traction control
portion of the system independently. See theTraction Controlchapter.
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TERRAIN MANAGEMENT (IF EQUIPPED)
This system optimizes drivability and comfort as well as maximizing
traction while operating on different types of terrain.
Turn the control located on the center console to choose between the
following modes:
1.Grass/Gravel/Snowmode should be selected where a firm surface is
covered with loose or slippery material such as packed snow, ice, water,
grass, or a thin layer of gravel or sand. For deep gravel or sand, select
Sand mode. If the vehicle cannot gain traction in deep snow, turning off
the traction control system may help (turn traction control back on when
traction is regained). See theTraction Controlchapter.
2.Sandmode should be selected in soft dry sand or deep gravel. If
crossing wet sand that may be sufficiently deep enough for the wheels to
sink into the surface, select Mud/Ruts mode.
3.Mud/Rutsmode should be selected for muddy, rutted, soft, or uneven
terrain.
4.Normalmode is for on-road conditions and should be selected before
driving on surfaces which are similar to a hard road surface or once the
need for a special mode has passed. Select Normal mode when towing a
trailer.
Note:Cruise control is available only in Normal and Snow modes.
Note:The Sand and Mud/Ruts modes are for off-road use only.
Note:The curve control portion of the AdvanceTrac® system is
unavailable when Sand or Mud/Ruts is selected.
1
2
3
4
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Deactivating the Park Assist Feature
The system can be deactivated manually by:
•pressing the active park assist button
•grabbing the steering wheel
•driving above approximately 20 mph (35 km/h) for 30 seconds during
an active park search
•driving above 6 mph (10 km/h) during automatic steering
•turning off the traction control system.
Certain vehicle conditions can also deactivate the system:
•Traction control has activated on a slippery or loose surface.
•Anti-lock brake system activation or failure.
•Any door (except the driver’s) opens.
•Something touches the steering wheel.
If a problem occurs with the system, a warning message is displayed,
followed by a chime. Occasional active park assist messages may occur in
normal operation. For recurring or frequent active park assist faults,
contact an authorized dealer to have your vehicle serviced.
Troubleshooting the System
The system does not look for a space
The traction control system may be off
Any door (except the driver’s) may not be completely closed
The system does not offer a particular space
Something may be contacting the front bumper or side sensors
There is not enough room on both sides of the vehicle in order to park
There is not enough space for the parking maneuver on the opposite
side of the parking space
The vehicle is farther than 5 ft (1.5 m) from the parking space
The vehicle is closer than 16 in. (40 cm) from neighboring parked
vehicles
The transmission is in R (Reverse); the vehicle must be moving
forward to detect a parking space
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Tire Quality Grades apply to new pneumatic passenger car tires.
They do not apply to deep tread, winter-type snow tires, space-saver or
temporary use spare tires, light truck or LT type tires, tires with nominal
rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches or limited production tires as defined in
Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 575.104(c)(2).
U.S. Department of Transportation-Tire quality grades:The U.S.
Department of Transportation requires Ford Motor Company to give you
the following information about tire grades exactly as the government
has written it.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of the
tire when tested under controlled conditions on a specified government
test course. For example, a tire graded 150 would wear 1
12times as well
on the government course as a tire graded 100. The relative performance
of tires depends upon the actual conditions of their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the norm due to variations in driving habits,
service practices, and differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction AA A B C
WARNING:The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking traction tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning or peak traction characteristics.
The traction grades, from highest to lowest are AA, A, B, and C. The
grades represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
Temperature A B C
WARNING:The temperature grade for this tire is established for
a tire that is properly inflated and not overloaded. Excessive
speed, underinflation, or excessive loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
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H.U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number (TIN):This begins with the
letters DOT and indicates that the tire meets all federal standards. The
next two numbers or letters are the plant code designating where it was
manufactured, the next two are the tire size code and the last four
numbers represent the week and year the tire was built. For example,
the numbers 317 mean the 31st week of 1997. After 2000 the numbers
go to four digits. For example, 2501 means the 25th week of 2001. The
numbers in between are identification codes used for traceability. This
information is used to contact customers if a tire defect requires a recall.
I.M+S or M/S:Mud and Snow, or
AT:All Terrain, or
AS:All Season.
J.Tire Ply Composition and Material Used:Indicates the number of
plies or the number of layers of rubber-coated fabric in the tire tread and
sidewall. Tire manufacturers also must indicate the ply materials in the
tire and the sidewall, which include steel, nylon, polyester, and others.
K.Maximum Load:Indicates the maximum load in kilograms and
pounds that can be carried by the tire. See the Safety Compliance
Certification Label (affixed to either the door hinge pillar, door-latch
post, or the door edge that meets the door-latch post, next to the
driver’s seating position), for the correct tire pressure for your vehicle.
L.Treadwear, Traction and Temperature Grades
•Treadwear:The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the
wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course. For example, a tire graded 150
would wear one and one-half (1
12) times as well on the government
course as a tire graded 100.
•Traction:The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B,
and C. The grades represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement
as measured under controlled conditions on specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance.
•Temperature:The temperature grades are A (the highest), B and C,
representing the tire’s resistance to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditions on a
specified indoor laboratory test wheel.
360Wheels and Tires
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