Page 338 of 596
Front parking lamp/turn signal and sidemarker bulbs
1. Make sure that the headlamp control is
in the off position.
2. Open the hood.
3. Remove the hood overslam bumper
tower to service park/turn or sidemarker
bulbs (if needed).
Replacing front parking lamp/turn signal bulbs
1. Rotate the bulb socket
counterclockwise and remove it from
the lamp assembly.
2. Pull the bulb straight out of the
socket.
Reverse steps to reinstall bulb(s).
Replacing sidemarker bulbs
1. Rotate the bulb socket
counterclockwise and remove it from
the lamp assembly.
2. Pull the bulb straight out of the
socket.
Reverse steps to reinstall bulb(s).
Maintenance337
2015 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide gf, 2nd Printing, September 2014
USA(fus)
Page 339 of 596

Replacing front fog lamp bulbs
1. Make sure the headlamp switch is off.
1. Make sure that the fog lamp switch
is in the off position.
2. Remove the bulb socket from the
fog lamp by turning it
counterclockwise.
3. Disconnect the electrical
connector.
Reverse steps to reinstall bulb(s).
Replacing turn/backup lamp bulbs
The turn/backup lamp bulbs are located in the same area of the tail lamp
assembly, one below the other. Follow the same steps to replace these
bulbs:
1. Make sure the headlamp switch is in the off
position, then open the liftgate to expose the lamp
assembly bolts.
2. Remove the two bolt covers using a standard flattip
screwdriver.
3. Remove the two bolts from the lamp assembly.
4. Carefully remove the lamp assembly away from the
vehicle by pulling the assembly straight out to expose
the bulb socket.
5. Remove the bulb socket from the
lamp assembly by turning it
counterclockwise.
6. Pull bulb straight out of socket.
7. Install the new bulb in reverse
order.
Carefully install the tail lamp
assembly on the vehicle by securing
the lamp assembly with two bolts.
Reinstall bolt covers.
Replacing tail/brake lamp bulbs
For bulb replacement, see your authorized dealer.
338Maintenance
2015 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide gf, 2nd Printing, September 2014
USA(fus)
Page 344 of 596

WAXING
Regular waxing is necessary to protect the paint on your car from the
elements. We recommend that you wash and wax the painted surface
once or twice a year.
When washing and waxing, park your vehicle in a shaded area out of
direct sunlight. Always wash your vehicle before applying wax.
•
Use a quality wax that does not contain abrasives.
•Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to apply and remove the wax.
•Apply a small amount of wax in a back-and-forth motion, not in circles.
•Do not allow wax to come in contact with any non-body (low-gloss
black) colored trim. The wax discolors or stains the parts over time,
such as:
•Bumpers
•Grained door handles
•Side mouldings
•Mirror housings
•Windshield cowl area.
•Do not apply wax to glass areas.
•After waxing, your car’s paint should feel smooth, and be free of streaks
and smudges.
REPAIRING MINOR PAINT DAMAGE
Your authorized dealer has touch-up paint to match your vehicle’s color.
Take your color code (printed on a sticker in the driver’s door jamb) to
an authorized dealer to make sure you get the correct color.
•Before repairing minor paint damage, use a cleaner such as Motorcraft
Bug and Tar Remover to remove particles such as bird droppings, tree
sap, insect deposits, tar spots, road salt and industrial fallout before
repairing paint chips.
•Always read the instructions before using the products.
CLEANING THE ENGINE
Engines are more efficient when they are clean because grease and dirt
buildup keep the engine warmer than normal.
When washing:
•
Take care when using a power washer to clean the engine. The
high-pressure fluid could penetrate the sealed parts and cause damage.
•Do not spray a hot engine with cold water to avoid cracking the
engine block or other engine components.
Vehicle Care343
2015 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide gf, 2nd Printing, September 2014
USA(fus)
Page 378 of 596

•Ground clearance and parking at curbs
•Winter weather driving capability
•Wet weather driving capability
•All-wheel driving capability (if applicable)
•Load leveling adjustment (if applicable)
When driving with the full-size dissimilar spare tire and wheel assembly,
additional caution should be given to:
•towing a trailer.
•driving vehicles equipped with a camper body.
•driving vehicles with a load on the cargo rack.
Drive cautiously when using a full-size dissimilar spare tire and wheel,
and seek service as soon as possible.
Tire Change Procedure
WARNING:When one of the front wheels is off the ground, the
transmission alone will not prevent the vehicle from moving or
slipping off the jack, even if the transmission is in park (P).
WARNING:To help prevent the vehicle from moving when you
change a tire, be sure to place the transmission in park (P), set
the parking brake and block (in both directions) the wheel that is
diagonally opposite (other side and end of the vehicle) to the tire being
changed.
WARNING:Never get underneath a vehicle that is supported
only by a jack. If the vehicle slips off the jack, you or someone
else could be seriously injured.
WARNING:Do not attempt to change a tire on the side of the
vehicle close to moving traffic. Pull far enough off the road to
avoid the danger of being hit when operating the jack or changing the
wheel.
Wheels and Tires377
2015 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide gf, 2nd Printing, September 2014
USA(fus)
Page 379 of 596

WARNING:Always use the jack provided as original equipment
with your vehicle. If using a jack other than the one provided as
original equipment with your vehicle, make sure the jack capacity is
adequate for the vehicle weight, including any vehicle cargo or
modifications.
Note:Passengers should not remain in the vehicle when the vehicle is
being jacked.
Note:If the third-row seat is stowed in the floor, you will need to
unstow it (raised position) to access the spare tire and jack. SeeRear
Seatsin theSeatschapter for this procedure.
1. Park on a level surface, set the parking brake and activate the hazard
flashers.
2. Put the transmission in park (P) and turn the engine off.
3. Turn the two knobs on the floor
filler counterclockwise, then remove
the floor filler and carpeted floor
panel located in the rear of the
vehicle.
4. Remove the wing nut securing the
spare tire by turning it
counterclockwise.
5. Lift and remove the spare tire from
the spare tire well.
378Wheels and Tires
2015 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide gf, 2nd Printing, September 2014
USA(fus)
Page 380 of 596
6. Remove the wing bolt that secures the
jack kit by turning it counterclockwise.
7. Remove the jack kit which includes the
jack (D), wheel wrench (lug wrench) (C),
L-shaped bolt (A) and the tow recovery
hook (B).
8. Turn the lead screw (where the
lug wrench attaches) of the jack by
hand to release the wheel wrench
from the jack. Press the button on
the wrench to extend the handle.
Fold down the wrench socket.
Vehicle Jacking
1. Block the diagonally opposite
wheel.
2. Loosen each wheel lug nut
one-half turn counterclockwise but
do not remove them until the wheel
is raised off the ground.
3. The vehicle jacking points are shown here, and are depicted on the
warning label on the jack.
Note:Jack at the specified locations to avoid damage to the vehicle.
D
B
C
A
Wheels and Tires379
2015 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide gf, 2nd Printing, September 2014
USA(fus)
Page 381 of 596
4. Small arrow-shaped marks on the sills show the location of the jacking
points.
5. Remove the lug nuts with the lug wrench.
6. Replace the flat tire with the spare tire, making sure the valve stem is
facing outward. Reinstall the lug nuts until the wheel is snug against the
hub. Do not fully tighten the lug nuts until the wheel has been lowered.
7. Lower the wheel by turning the jack handle counterclockwise.
8. Remove the jack and fully tighten the lug
nuts in the order shown. SeeWheel Lug
Nut Torque Specificationslater in this
chapter for the proper lug nut torque
specification.
380Wheels and Tires
2015 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide gf, 2nd Printing, September 2014
USA(fus)
Page 382 of 596

Stowing the mini-spare and jack
1. Adjust the jack to the proper
height to install the wrench. Turn
the jack lead screw until the arrow
on the upper link is slightly below
the circle indicator shown on the
lower link.
Press button (A) to retract the
wrench handle and place the
wrench over the raised tab on the
lower link and drop the tang (B)
through the hole in the diagonally
opposite upper link. Turn the lead
screw of the jack clockwise until the
arrow aligns with the circle
indicator to secure the wrench onto
the jack.
2. Place the jack in the foam tray and secure it with the attached strap.
3. Place the foam tray over the mounting bracket on the floor of the
spare tire well.
4. Replace the mini-spare over the jack and secure with the wing nut.
Stowing the flat tire
1. Place the third-row seat in the
raised position.
2. Secure the jack kit in the
alternate position by inserting the
wing bolt through the jack as
shown.
Note:The L-shaped bolt is located in the foam tray.
A
B
Wheels and Tires381
2015 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide gf, 2nd Printing, September 2014
USA(fus)