2015 FORD EXPLORER maintenance

Changing the Air Filter Element
3.5L V6 engine
2.0L EcoBoost® and 3.5L V6
EcoBoost® engines
1. On the passenger’s side of the air filter housing, release the two
clamps from the air filter housing cover.
2. Lift the passenger’s side of the cover and push the cover toward the
passenger’s side. Release the three tabs on the cover from the three slots
in the driver’s side of the housing.
3. Carefully separate the cover from the housing.
4. Remove the air filter element from the housing.
5. Wipe the cover and the housing clean to remove any dirt or debris and
to make sure the cover seals to the housing.
6. Install a new air filter element. Be careful not to crimp the filter
element edges between the housing and the cover. This could cause filter
damage and allow unfiltered air to enter the engine if not properly
seated.
332Maintenance
2015 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide gf, 2nd Printing, September 2014
USA(fus)

7. Lower the driver’s side of the cover and slide the
three tabs on the cover into the three slots in the
housing.
8. Lower the passenger’s side of the cover. Engage
the two clamps to secure the cover to the housing.
ADJUSTING THE HEADLAMPS
The headlamps on your vehicle are properly aimed at the assembly plant.
If your vehicle has been in an accident, an authorized dealer should
check the alignment of your headlamps.
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 meters)
•(2) Center height of lamp to
ground
•(3) 25 feet (7.6 meters)
•(4) Horizontal reference line
2. The center of the headlamp has a
3.0 millimeter circle on the lens.
Measure the height from the center
of your headlamp to the ground (2)
and mark an 8 foot (2.4 meter) long
horizontal line on the plain surface (1) at this height (masking tape
works well).
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.
Maintenance333
2015 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide gf, 2nd Printing, September 2014
USA(fus)

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
millimeters) 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 or
counterclockwise in order to adjust
the vertical aim of the headlamp.
Note:HORIZONTAL AIMING IS
NOT REQUIRED FOR THIS
VEHICLE AND IS
NON-ADJUSTABLE.
334Maintenance
2015 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide gf, 2nd Printing, September 2014
USA(fus)

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.
These are examples of acceptable condensation:
•Presence of thin mist (no streaks, drip marks or droplets).
•Fine mist covers less than 50% of the lens.
These are examples of unacceptable moisture (usually caused by a lamp
water leak):
•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.
Replacing headlamp bulbs
WARNING:Handle a halogen headlamp bulb carefully and keep
out of children’s reach. Grasp the bulb only by its plastic base
and do not touch the glass. The oil from your hand could cause the
bulb to break the next time the headlamps are operated.
Note:If the bulb is accidentally touched, it should be cleaned with
rubbing alcohol before being used.
1. Make sure that the headlamp control is in the off position.
2. Open the hood.
Maintenance335
2015 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide gf, 2nd Printing, September 2014
USA(fus)

3. Remove the bulb cover.
4. Turn the bulb base counterclockwise and remove
it.
5. Disconnect the electrical connector.
Reverse steps to reinstall bulb(s).
Replacing HID headlamp bulbs (if equipped)
The headlamps on your vehicle use a “high intensity discharge” source.
These lamps operate at a high voltage. When the bulb is burned out, the
bulb and starter capsule assembly must be replaced by your authorized
dealer.
336Maintenance
2015 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide gf, 2nd Printing, September 2014
USA(fus)

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)

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)

Replacing the License Plate Lamp Bulb
1. Carefully release the spring clip.
2. Remove the lamp.
3. Remove the bulb.
Install the new bulb in reverse
order.
Replacing high-mount brake lamp bulb
Your vehicle is equipped with an LED center high-mount stop lamp
located in the spoiler. It is designed to last the life of the vehicle. If
replacement is required, see your authorized dealer.
BULB SPECIFICATION CHART
Replacement bulbs are specified in the chart below. Headlamp bulbs
must be marked with an authorized “D.O.T.” for North America and an
“E” for Europe to ensure lamp performance, light brightness and pattern
and safe visibility. Using incorrect bulbs may damage the lamp assembly
or void the lamp assembly warranty or may not provide quality bulb burn
time.
Function Number of bulbs Trade number
Low/high beam
headlamp2
HB3
* HID headlamp 2 D3S
Front park/turn lamp 2 3457K
Sidemarker 2 W5W
* Tail lamp n/a LED
Backup lamp 2 W21W
Rear turn lamp 2 WY21W (amber)
* Stop lamp n/a LED
* High-mount stop
lampsn/a
LED
Rear license plate
lamp1
W5W
3
2
1
Maintenance339
2015 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide gf, 2nd Printing, September 2014
USA(fus)