
Steering Wheel
Adjusting the Steering Wheel - Vehicles
With: Manual Adjustable Steering
Column...........................................................72
Adjusting the Steering Wheel -
Vehicles
With: Power Adjustable Steering
Column...........................................................72
Audio Control...................................................73
Voice Control
....................................................74
Cruise Control
..................................................74
Information Display Control.......................75
Heated Steering Wheel................................75
Pedals
Adjusting the Pedals
.....................................76
Wipers and Washers
Windshield Wipers
.........................................77
Autowipers........................................................77
Windshield Washers
.....................................78
Rear Window Wiper and Washers...........78
Lighting
General Information
.....................................80
Lighting Control
..............................................80
Autolamps
.........................................................81
Instrument Lighting Dimmer.....................82
Headlamp Exit Delay
....................................82
Daytime Running Lamps
.............................82
Automatic High Beam Control.................83
Front Fog Lamps............................................84
Direction Indicators
.......................................85
Interior Lamps
.................................................85
Windows and Mirrors
Power Windows
..............................................87
Exterior Mirrors
................................................88
Interior Mirror...................................................90
Sun Visors
..........................................................91
Moonroof............................................................91 Instrument Cluster
Gauges...............................................................93
Warning Lamps and Indicators................96
Audible Warnings and Indicators
...........100
Information Displays
General Information.....................................101
Information Messages
.................................115
Climate Control
Manual Climate Control.............................129
Automatic Climate Control -
Vehicles
With: Premium AM/FM/CD...................131
Automatic Climate Control -
Vehicles
With: Sony Audio System......................132
Hints on Controlling the Interior Climate.........................................................134
Rear Passenger Climate Controls...........137
Heated Windows and Mirrors..................138
Cabin Air Filter
...............................................138
Remote Start.................................................139
Seats
Sitting in the Correct Position
.................140
Head Restraints............................................140
Manual Seats
.................................................143
Power Seats
...................................................144
Memory Function
.........................................146
Rear Seats
.......................................................147
Heated Seats.................................................154
Climate Controlled Seats..........................155
Universal Garage Door Opener
Universal Garage Door Opener................157
Auxiliary Power Points
Auxiliary Power Points................................162
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Explorer (TUB), enUSA, First Printing Table of Contents

Storage Compartments
Center Console..............................................164
Overhead Console.......................................164
Starting and Stopping the Engine
General Information
....................................165
Ignition Switch
...............................................165
Keyless Starting............................................165
Starting a Gasoline Engine.......................166
Engine Block Heater....................................169
Fuel and Refueling
Safety Precautions
........................................171
Fuel Quality.....................................................172
Fuel Quality - E85.........................................172
Fuel Filler Funnel Location........................173
Running Out of Fuel
.....................................173
Refueling..........................................................174
Fuel Consumption
........................................176
Emission Control System...........................177
Transmission
Automatic Transmission...........................180
Four-Wheel Drive
Principle of Operation
................................184
Using Four-Wheel Drive.............................184
Brakes
General Information
....................................189
Hints on Driving With Anti-Lock Brakes...........................................................189
Parking Brake.................................................190
Hill Start Assist.............................................190
Traction Control
Principle of Operation.................................192
Using Traction Control................................192 Stability Control
Principle of Operation.................................193
Using Stability Control...............................194
Terrain Response
Using Terrain Response.............................195
Using Hill Descent Control........................196
Parking Aids
Principle of Operation................................198
Rear Parking Aid
...........................................198
Front Parking Aid..........................................199
Side Sensing System.................................200
Active Park Assist
........................................202
Rear View Camera
......................................208
180 Degree Parking Aid Camera..............211
Cruise Control
Principle of Operation.................................213
Using Cruise Control....................................213
Using Adaptive Cruise Control.................214
Driving Aids
Driver Alert
.....................................................220
Lane Keeping System
................................220
Blind Spot Information System..............224
Cross Traffic Alert.........................................227
Steering...........................................................229
Pre-Collision Assist.....................................230
Load Carrying
Rear Under Floor Storage.........................233
Cargo Nets
......................................................233
Luggage Covers
............................................234
Roof Racks and Load Carriers................234
Load Limit.......................................................235
Towing
Towing a Trailer
............................................243
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Explorer (TUB), enUSA, First Printing Table of Contents

Trailer Sway Control...................................244
Recommended Towing Weights...........244
Essential Towing Checks..........................246
Transporting the Vehicle
..........................248
Towing the Vehicle on Four Wheels - 2.3L EcoBoost™......................................249
Towing the Vehicle on Four Wheels - 3.5L Duratec/
3.5L Ecoboost™..........250
Driving Hints
Breaking-In.....................................................252
Economical Driving
.....................................252
Driving Through Water...............................253
Floor Mats
.......................................................253
Roadside Emergencies
Roadside Assistance..................................255
Hazard Warning Flashers.........................256
Fuel Shutoff...................................................256
Jump Starting the Vehicle.........................257
Post-Crash Alert System..........................259
Customer Assistance
Getting the Services You Need..............260
In California (U.S. Only).............................261
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) Auto Line Program (U.S. Only)......................262
Utilizing the Mediation/Arbitration Program (Canada Only).......................262
Getting Assistance Outside the U.S. and Canada........................................................263
Ordering Additional Owner's Literature....................................................264
Reporting Safety Defects (U.S. Only)............................................................264
Reporting Safety Defects (Canada Only)............................................................265
Fuses
Fuse Specification Chart..........................266
Changing a Fuse
...........................................274 Maintenance
General Information....................................275
Opening and Closing the Hood..............276
Under Hood Overview -
2.3L
EcoBoost™................................................278
Under Hood Overview -
3.5L
Duratec........................................................279
Under Hood Overview -
3.5L
Ecoboost™...............................................280
Engine Oil Dipstick -
2.3L
EcoBoost™.................................................281
Engine Oil Dipstick -
3.5L Duratec/3.5L
Ecoboost™.................................................281
Engine Oil Check...........................................281
Oil Change Indicator Reset......................282
Engine Coolant Check...............................282
Automatic Transmission Fluid Check - 2.3L EcoBoost™......................................286
Automatic Transmission Fluid Check - 3.5L Duratec/
3.5L Ecoboost™..........286
Brake Fluid Check........................................288
Power Steering Fluid Check....................288
Washer Fluid Check
....................................288
Fuel Filter
........................................................289
Changing the 12V Battery.........................289
Checking the Wiper Blades.....................290
Changing the Wiper Blades......................291
Adjusting the Headlamps..........................291
Removing a Headlamp..............................293
Changing a Bulb
...........................................293
Bulb Specification Chart...........................297
Changing the Engine Air Filter................299
Vehicle Care
General Information
..................................300
Cleaning Products
......................................300
Cleaning the Exterior
.................................300
Waxing
..............................................................301
Cleaning the Engine
....................................301
Cleaning the Windows and Wiper Blades..........................................................302
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Explorer (TUB), enUSA, First Printing Table of Contents

Use a child safety seat (sometimes called
an infant carrier, convertible seat, or
toddler seat) for Infants, toddlers or
children weighing 40 pounds (18
kilograms) or less (generally age four or
younger)
INSTALLING CHILD SEATS
Using Lap and Shoulder Belts
WARNINGS
Airbags can kill or injure a child in a
child seat. Never place a rear-facing
child seat in front of an active airbag.
If you must use a forward-facing child seat
in the front seat, move the seat upon which
the child seat is installed all the way back. Airbags can kill or injure a child in a
child seat. Children 12 and under
should be properly restrained in the
rear seat whenever possible. Depending on where you secure a
child restraint, and depending on the
child restraint design, you may block
access to certain safety belt buckle
assemblies and LATCH lower anchors,
rendering those features potentially
unusable. To avoid risk of injury, occupants
should only use seating positions where
they are able to be properly restrained. When installing a child safety seat with
combination lap and shoulder belts:
•
Use the correct safety belt buckle for
that seating position.
• Insert the belt tongue into the proper
buckle until you hear a snap and feel it
latch. Make sure the tongue is securely
fastened in the buckle.
• Keep the buckle release button
pointing up and away from the safety
seat, with the tongue between the child
seat and the release button, to prevent
accidental unbuckling. •
Place the vehicle seat upon which the
child seat will be installed in the upright
position.
• For second-row seating positions,
adjust the recliner slightly to improve
child seat fit. If needed, remove the
head restraints.
• For third-row seating positions, stow
the head restraints to improve child
seat fit. See Head Restraints (page
140).
• Put the safety belt in the automatic
locking mode. See Step 5. This vehicle
does not require the use of a locking
clip.
Perform the following steps when
installing the child seat with combination
lap and shoulder belts:
Note: Although the child seat illustrated is
a forward facing child seat, the steps are
the same for installing a rear facing child
seat.
Note: The lock-off device on some child
restraints may not accommodate the
shoulder portion of the inflatable safety belt.
Follow all instructions provided by the
manufacturer of the child restraint regarding
the necessary and proper use of the lock-off
device. In some instances these devices
have been provided only for use in vehicles
with safety belt systems that would
otherwise require a locking clip.
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Explorer (TUB), enUSA, First Printing Child Safety

Placement of the tether strap
•
Second row outboard seat positions:
Route the child safety seat tether strap
over the seatback, under the head
restraint and between the head
restraint posts. If needed, remove the
head restraint to improve the fit of the
child safety seat or tether strap.
• Second row center seat positions:
Route the child safety seat tether strap
over the top of the head restraint. If
needed, remove the head restraint to
improve the fit of the child safety seat
or tether strap. See Head Restraints
(page 140).
• Third row seat position: Route the child
safety seat tether strap over the seat
back, under the head restraint and
between the head restraint posts. If
needed, fold the head restraint down
to improve the fit of the child safety
seat or tether strap. See
Head
Restraints (page 140).
1. Route the tether strap.
2. Locate the correct anchor for the selected seating position.
3. Clip the tether strap to the anchor as shown. The tether hook may be twisted
½ turn to improve installation. If the
tether strap is clipped incorrectly, the
child safety seat may not be retained
properly in the event of a crash. 4. Tighten the child safety seat tether
strap according to the manufacturer's
instructions.
If the safety seat is not anchored properly,
the risk of a child being injured in a crash
greatly increases.
If your child restraint system is equipped
with a tether strap, and the child restraint
manufacturer recommends its use, we also
recommend its use.
Second row bucket (40/40) 25
Explorer (TUB), enUSA, First Printing Child SafetyE190833 E190830

•
Can the child sit all the way back
against their vehicle seat back with
knees bent comfortably at the edge of
the seat cushion?
• Can the child sit without slouching?
• Does the lap belt rest low across the
hips?
• Is the shoulder belt centered on the
shoulder and chest?
• Can the child stay seated like this for
the whole trip?
Always use booster seats in conjunction
with your vehicle lap and shoulder belt.
Types of Booster Seats •
Backless booster seats If your backless booster seat has a
removable shield, remove the shield. If a
vehicle seating position has a low seat
back or no head restraint, a backless
booster seat may place your child's head
(as measured at the tops of the ears)
above the top of the seat. In this case,
move the backless booster to another
seating position with a higher seat back or
head restraint and lap and shoulder belts,
or consider using a high back booster seat.
•
High back booster seats
If, with a backless booster seat, you cannot
find a seating position that adequately
supports your child's head, a high back
booster seat would be a better choice.
Children and booster seats vary in size and
shape. Choose a booster that keeps the
lap belt low and snug across the hips,
never up across the stomach, and lets you
adjust the shoulder belt to cross the chest
and rest snugly near the center of the
shoulder. The following drawings compare
the ideal fit (center) to a shoulder belt
uncomfortably close to the neck and a
shoulder belt that could slip off the
shoulder. The drawings also show how the
lap belt should be low and snug across the
child's hips.
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Explorer (TUB), enUSA, First Printing Child SafetyE68924 E70710

WARNINGS
manufacturer. A safety seat that is
improperly installed or utilized, is
inappropriate for your child's height, age,
or weight or does not properly fit the child
may increase the risk of serious injury or
death. Never let a passenger hold a child on
his or her lap while your vehicle is
moving. The passenger cannot
protect the child from injury in a crash,
which may result in serious injury or death. Never use pillows, books, or towels
to boost a child. They can slide
around and increase the likelihood
of injury or death in a crash. WARNINGS
Always restrain an unoccupied child
seat or booster seat. These objects
may become projectiles in a crash or
sudden stop, which may increase the risk
of serious injury. Never place, or allow a child to place,
the shoulder belt under a child's arm
or behind the back because it
reduces the protection for the upper part
of the body and may increase the risk of
injury or death in a crash. To avoid risk of injury, do not leave
children or pets unattended in your
vehicle.
Recommendations for attaching child safety restraints for children
Use any attachment method as indicated below by X
Combined weight ofchild and
child seat
Restraint
Type Safety belt
only
Safety belt
and LATCH
(lower
anchors and top tether
anchor)
Safety belt
and toptether
anchor
LATCH
(lower
anchors only)
LATCH
(lower
anchors and top tether
anchor)
X
X
Up to 65 lb
(29.5 kg)
Rear facing
child seat
X
Over
65 lb
(29.5 kg)
Rear facing
child seat
X
X
X
Up to
65 lb
(29.5 kg)
Forward
facing
child seat
X
X
Over
65 lb
(29.5 kg)
Forward
facing
child seat
Note: The child seat must rest tightly
against the vehicle seat upon which it is
installed. It may be necessary to lift or
remove the head restraint. See Seats (page
140
). CHILD SAFETY LOCKS
When these locks are set, the rear doors
cannot be opened from the inside.
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Explorer (TUB), enUSA, First Printing Child Safety

How does the rear inflatable safety belt
system work?
The rear inflatable safety belts will
function like standard restraints in
everyday usage.
During a crash 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. WARNING
If the rear inflatable safety belt has
deployed, it will not function again.
The rear inflatable safety belt system
must be replaced by an authorized dealer. The rear inflatable safety belts are
designed to inflate in frontal or near-frontal
crashes and some side impact crashes.
The fact that the rear inflatable safety belt
did not inflate in a crash does not mean
that something is wrong with the system.
Rather, it means the forces were not of the
type sufficient to cause activation.
Safety Belt Extension Assembly
WARNINGS
Do not use extensions to change the
fit of the shoulder belt across the
torso.
Do not use extensions with an
inflatable safety belt.
If the safety belt is too short when fully
extended, a safety belt extension assembly
can be obtained from an authorized dealer.
Use only extensions manufactured by the
same supplier as the safety belt.
Manufacturer identification is on a label
located either at the end of the webbing
or on the retractor behind the trim. Also,
use the safety belt extension only if the
safety belt is too short for you when fully
extended.
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Explorer (TUB), enUSA, First Printing Safety BeltsE146364 E146365