2019 FORD EXPLORER service

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 2018
All rights reserved.
Part Number: 201807 20180822173702
California Proposition 65
WARNING: Operating, servicing and
maintaining a passenger vehicle or off-highway
motor vehicle can expose you to chemicals
including engine exhaust, carbon monoxide,
phthalates, and lead, which are known to the
State of California to cause cancer and birth
defects or other reproductive harm. To minimize
exposure, avoid breathing exhaust, do not idle the
engine except as necessary, service your vehicle
in a well-ventilated area and wear gloves or wash
your hands frequently when servicing your vehicle.
For more information go to
www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/passenger-vehicle. WARNING:
Battery posts, terminals and
related accessories contain lead and lead
compounds, chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer and reproductive harm.
Wash your hands after handling
.

Load Carrying
Rear Under Floor Storage
........................239
Cargo Nets .....................................................
239
Luggage Covers ...........................................
240
Roof Racks and Load Carriers ...............
240
Load Limit .......................................................
241
Towing
Towing a Trailer ............................................
247
Trailer Sway Control ..................................
248
Recommended Towing Weights ..........
248
Essential Towing Checks .........................
250
Towing the Vehicle on Four Wheels - 2.3L EcoBoost™ ......................................
252
Towing the Vehicle on Four Wheels - 3.5L Duratec/3.5L Ecoboost™ ..........
252
Driving Hints
Breaking-In ....................................................
255
Economical Driving ....................................
255
Driving Through Water ..............................
256
Floor Mats .....................................................
256
Roadside Emergencies
Roadside Assistance .................................
258
Hazard Flashers ..........................................
259
Fuel Shutoff ..................................................
259
Jump Starting the Vehicle .......................
260
Post-Crash Alert System .........................
262
Transporting the Vehicle ..........................
262
Towing Points ...............................................
263
Customer Assistance
Getting the Services You Need .............
264
In California (U.S. Only) ...........................
265
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) Auto Line Program (U.S. Only) ....................
266
Utilizing the Mediation/Arbitration Program (Canada Only) ......................
267Getting Assistance Outside the U.S. and
Canada .......................................................
267
Ordering Additional Owner's Literature ........................................................................\
269
Reporting Safety Defects (U.S. Only) ........................................................................\
269
Reporting Safety Defects (Canada Only) ........................................................................\
269
Fuses
Fuse Specification Chart ...........................
271
Changing a Fuse .........................................
280
Maintenance
General Information ..................................
282
Opening and Closing the Hood .............
282
Under Hood Overview - 2.3L EcoBoost™ ........................................................................\
283
Under Hood Overview - 3.5L Duratec ........................................................................\
284
Under Hood Overview - 3.5L Ecoboost™ ........................................................................\
285
Engine Oil Dipstick - 2.3L EcoBoost™ ........................................................................\
286
Engine Oil Dipstick - 3.5L Duratec/3.5L Ecoboost™ ...............................................
287
Engine Oil Check .........................................
287
Oil Change Indicator Reset .....................
288
Engine Coolant Check ..............................
289
Automatic Transmission Fluid Check - 2.3L EcoBoost™ .....................................
293
Automatic Transmission Fluid Check - 3.5L Duratec/3.5L Ecoboost™ ..........
293
Brake Fluid Check .......................................
295
Power Steering Fluid Check ...................
296
Washer Fluid Check ...................................
296
Changing the 12V Battery ........................
296
Checking the Wiper Blades ....................
298
Changing the Wiper Blades ....................
298
Adjusting the Headlamps .......................
299
Changing a Bulb .........................................
300
Changing the Engine Air Filter ...............
304
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Vehicle Care
General Information
..................................306
Cleaning Products .....................................
306
Cleaning the Exterior ................................
306
Waxing ...........................................................
308
Cleaning the Engine ..................................
308
Cleaning the Windows and Wiper Blades .......................................................................
308
Cleaning the Interior ..................................
309
Cleaning the Instrument Panel and Instrument Cluster Lens ......................
309
Cleaning Leather Seats .............................
310
Repairing Minor Paint Damage ................
311
Cleaning the Wheels ...................................
311
Vehicle Storage ..............................................
311
Wheels and Tires
General Information ...................................
314
Tire Care ..........................................................
316
Using Summer Tires ..................................
329
Using Snow Chains ....................................
329
Tire Pressure Monitoring System .........
330
Changing a Road Wheel ..........................
334
Technical Specifications ..........................
338
Capacities and Specifications
Engine Specifications - 2.3L EcoBoost™ .......................................................................
340
Engine Specifications - 3.5L Duratec .......................................................................
340
Engine Specifications - 3.5L Ecoboost™ ........................................................................\
.
341
Motorcraft Parts - 2.3L EcoBoost™ .....
342
Motorcraft Parts - 3.5L Duratec ............
343
Motorcraft Parts - 3.5L Ecoboost™ .....
344
Vehicle Identification Number ...............
345
Vehicle Certification Label ......................
346
Transmission Code Designation ...........
346
Capacities and Specifications - 2.3L EcoBoost™ ...............................................
347Capacities and Specifications - 3.5L
Duratec ........................................................
351
Capacities and Specifications - 3.5L Ecoboost™ ...............................................
355
Bulb Specification Chart .........................
360
Audio System
General Information ..................................
362
Audio Unit - Vehicles With: Sony AM/FM/ CD .................................................................
363
Audio Unit - Vehicles With: Premium AM/ FM/CD ........................................................
364
Audio Unit - Vehicles With: AM/FM/CD/ SYNC ...........................................................
366
Digital Radio .................................................
370
Satellite Radio ..............................................
372
USB Port .........................................................
375
Media Hub .....................................................
375
SYNC™
General Information ..................................
376
Using Voice Recognition ..........................
378
Using SYNC™ With Your Phone ..........
380
SYNC™ Applications and Services ......
392
Using SYNC™ With Your Media Player ........................................................................\
397
SYNC™ Troubleshooting ........................
406
SYNC™ 3
General Information ...................................
414
Home Screen ...............................................
426
Using Voice Recognition ...........................
427
Entertainment .............................................
434
Climate ...........................................................
444
Phone .............................................................
446
Navigation .....................................................
452
Apps ................................................................
460
Settings ..........................................................
463
SYNC™ 3 Troubleshooting .....................
477
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Horn control
Panic alarm
Parking aid
Parking brake
Power steering fluid
Power windows front/rear
Power window lockout
Requires registered technician
Safety alert
See Owner's Manual
See Service Manual
Service engine soon
Passenger airbag activated
Passenger airbag deactivated
Side airbag Shield the eyes
Stability control
Hill descent control
Trail control
Windshield wiping system
Windshield wash and wipe
DATA RECORDING
Service Data Recording
Service data recorders in your vehicle are
capable of collecting and storing
diagnostic information about your vehicle.
This potentially includes information about
the performance or status of various
systems and modules in the vehicle, such
as engine, throttle, steering or brake
systems. In order to properly diagnose and
service your vehicle, Ford Motor Company
(Ford of Canada in Canada), and service
and repair facilities may access or share
among them vehicle diagnostic
information received through a direct
connection to your vehicle when
diagnosing or servicing your vehicle.
Additionally, Ford Motor Company (Ford
of Canada, in Canada) may, where
permitted by law, use vehicle diagnostic
information for vehicle improvement or
with other information we may have about
you, (for example, your contact
information), to offer you products or
services that may interest you. Data may
be provided to our service providers such
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as part suppliers that may help diagnose
malfunctions, and who are similarly
obligated to protect data. We retain this
data only as long as necessary to perform
these functions or to comply with law. We
may provide information where required
in response to official requests to law
enforcement or other government
authorities or third parties acting with
lawful authority or court order, and such
information may be used in legal
proceedings. For U.S. only (if equipped), if
you choose to use connected apps and
services, such as SYNC Vehicle Health
Report or MyFord Mobile App, you consent
that certain diagnostic information may
also be accessed electronically by Ford
Motor Company and Ford authorized
service facilities, and that the diagnostic
information may be used to provide
services to you, personalizing your
experience, troubleshoot, and to improve
products and services and offer you
products and services that may interest
you, where permitted by law. For Canada
only, for more information, please review
the Ford of Canada privacy policy at
www.ford.ca, including our U.S. data
storage and use of service providers in
other jurisdictions who may be subject to
legal requirements in Canada, the United
States and other countries applicable to
them, for example, lawful requirements to
disclose personal information to
governmental authorities in those
countries. See SYNC™ (page 376).
Event Data Recording
This vehicle is equipped with an event
data recorder. The main purpose of an
event data recorder is to record, in
certain crash or near crash-like
situations, such as an airbag
deployment or hitting a road obstacle; this data will assist in understanding
how a vehicle
’s systems performed.
The event data recorder is designed to
record data related to vehicle dynamics
and safety systems for a short period
of time, typically 30 seconds or less.
The event data recorder in this vehicle
is designed to record such data as:
• How various systems in your vehicle
were operating;
• Whether or not the driver and
passenger safety belts were
buckled/fastened;
• How far (if at all) the driver was
depressing the accelerator and/or
the brake pedal; and
• How fast the vehicle was traveling;
and
• Where the driver was positioning
the steering wheel.
This data can help provide a better
understanding of the circumstances in
which crashes and injuries occur.
Note: Event data recorder data is
recorded by your vehicle only if a
non-trivial crash situation occurs; no data
is recorded by the event data recorder
under normal driving conditions and no
personal data or information (e.g., name,
gender, age, and crash location) is
recorded (see limitations regarding 911
Assist and Traffic, directions and
Information privacy below). However,
parties, such as law enforcement, could
combine the event data recorder data
with the type of personally identifying
data routinely acquired during a crash
investigation.
To read data recorded by an event data
recorder, special equipment is required,
and access to the vehicle or the event
data recorder is needed. In addition to
the vehicle manufacturer, other
parties, such as law enforcement, that
have such special equipment, can read
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the information if they have access to
the vehicle or the event data recorder.
Ford Motor Company and Ford of
Canada do not access event data
recorder information without obtaining
consent, unless pursuant to court order
or where required by law enforcement,
other government authorities or other
third parties acting with lawful
authority. Other parties may seek to
access the information independently
of Ford Motor Company and Ford of
Canada.
Note:
Including to the extent that any
law pertaining to Event Data Recorders
applies to SYNC or its features, please
note the following: Once 911 Assist (if
equipped) is enabled (set ON), 911 Assist
may, through any paired and connected
cell phone, disclose to emergency
services that the vehicle has been in a
crash involving the deployment of an
airbag or, in certain vehicles, the
activation of the fuel pump shut-off.
Certain versions or updates to 911 Assist
may also be capable of being used to
electronically or verbally provide to 911
operators the vehicle location (such as
latitude and longitude), and/or other
details about the vehicle or crash or
personal information about the
occupants to assist 911 operators to
provide the most appropriate emergency
services. If you do not want to disclose
this information, do not activate the 911
Assist feature. See SYNC™ (page 376).
Additionally, when you connect to
Traffic, Directions and Information (if
equipped, U.S. only), the service uses
GPS technology and advanced vehicle
sensors to collect the vehicle ’s current
location, travel direction, and speed
(“ vehicle travel information ”), only to
help provide you with the directions,
traffic reports, or business searches
that you request. If you do not want Ford or its vendors to receive this
information, do not activate the
service. For more information, see
Traffic, Directions and Information,
Terms and Conditions.
See
SYNC™
(page 376).
PERCHLORATE
Certain components in your vehicle such
as airbag modules, seatbelt pretensioners
and remote control batteries may contain
perchlorate material. Special handling
may apply for service or vehicle end of life
disposal.
For more information visit: Web Address
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazard- ouswaste/perchlorate
FORD CREDIT
US 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.
We offer a number of convenient ways for
you to contact us, and to manage your
account.
Call 1-800-727-7000.
For more information about Ford Credit
and access to Account Manager, go to
www.ford.com/finance.
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REPLACEMENT PARTS
RECOMMENDATION
We have built your vehicle 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.
Collision Repairs
We hope that you never experience a
collision, but accidents do happen.
Genuine Ford replacement collision parts
meet our stringent requirements for fit,
finish, structural integrity, corrosion
protection and dent resistance. During
vehicle development we validate that
these parts deliver the intended level of
protection as a whole system. A great way
to know for sure you are getting this level
of protection is to use genuine Ford
replacement collision parts. Warranty on Replacement Parts
Genuine Ford and Motorcraft replacement
parts are the only replacement parts that
benefit from a Ford Warranty. The Ford
Warranty may not cover damage caused
to your vehicle as a result of failed
non-Ford parts. For additional information,
refer to the terms and conditions of the
Ford Warranty.
SPECIAL NOTICES
New Vehicle Limited Warranty
For a detailed description of what is
covered and what is not covered by your
vehicle
’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty,
see the Warranty Manual that is provided
to you along with your Owner ’s Manual.
Special Instructions
For your added safety, your vehicle is fitted
with sophisticated electronic controls. WARNING: You risk death or
serious injury to yourself and others if you
do not follow the instruction highlighted
by the warning symbol. Failure to follow
the specific warnings and instructions
could result in personal injury. WARNING:
NEVER use a rearward
facing child restraint on a seat protected
by an ACTIVE AIRBAG in front of it,
DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY to the CHILD
can occur.
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On Board Diagnostics Data Link
Connector
WARNING: Do not connect
wireless plug-in devices to the data link
connector. Unauthorized third parties
could gain access to vehicle data and
impair the performance of safety related
systems. Only allow repair facilities that
follow our service and repair instructions
to connect their equipment to the data
link connector.
Your vehicle has an OBD Data Link
Connector (DLC) that is used in
conjunction with a diagnostic scan tool for
vehicle diagnostics, repairs and
reprogramming services. Installing an
aftermarket device that uses the DLC
during normal driving for purposes such as
remote insurance company monitoring,
transmission of vehicle data to other
devices or entities, or altering the
performance of the vehicle, may cause
interference with or even damage to
vehicle systems. We do not recommend
or endorse the use of aftermarket plug-in
devices unless approved by Ford. The
vehicle Warranty will not cover damage
caused by an aftermarket plug-in device.
Notice to Owners of Pickup Trucks
and Utility Type Vehicles WARNING:
Utility vehicles have a
significantly higher rollover rate than
other types of vehicles.
Before you drive your vehicle, please read
this Owner ’s Guide carefully. Your vehicle
is not a passenger car. As with other
vehicles of this type, failure to operate this
vehicle correctly may result in loss of
vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal
injury or death. Using Your Vehicle With a
Snowplow
Do not use this vehicle for
snowplowing.
Your vehicle does not have a snowplowing
package.
Using Your Vehicle as an
Ambulance
Do not use this vehicle as an
ambulance.
Your vehicle does not have the Ford
Ambulance Preparation Package.
MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS
EQUIPMENT
WARNING:
Driving while
distracted can result in loss of vehicle
control, crash and injury. We strongly
recommend that you use extreme
caution when using any device that may
take your focus off the road. Your
primary responsibility is the safe
operation of your vehicle. We
recommend against the use of any
hand-held device while driving and
encourage the use of voice-operated
systems when possible. Make sure you
are aware of all applicable local laws
that may affect the use of electronic
devices while driving.
Using mobile communications equipment
is becoming increasingly important in the
conduct of business and personal affairs.
However, you must not compromise your
own or others’ safety when using such
equipment. Mobile communications can
enhance personal safety and security when
appropriately used, particularly in
emergency situations. Safety must be
paramount when using mobile
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