
TOWING A TRAILER
WARNING: Towing trailers
beyond the maximum
recommended gross trailer
weight exceeds the limit of your
vehicle and could result in engine
damage, transmission damage,
structural damage, loss of
vehicle control, vehicle rollover
and personal injury. WARNING:
Do not exceed
the GVWR or the GAWR
specified on the certification
label.
Note: See
Recommended
Towing Weights (page 187).
Your vehicle may have electrical
items, such as fuses or relays,
related to towing. See
Fuses
(page 209).
Your vehicle's load capacity
designation is by weight, not by
volume, so you cannot necessarily
use all available space when
loading a vehicle or trailer.
Towing a trailer places an extra
load on your vehicle's engine,
transmission, axle, brakes, tires
and suspension. Inspect these
components periodically during,
and after, any towing operation. Load Placement
To help minimize how trailer
movement affects your vehicle
when driving:
•
Load the heaviest items closest
to the trailer floor.
• Load the heaviest items
centered between the left and
right side trailer tires.
• Load the heaviest items above
the trailer axles or just slightly
forward toward the trailer
tongue. Do not allow the final
trailer tongue weight to go
above or below 10-15% of the
loaded trailer weight.
• Select a ball mount with the
correct rise or drop and load
capacity. When both the
loaded vehicle and trailer are
connected, the trailer frame
should be level, or slightly
angled down toward your
vehicle, when viewed from the
side.
When driving with a trailer or
payload, a slight takeoff vibration
or shudder may be present due to
the increased payload weight.
Additional information regarding
proper trailer loading and setting
your vehicle up for towing is
located in another chapter of this
manual. See
Load Limit (page
181).
You can also find information in
the
RV & Trailer Towing Guide
available at your authorized
dealer, or online.
186
Explorer (CTW) Police, Canada/United States of America, Police, enUSA, Edition date: 201902, Second-Printing Towing

ESSENTIAL TOWING CHECKS
Follow these guidelines for safe towing:
•
Do not tow a trailer until you drive your
vehicle at least 1,000 mi (1,600 km).
• Consult your local motor vehicle laws
for towing a trailer.
• See the instructions included with
towing accessories for the proper
installation and adjustment
specifications.
• Service your vehicle more frequently if
you tow a trailer.
See Scheduled
Maintenance (page 330).
• If you use a rental trailer, follow the
instructions the rental agency gives
you.
You can find information on load
specification terms found on the tire label
and Safety Compliance label as well as
instructions on calculating your vehicle's
load in the Load Carrying chapter.
See
Load Limit (page 181).
Remember to account for the trailer
tongue weight as part of your vehicle load
when calculating the total vehicle weight.
Hitches
Do not use a hitch that either clamps onto
the bumper or attaches to the axle.
Distribute the trailer load so 10-15% of the
total trailer weight is on the tongue.
A weight distributing hitch is not required
for your vehicle.
Safety Chains
Note: Do not attach safety chains to the
bumper.
Always connect the safety chains to the
hook retainers of your vehicle hitch. To connect the trailer
’s safety chains, cross
them under the trailer tongue and allow
enough slack for turning tight corners. Do
not allow the chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes WARNING:
Do not connect a
trailer's hydraulic brake system directly
to your vehicle's brake system. Your
vehicle may not have enough braking
power and your chances of having a
collision greatly increase.
Electric brakes and manual, automatic or
surge-type trailer brakes are safe if you
install them properly and adjust them to
the manufacturer's specifications. The
trailer brakes must meet local and federal
regulations.
The rating for the tow vehicle's braking
system operation is at the gross vehicle
weight rating, not the gross combined
weight rating.
Safe control of towed vehicles requires
separate functioning brake systems for
vehicles and trailers weighing more than
1,500 lb (680 kg)
when loaded.
Trailer Lamps WARNING:
Never connect any
trailer lamp wiring to the vehicle's tail
lamp wiring; this may damage the
electrical system resulting in fire. Contact
your authorized dealer as soon as
possible for assistance in proper trailer
tow wiring installation. Additional
electrical equipment may be required.
Most towed vehicles require trailer lamps.
Make sure all running lights, brake lights,
direction indicators and hazard flashers
are working.
188
Explorer (CTW) Police, Canada/United States of America, Police, enUSA, Edition date: 201902, Second-Printing Towing

COLLISION, DAMAGE OR FIRE
EVENT
Guidance for Ford Motor Company
Electric and Hybrid-Electric
Vehicles Equipped With High
Voltage Batteries
(Vehicle Owner/Operator/General
Public)
Electric and Hybrid-Electric Vehicle
Considerations
In the event of damage or fire involving an
electric vehicle or hybrid-electric vehicle:
•
Always assume the high-voltage
battery and associated components
are energized and fully charged.
• Exposed electrical components, wires,
and high-voltage batteries present
potential high-voltage shock hazards.
• Venting high-voltage battery vapors
are potentially toxic and flammable.
• Physical damage to the vehicle or
high-voltage battery may result in
immediate or delayed release of toxic,
flammable gases and fire.
Vehicle information and general safety
practices:
• Know the make and model of your
vehicle.
• Review the owner ’s manual and
become familiar with your vehicle ’s
safety information and recommended
safety practices.
• Do not attempt to repair damaged
electric and hybrid-electric vehicles
yourself.
Contact an authorized dealer. Crashes
A crash or impact significant enough to
require an emergency response for
conventional vehicles would also require
the same response for an electric or
hybrid-electric vehicle.
If possible:
•
Move your vehicle to a safe, nearby
location and remain on the scene.
• Roll down the windows before
switching your vehicle off.
• Place your vehicle in park (P), set the
parking brake, switch off the vehicle,
activate the hazard warning flashers
and move your key(s) at least 15 ft
(5 m) away from the vehicle.
Always:
• Call emergency assistance if needed
and advise that an electric or
hybrid-electric vehicle is involved.
• Exposed electrical components, wires,
and high-voltage batteries present
potential high-voltage shock hazards.
• Avoid contact with leaking fluids and
gases, and remain out of the way of
oncoming traffic until emergency
responders arrive.
• When emergency responders arrive,
tell them that the vehicle involved is an
electric vehicle or hybrid-electric
vehicle.
Fires
As with any vehicle, call emergency
assistance immediately if you see sparks,
smoke or flames coming from the vehicle.
Remain a safe distance from the vehicle
and try to stay clear of the smoke.
• Exit the vehicle immediately.
• Advise emergency assistance that an
electric or hybrid-electric vehicle is
involved.
198
Explorer (CTW) Police, Canada/United States of America, Police, enUSA, Edition date: 201902, Second-Printing Roadside Emergencies

1. Park your vehicle on a level surface.
2. Look at the brake fluid reservoir to see
where the brake fluid level is relative
to the MIN and the MAX marks on the
reservoir.
Note: If the brake fluid level is between the
MIN
and the MAX marks on the reservoir, it
is acceptable.
Note: If the brake fluid level is below the
MIN
mark or above the MAX mark, have
your vehicle checked as soon as possible.
Note: To avoid fluid contamination, the
reservoir cap must remain in place and fully
tight, unless you are adding fluid.
Only use fluid that meets our
specifications. See
Capacities and
Specifications (page 277).
Brake Fluid Service Interval
Brake fluid absorbs water over time which
degrades the effectiveness of the brake
fluid. Change the brake fluid at the
specified intervals to prevent degraded
braking performance. For detailed interval information, see
Scheduled Maintenance in your Owner's
Manual or your local maintenance guide.
POWER STEERING FLUID
CHECK
Your vehicle is equipped with an electric
power steering (EPS) system. There is no
fluid reservoir to check or fill.
WASHER FLUID CHECK
WARNING:
If you operate your
vehicle in temperatures below 41.0°F
(5°C), use washer fluid with antifreeze
protection. Failure to use washer fluid
with antifreeze protection in cold
weather could result in impaired
windshield vision and increase the risk
of injury or accident.
Note: The front and rear washer systems
are supplied from the same reservoir.
Add fluid to fill the reservoir if the level is
low. Only use a washer fluid that meets
our specifications. See
Capacities and
Specifications (page 277).
State or local regulations on volatile
organic compounds may restrict the use
of methanol, a common windshield washer
antifreeze additive. Washer fluids
containing non-methanol antifreeze
agents should be used only if they provide
cold weather protection without damaging
the vehicle ’s paint finish, wiper blades or
washer system.
230
Explorer (CTW) Police, Canada/United States of America, Police, enUSA, Edition date: 201902, Second-Printing MaintenanceE170684

GENERAL INFORMATION
SYNC is an in-vehicle communications
system that works with your Bluetooth
enabled cellular phone and portable media
player. This allows you to:
•
Make and receive calls.
• Access and play music from your
portable music player.
• Use 911 Assist or Emergency Assistance
and applications via SYNC AppLink. *
• Access phonebook contacts and music
using voice commands.
• Stream music from your connected
phone.
• Text message.
• Use the advanced voice recognition
system.
• Charge your USB device (if your device
supports this).
* These features are not available in all
markets and may require activation.
Available AppLink enabled apps vary by
market.
Make sure that you review your device's
manual before using it with SYNC.
Support
SYNC support is available at your regional
Ford website. See SYNC™
Troubleshooting (page 319).
SYNC Owner Account
Why do I need a SYNC owner account?
• Essential for keeping up with the latest
software downloads available for
SYNC.
• Access to customer support for any
questions you may have. Driving Restrictions
For your safety, certain features are
speed-dependent and restricted when your
vehicle is traveling over
3.1 mph (5 km/h).
Safety Information 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.
When using SYNC:
• Do not operate playing devices if the
power cords or cables are broken, split
or damaged. Place cords and cables
out of the way, so they do not interfere
with the operation of pedals, seats,
compartments or safe driving abilities.
• Do not leave playing devices in your
vehicle during extreme conditions as it
could cause them damage. See your
device's manual for further information.
• Do not attempt to service or repair the
system. See an authorized dealer.
Privacy Information
When a cellular phone is connected to
SYNC, the system creates a profile within
your vehicle that is linked to that cellular
phone. This profile is created in order to
offer you more cellular features and to
operate more efficiently. Among other
311
Explorer (CTW) Police, Canada/United States of America, Police, enUSA, Edition date: 201902, Second-Printing SYNC™

To adjust this setting press the voice button, when prompted say:
Action and Description
Voice Command
Voice Settings
Then any of the following: When enabled, this feature will prompt you
to confirm any voice initiated call command
prior to the call being placed.
Phone Confirmation Off
The system will make a best guess; you
may still occasionally be asked to confirm
settings.
Phone Confirmation On
USING SYNC™ WITH YOUR
PHONE
Hands-free calling is one of the main
features of SYNC. While the system
supports a variety of features, many are
dependent on your cellular phone's
functionality. At a minimum, most cellular
phones with Bluetooth wireless technology
support the following functions:
• Answering an incoming call.
• Ending a call.
• Dialing a number.
• Redialing.
• Call waiting notification.
• Caller ID.
Other features, such as text messaging
using Bluetooth and automatic phonebook
download, are phone-dependent features.
Pairing a Phone
Wirelessly pairing your phone with SYNC
allows you to make and receive hands-free
calls. Note:
Make sure to switch on the ignition
and the radio. Shift the transmission into
park (P) for automatic transmission or first
gear for manual transmission.
Using the Audio System
Note: To scroll through the menus, press
the up and down arrows on your audio
system.
1. Make sure to switch on your phone's Bluetooth feature before starting the
search. See your device's manual if
necessary.
2. Press the Settings button.
3. Select Bluetooth from the menu.
4. Press the
OK button.
5. Select the option to add. This starts the pairing process.
6. When a message to begin pairing appears in the audio display, search for
SYNC on your device.
Depending on your phone's capability and
your market, the system may prompt you
with questions, such as setting the current
phone as the primary phone and
downloading your phonebook.
314
Explorer (CTW) Police, Canada/United States of America, Police, enUSA, Edition date: 201902, Second-Printing SYNC™

Using Voice Commands
Make sure to switch on your
phone's Bluetooth feature
before starting the search. See
your device's manual if necessary.
Press the voice button and when
prompted say: Action and Descrip-
tion
Voice Command
Follow the instruc-
tions on the audio
display.
Pair Phone
Phone Voice Commands Press the voice button. You can
do things like place a phone call
and access text messages.
When prompted, say a command. See the
following table for examples of
commands. Voice Command
___ List of Commands
Help
Call ___
Dial ___
Text Messages
__ is a dynamic listing, meaning that it
could be the name of anything, such as a
contact or phone number.
Phone Controls
Use the phone buttons on your steering
wheel to answer, reject, or hang up a call. Accessing Features through the
Phone Menu
You can access your call history,
phonebook, sent text messages, as well
as access phone and system settings.
1. Press the PHONE button to enter the
phone menu.
2. Scroll through the menu to view contacts, text messages, and the
phone dialer.
SYNC™ APPLICATIONS AND
SERVICES
• 911 Assist: Can alert 911 in the event of
an emergency.
• SYNC AppLink: Allows you to connect
to and use certain applications (if your
phone is compatible).
These features may require activation.
Available AppLink enabled apps vary by
market.
911 Assist WARNING:
Unless the 911 Assist
setting is set on before a crash, the
system will not dial for help which could
delay response time, potentially
increasing the risk of serious injury or
death after a crash. WARNING:
Do not wait for 911
Assist to make an emergency call if you
can do it yourself. Dial emergency
services immediately to avoid delayed
response time which could increase the
risk of serious injury or death after a
crash. If you do not hear 911 Assist within
five seconds of the crash, the system or
phone may be damaged or
non-functional.
315
Explorer (CTW) Police, Canada/United States of America, Police, enUSA, Edition date: 201902, Second-Printing SYNC™E142599 E142599

GENERAL MAINTENANCE
INFORMATION
Why Maintain Your Vehicle?
Carefully following the maintenance
schedule helps protect against major repair
expenses resulting from neglect or
inadequate maintenance and may help to
increase the value of your vehicle when
you sell or trade it. Keep all receipts for
completed maintenance with your vehicle.
We have established regular maintenance
intervals for your vehicle based upon
rigorous testing. It is important that you
have your vehicle serviced at the proper
times. These intervals serve two purposes:
one is to maintain the reliability of your
vehicle and the second is to keep your cost
of owning your vehicle down.
It is your responsibility to have all
scheduled maintenance performed and to
make sure that the materials used meet
the specifications identified in this owner's
manual. See Capacities and
Specifications (page 277).
Failure to perform scheduled maintenance
invalidates warranty coverage on parts
affected by the lack of maintenance.
Why Maintain Your Vehicle at Your
Dealership?
Factory-Trained Technicians
Service technicians participate in extensive
factory-sponsored certification training to
help them become experts on the
operation of your vehicle. Ask your
dealership about the training and
certification their technicians have
received. Our Genuine Replacement Parts
Dealerships stock our genuine
manufactured or our authorized
re-manufactured replacement parts.
These parts meet or exceed our
specifications. Parts installed at your
dealership carry a nationwide 24-month
or unlimited mile (kilometer) parts and
labor limited warranty.
If you do not use our authorized parts they
may not meet our specifications and
depending on the part, it could affect
emissions compliance.
Convenience
Many dealerships have extended evening
and Saturday hours to make your service
visit more convenient and they offer one
stop shopping. They can perform any
services that are required on your vehicle,
from general maintenance to collision
repairs.
Note:
Not all dealers have extended hours
or body shops. Please contact your dealer
for details.
Protecting Your Investment
Maintenance is an investment that pays
dividends in the form of improved
reliability, durability and resale value. To
maintain the proper performance of your
vehicle and its emission control systems,
make sure you have scheduled
maintenance performed at the designated
intervals.
Your vehicle has an Intelligent Oil-Life
Monitor system; a message appears in the
information display at the proper oil
change interval. This interval may be up to
one year or 10,000 mi (16,000 km), hybrid
vehicles may exceed
10,000 mi
(16,000 km).
330
Explorer (CTW) Police, Canada/United States of America, Police, enUSA, Edition date: 201902, Second-Printing Scheduled Maintenance