
Towing an all-wheel or four-wheel drive
vehicle requires that all wheels be off the
ground, such as using a wheel lift and
dollies or flatbed equipment. This prevents
damage to the transmission, all-wheel or
four-wheel drive system and vehicle.
If your vehicle becomes inoperable without
access to wheel dollies, a car-hauling
trailer or a flatbed transport vehicle, you
can flat-tow with all wheels on the ground
under limited conditions.  See Towing the
Vehicle on Four Wheels (page 190).
TOWING POINTS
Front Towing Point 1. Gently press and release the towing
eye attachment point cover at the
position indicated.
2. Gently pull it straight out.
Note: The towing eye attachment point
cover has a small lanyard to keep it
attached to the bumper. Rear Towing Point
1. Gently press the top of the towing eye
attachment point cover inward.
2. Gently lift it upward and then pull it straight out.
Note: The towing eye attachment point
cover has a small lanyard to keep it
attached to the bumper.
Attaching the Towing Eye WARNING: 
Make sure that the
towing eye is fully tightened. Failure to
follow this instruction could result in
personal injury. WARNING: 
You must switch the
ignition on when your vehicle is being
towed.
200
Explorer (CTW) Police, Canada/United States of America, Police, enUSA, Edition date: 201902, Second-Printing Roadside EmergenciesE297569  E297597   

1. Carefully remove the front or rear
towing eye attachment point cover.
2. Install the towing eye.
Note:  It has a left-hand thread.  Turn it
counterclockwise to install it.
Towing Eye Location The towing eye is in the spare wheel
storage tray.
Note:
You must carry the towing eye in your
vehicle at all times.
201
Explorer (CTW) Police, Canada/United States of America, Police, enUSA, Edition date: 201902, Second-Printing Roadside EmergenciesE297842  E265227  

Protected Component
Fuse Rating
Fuse or Relay
Number
Power liftgate module.
30A
41
Trailer brake control module.
30A
42
Body control module.
60A
43
Brake on and off switch.
10A
44
Battery charger control module (hybrid
electric vehicle).
15A
46
Heated backlite.
40A
50
Visor control module.
20A
54
Run/start access feed.
Trailer tow park lamps.
20A
55
Trailer tow battery charge.
30A
57
Trailer tow backup lamps.
10A
58
Not used (spare).
15A
61
Headlamp washer pump.
15A
62
Four-wheel drive module.
40A
64
Front window wiper motor.
30A
69
Rear window wiper motor.
15A
71
Not used (spare).
20A
72
Driver door module.
30A
73
Not used.
—
78
Not used.
—
79
Not used (spare).
20A
80
Not used (spare).
20A
82
Rear blower motor.
20A
88
Trailer tow lighting module.
20A
91
Integrated spark control (hybrid electric
vehicle).
15A
95
212
Explorer (CTW) Police, Canada/United States of America, Police, enUSA, Edition date: 201902, Second-Printing Fuses 

Follow your community's regulations and
standards for recycling and disposing of
automotive fluids.
Severe Climates
If you drive in extremely cold climates:
•
It may be necessary to increase the
coolant concentration above 50%.
• A coolant concentration of 60%
provides improved freeze point
protection.  Coolant concentrations
above 60% decrease the overheat
protection characteristics of the
coolant and may cause engine
damage.
If you drive in extremely hot climates:
• You can decrease the coolant
concentration to 40%.
• Coolant concentrations below 40%
decrease the freeze and corrosion
protection characteristics of the
coolant and may cause engine
damage.
Vehicles driven year-round in non-extreme
climates should use prediluted coolant for
optimum cooling system and engine
protection.
Coolant Change
At specific mileage intervals, as listed in
the scheduled maintenance information,
the coolant should be changed. Add
prediluted coolant approved to the correct
specification.  See Capacities and
Specifications (page 277).
Fail-Safe Cooling
Fail-safe cooling allows you to temporarily
drive your vehicle before any incremental
component damage occurs. The fail-safe
distance depends on ambient
temperature, vehicle load and terrain. How Fail-Safe Cooling Works If the engine begins to overheat,
the coolant temperature gauge
moves toward the red zone:
A warning lamp illuminates and
a message may appear in the
information display.
If the engine reaches a preset
over-temperature condition, the engine
automatically switches to alternating
cylinder operation.  Each disabled cylinder
acts as an air pump and cools the engine.
When this occurs, your vehicle still
operates, however:
• Engine power is limited.
• The air conditioning system turns off.
Continued operation increases the engine
temperature, causing the engine to
completely shut down.  Your steering and
braking effort increases in this situation.
When the engine temperature cools, you
can re-start the engine. Have your vehicle
checked as soon as possible to minimize
engine damage.
When Fail-Safe Mode Is Activated WARNING: 
Fail-safe mode is for
use during emergencies only. Operate
your vehicle in fail-safe mode only as
long as necessary to bring your vehicle
to rest in a safe location and seek
immediate repairs. When in fail-safe
mode, your vehicle will have limited
power, will not be able to maintain
high-speed operation, and may
completely shut down without warning,
potentially losing engine power, power
steering assist, and power brake assist,
which may increase the possibility of a
crash resulting in serious injury.
227
Explorer (CTW) Police, Canada/United States of America, Police, enUSA, Edition date: 201902, Second-Printing Maintenance   

WARNING: Do not remove the
coolant reservoir cap when the engine is
on or the cooling system is hot. Wait 10
minutes for the cooling system to cool
down. Cover the coolant reservoir cap
with a thick cloth to prevent the
possibility of scalding and slowly remove
the cap. Failure to follow this instruction
could result in personal injury.
Your vehicle has limited engine power
when in the fail-safe mode, drive your
vehicle with caution. Your vehicle does not
maintain high-speed operation and the
engine may operate poorly.
Remember that the engine is capable of
automatically shutting down to prevent
engine damage.  In this situation:
1. Pull off the road as soon as safely possible and switch the engine off.
2. If you are a member of a roadside assistance program, we recommend
that you contact your roadside
assistance service provider.
3. If this is not possible, wait for a short period of time for the engine to cool.
4. Check the coolant level. If the coolant level is at or below the minimum mark,
add prediluted coolant immediately.
5. When the engine temperature cools, you can re-start the engine. Have your
vehicle checked as soon as possible to
minimize engine damage.
Note: Driving your vehicle without repair
increases the chance of engine damage. Engine Coolant Temperature
Management (If Equipped) WARNING: 
To reduce the risk of
crash and injury, be prepared that the
vehicle speed may reduce and the
vehicle may not be able to accelerate
with full power until the coolant
temperature reduces.
If you tow a trailer with your vehicle, the
engine may temporarily reach a higher
temperature during severe operating
conditions, for example ascending a long
or steep grade in high ambient
temperatures.
At this time, you may notice the coolant
temperature gauge moves toward the red
zone and a message may appear in the
information display.
You may notice a reduction in vehicle
speed caused by reduced engine power in
order to manage the engine coolant
temperature.  Your vehicle may enter this
mode if certain high-temperature and
high-load conditions take place.  The
amount of speed reduction depends on
vehicle loading, grade and ambient
temperature.  If this occurs, there is no
need to stop your vehicle.  You can
continue to drive.
The air conditioning may automatically
turn on and off during severe operating
conditions to protect the engine from
overheating. When the coolant
temperature decreases to the normal
operating temperature, the air conditioning
turns on.
If the coolant temperature gauge moves
fully into the red zone, or if the coolant
temperature warning or service engine
soon messages appear in your information
display, do the following:
228
Explorer (CTW) Police, Canada/United States of America, Police, enUSA, Edition date: 201902, Second-Printing Maintenance 

•
Dry your vehicle with a chamois or soft
terry cloth towel to eliminate water
spotting.
• Immediately remove fuel spillages, bird
droppings, insect deposits and road tar.
These may cause damage to your
vehicle ’s paintwork or trim over time.
We recommend Motorcraft Bug and
Tar Remover.
• Remove any exterior accessories, for
example antennas, before entering a
car wash.
• When filling with AdBlue®, remove any
residue on painted surfaces
immediately.
Note: Suntan lotions and insect repellents
can damage painted surfaces. If these
substances come in contact with your
vehicle, wash the affected area as soon as
possible.
Cleaning the Headlamps
Note: Do not scrape the headlamp lenses
or use abrasives, alcoholic solvents or
chemical solvents to clean them.
Note: Do not wipe the headlamps when
they are dry.
Exterior Chrome Parts
• Apply a high quality-cleaning product
to bumpers and other chrome parts.
Follow the manufacturer ’s instructions.
We recommend Motorcraft Custom
Bright Metal Cleaner.
• Do not apply the cleaning product to
hot surfaces. Do not leave the cleaning
product on chrome surfaces longer
than the time recommended.
• Using non-recommended cleaners can
result in severe and permanent
cosmetic damage.
Note: Never use abrasive materials, for
example steel wool or plastic pads as they
can scratch the chrome surface. Note:
Do not use chrome cleaner, metal
cleaner or polish on wheels or wheel covers.
Exterior Plastic Parts
For routine cleaning we recommend
Motorcraft Detail Wash. If tar or grease
spots are present, we recommend
Motorcraft Bug and Tar Remover.
Stripes or Graphics (If Equipped)
Hand washing your vehicle is preferred
however, pressure washing may be used
under the following conditions:
• Do not use water pressure higher than
2,000 psi (14,000 kPa)
.
• Do not use water hotter than 
179°F
(82°C).
• Use a spray with a 
40° wide spray
angle pattern.
• Keep the nozzle at a 
12 in (305 mm)
distance and 90° angle to your
vehicle's surface.
Note: Holding the pressure washer nozzle
at an angle to the vehicle's surface may
damage graphics and cause the edges to
peel away from the vehicle's surface.
Underbody
Regularly clean the underside of your
vehicle using water. Keep body and door
drain holes free of debris or foreign
material.
Under Hood
For removing black rubber marks from
under the hood we recommend Motorcraft
Wheel and Tire Cleaner or Motorcraft Bug
and Tar Remover.
241
Explorer (CTW) Police, Canada/United States of America, Police, enUSA, Edition date: 201902, Second-Printing Vehicle Care 

Safety Practices
WARNING: If your vehicle
is stuck in snow, mud or sand, do
not rapidly spin the tires;
spinning the tires can tear the
tire and cause an explosion. A
tire can explode in as little as
three to five seconds. WARNING: Do not spin the
wheels at over 
34 mph
(55 km/h). The tires may fail and
injure a passenger or bystander.
Driving habits have a great deal
to do with your tire mileage and
safety.
*Observe posted speed limits
*Avoid fast starts, stops and turns
*Avoid potholes and objects on
the road
*Do not run over curbs or hit the
tire against a curb when parking
Highway Hazards
No matter how carefully you drive,
there is always the possibility that
you could eventually have a flat
tire on the highway. Drive slowly
to the closest safe area out of
traffic. This could further damage
the flat tire, but your safety is
more important. If you feel a sudden vibration or
ride disturbance while driving, or
you suspect your tire or vehicle
has been damaged, immediately
reduce your speed. Drive with
caution until you can safely pull
off the road. Stop and inspect the
tires for damage. If a tire is
under-inflated or damaged,
deflate it, remove wheel and
replace it with your spare tire and
wheel. If you cannot detect a
cause, have the vehicle towed to
the nearest repair facility or tire
dealer to have the vehicle
inspected.
Tire and Wheel Alignment
A bad jolt from hitting a curb or
pothole can cause the front end
of your vehicle to become
misaligned or cause damage to
your tires. If your vehicle seems to
pull to one side when you are
driving, the wheels could be out of
alignment. Have an authorized
dealer check the wheel alignment
periodically.
Wheel misalignment in the front
or the rear can cause uneven and
rapid treadwear of your tires and
should be corrected by an
authorized dealer. Front-wheel
drive vehicles and those with an
independent rear suspension (if
equipped) could require alignment
of all four wheels.
The tires should also be balanced
periodically. An unbalanced tire
and wheel assembly could result
in irregular tire wear.
260
Explorer (CTW) Police, Canada/United States of America, Police, enUSA, Edition date: 201902, Second-Printing Wheels and Tires 

Dissimilar Spare Wheel and Tire
Assembly Information
WARNING: Failure to follow these
guidelines could result in an increased
risk of loss of vehicle control, injury or
death.
If you have a dissimilar spare wheel and
tire, then it is intended for temporary use
only. This means that if you need to use it,
you should replace it as soon as possible
with a road wheel and tire assembly that
is the same size and type as the road tires
and wheels that were originally provided
by us. If the dissimilar spare tire or wheel
is damaged, you should replace it rather
than repair it.
A dissimilar spare wheel and tire assembly
is defined as a spare wheel and tire
assembly that is different in brand, size or
appearance from the road tires and wheels
and can be one of three types:
1. T-type mini-spare:
 This spare tire
begins with the letter T for tire size and
may have Temporary Use Only molded in
the sidewall.
2. Full-size dissimilar spare with label
on wheel:
 This spare tire has a label on
the wheel that states: THIS WHEEL AND
TIRE ASSEMBLY FOR TEMPORARY USE
ONLY.
When driving with one of the dissimilar
spare tires listed above, do not:
• Exceed 
50 mph (80 km/h).
• Load the vehicle beyond maximum
vehicle load rating listed on the Safety
Compliance Label.
• Tow a trailer.
• Use snow chains on the end of the
vehicle with the dissimilar spare tire.
• Use more than one dissimilar spare tire
at a time. •
Use commercial car washing
equipment.
• Try to repair the dissimilar spare tire.
Use of one of the dissimilar spare tires
listed above at any one wheel location can
lead to impairment of the following:
• Handling, stability and braking
performance.
• Comfort and noise.
• Ground clearance and parking at curbs.
• Winter weather driving capability.
• Wet weather driving capability.
• All-wheel driving capability.
3. Full-size dissimilar spare without
label on wheel
When driving with the full-size dissimilar
spare wheel and tire assembly, do not:
• Exceed 
70 mph (113 km/h).
• Use more than one dissimilar spare
wheel and tire assembly at a time.
• Use commercial car washing
equipment.
• Use snow chains on the end of the
vehicle with the dissimilar spare wheel
and tire assembly.
The usage of a full-size dissimilar spare
wheel and tire assembly can lead to
impairment of the following:
• Handling, stability and braking
performance.
• Comfort and noise.
• Ground clearance and parking at curbs.
• Winter weather driving capability.
• Wet weather driving capability.
• All-wheel driving capability.
270
Explorer (CTW) Police, Canada/United States of America, Police, enUSA, Edition date: 201902, Second-Printing Wheels and Tires