2021 FORD EXPLORER instrument panel

•
Never wash or rinse the engine while it
is hot or running; water in the running
engine may cause internal damage.
• Never wash or rinse any ignition coil,
spark plug wire or spark plug well, or
the area in and around these locations.
• Cover the battery, power distribution
box, and air filter assembly to prevent
water damage when cleaning the
engine.
CLEANING THE WINDOWS AND
WIPER BLADES
Car wash chemicals and environmental
fallout can result in windshield and wiper
blade contamination. Dirty windshield and
wipers will result in poor windshield wiper
operation. Keep the windshield and wiper
blades clean to maintain windshield wiper
performance.
To clean the windshield and wiper blades:
• Clean the windshield with a
non-abrasive glass cleaner. When
cleaning the interior of the windshield,
avoid getting any glass cleaner on the
instrument panel or door panels. Wipe
any glass cleaner off these surfaces
immediately.
• For windshields contaminated with
tree sap, chemicals, wax or bugs, clean
the entire windshield using steel wool
(no greater than 0000 grade) in a
circular motion and rinse with water.
• Clean the wiper blades with isopropyl
rubbing alcohol or windshield washer
concentrate.
Note: Do not use razor blades or other
sharp objects to clean or remove decals
from the inside of the heated rear window.
The vehicle warranty does not cover
damage caused to the heated rear window
grid lines. CLEANING THE INTERIOR WARNING: Do not use cleaning
solvents, bleach or dye on the vehicle's
seatbelts, as these actions may weaken
the belt webbing. WARNING:
On vehicles equipped
with seat-mounted airbags, do not use
chemical solvents or strong detergents.
Such products could contaminate the
side airbag system and affect
performance of the side airbag in a crash.
For fabric, carpets, cloth seats and seats
equipped with side airbags:
• Remove dust and loose dirt with a
vacuum cleaner.
• Remove light stains and soil with
Motorcraft Professional Strength
Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner.
• If grease or tar is present on the
material, spot-clean the area first with
Motorcraft Spot and Stain Remover. In
Canada, use Motorcraft Multi-Purpose
Cleaner.
• If a ring forms on the fabric after spot
cleaning, clean the entire area
immediately (but do not oversaturate)
or the ring will set.
• Do not use household cleaning
products or glass cleaners, which can
stain and discolor the fabric and affect
the flame retardant abilities of the seat
materials.
Mirrors
Do not clean the housing or glass of any
mirror with harsh abrasives, fuel or other
petroleum or ammonia-based cleaning
products.
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Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing Vehicle Care

CLEANING THE INSTRUMENT
PANEL AND INSTRUMENT
CLUSTER LENS
WARNING: Do not use chemical
solvents or strong detergents when
cleaning the steering wheel or
instrument panel to avoid contamination
of the airbag system.
Note: Follow the same procedure as
cleaning leather seats for cleaning leather
instrument panels and leather interior trim
surfaces. See
Cleaning Leather Seats
(page 347).
Clean the instrument panel and cluster
lens with a clean, damp and soft cloth,
then use a clean, dry and soft cloth to dry
these areas.
• Avoid cleaners or polishes that increase
the gloss of the upper portion of the
instrument panel. The dull finish in this
area helps protect you from
undesirable windshield reflection.
• Do not use any household cleaning
products or glass cleaners as these
may damage the finish of the
instrument panel, interior trim and
cluster lens.
• Wash or wipe your hands clean if you
have been in contact with certain
products such as insect repellent and
suntan lotion to avoid possible damage
to the interior painted surfaces.
• Do not allow air fresheners and hand
sanitizers to spill onto interior surfaces.
If a spill occurs, wipe off immediately.
Your warranty may not cover these
damages.
If a staining liquid like coffee or juice has
been spilled on the instrument panel or on
interior trim surfaces: 1. Wipe up spilled liquid using a clean,
soft cloth as quickly as possible.
2. Use Motorcraft Premium Leather and Vinyl Cleaner or a commercially
available leather cleaning product for
automotive interiors. Test any cleaner
or stain remover on an inconspicuous
area.
3. Alternatively, wipe the surface with a clean, soft cloth and a mild soap and
water solution. Dry the area with a
clean, soft cloth.
4. If necessary, apply more soap and water solution or cleaning product to
a clean, soft cloth and press it onto the
soiled area. Allow this to set at room
temperature for 30 minutes.
5. Remove the soaked cloth, then with a clean, damp cloth, use a rubbing
motion for 60 seconds on the soiled
area.
6. Dry the area with a clean, soft cloth.
CLEANING LEATHER SEATS
Note: Follow the same procedure as
cleaning leather seats for cleaning leather
instrument panels and leather interior trim
surfaces.
For routine cleaning, wipe the surface with
a soft, damp cloth and a mild soap and
water solution. Dry the area with a clean,
soft cloth.
For cleaning and removing stains such as
dye transfer, use Motorcraft Premium
Leather and Vinyl Cleaner or a
commercially available leather cleaning
product for automotive interiors.
Note: Test any cleaner or stain remover on
an inconspicuous area.
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VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION
NUMBER
The vehicle identification number is on the
left-hand side of the instrument panel.
Please note that in the graphic, XXXX is
representative of your vehicle identification
number.
The Vehicle Identification Number contains
the following information:
World manufacturer identifier.
A
Brake system, Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating, Restraint Devices
and their locations.
B Make, vehicle line, series, body
type.
C
Engine type.
D
Check digit.
E
Model year.
F
Assembly plant.
G
Production sequence number.
H
CAPACITIES AND
SPECIFICATIONS - 2.3L
ECOBOOST™
Use oil and fluid that meets the defined
specification and viscosity grade.
If you do not use oil and fluid that meets
the defined specification and viscosity
grade, it could result in:
• Component damage that your vehicle
warranty does not cover.
• Longer engine cranking periods.
• Increased emission levels.
• Reduced engine performance.
• Reduced fuel economy.
• Reduced brake performance.
Air Conditioning System WARNING: The air conditioning
refrigerant system contains refrigerant
under high pressure. Only qualified
personnel should service the air
conditioning refrigerant system. Opening
the air conditioning refrigerant system
can cause personal injury.
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Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing Capacities and SpecificationsE142476 E142477

USB PORT (IF EQUIPPED)
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.
USB A USB C The USB port allows you to plug in media
playing devices, memory sticks and charge
devices.
Note:
We recommend using only USB-IF
certified cables and adapters. Non-certified
cables and adapters may not work.
Locating the USB Ports
The USB ports may be in the following
locations:
• Inside the media bin.
• Inside the center console.
• On the lower instrument panel.
Note: The number and type of USB ports
may vary depending on your vehicle.
Note: Not all USB ports in your vehicle have
data transfer capabilities. See
Auxiliary
Power Points (page 167).
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Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing Audio SystemE201595 E301114

Function
Button
Playlists
Artist
Albums
Songs
Genres
Podcasts
Audio books
Composers
This button allows you to choose a specific
letter to view within the category you are
browsing.
A-Z Jump
If available, this allows you to browse the
folders and files on your USB device.
Explore Device
USB Ports The USB ports are in the center console or
behind a small access door in the
instrument panel.
This feature allows you to plug in USB
media devices, memory sticks, flash drives
or thumb drives, and charge devices if they
support this feature. Select this option to play audio from your
USB device.
Apps
The system supports the use of certain
audio apps such as iHeartRadio through a
USB or Bluetooth enabled device.
Each app gives you different on-screen
options depending on the app's content.
See Apps (page 461).
Supported Media Players, Formats
and Metadata Information
The system is capable of hosting nearly
any digital media player, including iPod,
iPhone, and most USB drives.
Supported audio formats include MP3,
WMA, WAV, AAC, and FLAC.
Supported audio file extensions include
MP3, WMA, WAV, M4A, M4B, AAC, and
FLAC.
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Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing SYNC™ 3E211463

Supported USB file systems include: FAT,
exFAT, and NTFS.
SYNC 3 is also able to organize the media
from your USB device by metadata tags.
Metadata tags, which are descriptive
software identifiers embedded in the
media files, provide information about the
file.
If your indexed media files contain no
information embedded in these metadata
tags, SYNC 3 may classify the empty
metadata tags as unknown.
SYNC 3 is capable of indexing up to
50,000 songs per USB device, for up to 10
devices.
CLIMATE
Touch the climate button on the
touchscreen to access your climate control
features.
Note:
You can switch temperature units
between Fahrenheit and Celsius. See
Settings (page 464).
Accessing the Climate Control
Menu Touch the button to access
additional controls for the front
climate system.
Directing the Airflow Touch the button to direct
airflow to the windshield air
vents and de-mister.
Touch the button to direct
airflow to the instrument panel
air vents.
Touch the button to direct
airflow to the footwell air vents. You can direct air through any combination
of these air vents.
Setting the Blower Motor Speed Touch up or down to increase or
decrease the volume of air that
circulates in your vehicle.
Setting the Temperature
Touch up or down on the left-hand
temperature control to set the left-hand
temperature.
Note: This control also adjusts the
right-hand side temperature when you
switch off dual zone mode.
Touch up or down on the right-hand
temperature control to set the right-hand
temperature.
Switching Auto Mode On and Off Touch the button to switch on
automatic operation, then set
the temperature.
The system adjusts the blower motor
speed, air distribution, air conditioning
operation, and outside or recirculated air
to reach and maintain the temperature you
have set.
Switching the Air Conditioning On
and Off A pop-up appears on the screen
to display the air conditioning
options.
MAX A/C:
Touch the button to activate
and maximize cooling. The driver and
passenger temperatures are set to LO,
recirculated air flows through the
instrument panel vents, air conditioning
automatically turns on and the fan
automatically adjusts to the highest speed.
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Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing SYNC™ 3E265038 E244097

A/C: Touch to switch the air conditioning
on or off. Use A/C with recirculated air to
improve cooling performance and
efficiency.
Note: In certain conditions, such as
maximum defrost, the air conditioning
compressor may continue to operate even
though you switch off the air conditioning.
Switching the Climate Control On
and Off Touch the button.
Switching the Climate Controlled
Seats On and Off Touch the button to cycle
through the various climate
controlled seat settings.
Switching Dual Zone Mode On and
Off Touch the button to switch on
temperature control for the
right-hand side of the vehicle.
Switching the Heated Exterior
Mirrors On and Off Touch the button.
Switching the Heated Windshield
On and Off Touch the button to clear the
windshield of thin ice and fog.
The heated windshield turns off
after a short period of time. Switching the Heated Rear
Window On and Off Touch the button to clear the
rear window of thin ice and fog.
Switching the Heated Seats On
and Off Touch the button to cycle
through the various heat
settings.
Switching the Heated Steering
Wheel On and Off Touch the button.
Switching Maximum Air
Conditioning On and Off Touch the button for maximum
cooling.
Recirculated air flows through the
instrument panel air vents, air conditioning
turns on and the blower motor adjusts to
the highest speed.
Switching Maximum Defrost On
and Off Touch the button for maximum
defrosting.
Air flows through the windshield air vents,
and the blower motor adjusts to the
highest speed.
You can also use this setting to defog and
clear the windshield of a thin covering of
ice.
Note: To prevent window fogging, you
cannot select recirculated air when
maximum defrost is on.
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Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing SYNC™ 3 E265282 E265280 E266189 E184884

Readiness for Inspection and Maintenance
(I/M) Testing................................................... 198
Changing a Bulb............................................341 LED Lamps........................................................... 342
License Plate Lamp.......................................... 342
Rear Direction Indicator and Reversing Lamp.................................................................. 341
Changing a Fuse..........................................320 Fuses...................................................................... 320
Changing a Road Wheel............................374
Dissimilar Spare Wheel and Tire Assembly
Information...................................................... 374
Tire Change Procedure.................................... 375
Changing the 12V Battery.........................336 Battery Management System....................... 337
Remove and Reinstall the Battery..............338
Changing the Engine Air Filter - 2.3L EcoBoost™.................................................328
Changing the Engine Air Filter - 3.0L................................................................329
Changing the Engine Air Filter - 3.3L
................................................................330
Changing the Front Wiper Blades.........340
Changing the Rear Wiper Blades
............341
Changing the Vehicle Wi-Fi Hotspot Name or Password
...................................425
Checking MyKey System Status..............66 MyKey Distance.................................................... 66
Number of Admin Keys...................................... 67
Number of MyKeys............................................... 67
Checking the Wiper Blades.....................340
Child Restraint and Seatbelt Maintenance.................................................43
Child Restraint Positioning.........................35
Child Safety......................................................23 General Information............................................ 23
Child Safety Locks.........................................36 Left-Hand Side...................................................... 37
Right-Hand Side................................................... 37
Cleaning Leather Seats..............................347
Cleaning Products
.......................................343
Materials............................................................... 343
Cleaning the Engine....................................345
Cleaning the Exterior..................................344 Cleaning the Exterior Lamps......................... 344
Cleaning the Exterior Precautions...............344
Exterior Chrome Parts..................................... 344
Exterior Plastic Parts........................................ 344Stripes or Graphics...........................................
344
Underbody........................................................... 345
Under Hood......................................................... 345
Cleaning the Instrument Panel and Instrument Cluster Lens.........................347
Cleaning the Interior
...................................346
Mirrors.................................................................... 346
Cleaning the Wheels..................................348
Cleaning the Windows and Wiper Blades...........................................................346
Clearing All MyKeys.......................................66
Climate.............................................................451 Accessing Rear Climate Controls................453
Accessing the Climate Control Menu.........451
Directing the Airflow.......................................... 451
Rear Climate Control Lock Indicator..........453
Setting the Blower Motor Speed.................. 451
Setting the Temperature................................. 451
Switching Auto Mode On and Off................451
Switching Dual Zone Mode On and Off....................................................................... 452
Switching Maximum Air Conditioning On and Off.............................................................. 452
Switching Maximum Defrost On and Off....................................................................... 452
Switching Rear Auto Mode On and Off...................................................................... 453
Switching Recirculated Air On and Off...................................................................... 453
Switching the Air Conditioning On and Off....................................................................... 451
Switching the Climate Controlled Seats On and Off.............................................................. 452
Switching the Climate Control On and Off....................................................................... 452
Switching the Heated Exterior Mirrors On and Off.............................................................. 452
Switching the Heated Rear Window On and Off....................................................................... 452
Switching the Heated Seats On and Off....................................................................... 452
Switching the Heated Steering Wheel On and Off.............................................................. 452
Switching the Heated Windshield On and Off....................................................................... 452
Switching the Rear Climate Controlled Seats On and Off.......................................... 453
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Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing Index