2021 FORD EXPLORER power steering

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
. WARNING:
This vehicle may have
more than one battery. Removing the
battery cables from only one battery
does not disconnect your vehicle
electrical system. Make sure you
disconnect the battery cables from all
batteries when disconnecting power.
Failure to do so may cause serious
personal injury or property damage. WARNING:
For vehicles with
Auto-Start-Stop the battery requirement
is different. You must replace the battery
with one of exactly the same
specification.
The battery is in the engine compartment.
See
Under Hood Overview (page 323).
Your vehicle has a maintenance-free
battery. It does not require additional
water during service.
If the vehicle battery has a cover and vent
hose, make sure you correctly install it after
cleaning or replacing the battery.
For longer, trouble-free operation, keep the
top of the battery clean and dry and the
battery cables tightly fastened to the
battery terminals. If any corrosion is
present on the battery or terminals, remove
the cables from the terminals and clean
with a wire brush. You can neutralize the
acid with a solution of baking soda and
water.
We recommend that you disconnect the
negative battery cable terminal from the
battery if you plan to store your vehicle for
an extended period. Note:
If you only disconnect the negative
battery cable terminal, make sure it is
isolated or placed away from the battery
terminal to avoid unintended connection or
arcing.
If you replace the battery make sure it
matches the electrical requirements of
your vehicle.
If you disconnect or replace the battery
and your vehicle has an automatic
transmission, it must relearn its adaptive
strategy. Because of this, the transmission
may shift firmly when first driven. This is
normal operation while the transmission
fully updates its operation to optimum
shift feel.
Battery Management System
(If
Equipped)
The battery management system monitors
battery conditions and takes actions to
extend battery life. If excessive battery
drain is detected, the system temporarily
disables some electrical systems to
protect the battery.
Systems included are:
• Heated rear window.
• Heated seats.
• Climate control.
• Heated steering wheel.
• Audio unit.
• Navigation system.
A message may appear in the information
displays to alert you that battery
protection actions are active. These
messages are only for notification that an
action is taking place, and not intended to
indicate an electrical problem or that the
battery requires replacement.
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Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing Maintenance

Utility vehicles and trucks handle
differently than passenger cars in the
various driving conditions that are
encountered on streets, highways and
off-road. Utility vehicles and trucks are not
designed for cornering at speeds as high
as passenger cars any more than low-slung
sports cars are designed to perform
satisfactorily under off-road conditions.
Study your owner's manual and any
supplements for specific information about
equipment features, instructions for safe
driving and additional precautions to
reduce the risk of an accident or serious
injury.
Four-Wheel Drive system (if
equipped)
WARNING: Do not become
overconfident in the ability of four-wheel
drive vehicles. Although a four-wheel
drive vehicle may accelerate better than
a two-wheel drive vehicle in low traction
situations, it won't stop any faster than
two-wheel drive vehicles. Always drive
at a safe speed.
A vehicle equipped with Four-Wheel Drive
has the ability to use all four wheels to
power itself. This increases traction which
may enable you to safely drive over terrain
and road conditions that a conventional
two-wheel drive vehicle cannot. Power is
supplied to all four wheels through a
transfer case. Four-wheel drive vehicles
allow you to select different modes as
necessary. You can find more information
on transfer case operation, drive mode
selection, and transfer case maintenance
in this manual. See
Four-Wheel Drive
(page 207). You should become thoroughly
familiar with this information before you
operate your vehicle. We recommend installing the temporary
spare wheel and tire on the front axle when
possible. This could provide limited 4WD
traction.
Four-wheel drive: Never use a spare tire of
a different size than the one provided with
your vehicle. This could cause the
four-wheel drive system to default to
rear-wheel drive.
How your vehicle differs from
other vehicles
Sport utility vehicles and trucks can differ
from some other vehicles in a few
noticeable ways. Your vehicle may be:
•
Higher - to allow higher load carrying
capacity and to allow it to travel over
rough terrain without getting hung up
or damaging underbody components.
• Shorter - to give it the capability to
approach inclines and drive over the
crest of a hill without getting hung up
or damaging underbody components.
All other things held equal, a shorter
wheelbase may make your vehicle
quicker to respond to steering inputs
than a vehicle with a longer wheelbase.
• Narrower - to provide greater
maneuverability in tight spaces,
particularly in off-road use.
As a result of the above dimensional
differences, sport utility vehicles and trucks
often have a higher center of gravity and a
greater difference in center of gravity
between the loaded and unloaded
condition. These differences that make
your vehicle so versatile also make it
handle differently than an ordinary
passenger car.
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Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing Wheels and Tires

WARNING: Snow tires must be the
same size, load index and speed rating
as those originally provided by Ford. Use
of any tire or wheel not recommended
by Ford can affect the safety and
performance of your vehicle, which could
result in an increased risk of loss of
control, vehicle rollover, personal injury
and death. Additionally, the use of
non-recommended tires and wheels can
cause steering, suspension, axle, transfer
case or power transfer unit failure.
Follow the Ford recommended tire
inflation pressure found on the Safety
Compliance Certification Label (on the
door hinge pillar, door latch post or the
door edge that meets the door latch
post, next to the driver seat), or Tire
Label on the B-Pillar or the edge of the
driver door. Failure to follow the tire
pressure recommendations can cause
uneven treadwear patterns and
adversely affect the way your vehicle
handles.
Only use snow chains on rear wheels.
Install snow chains in pairs. Do not use
self-tensioning snow chains.
Only use snow chains on the following
specified tire sizes:
• 255/60R18
•Only install chains that are 10 mm
or less.
• 255/65R18
•Only install chains that are 10 mm
or less. •
265/60R18
•Only install chains that are 10 mm
or less.
• 255/55R20
•Only install chains that are 10 mm
or less.
We recommend you use steel wheels of
the same size and specification if snow
chains are required because chains may
chip aluminum wheels.
Follow these guidelines when using snow
tires and traction devices:
• If possible, avoid fully loading your
vehicle.
• Purchase snow chains from a
manufacturer that clearly labels body
to tire dimension restrictions.
• When driving with snow chains do not
exceed
30 mph (50 km/h) or the
maximum speed recommended by the
chain manufacturer, whichever is less.
• Drive cautiously. If you hear the snow
chains rub or bang against the vehicle,
stop and tighten them. If this does not
work, remove the snow chains to
prevent vehicle damage.
• Remove the snow chains when they
are no longer needed. Do not use snow
chains on dry roads.
• If a temporary spare wheel is mounted
on your vehicle, do not use snow chains
on the axle with the temporary spare
wheel.
• Use snow chains that fit against the
sidewall of the tire to prevent the
chains from touching the wheel rims
or suspension, see following
illustration.
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Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing Wheels and Tires

•
Idling: The vehicle is running and in Park
(P). The engine and/or the high voltage
battery are on.
• Electric Driving: The vehicle is running
and in Drive (D) or Neutral (N). The
high voltage battery provides power to
the wheels.
• Hybrid Driving: The vehicle is running
and in Drive (D) or Neutral (N). The
engine and the high voltage battery
provide power to the wheels.
• Engine Driving: The vehicle is running
and in Drive (D) or Neutral (N). The
engine provides power to the wheels.
• Regenerative Braking: The vehicle is
running in Drive gear and is slowing
down. Power captured by the
regenerative braking system is sent
back to the high voltage battery.
Engine On Due To
The following conditions help to explain
why the engine is on, and what you can do
to allow all electric operation.
• Drive Power: The engine is on due to
accelerator pedal pressure or speed
control activation. Reduce pressure on
the accelerator pedal or switch off the
speed control to return to full electric
mode.
• High Speed: The engine is on because
the vehicle speed exceeds the level for
full electric operation. Reduce the
speed to return to electric operation.
• Heater Setting: The engine is on
because of the heater setting. Reduce
or turn off the heater setting to return
to electric operation.
• Neutral Gear: The engine is on because
the vehicle is in Neutral (N). Shift out
of neutral gear to return to electric
operation. •
Engine Cold: The engine is on because
it is cold. The vehicle returns to electric
operation once the engine is sufficiently
warm.
• Battery Charging: The engine is on to
charge the high-voltage battery. The
vehicle returns to electric operation
once the battery is charged.
• Low Gear: The engine is on because
the vehicle is in low gear. Shift out of
low gear to return to electric operation.
• Normal Operation: The engine is on to
optimize vehicle operation. The vehicle
returns to electric operation when
possible.
• Engine Braking Active: The engine is on
to provide increased powertrain
braking. This can occur when you turn
on the grade assist feature, when
speed control is on or when driving with
your foot off the accelerator pedal.
Turning off grade assist or speed
control may allow the vehicle to return
to electric operation.
• Battery Temperature: The engine is on
due to high or low high-voltage battery
temperature. This is a normal operating
condition. The vehicle returns to
electric operation when possible.
• Drive Mode: The engine is on due to the
drive mode selection. Select an
appropriate drive mode for electric only
operation.
APPS
The system allows you interact with select
mobile apps while keeping your eyes on
the road. Voice commands, your steering
wheel buttons, or a quick tap on your
touchscreen give you advanced control of
compatible mobile apps. You can also
stream your favorite music or podcasts,
share your time of arrival with friends, and
keep connected safely.
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Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing SYNC™ 3

3
360 Degree Camera....................................241
Front Camera...................................................... 242
Side Camera........................................................ 243
Using the System............................................... 242
4
4WD See: Four-Wheel Drive..................................... 207
9
911 Assist...........................................................55
A
A/C See: Climate Control......................................... 139
About This Manual...........................................9
ABS See: Brakes............................................................ 214
ABS driving hints See: Hints on Driving With Anti-Lock
Brakes................................................................. 215
Accessories....................................................479
Accessories See: Replacement Parts
Recommendation............................................ 12
Active Park Assist........................................235 Using Active Park Assist.................................. 236
Adaptive Cruise Control
............................246
Adaptive Cruise Control –
Troubleshooting............................................ 256
Adaptive Cruise Control Indicators - Vehicles With: Adaptive Cruise Control
With Lane Centering
................................253
Adaptive Cruise Control Indicators - Vehicles With: Adaptive Cruise Control
With Stop and Go
.....................................253
Adaptive Cruise Control Indicators - Vehicles With: Intelligent Adaptive
Cruise Control
.............................................253
System Warnings............................................... 253
Adaptive Cruise Control Limitations - Vehicles With: Adaptive Cruise Control
With Lane Centering................................247 Adaptive Cruise Control Limitations -
Vehicles With: Adaptive Cruise Control
With Stop and Go
.....................................248
Sensor Limitations............................................ 248
Adaptive Cruise Control Precautions - Vehicles With: Adaptive Cruise Control
With Lane Centering
...............................246
Adaptive Cruise Control Precautions - Vehicles With: Adaptive Cruise Control
With Stop and Go.....................................246
Hilly Condition Usage....................................... 247
When Following a Vehicle............................... 247
Adaptive Cruise Control – Troubleshooting........................................256
Adaptive Cruise Control – Information Messages......................................................... 256
Adaptive Headlamps
...................................90
System Check....................................................... 90
Adjusting the Headlamps
........................338
Vertical Aim Adjustment................................ 338
Adjusting the Set Speed Tolerance.....................................................255
Adjusting the Steering Wheel - Vehicles With: Manual Adjustable Steering
Column...........................................................80
Adjusting the Steering Wheel - Vehicles With: Power Adjustable Steering
Column...........................................................80
End of Travel Position.......................................... 81
Memory Feature.................................................... 81
AFS See: Adaptive Headlamps............................... 90
Airbag Disposal
...............................................53
Air Conditioning See: Climate Control......................................... 139
Air Filter See: Changing the Engine Air Filter - 2.3L
EcoBoost™..................................................... 328
See: Changing the Engine Air Filter - 3.0L.................................................................... 329
See: Changing the Engine Air Filter - 3.3L.................................................................... 330
Alarm See: Anti-Theft Alarm........................................ 78
Ambient Lighting - Vehicles With: 10.1 Inch Information and Entertainment
Display Screen
..............................................92
Adjusting the Brightness................................... 93
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General Information - Vehicles With: 4.2
Inch Instrument Cluster Display
Screen.................................................................. 117
General Information - Vehicles With: 6.5 Inch Instrument Cluster Display
Screen................................................................. 112
Information Messages.................................121
4WD........................................................................\
. 138
Active Park............................................................. 122
Adaptive Cruise Control.................................... 122
Adaptive Headlamps......................................... 122
AdvanceTrac ™ and Traction Control..........123
Alarm....................................................................... 123
Battery and Charging System (12 volt)..................................................................... 123
Battery and Charging System (High Voltage)............................................................. 124
Blind Spot Information and Cross Traffic Alert System.................................................... 124
Doors and Locks.................................................. 125
Driver Alert............................................................. 126
Fuel........................................................................\
.. 126
Hill Descent Control........................................... 127
Hill Start Assist.................................................... 128
Keys and Intelligent Access............................ 128
Lane Keeping System....................................... 129
Maintenance......................................................... 129
MyKey......................................................................130
Park Aid.................................................................... 131
Park Brake.............................................................. 132
Power Steering..................................................... 133
Pre-Collision Assist............................................ 133
Remote Start........................................................ 133
Seats........................................................................\
134
Starting System.................................................. 134
Tire Pressure Monitoring System.................. 135
Trailer....................................................................... 135
Transmission........................................................ 136
Installing Child Restraints
...........................25
Child Seats.............................................................. 25
Using Lap and Shoulder Belts......................... 25
Using Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH)........................................... 28
Using Tether Straps............................................. 29
Instrument Cluster
.......................................103
Instrument Lighting Dimmer.....................88
Instrument Panel
.............................................21
Interior Air Quality........................................145 Interior Lamps..................................................91
Front Interior Lamp.............................................. 91
Rear Interior Lamps.............................................. 91
Interior Mirror
.................................................100
Automatic Dimming Mirror............................. 100
Manual Dimming Mirror................................... 100
Introduction........................................................9
J
Jump Starting the Vehicle.......................300 Connecting the Jumper Cables................... 300
Jump Starting...................................................... 301
Locating the Jump Starting Connection Points................................................................ 300
Preparing Your Vehicle.................................... 300
Removing the Jumper Cables........................ 301
K
Keyless Entry
....................................................72
SECURICODE™ Keyless Entry Keypad........72
Keyless Starting
.............................................172
Ignition Modes...................................................... 173
Keys and Remote Controls.........................57
L
Lane Keeping System
................................260
Switching the System On and Off...............261
Liftgate...............................................................74
Lighting Control
..............................................87
Flashing High Beam Headlamps................... 88
Lighting Control Selections.............................. 87
Switching High Beam Headlamps On and Off........................................................................\
. 87
Lighting...............................................................87 General Information............................................ 87
Limited Slip Differential
.............................213
Load Carriers See: Roof Racks and Load Carriers..............281
Load Carrying...............................................280
Load Limit
.......................................................282
Special Loading Instructions for Owners of
Pick-up Trucks and Utility-type
Vehicles............................................................ 286
Vehicle Loading - with and without a Trailer................................................................. 282
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Hybrid Information..............................................
121
Trip 1 and 2............................................................ 120
Personal Safety System ™..........................45
How Does the Personal Safety System
Work?.................................................................. 45
Phone...............................................................453 Android Auto....................................................... 455
Apple CarPlay..................................................... 455
Pairing Your Cell Phone for the First Time................................................................... 454
Text Messaging................................................... 454
Using Your Cell Phone..................................... 454
Post-Crash Alert System
..........................303
Power Door Locks See: Locking and Unlocking............................. 69
Power Liftgate
..................................................74
Hands-Free Feature............................................ 76
Obstacle Detection.............................................. 76
Opening and Closing the Liftgate................... 74
Setting the Liftgate Open Height................... 76
Stopping the Liftgate Movement................... 75
Switching the Power Liftgate On or Off........................................................................\
. 76
Power Seats...................................................149 Adjusting the Lumbar Support..................... 150
Adjusting the Multi-Contour Front Seats With Active Motion ........................................ 151
Power Steering Fluid Check.....................336
Power Windows
.............................................96
Accessory Delay.................................................... 97
Bounce-Back......................................................... 96
One-Touch Down................................................ 96
One-Touch Up...................................................... 96
Window Lock......................................................... 96
Pre-Collision Assist
.....................................273
Adjusting the Pre-Collision Assist
Settings............................................................. 276
Blocked Sensors................................................. 276
Distance Indication and Alert........................ 275
Evasive Steering Assist.................................... 276
Using the Pre-Collision Assist System............................................................... 274
Protecting the Environment
........................19
Puncture See: Changing a Road Wheel........................ 374R
Radio Frequency Certification
Labels............................................................491
Blind Spot Information System Sensors.............................................................. 491
Body Control Module....................................... 494
Cruise Control Module..................................... 497
Garage Door Opener......................................... 501
Keys and Remote Controls............................. 501
Passive Anti-Theft System............................ 507
Radio Transceiver Module................................ 511
SYNC....................................................................... 515
Telematics Control Unit................................... 519
Tire Pressure Monitoring System Sensors............................................................. 520
Wireless Accessory Charging Module.............................................................. 526
Rear Axle
..........................................................213
Rear Occupant Alert System Audible Warnings........................................................161
Rear Occupant Alert System Indicators.......................................................161
Rear Occupant Alert System Limitations...................................................160
Rear Occupant Alert System Precautions.................................................160
Rear Occupant Alert System...................160
Rear Parking Aid...........................................230 Object Distance Indicator............................... 232
Rear Passenger Climate Controls
...........142
Directing Air to the Overhead Air
Vents................................................................... 143
Directing Air to the Rear Footwell Air Vents................................................................... 143
Rear Climate Control Lock Indicator...........143
Setting the Rear Blower Motor Speed................................................................. 143
Setting the Rear Temperature....................... 143
Switching the Rear Climate Control On and Off........................................................................\
143
Switching the Rear Heated Seats On and Off........................................................................\
143
Rear Seats
.......................................................153
Adjusting the Second Row Rear
Seats................................................................... 153
Adjusting the Third Row Power Seats.........157
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Starting a Hybrid Electric Vehicle
System...........................................................176
Automatic Engine Shutdown.......................... 177
Fast Restart........................................................... 176
Guarding Against Exhaust Fumes................178
Important Ventilating Information...............178
Switching Off Your Vehicle When It Is Moving................................................................ 177
Switching Off Your Vehicle When It Is Stationary.......................................................... 177
Starting and Stopping the Engine..........172 General Information........................................... 172
Steering............................................................273 Adaptive Learning.............................................. 273
Electric Power Steering.................................... 273
Steering Wheel...............................................80
Storage Compartments..............................171
Sunroof See: Moonroof...................................................... 101
Sun Visors
.......................................................100
Illuminated Vanity Mirror.................................. 101
Supplementary Restraints System.........46 Principle of Operation........................................ 46
Switching Adaptive Cruise Control On and Off.........................................................250
Automatic Cancellation or Deactivation................................................... 250
Switching Adaptive Cruise Control Off...................................................................... 250
Switching Adaptive Cruise Control On....................................................................... 250
Switching Automatic High Beam Control On and Off.....................................................94
Activating the Automatic High Beam Control................................................................ 94
Switching Cruise Control On and Off..................................................................244
Switching Cruise Control Off......................... 244
Switching Cruise Control On......................... 244
Switching From Adaptive Cruise Control to Cruise Control.......................................253
Switching Hill Descent Control On and Off
...................................................................228
Switching Intelligent Mode On and Off...................................................................255
Changing the Set Speed with Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control............................. 255Switching Lane Centering On and
Off
..................................................................254
Activating Lane Centering.............................. 254
System Alerts and Automatic Cancellation.................................................... 254
Switching Rear Occupant Alert System On and Off
...................................................160
Semiannual Reminder..................................... 160
Switching Reverse Braking Assist On and Off
....................................................................221
Symbols Glossary.............................................9
SYNC™ 3........................................................433
General Information......................................... 433
SYNC™ 3 Troubleshooting.....................466 Additional Information and
Assistance....................................................... 478
Apps........................................................................\
473
Navigation............................................................. 472
Personal Profiles................................................ 476
Phone..................................................................... 470
Resetting the System....................................... 478
USB and Bluetooth Audio.............................. 467
Voice Recognition............................................. 466
Wi-Fi Connectivity............................................. 475
T
Technical Specifications See: Capacities and Specifications............382
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) Auto Line Program (U.S. Only).......................307
Tire Care
..........................................................353
Glossary of Tire Terminology........................ 354
Information About Uniform Tire Quality Grading............................................................. 353
Information Contained on the Tire Sidewall ............................................................ 355
Temperature A B C............................................ 354
Traction AA A B C............................................... 353
Treadwear............................................................. 353
Tire Pressure Monitoring System..........368 Changing Tires With a Tire Pressure
Monitoring System....................................... 369
Understanding Your Tire Pressure Monitoring System ...................................... 370
Tires See: Wheels and Tires...................................... 351
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Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing Index