2021 FORD EXPLORER overheating

CRUISE CONTROL - VEHICLES
WITH: CRUISE CONTROL
See What Is Cruise Control (page 244).
INFORMATION DISPLAY
CONTROL See
Information Displays (page 112).
HEATED STEERING WHEEL
(IF
EQUIPPED)
The heated steering wheel button is on the
climate controls. Press the button to switch the
heated steering wheel on and
off. Note:
You can use the heated steering
wheel only when the engine is running.
Note: The system uses a sensor and is
designed to control the temperature of the
steering wheel and to prevent it from
overheating.
Note: In warm temperatures, the steering
wheel quickly reaches its maximum
temperature and the system reduces the
current to the heating element. This could
cause you to think that the system has
stopped working but it has not. This is
normal.
HORN 83
Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing Steering WheelE280796 E280795 E270945

Transmission
Action
Message
You switched the engine off and shift select lever is in any position other than park (P).
Shift to Park
Transmission is too cold. Wait for it to warm up before you drive.
Transmission
Warming UpPlease Wait
Displays when the brake pedal needs to be depressed.
Press Brake Pedal
The transmission is overheating and needs to cool. Stop in a safeplace as soon as it’ s possible.
Transmission Over
Temperature Stop Safely
Have the system checked as soon as possible.
Transmission
Service Required
The transmission is overheating and needs to cool. Stop in a safeplace as soon as it’ s possible.
Transmission Too
Hot Press Brake
The transmission has limited functionality. Have the systemchecked as soon as possible.
Transmission
Limited Function See Manual
A reminder to shift into park. In addition, this message is typicalafter reconnecting or recharging the battery until you cycle the
ignition to the on mode. See Changing the 12V Battery (page
336).
Transmission Not
in Park
Displays when there is a system fault and the park brake needs to
be depressed before exiting the vehicle. Have the system checked as soon as possible.
SHIFT SYS FAULT
Confirm Park
Brake Apply Before Exiting the Vehicle
Have the system checked as soon as possible.
SHIFT SYS FAULT
Service Required
Displays when there is a system fault while the vehicle is shiftingto park. Have the system checked as soon as possible.
SHIFT SYS FAULT
Vehicle is Shifting to Park
Displays when there is a system fault while the vehicle is shiftingto reverse. Have the system checked as soon as possible.
SHIFT SYS FAULT
Reverse Unavail- able ServiceRequired
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Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing Information Displays

4WD
Action
Message
The four wheel drive system has automatically disabled itself due to the system overheating.
4WD Temporarily
Disabled
The four wheel drive system is locking up the torque transfer clutch to help reduce clutch temperature.
4WD Temporarily
Locked
Displays when the system automatically disables to protect itself.
This may be caused by operating the vehicle with a mini spare tire installed, if the system detects dissimilar size tires, or if there is an
issue with another vehicle system preventing 4WD operation. The system resumes normal operation and clears this message after
you cycle the ignition on and off and drive a short distance with the road tire re-installed or after the other vehicle system issues are resolved.
4WD Off
Displays after the system cools and the four wheel drive system resumes normal function.
4WD Restored
The four wheel drive system is not operating properly and the
powertrain fault indicator illuminates. If the warning stays illumin- ated or continues to illuminate, contact an authorized dealer as soon as possible.
4WD Fault Service
Required
Displayed when the transfer case fluid requires service.
Change 4WD
Power Transfer Unit Lube
Displayed when the transfer case fluid has been changed and reset to new.
4WD Power
Transfer Unit Lube Set to New
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Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing Information Displays

Gate Operator / Canadian
Programming
Canadian radio-frequency laws require
transmitter signals to
“time-out” (or quit)
after several seconds of transmission –
which may not be long enough for
HomeLink to pick up the signal during
programming. Similar to this Canadian law,
some U.S. gate operators are designed to
“time-out” in the same manner.
Note: If programming a garage door opener
or gate operator, it is advised to unplug the
device during the “cycling” process to
prevent possible overheating.
1. Press and hold the HomeLink button while you press and release, every two
seconds, your hand-held transmitter
until the HomeLink indicator light
changes from a slow to a rapidly
blinking light.
2. Release both the HomeLink and hand-held transmitter buttons.
3. Continue programing HomeLink. See In-Vehicle Programming
.
Erasing the Function Button Codes
Note: You cannot erase individual buttons. 1. Press and hold the outer two function
buttons simultaneously for
approximately 20 seconds until the
indicator lights above the buttons flash
rapidly.
2. When the indicator lights flash, release
the buttons. The codes for all buttons
are erased.
Reprogramming a Single Button
To program a device to a previously trained
button, follow these steps:
1. Press and hold the desired button. Do NOT release the button.
2. The indicator light will begin to flash after 20 seconds. Without releasing the
button, follow Step 1 in the
Programming section.
For questions or comments, contact
HomeLink at www.homelink.com,
www.youtube.com/HomeLinkGentex or
1-800-355-3515.
Programming to a Genie Intellicode 2
Garage Door Opener
Note: The Genie Intellicode 2 transmitter
must already be programmed to operate
with the garage door opener.
Note: To program HomeLink to the
transmitter you must first put the
transmitter into programming mode.
164
Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing Garage Door Opener
(If Equipped)E142660

Once through water, always try the brakes.
Wet brakes do not stop the vehicle as
effectively as dry brakes. Drying can be
improved by moving your vehicle slowly
while applying light pressure on the brake
pedal.
Be cautious of sudden changes in vehicle
speed or direction when you are driving in
mud. Even 4WD vehicles can lose traction
in slick mud. As when you are driving over
sand, apply the accelerator slowly and
avoid spinning your wheels. If the vehicle
does slide, steer in the direction of the slide
until you regain control of the vehicle.
After driving through mud, clean off residue
stuck to rotating driveshafts and tires.
Excess mud stuck on tires and rotating
driveshafts causes an imbalance that
could damage drive components.
“Tread Lightly
” is an educational program
designed to increase public awareness of
land-use regulations and responsibilities
in our nations wilderness areas. Ford Motor
Company joins the U.S. Forest Service and
the Bureau of Land Management in
encouraging you to help preserve our
national forest and other public and private
lands by “treading lightly. ”
Driving on Hilly or Sloping Terrain
Although natural obstacles could make it
necessary to travel diagonally up or down
a hill or steep incline, you should always
try to drive straight up or straight down. Note:
Avoid driving crosswise or turning on
steep slopes or hills. A danger lies in losing
traction, slipping sideways and possibly
rolling over. Whenever driving on a hill,
determine beforehand the route you will
use. Do not drive over the crest of a hill
without seeing what conditions are on the
other side. Do not drive in reverse over a hill
without the aid of an observer.
When climbing a steep slope or hill, start
in a lower gear rather than downshifting to
a lower gear from a higher gear once the
ascent has started. This reduces strain on
the engine and the possibility of stalling.
If you do stall out, do not try to turn around
because you might roll over. It is better to
back down to a safe location.
Apply just enough power to the wheels to
climb the hill. Too much power can cause
the tires to slip, spin or lose traction,
resulting in loss of vehicle control. Descend a hill in the same gear you would
use to climb up the hill to avoid excessive
brake application and brake overheating.
Do not descend in neutral; instead,
disengage overdrive or manually shift to a
lower gear. When descending a steep hill,
avoid sudden hard braking as you could
lose control. The front wheels have to be
turning in order to steer the vehicle.
211
Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing Four-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)E143950 E143949

WARNING: Pay close attention to
changing road conditions such as
entering or leaving a highway, on roads
with intersections or roundabouts, roads
without visible lanes of travel, roads that
are winding, slippery, unpaved, or steep
slopes. WARNING:
The system does not
control speed in low traction conditions
or extremely steep slopes. The system
is designed to be an aid and does not
relieve you of your responsibility to drive
with due care and attention. Failure to
follow this instruction could result in
personal injury. WARNING:
The system is not a
crash warning or avoidance system. WARNING:
Do not use the system
when towing a trailer that has
aftermarket electronic trailer brake
controls. Failure to follow this instruction
could result in the loss of control of your
vehicle, personal injury or death. WARNING:
Do not use tire sizes
other than those recommended because
this can affect the normal operation of
the system. Failure to do so may result
in a loss of vehicle control, which could
result in serious injury. WARNING:
Do not use the system
with a snow plow blade installed. WARNING:
Do not use the system
in poor visibility, for example fog, heavy
rain, spray or snow. When Following a Vehicle WARNING:
When following a
vehicle that is braking, your vehicle does
not always decelerate quickly enough to
avoid a crash without driver intervention.
Apply the brakes when necessary. Failure
to follow this instruction could result in
personal injury or death.
Hilly Condition Usage
You should select a lower gear when the
system is active in situations such as
prolonged downhill driving on steep
grades, for example in mountainous areas.
The system needs additional engine
braking in these situations to reduce the
load on the vehicle ’s regular brake system
to prevent it from overheating.
Note: An audible alarm sounds and the
system shuts down if it applies brakes for
an extended period of time. This allows the
brakes to cool. The system functions
normally again after the brakes cool.
ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
LIMITATIONS - VEHICLES
WITH: ADAPTIVE CRUISE
CONTROL WITH LANE
CENTERING
Adaptive cruise control limitations apply
to lane centering unless stated otherwise
or contradicted by a lane centering
limitation. See Adaptive Cruise Control
Limitations
(page 248).
The system may not correctly operate in
any of the following conditions:
• Your vehicle is not centered in the lane.
• The lane is too narrow or wide.
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Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing Adaptive Cruise Control
(If Equipped)

STEERING
Electric Power Steering
WARNING: The electric power
steering system has diagnostic checks
that continuously monitor the system. If
a fault is detected, a message displays
in the information display. Stop your
vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
Switch the ignition off. After at least 10
seconds, switch the ignition on and
watch the information display for a
steering system warning message. If a
steering system warning message
returns, have the system checked as
soon as possible. WARNING:
If the system detects
an error, you may not feel a difference in
the steering, however a serious condition
may exist. Have your vehicle checked as
soon as possible. Failure to do so may
result in loss of steering control.
Your vehicle has an electric power steering
system, there is no fluid reservoir, no
maintenance is required.
If your vehicle loses electrical power while
you are driving, electric power steering
assistance is lost. The steering system still
operates and you can steer your vehicle
manually. Manually steering your vehicle
requires more effort.
Extreme continuous steering may increase
the effort required for you to steer your
vehicle, this increased effort prevents
overheating and permanent damage to
the steering system. You do not lose the
ability to steer your vehicle manually.
Typical steering and driving maneuvers
allow the system to cool and return to
normal operation. Steering Tips
If the steering wanders or pulls, check for:
•
Correct tire pressures.
• Uneven tire wear.
• Loose or worn suspension
components.
• Loose or worn steering components.
• Improper vehicle alignment.
Note: A high crown in the road or high
crosswinds may also make the steering
seem to wander or pull.
Adaptive Learning
(If Equipped)
The electronic power steering system
adaptive learning helps correct road
irregularities and improves overall handling
and steering feel. It communicates with
the brake system to help operate
advanced stability control and accident
avoidance systems. Additionally, whenever
the battery is disconnected or a new
battery installed, you must drive your
vehicle a short distance before the system
relearns the strategy and reactivates all
systems.
PRE-COLLISION ASSIST WARNING: You are responsible for
controlling your vehicle at all times. The
system is designed to be an aid and does
not relieve you of your responsibility to
drive with due care and attention. Failure
to follow this instruction could result in
the loss of control of your vehicle,
personal injury or death.
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Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing Driving Aids

REDUCED ENGINE
PERFORMANCE
WARNING: If you continue to drive
your vehicle when the engine is
overheating, the engine could stop
without warning. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in the loss of
control of your vehicle.
If the engine coolant temperature gauge
needle moves to the upper limit position,
the engine is overheating. See Gauges
(page 106).
You must only drive your vehicle for a short
distance if the engine overheats. The
distance you can travel depends on
ambient temperature, vehicle load and
terrain. The engine continues to operate
with limited power for a short period of
time.
If the engine temperature continues to rise,
the fuel supply to the engine reduces. The
air conditioning switches off and the engine
cooling fan operates continually.
1. Gradually reduce your speed and stop your vehicle as soon as it is safe to do
so.
2. Immediately switch the engine off to prevent severe engine damage.
3. Wait for the engine to cool down.
4. Check the coolant level. See
Engine
Coolant Check (page 331).
5. Have your vehicle checked as soon as possible.
ECONOMICAL DRIVING
Fuel economy is affected by several things
such as how you drive, the conditions you
drive under and how you maintain your
vehicle. You may improve your fuel economy by
keeping these things in mind:
•
Accelerate and slow down in a smooth,
moderate fashion.
• Drive at steady speeds.
• Anticipate stops; slowing down may
eliminate the need to stop.
• Combine errands and minimize
stop-and-go driving.
• Close the windows for high-speed
driving.
• Drive at reasonable speeds (traveling
at
55 mph (88 km/h) uses 15% less
fuel than traveling at 65 mph
(105 km/h)).
• Keep the tires properly inflated and use
only the recommended size.
• Use the recommended engine oil.
• Perform all regularly scheduled
maintenance.
Avoid these actions; they reduce your fuel
economy:
• Sudden accelerations or hard
accelerations.
• Revving the engine before switching it
off.
• Idle for periods longer than one minute.
• Warm up your vehicle on cold
mornings.
• Use the air conditioner or front
defroster.
• Use the speed control in hilly terrain.
• Rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving.
• Drive a heavily loaded vehicle or tow a
trailer.
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Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing Driving Hints