2023 FORD EXPLORER light

CLEANING THE EXTERIOR
Wash your vehicle regularly with cool orlukewarm water and a neutral pHshampoo, we recommend MotorcraftDetail Wash.
•Never use strong household detergentsor soap, for example dish washing orlaundry liquid. These products candiscolor and spot painted surfaces.
•Never wash your vehicle when it is hotto the touch, or during strong or directsunlight.
•Dry your vehicle with a chamois or softterry cloth towel to eliminate waterspotting.
•Immediately remove fuel spillages, birddroppings, insect deposits and road tar.These may cause damage to yourvehicle’s paintwork or trim over time.We recommend Motorcraft Bug andTar Remover.
•Remove any exterior accessories, forexample antennas, before entering acar wash.
•When filling with AdBlue®, remove anyresidue on painted surfacesimmediately.
Note:Suntan lotions and insect repellentscan damage painted surfaces. If thesesubstances come in contact with yourvehicle, wash the affected area as soon aspossible.
Cleaning the Exterior Precautions
Immediately remove fuel spillages, AdBlueresiduals, bird droppings, insect depositsand road tar. These may cause damage toyour vehicle’s paintwork or trim over time.
Remove any exterior accessories, forexample antennas, before entering a carwash.
Cleaning the Exterior Lamps
Note:Do not scrape the exterior lampslenses or use abrasives, alcoholic solventsor chemical solvents to clean them.
Note:Do not wipe the exterior lamps whenthey are dry.
Exterior Chrome Parts
•Apply a high quality-cleaning productto bumpers and other chrome parts.Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.We recommend Motorcraft CustomBright Metal Cleaner.
•Do not apply the cleaning product tohot surfaces. Do not leave the cleaningproduct on chrome surfaces longerthan the time recommended.
•Using non-recommended cleaners canresult in severe and permanentcosmetic damage.
Note:Never use abrasive materials, forexample steel wool or plastic pads as theycan scratch the chrome surface.
Note:Do not use chrome cleaner, metalcleaner or polish on wheels or wheel covers.
Exterior Plastic Parts
For routine cleaning we recommendMotorcraft Detail Wash. If tar or greasespots are present, we recommendMotorcraft Bug and Tar Remover.
Stripes or Graphics (If Equipped)
Hand washing your vehicle is preferredhowever, pressure washing may be usedunder the following conditions:
•Do not use water pressure higher than2,000 psi (14,000 kPa).
•Do not use water hotter than 179°F(82°C).
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•Use a spray with a 40 degree widespray angle pattern.
•Keep the nozzle at a 12 in (305 mm)distance and 90 degree angle to yourvehicle's surface.
Note:Holding the pressure washer nozzleat an angle to the vehicle's surface maydamage graphics and cause the edges topeel away from the vehicle's surface.
Underbody
Regularly clean the entire underside of yourvehicle. This includes the chassis, bodyfloor sheet metal and wheel wells usingfresh water. Keep body and door drainholes free of debris or foreign material.
Under Hood
For removing black rubber marks fromunder the hood we recommend MotorcraftWheel and Tire Cleaner or Motorcraft Bugand Tar Remover.
WAXING
Regular waxing is necessary to protect yourcar's paint from the elements. Werecommend that you wash and wax thepainted surface once or twice a year.
When washing and waxing, park yourvehicle in a shaded area out of directsunlight. Always wash your vehicle beforeapplying wax.
•Use a quality wax that does not containabrasives.
•Follow the manufacturer’s instructionsto apply and remove the wax.
•Apply a small amount of wax in aback-and-forth motion, not in circles.
•Do not allow wax to come in contactwith any non-body (low-gloss black)colored trim. The wax will discolor orstain the parts over time.
•Roof racks.
•Bumpers.
•Grained door handles.
•Side moldings.
•Mirror housings.
•Windshield cowl area.
•Do not apply wax to glass areas.
•After waxing, your car's paint shouldfeel smooth, and be free of streaks andsmudges.
CLEANING THE ENGINE
Engines are more efficient when they areclean because grease and dirt buildup keepthe engine warmer than normal.
When washing:
•Take care when using a power washerto clean the engine. The high-pressurefluid could penetrate the sealed partsand cause damage.
•Do not spray a hot engine with coldwater to avoid cracking the engineblock or other engine components.
•Spray Motorcraft Engine Shampoo andDegreaser on all parts that requirecleaning and pressure rinse clean. InCanada, use Motorcraft EngineShampoo.
Note:If your vehicle has an engine coverremove the cover before application ofMotorcraft Engine Shampoo and Degreaser.Immediately rinse away any over spray.
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•Never wash or rinse the engine while itis hot or running; water in the runningengine may cause internal damage.
•Never wash or rinse any ignition coil,spark plug wire or spark plug well, orthe area in and around these locations.
•Cover the battery, power distributionbox, and air filter assembly to preventwater damage when cleaning theengine.
CLEANING THE WINDOWS AND
WIPER BLADES
Car wash chemicals and environmentalfallout can result in windshield and wiperblade contamination. Dirty windshield andwipers will result in poor windshield wiperoperation. Keep the windshield and wiperblades clean to maintain windshield wiperperformance.
To clean the windshield and wiper blades:
•Clean the windshield with anon-abrasive glass cleaner. Whencleaning the interior of the windshield,avoid getting any glass cleaner on theinstrument panel or door panels. Wipeany glass cleaner off these surfacesimmediately.
•For windshields contaminated withtree sap, chemicals, wax or bugs, cleanthe entire windshield using steel wool(no greater than 0000 grade) in acircular motion and rinse with water.
•Clean the wiper blades with isopropylrubbing alcohol or windshield washerconcentrate.
Note: Do not use razor blades or othersharp objects to clean or remove decalsfrom the inside of the heated rear window.The vehicle warranty does not coverdamage caused to the heated rear windowgrid lines.
CLEANING THE INTERIOR
WARNING: Do not use cleaningsolvents, bleach or dye on the vehicle'sseatbelts, as these actions may weakenthe belt webbing.
WARNING: On vehicles equippedwith seat-mounted airbags, do not usechemical solvents or strong detergents.Such products could contaminate theside airbag system and affectperformance of the side airbag in a crash.
For fabric, carpets, cloth seats and seatsequipped with side airbags:
•Remove dust and loose dirt with avacuum cleaner.
•Remove light stains and soil withMotorcraft Professional StrengthCarpet & Upholstery Cleaner.
•If grease or tar is present on thematerial, spot-clean the area first withMotorcraft Spot and Stain Remover. InCanada, use Motorcraft Multi-PurposeCleaner.
•If a ring forms on the fabric after spotcleaning, clean the entire areaimmediately (but do not oversaturate)or the ring will set.
•Do not use household cleaningproducts or glass cleaners, which canstain and discolor the fabric and affectthe flame retardant abilities of the seatmaterials.
Mirrors
Do not clean the housing or glass of anymirror with harsh abrasives, fuel or otherpetroleum or ammonia-based cleaningproducts.
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You should:
•Remove dust and loose dirt with avacuum cleaner.
•Clean and treat spills and stains assoon as possible.
Do not use the following products as thesemay damage the leather:
•Oil and petroleum or silicone-basedleather conditioners.
•Household cleaners.
•Alcohol solutions.
•Solvents or cleaners intendedspecifically for rubber, vinyl andplastics.
REPAIRING MINOR PAINT
DAMAGE
We recommend that you contact anauthorized dealer to identify your vehiclecolor code. Authorized dealers havetouch-up paint to match your vehicle'scolor.
Before repairing minor paint damage, usea cleaner to remove particles such as birddroppings, tree sap, insect deposits, tarspots, road salt and industrial fallout.
Read the instructions before using cleaningproducts.
CLEANING THE WHEELS
1.Regularly clean them with a wheelcleaner. We recommend that you useFord approved wheel cleaner ifavailable.
2.Remove dirt and brake dust with asponge.
3.Remove tar and grease with a bug andtar remover. We recommend that youuse Ford approved bug and tar removerif available.
4.Thoroughly rinse the wheels with waterafter cleaning.
If you intend on parking your vehicle for anextended period after cleaning the wheelswith a wheel cleaner, drive your vehicle fora few minutes before doing so. Thisreduces the risk of corrosion of the brakediscs, brake pads and linings.
Do not clean the wheels when they are hot.
Note: Some car washes could damagewheel rims and covers.
Note: Using non-recommended cleaners,harsh cleaning products, chrome wheelcleaners or abrasive materials coulddamage wheel rims, covers and bolts.
VEHICLE STORAGE
If you plan on storing your vehicle for 30days or more, read the followingmaintenance recommendations to makesure your vehicle stays in good operatingcondition.
We engineer and test all motor vehiclesand their components for reliable, regulardriving. Under various conditions,long-term storage may lead to degradedengine performance or failure unless youuse specific precautions to preserve enginecomponents.
General
•Store all vehicles in a dry, ventilatedplace.
•Protect from sunlight, if possible.
•If vehicles are stored outside, theyrequire regular maintenance to protectagainst rust and damage.
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Body
•Wash your vehicle thoroughly toremove dirt, grease, oil, tar or mud fromexterior surfaces, rear-wheel housingand the underside of front fenders.
•Periodically wash your vehicle if it isstored in exposed locations.
•Touch-up exposed or primed metal toprevent rust.
•Cover chrome and stainless steel partswith a thick coat of auto wax to preventdiscoloration. Re-wax as necessarywhen you wash your vehicle.
•Lubricate all hood, door and luggagecompartment hinges and latches witha light grade oil.
•Cover interior trim to prevent fading.
•Keep all rubber parts free from oil andsolvents.
Engine
•Change the engine oil and filter prior tostorage because used engine oilcontains contaminates which maycause engine damage.
•Start the engine every 15 days for aminimum of 15 minutes. Run at fastidle with the climate controls set todefrost until the engine reaches normaloperating temperature.
•With your foot on the brake, shiftthrough all the gears while the engineis running.
•We recommend that you change theengine oil before you use your vehicleagain.
Fuel system
•Fill the fuel tank with high-quality fueluntil the first automatic shutoff of thefuel pump nozzle.
Cooling system
•Protect against freezing temperatures.
•When removing your vehicle fromstorage, check coolant fluid level.Confirm that there are no coolingsystem leaks and that fluid is at therecommended level.
Disconnecting Your 12 Volt Battery
•Check and recharge as necessary. Keepconnections clean.
•If storing your vehicle for more than 30days without recharging the battery,we recommend that you disconnectthe battery cables to maintain batterycharge for quick starting.
Note:It is necessary to reset memoryfeatures if you disconnect the batterycables.
Brakes
•Make sure the brakes and parking brakerelease fully.
Tires
•Maintain recommended air pressure.
Miscellaneous
•Make sure all linkages, cables, leversand pins under your vehicle are coveredwith grease to prevent rust.
•Move vehicles at least 25 ft (7.5 m)every 15 days to lubricate working partsand prevent corrosion.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
The recommended tire inflation pressuresare found on the Tire Label which islocated on the B-pillar or the edge of thedriver door. This information can also befound on the Safety ComplianceCertification Label, affixed to either thedoor hinge pillar, door-latch post, or thedoor edge that meets the door-latch post,next to the driver’s seating position.
We strongly recommend maintaining thesetire pressures at all times. Failure to followthe tire pressure recommendations cancause uneven treadwear patterns, reducedfuel economy, and adversely affect theway your vehicle handles.
Note:Check and set the tire pressure at theambient temperature in which you areintending to drive your vehicle and when thetires are cold.
Note:Check your tire pressures at leastonce per month.
If your vehicle has a spare tire, set thepressure to the highest value given for yourvehicle and tire size combination.
Use only approved wheels and tire sizes;using other sizes could damage yourvehicle.
If you change the diameter of the factoryinstalled tires, the speedometer coulddisplay the incorrect speed. This couldeffect the functionality of the 4WD system(if equipped). Take your vehicle to anauthorized dealer and have the enginemanagement system reprogrammed.
If you intend to change the size of thefactory installed tires, check the suitabilitywith an authorized dealer.
Additional information related to thefunctionality and maintenance of your tirescan be found in the Wheels and Tiresection. See Tire Care (page 349).
Self-Sealing Tires (If Equipped)
Self-Sealing tires are a special type of tirethat have a material on the inside of thetire that can seal punctures up to 0.2 in(6 mm) in diameter in the tread area. Thismaterial does not protect from damage orpunctures in the sidewall of the tire.Self-sealing tires can be identified by thetire manufacturer with a special mark.
If your TPMS warning light comes on,inspect your tires for damage and re-inflateyour tires to the pressure indicated on thetire placard. See Tire PressureMonitoring System (page 364). If yourtires are damaged or continue to lose air,take your vehicle to the nearest authorizeddealer to have your tires inspected andrepaired/replaced as necessary.
Note:Replace self-sealing tires withself-sealing tires to maintain thefunctionality provided.
Note:Do not drive on a deflatedself-sealing tire. This damages the tirebeyond repair.
Notice to utility vehicle and truckowners
WARNING: Vehicles with a highercenter of gravity (utility and four-wheeldrive vehicles) handle differently thanvehicles with a lower center of gravity(passenger cars). Avoid sharp turns,excessive speed and abrupt steering inthese vehicles. Failure to drive cautiouslyincreases the risk of losing control of yourvehicle, vehicle rollover, personal injuryand death.
WARNING: In a rollover crash, anunbelted person is significantly morelikely to die than a person wearing aseatbelt.
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TIRE CARE
Information About UniformTire Quality Grading
Tire Quality Grades apply to newpneumatic passenger car tires.The Quality grades can be foundwhere applicable on the tiresidewall between tread shoulderand maximum section width. Forexample: Treadwear 200Traction AA Temperature A.
These Tire Quality Grades aredetermined by standards that theUnited States Department ofTransportation has set.
Tire Quality Grades apply to newpneumatic passenger car tires.They do not apply to deep tread,winter-type snow tires,space-saver or temporary usespare tires, light truck or LT typetires, tires with nominal rimdiameters of 10 to 12 inches orlimited production tires as definedin Title 49 Code of FederalRegulations Part 575.104 (c)(2).
U.S. Department ofTransportation Tire qualitygrades: The U.S. Department ofTransportation requires us to giveyou the following informationabout tire grades exactly as thegovernment has written it.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is acomparative rating based on thewear rate of the tire when testedunder controlled conditions on aspecified government test course.For example, a tire graded 150would wear 1½ times as well onthe government course as a tiregraded 100. The relativeperformance of tires dependsupon the actual conditions of theiruse, however, and may depart
significantly from the norm due tovariations in driving habits, servicepractices, and differences in roadcharacteristics and climate.
Traction AA A B C
WARNING: The tractiongrade assigned to this tire isbased on straight-ahead brakingtraction tests, and does notinclude acceleration, cornering,hydroplaning or peak tractioncharacteristics.
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*kPa: Kilopascal, a metric unit ofair pressure.
*PSI: Pounds per square inch, astandard unit of air pressure.
*Cold tire pressure: The tirepressure when the vehicle hasbeen stationary and out of directsunlight for an hour or more andprior to the vehicle being driven for1 mi (1.6 km).
*Recommended inflationpressure: The cold inflationpressure found on the SafetyCompliance Certification Label(affixed to either the door hingepillar, door-latch post, or the dooredge that meets the door-latchpost, next to the driver's seatingposition), or Tire Label located onthe B-Pillar or the edge of thedriver door.
* B-pillar: The structural memberat the side of the vehicle behindthe front door.
*Bead area of the tire: Area ofthe tire next to the rim.
* Sidewall of the tire: Areabetween the bead area and thetread.
*Tread area of the tire: Area ofthe perimeter of the tire thatcontacts the road when mountedon the vehicle.
*Rim: The metal support (wheel)for a tire or a tire and tubeassembly upon which the tire
beads are seated.
Information Contained on theTire Sidewall
Both United States and CanadaFederal regulations require tiremanufacturers to placestandardized information on thesidewall of all tires. Thisinformation identifies anddescribes the fundamentalcharacteristics of the tire and alsoprovides a U.S. DOT TireIdentification Number for safetystandard certification and in caseof a recall.
Information on P Type Tires
P215/65R15 95H is an example ofa tire size, load index and speedrating. The definitions of theseitems are listed below. (Note thatthe tire size, load index and speedrating for your vehicle may bedifferent from this example.)
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