2023 FORD EXPLORER suspension

STEERING
Electric Power Steering
WARNING: The electric powersteering system has diagnostic checksthat continuously monitor the system. Ifa fault is detected, a message displaysin the information display. Stop yourvehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.Switch the ignition off. After at least 10seconds, switch the ignition on andwatch the information display for asteering system warning message. If asteering system warning messagereturns, have the system checked assoon as possible.
WARNING: If the system detectsan error, you may not feel a difference inthe steering, however a serious conditionmay exist. Have your vehicle checked assoon as possible. Failure to do so mayresult in loss of steering control.
Your vehicle has an electric power steeringsystem, there is no fluid reservoir, nomaintenance is required.
If your vehicle loses electrical power whileyou are driving, electric power steeringassistance is lost. The steering system stilloperates and you can steer your vehiclemanually. Manually steering your vehiclerequires more effort.
Extreme continuous steering may increasethe effort required for you to steer yourvehicle, this increased effort preventsoverheating and permanent damage tothe steering system. You do not lose theability to steer your vehicle manually.Typical steering and driving maneuversallow the system to cool and return tonormal operation.
Steering Tips
If the steering wanders or pulls, check for:
•Correct tire pressures.
•Uneven tire wear.
•Loose or worn suspensioncomponents.
•Loose or worn steering components.
•Improper vehicle alignment.
Note:A high crown in the road or highcrosswinds may also make the steeringseem to wander or pull.
Adaptive Learning (If Equipped)
The electronic power steering systemadaptive learning helps correct roadirregularities and improves overall handlingand steering feel. It communicates withthe brake system to help operateadvanced stability control and accidentavoidance systems. Additionally, wheneverthe battery is disconnected or a newbattery installed, you must drive yourvehicle a short distance before the systemrelearns the strategy and reactivates allsystems.
PRE-COLLISION ASSIST
WARNING: You are responsible forcontrolling your vehicle at all times. Thesystem is designed to be an aid and doesnot relieve you of your responsibility todrive with due care and attention. Failureto follow this instruction could result inthe loss of control of your vehicle,personal injury or death.
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TOWING A TRAILER
WARNING: Towing trailersbeyond the maximumrecommended gross trailerweight exceeds the limit of yourvehicle and could result in enginedamage, transmission damage,structural damage, loss ofvehicle control, vehicle rolloverand personal injury.
WARNING: Do not exceedthe GVWR or the GAWRspecified on the certificationlabel.
Note: See RecommendedTowing Weights (page 284).
Your vehicle may have electricalitems, such as fuses or relays,related to towing. See Fuses(page 305).
Your vehicle's load capacitydesignation is by weight, not byvolume, so you cannot necessarilyuse all available space whenloading a vehicle or trailer.
Towing a trailer places an extraload on your vehicle's engine,transmission, axle, brakes, tiresand suspension. Inspect thesecomponents periodically during,and after, any towing operation.
Load Placement
To help minimize how trailermovement affects your vehiclewhen driving:
•Load the heaviest items closestto the trailer floor.
•Load the heaviest itemscentered between the left andright side trailer tires.
•Load the heaviest items abovethe trailer axles or just slightlyforward toward the trailertongue. Do not allow the finaltrailer tongue weight to goabove or below 10-15% of theloaded trailer weight.
•Select a ball mount with thecorrect rise or drop and loadcapacity. When both theloaded vehicle and trailer areconnected, the trailer frameshould be level, or slightlyangled down toward yourvehicle, when viewed from theside.
When driving with a trailer orpayload, a slight takeoff vibrationor shudder may be present due tothe increased payload weight.Additional information regardingproper trailer loading and settingyour vehicle up for towing islocated in another chapter of thismanual. See Load Limit (page277).
You can also find information inthe RV & Trailer Towing Guideavailable at your authorizeddealer, or online.
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If you feel a sudden vibration orride disturbance while driving, oryou suspect your tire or vehiclehas been damaged, immediatelyreduce your speed. Drive withcaution until you can safely pulloff the road. Stop and inspect thetires for damage. If a tire isunder-inflated or damaged,deflate it, remove wheel andreplace it with your spare tire andwheel. If you cannot detect acause, have the vehicle towed tothe nearest repair facility or tiredealer to have the vehicleinspected.
Tire and Wheel Alignment
A bad jolt from hitting a curb orpothole can cause the front endof your vehicle to become
misaligned or cause damage toyour tires. If your vehicle seems topull to one side when you aredriving, the wheels may be out ofalignment. Have an authorizeddealer check the wheel alignmentperiodically.
Wheel misalignment in the frontor the rear can cause uneven andrapid treadwear of your tires andshould be corrected by anauthorized dealer. Front-wheeldrive vehicles and those with anindependent rear suspension (ifequipped) may require alignmentof all four wheels.
The tires should also be balancedperiodically. An unbalanced tireand wheel assembly may result inirregular tire wear.
Tire Rotation
WARNING: If the tire labelshows different tire pressures forthe front and rear tires and thevehicle has a tire pressuremonitoring system, then youneed to update the settings forthe system sensors. Alwaysperform the system resetprocedure after tire rotation. Ifyou do not reset the system, itmay not provide a low tirepressure warning whennecessary.
Note:If your tires show unevenwear, ask an authorized dealer tocheck for and correct any wheelmisalignment, tire imbalance ormechanical problem involvedbefore tire rotation.
Note:Your vehicle may beequipped with a dissimilar sparewheel and tire assembly. Adissimilar spare wheel and tireassembly is defined as a sparewheel and tire assembly that isdifferent in brand, size orappearance from the road tires andwheels. If you have a dissimilarspare wheel and tire assembly, it isintended for temporary use onlyand should not be used in a tirerotation.
Note:After having your tiresrotated, inflation pressure must bechecked and adjusted to the
vehicle requirements.
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2023 Explorer (CTW) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 202209, First-PrintingWheels and Tires

WARNING: Snow tires must be thesame size, load index and speed ratingas those originally provided by Ford. Useof any tire or wheel not recommendedby Ford can affect the safety andperformance of your vehicle, which couldresult in an increased risk of loss ofcontrol, vehicle rollover, personal injuryand death. Additionally, the use ofnon-recommended tires and wheels cancause steering, suspension, axle, transfercase or power transfer unit failure.Follow the Ford recommended tireinflation pressure found on the SafetyCompliance Certification Label (on thedoor hinge pillar, door latch post or thedoor edge that meets the door latchpost, next to the driver seat), or TireLabel on the B-Pillar or the edge of thedriver door. Failure to follow the tirepressure recommendations can causeuneven treadwear patterns andadversely affect the way your vehiclehandles.
USING SNOW CHAINS
WARNING: Do not exceed 30 mph(50 km/h). Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in the loss ofcontrol of your vehicle, personal injury ordeath.
WARNING: Do not use snow chainson snow-free roads.
WARNING: Only fit snow chains tospecified tires.
WARNING: If your vehicle is fittedwith wheel trims, remove them beforefitting snow chains.
Only use snow chains on rear wheels.Install snow chains in pairs. Do not useself-tensioning snow chains.
Only use snow chains on the followingspecified tire sizes:
•255/60R18
•Only install chains that are 10 mmor less.
•255/65R18
•Only install chains that are 10 mmor less.
•265/60R18
•Only install chains that are 10 mmor less.
•255/55R20
•Only install chains that are 10 mmor less.
We recommend you use steel wheels ofthe same size and specification if snowchains are required because chains maychip aluminum wheels.
Follow these guidelines when using snowtires and traction devices:
•If possible, avoid fully loading yourvehicle.
•Purchase snow chains from amanufacturer that clearly labels bodyto tire dimension restrictions.
•When driving with snow chains do notexceed 30 mph (50 km/h) or themaximum speed recommended by thechain manufacturer, whichever is less.
•Drive cautiously. If you hear the snowchains rub or bang against the vehicle,stop and tighten them. If this does notwork, remove the snow chains toprevent vehicle damage.
•Remove the snow chains when theyare no longer needed. Do not use snowchains on dry roads.
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2023 Explorer (CTW) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 202209, First-PrintingWheels and Tires

•If a temporary spare wheel is mountedon your vehicle, do not use snow chainson the axle with the temporary sparewheel.
•Use snow chains that fit against thesidewall of the tire to prevent thechains from touching the wheel rimsor suspension, see followingillustration.
If you have any questions regarding snowchains, please contact your authorizeddealer.
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING
SYSTEM
WARNING: The tire pressuremonitoring system is not a substitute formanually checking tire pressures. Youshould periodically check tire pressuresusing a pressure gauge. Failure tocorrectly maintain tire pressures couldincrease the risk of tire failure, loss ofcontrol, vehicle rollover and personalinjury.
Note: You should only use tire sealants inroadside emergencies as they may causedamage to the tire pressure monitoringsystem sensor.
Note: If the tire pressure monitoring systemsensor becomes damaged, it may notfunction.
Each tire, including the spare (ifprovided), should be checkedmonthly when cold and inflatedto the inflation pressure recommended bythe vehicle manufacturer on the vehicleplacard or tire inflation pressure label. (Ifyour vehicle has tires of a different sizethan the size indicated on the vehicleplacard or tire inflation pressure label, youshould determine the proper tire inflationpressure for those tires).
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2023 Explorer (CTW) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 202209, First-PrintingWheels and TiresE292547 E139232

WARNING: Do not work on yourvehicle when the jack is the only supportas your vehicle could slip off the jack.Failure to follow this instruction couldresult in personal injury or death.
WARNING: Use only the specifiedjacking points. If you use other positions,you may damage the body, steering,suspension, engine, braking system orthe fuel lines.
WARNING: Never place anythingbetween the vehicle jack and yourvehicle.
WARNING: Never place anythingbetween the vehicle jack and the ground.
WARNING: Park your vehicle sothat you do not obstruct the flow oftraffic or place yourself in any danger andset up a warning triangle.
WARNING: Do not attempt tochange a tire on the side of the vehicleclose to moving traffic. Pull far enoughoff the road to avoid the danger of beinghit when operating the jack or changingthe wheel.
Note:Passengers should not remain in yourvehicle when the vehicle is being jacked.
Note:Jack at the specified locations toavoid damage to the vehicle.
Note:No maintenance or additionallubrication of your jack is required over theservice life of your vehicle.
1.Park on a level surface, set the parkingbrake and switch on the hazardflashers.
2.Apply the parking brake, place thetransmission in park (P) or reverse (R)for manual transmission. Turn theengine off.
3.If your vehicle has air suspension, usethe touch screen to switch on the AirSuspension Service Mode prior tojacking.
4.Block the wheel diagonally oppositethe flat tire. For example, if the leftfront tire is flat, block the right rearwheel.
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18.Remove the jack and fully tighten thelug nuts in the order shown. SeeTechnical Specifications (page376).
19.If you enabled the Air SuspensionService Mode, switch the mode offprior to driving.
20.Remove the wheel blocks.
Stowing the jack
1.To store the folded wrench on the jack,engage the bracket of the jack baseand the lug wrench pin, swing thewrench upwards, adjust jack heightuntil the wrench hook engages the holeon jack. Tighten the hex nut clockwiseby hand until secure.
2.Place the jack in the spare tirecompartment, install the wing nut andtighten clockwise by hand until secure.
Stowing the flat tire
You cannot store the full-sized road wheelin the temporary spare tire well.
1.Find the flat tire retainer strap tuckedinside the jack channel. Lower thecarpeted load floor.
2.Stow the flat tire in the cargo area onthe load floor with the wheel facing up.Secure the flat tire with the retainerstrap by following the next steps.
3.Locate the rear left side and right sidecargo tie-down rings. Push the loop endof the retainer strap through one cargotie-down ring. Thread the non-loop endthrough the loop.
4.Weave the retainer strap through thewheel openings.
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2023 Explorer (CTW) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 202209, First-PrintingWheels and Tires12345E306781 E176165 E142906 E294325

Note:This receiver includes the eCosreal-time operating system. eCos ispublished under the eCos License.
Satellite Radio Reception Factors
Potential Satellite Radio Reception Issues
For optimal reception performance, keep the antennaclear of snow and ice build-up and keep luggage and othermaterial as far away from the antenna as possible.Factory-installed and aftermarket vehicle structuresincluding, but not limited to, roof racks and soft top roofsin a partially open position could reduce receptionperformance.
Antenna obstructions
Hills, mountains, tall buildings, bridges, tunnels, freewayoverpasses, parking garages, dense tree foliage andthunderstorms can interfere with your reception.
Terrain
When you pass a ground-based broadcast-repeatingtower, a stronger signal may overtake a weaker one andthe audio system could mute.
Station overload
Your display may show ACQUIRING . . . to indicate theinterference and the audio system could mute.Satellite radio signal interfer-ence
SiriusXM Satellite Radio Service
Note:SiriusXM reserves the unrestrictedright to change, rearrange, add or deleteprogramming including canceling, movingor adding particular channels, and its prices,at any time, with or without notice to you.Neither SiriusXM and its affiliates nor FordMotor Company and its affiliates will beliable to you or any third party for any suchmodification, suspension or termination.
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2023 Explorer (CTW) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 202209, First-PrintingAudio SystemE208625