wheel FORD EXPLORER 2012 5.G Owners Manual
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Introduction 4
Instrument Cluster 12
Warning lights and chimes 12
Gauges 19
Message center 22
Entertainment Systems 48
MyFord™ system 48
Auxiliary input jack (Line in) 57
USB port 58
SYNC59
Climate Controls 60
Manual heating and air conditioning 60
Automatic temperature control 63
Auxiliary passenger climate control 68
Rear window defroster 68
Lights 71
Headlamps 71
Turn signal control 76
Bulb replacement 78
Driver Controls 86
Windshield wiper/washer control 86
Steering wheel adjustment 88
Power windows 93
Mirrors 94
Speed control 98
Adaptive cruise control 100
Moon roof 110
Locks and Security 126
Keys 126
Locks 133
Anti-theft system 148
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Seating and Safety Restraints 154
Seating 154
Personal Safety System™ 176
Safety belt system 179
Front safety belt height adjustment 187
Airbags 193
Child restraints 207
Tires, Wheels and Loading 229
Tire information 231
Tire inflation 234
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) 246
Vehicle loading 251
Trailer towing 258
Recreational towing 262
Driving 264
Starting 264
Brakes 272
AdvanceTrac275
Hill descent control 280
Transmission operation 285
Reverse sensing system 291
Rear-view camera system 293
Roadside Emergencies 322
Getting roadside assistance 322
Hazard flasher control 323
Fuel pump shut-off 324
Fuses and relays 324
Changing tires 334
Wheel lug nut torque 342
Jump starting 343
Wrecker towing 346
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Warning symbols on your vehicle
When you see this symbol, it is
imperative that you consult the
relevant section of this guide before
touching or attempting adjustment
of any kind.
Protecting the environment
We must all play our part in
protecting the environment. Correct
vehicle usage and the authorized
disposal of waste, cleaning and
lubrication materials are significant
steps towards this aim. Information in this respect is highlighted in this
guide with the tree symbol.
CALIFORNIA Proposition 65 Warning
WARNING:Engine exhaust, some of its constituents, and
certain vehicle components contain or emit chemicals known to
the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm. In addition, certain fluids contained in vehicles and
certain products of component wear contain or emit chemicals known
to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm.
PERCHLORATE MATERIAL
Certain components of this vehicle such as airbag modules, safety belt
pretensioners, and button cell batteries may contain Perchlorate Material
– Special handling may apply for service or vehicle end of life disposal.
See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate.
BREAKING-IN YOUR VEHICLE
Your vehicle does not need an extensive break-in. Try not to drive
continuously at the same speed for the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of
new vehicle operation. Vary your speed frequently in order to give the
moving parts a chance to break in.
Drive your new vehicle at least 1,000 miles (1,600 km) before towing a
trailer. For more detailed information about towing a trailer, refer to
Trailer towingin theTires, Wheels and Loadingchapter.
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Your vehicle is not equipped with the Ford Ambulance Preparation
Package.
DATA RECORDING
Service Data Recording
Service data recorders in your vehicle are capable of collecting and
storing diagnostic information about your vehicle. This potentially
includes information about the performance or status of various systems
and modules in the vehicle, such as engine, throttle, steering or brake
systems. In order to properly diagnose and service your vehicle, Ford
Motor Company, Ford of Canada, and service and repair facilities may
access or share among them vehicle diagnostic information received
through a direct connection to your vehicle when diagnosing or servicing
your vehicle. For U.S. only (if equipped), if you choose to use the SYNC
Vehicle Health Report, you consent that certain diagnostic information
may also be accessed electronically by Ford Motor Company and Ford
authorized service facilities, and that the diagnostic information may be
used for any purpose. See yourSYNCsupplement for more information.
Event Data Recording
This vehicle is equipped with an event data recorder (EDR). The
main purpose of an EDR is to record, in certain crash or near
crash-like situations, such as an airbag deployment or hitting a
road obstacle; this data will assist in understanding how a
vehicle’s systems performed. The EDR is designed to record data
related to vehicle dynamics and safety systems for a short period
of time, typically 30 seconds or less. The EDR in this vehicle is
designed to record such data as:
•How various systems in your vehicle were operating;
•Whether or not the driver and passenger safety belts were
buckled/fastened;
•How far (if at all) the driver was depressing the accelerator
and/or the brake pedal; and
•How fast the vehicle was travelling; and
•Where the driver was positioning the steering wheel.
This data can help provide a better understanding of the
circumstances in which crashes and injuries occur.
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Charging system (RTT):
Illuminates when the battery is not
charging properly. If it stays on
while the engine is running, there
may be a malfunction with the charging system. Contact your authorized
dealer as soon as possible. This indicates a problem with the electrical
system or a related component.
Engine oil pressure (RTT):
Illuminates when the oil pressure
falls below the normal range, refer
toEngine oilin theMaintenance
and Specificationschapter.
AdvanceTrac:Displays when the
AdvanceTrac/Traction control is
active. If the light remains on, have
the system serviced immediately,
refer to theDrivingchapter for more information.
AdvanceTracoff light:
Illuminates when
AdvanceTrac/Traction control has
been disabled by the driver. Refer to
theDrivingchapter for more
information.
Low tire pressure warning:
Illuminates when your tire pressure
is low. If the light remains on at
start up or while driving, the tire
pressure should be checked. Refer
toInflating your tiresin theTires, Wheels and Loadingchapter. When
the ignition is first turned to on, the light will illuminate for 3 seconds to
ensure that it is working. If the light does not turn on or begins to flash,
contact your authorized dealer as soon as possible. For more information
on this system, refer toTire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)in
theTires, Wheels and Loadingchapter.
Low fuel (RTT):Illuminates when
the fuel level in the fuel tank is at
or near empty. Refer toFuel gauge
in this chapter.
OFF
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•Engine coolant temperature
gauge (if enabled):Indicates
engine coolant temperature. At
normal operating temperature,
the level indicator will be in the
normal range. The indicator will
change colors indicating blue for
cool, gray for normal and red for
hot. If the engine coolant
temperature exceeds the normal
range, stop the vehicle as soon as
safely possible, switch off the engine and let then engine cool.
The engine coolant temperature gauge can be enabled or disabled. See
Base message centerin this chapter for information on changing the
display settings.
•4WD gauge (if equipped and
enabled):D isplays power
distribution between the front
and rear wheels. More power to
either front or rear wheels will be
displayed by more area filled in.
Symbols indicate the current
terrain management mode that is
active.
SeeFour wheel drive (4wd) systemin theDrivingchapter for
information.
3.Speedometer:Indicates the current vehicle speed.
4.Fuel gauge:Indicates approximately how much fuel is left in the fuel
tank (when the ignition is in the on position). The fuel gauge may vary
slightly when the vehicle is in motion or on a grade. The fuel icon and
arrow indicates which side of the vehicle the fuel filler door is located.
H
C
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BASE MESSAGE CENTER (IF EQUIPPED)
WARNING:Driving while distracted can result in loss of vehicle
control, accident and injury. Ford strongly recommends that
drivers use extreme caution when using any device or feature that may
take their focus off the road. Your primary responsibility is the safe
operation of the vehicle. We recommend against the use of any
handheld device while driving and that you comply with all applicable
laws.
Your vehicle’s message center is capable of monitoring many vehicle
systems and will alert you to potential vehicle problems and various
conditions with informational messages and/or warnings.
The message center is also used to program/configure the different
features of your vehicle. The message center display is located in the
instrument cluster.
Use the left steering wheel controls to navigate through the message
center.
•Press the up/down arrow buttons
to move up/down through the
message center choices.
•Press the left/right arrow buttons
to move left/right through the
message center choices.
•Press the OK button to select
highlighted options and confirm
choices/messages.
km/hF
E
MPH
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*System Check
Oil Life
Washer Fluid
Doors
Liftgate
Blind spot
Cross Traffic
Brakes
Fuel
The number of warnings will be listed first. All active warnings will
display first if applicable. The system check menu may appear different
based upon equipment options and current vehicle status. Use the
up/down arrow buttons to scroll through the list; press the right arrow
button to display specific information on the highlighted warning.
*Note:Some items are optional and may not appear.
System warnings and status messages
SeeSystem warning and status messageslater in this chapter for more
information.
OPTIONAL MESSAGE CENTER (IF EQUIPPED)
WARNING:Driving while distracted can result in loss of vehicle
control, accident and injury. Ford strongly recommends that
drivers use extreme caution when using any device or feature that may
take their focus off the road. Your primary responsibility is the safe
operation of the vehicle. We recommend against the use of any
handheld device while driving and that you comply with all applicable
laws.
Your vehicle’s message center is capable of monitoring many vehicle
systems and will alert you to potential vehicle problems and various
conditions with informational messages and/or warnings.
The message center is also used to program/configure the different
features of your vehicle.
The message center display is located in the instrument cluster.
Use the left steering wheel controls to navigate through the message
center.
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To change the Menu Control between Standard or Memory On, refer to
Vehicle and Menu Controlfound in the table under theSettingssection
later in this chapter.
Display Mode
Press the right arrow on the left steering wheel mounted button when
display mode is selected. The boxes in the upper right corner of the
screen indicate that there are multiple screens that you can navigate
through. Each press of the right arrow will navigate to the next screen
until the last screen is reached. The white highlighted box indicates
which of the screens you are currently viewing:
Note:Regardless of display mode chosen, when SST is activated, the
cluster will change to the tachometer if not already selected, and the M
will light up in the shift select indicator and also in the message center.
Refer toAutomatic transmission operationin theDrivingchapter.
Distance to empty (DTE) + Fuel
gauge + Bar tachometer
•Distance to empty (DTE): Shows approximate fuel level before the
fuel tank reaches empty. The value is dynamic and can change (raise
or lower) depending on driving style.
•Fuel gauge: Indicates approximately how much fuel is left in the fuel
tank. The fuel gauge may vary slightly when the vehicle is in motion
or on a grade. When the fuel level becomes low (50 miles [80 km] to
empty), the level indicator will change to amber. When the fuel level
becomes critically low (0 miles [0 km] to empty), the level indicator
will change to red.
Note:When a MyKeyis in use, low fuel warnings will display earlier
.
•Bar tachometer: Indicates the engine speed in revolutions per minute.
Driving with your tachometer pointer continuously at the top of the
scale may damage the engine.
F6
4
RPM
1000+
2
0
01234.5mi
E
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Note:You can also choose to have only the fuel gauge show in this
mode. Refer toDisplay>Gauge Displayfound in the table under the
Settingssection later in this chapter.
Round analog tachometer +
Fuel gauge
For descriptions of the tachometer
and fuel gauge, see the description
listed previously.
Round analog tachometer +
Fuel gauge + Engine coolant
temperature gauge
For descriptions of the tachometer
and fuel gauge, see the description
listed previously.
•Engine coolant temperature
gauge: Indicates engine coolant
temperature. At normal operating
temperature, the level indicator
will be in the normal range. If the
engine coolant temperature exceeds the normal range, stop the
vehicle as soon as safely possible, switch off the engine and let the
engine cool.
Intelligent 4WD (if equipped) +
other gauges
For a description of the other
gauges, see the descriptions listed
previously.
•Intelligent all-wheel drive: shows
the 4WD mode that the vehicle is
in. Refer toFour-Wheel Drive
(4WD) system and Terrain
managementin theDriving
chapter.
i
F
E
FH
C E
F6
4
RPM
1000+2
0
E
Intelligent 4WD
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