FORD EXPLORER 1997 2.G Owners Manual

Always dispose of automotive
batteries in a responsible manner.
Follow your community's local
standards for disposal. Call your
local recycling center to find out
more about recycling automotive
batteries.
Battery saver control feature
Your vehicle is equipped with a
battery saver control feature
designed to prevent your battery
from accidental wear down due to
doors left ajar. For information on
the system and its function, refer
to theControls and features
chapter.
AIR CLEANER FILTER
MAINTENANCE
Refer to the ªService Guideº for
the appropriate intervals for
changing the air cleaner filter.
Do not start your engine
with the air cleaner
removed and do not remove it
while the engine is running.
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Changing your air cleaner filter
To change your air cleaner filter,
follow these steps:
1. Release the clamp locking clip
on the front portion of the
assembly.
2. Swing the left side of the
assembly open.
3. Remove the air cleaner filter
element from the open end of the
engine air cleaner assembly and
replace it with a new element.
4. Close the assembly and secure
the locking clamp.
The air cleaner filter shown is
typical of 4.0 L OHV and 5.0 L
engines. The 4.0 L SOHC is
comparable.
CHECKING AND REPLACING
WIPER BLADES
Checking wiper blades
Check the windshield wiper blades
at least twice a year or whenever
they seem to work less effectively
than usual. Substances such as
tree sap and some hot wax
treatments used by commercial car
washes can reduce the
effectiveness of wiper blades.
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193

To make reaching the wiper blades
easier, simply:
1. Turn the ignition to the ON
position and turn the wipers on.
2. Wait for the wipers to reach a
vertical position and turn the
ignition to LOCK.
²Do not move the wipers
manually across the windshield,
this may cause damage to both
wipers and windshield.
Inspect the wiper pivot arms on a
regular basis to ensure that they
move freely. Lubricate the pivot
points as necessary.
Replacing wiper blades
If the wiper blades do not function
properly after cleaning,
replacement of the blade assembly
or the blade element may be
necessary.
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The blade lengths for your vehicle
are as follows:
²Windshield wiper blades Ð 56
cm (16 in)
²Liftgate wiper blades Ð 41 cm
(22 in)
To replace the wiper blades:
1. Pull the wiper arm away from
the windshield and lock into
service position.
2. Turn the blade at an angle from
the wiper arm. Push the lock pin
with a screwdriver to release the
blade and pull the wiper blade
down toward the windshield to
remove it from the wiper arm.
3. Attach the new wiper blade to
the wiper arm and press it in place
until a click is heard.
IMPORTANT TIRE
MAINTENANCE INFORMATION
Information about tire quality
grades
New vehicles are fitted with tires
that have their Tire Quality Grade
(described below) molded into the
tire's sidewall. These Tire Quality
Grades are determined by
standards that the United States
Department of Transportation has
set.
Tire Quality Grades apply to new
pneumatic tires for use on
passenger cars. They do not apply
to deep tread, winter-type snow
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195

tires, space-saver or temporary use
spare tires, tires with nominal rim
diameters of 10 to 12 inches or
limited production tires as defined
in Title 49 Code of Federal
Regulations Part 575.104(c)(2).
U.S. Department of
Transportation-Tire quality
grades:The U.S. Department of
Transportation requires Ford to
give you the following information
about tire grades exactly as the
government has written it.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a
comparative rating based on the
wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course.
For example, a tire grade 150
would wear one and one-half (1
1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire grade
100. The relative performance of
tires depends upon the actual
conditions of their use, however,
and may depart significantly from
the norm due to variations in
driving habits, service practices,
and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
Traction A B C
The traction grades, from highest
to lowest are A, B, and C, and they
represent the tire's ability to stop
on wet pavement as measured
under test surfaces of asphalt and
concrete. A tire marked C may
have poor traction performance.
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Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on
braking (straightahead) traction
tests and does not include
cornering (turning) traction.
Temperature A B C
The temperature grades are A (the
highest), B, and C, representing
the tire's resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to
dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a
specified indoor laboratory test
wheel. Sustained high temperature
can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life,
and excessive temperature can
lead to sudden tire failure. The
grade C corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger
car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test
wheel than the minimum required
by law.
The temperature grade for
this tire is established for a
tire that is properly inflated and
not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.
Checking the tire pressure
Check the tire pressure
periodically and inflate tires as
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197

necessary. To check the tire
pressure, insert the tire pressure
gauge into the valve stem.
The cold pressure amount is listed
on the Safety Compliance
Certification label.
Improperly inflated tires
can affect vehicle handling
and can fail suddenly, possibly
resulting in loss of vehicle
control.
Rotating tires
Rotate your tires at regular
intervals for even wear. Rotation
intervals are listed in the ªService
Guideº.
²Four tire rotation
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²Five tire rotation
Replacing tires
Replace the tires when the wear
band is visible through the tire
treads.
When replacing full size
tires, never mix radial,
bias-belted, or bias-type tires.
Use only the tire sizes that are
listed on the tire pressure decal.
Make sure that all tires are the
same size, speed rating, and
load-carrying capacity. Use only
the tire combinations
recommended on the decal. If
you do not follow these
precautions, your vehicle may
not drive properly and safely.
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Make sure that all
replacement tires are of
the same size, type, load-carrying
capacity and tread design (e.g.,
ªAll Terrainº, etc.), as originally
offered by Ford.
Do not replace your tires
with ªhigh performanceª
tires or larger size tires.
Failure to follow these
precautions may adversely
affect the handling of the vehicle
and make it easier to lose control
and roll over.
Refer to the Safety Compliance
Certification label to determine the
specific size tire and wheel Ford
Motor Company recommends for
use on this vehicle.
When purchasing replacement tires
for your vehicle, consult your
dealer or qualified service
technician to ensure that the
correct tire types are used.
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200

Using snow tires and chains
Snow tires must be the
same size and grade as the
tires you currently have on your
vehicle.
The tires on your vehicle have
all-weather treads to provide
traction in rain and snow. However,
in some climates, using snow tires
and chains may be necessary. Ford
offers snow chains as a Ford
approved accessory and
recommends use of these or their
equivalents. See your dealer or
qualified service technician for
more information on tire chains for
your vehicle. Follow these
guidelines when using snow tires
and chains:
²Install chains securely, verifying
that the chains do not touch any
wiring, brake lines or fuel lines.
²Install the chains on the rear
tires only.
²Drive cautiously. If you hear the
chains rub or bang against the
vehicle, stop and retighten
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