tire pressure FORD EXPLORER 1997 2.G Owners Manual

against left (outboard) front edge
of seat track mounting bracket.
3. Use a screwdriver to screw
locator post into vehicle carpeting.
Exert pressure while turning to
pierce the carpeting.
When installed properly, the
locator will not screw down tightly,
but will rotate freely.
Usage
1. To remove mat, pull up on rear
of mat to release from locator post.
2. To re-install mat, align grommet
in mat over the locator post and
snap mat into place.
TRUNK MOUNTED CONTROLS
Spare tire and jack
Your vehicle is equipped with
either a temporary spare tire and
jack or a full-size spare tire located
under the rear of the vehicle. For
instructions on how to remove and
mount the spare tire, refer to the
Roadside emergencieschapter.
uno_remove-mat
uno_trunk_title
uno_spare_tire
uno_cargo_shade_intro
Controls and features
63

Driving off-road with 4WD
Your vehicle is specially equipped
for driving on snow, sand, mud or
other rough terrain and has
operating characteristics that differ
from those of other conventional
vehicles.
When using 4WD, maintain
steering wheel control at all times,
especially in rough terrain. Since
sudden changes in terrain can
result in abrupt steering motion,
always grip the steering wheel
from the outside. Do not grip the
spokes.
Drive cautiously to avoid vehicle
damage from road debris such as
rocks or stumps. Be sure to map
out your route before driving in
any off road area.
For more information on driving
off-road and proper operation of
your 4WD vehicle, refer the ªFour
Wheelingº supplement in your
Owners Portfolio.
Driving over sand
When driving over sand, try to
keep all four wheels on the most
solid area of the trail. Do not
reduce the tire pressures but shift
to a lower gear and drive steadily
through the terrain. Apply the
uno_driving_sand
Driving
130

accelerator slowly and avoid
spinning the wheels.
Driving through mud and water
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.
If you must drive through high
water, drive slowly. Traction or
brake capability may be limited.
When driving through water,
determine the depth; avoid water
higher than the bottom of the hubs
(if possible) and proceed slowly. If
the ignition system gets wet, the
vehicle may stall.
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.
If the transmission and transfer
case are submerged in water, their
fluids should be checked and
changed, if necessary.
If the rear axle is submerged in
water, the rear axle lubricant
should be checked and changed, if
necessary. The rear axle is filled
with a synthetic lubricant and does
not normally require a lubricant
change for the life of the vehicle.
Rear axle lubricant quantities
should not need to be checked
unless a leak is suspected.
uno_driving_mud_water
uno_driving_hill
Driving
131

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
com_temperature_abc.01
uno_pressure_tires
Maintenance and care
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
uno_rotating_tires
Maintenance and care
198

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.
uno_types_tires
Maintenance and care
199

them. If this does not work,
remove the chains to prevent
vehicle damage.
²Avoid overloading your vehicle.
²Remove the tire chains when
they are no longer needed. Do
not use chains on dry roads.
²The suspension insulation and
bumpers will help prevent
vehicle damage. Do not remove
these components from the
vehicle when using snow tires
and chains.
If equipped with 110 cm (17 inch)
tires, your vehicle will not
accommodate snow chains. Consult
your dealer for information on
other Ford approved methods of
traction control.
IMPORTANT FUEL
INFORMATION
Important safety precautions
Do not overfill the fuel
tank. The pressure in an
overfilled tank may cause
leakage and lead to fuel spray
and fire.
If you do not use the
proper fuel cap, the
pressure in the fuel tank can
damage the fuel system or cause
it to work improperly in a
collision.
uno_fuel_info_title
com_important_precautions.06
Maintenance and care
202

Power door locks ........................54
Power steering
fluid, checking and adding ....184
Rear window
wiper .....................................37,38
Refill capacities for fluids ........223
Relays ..........................149,150,153
Remote entry system .................69
locking/unlocking doors ......69,70
panic alarm ...............................70
replacement/additional
transmitters ...............................73
replacing the batteries .............72
Reporting safety defects ..........232
Restraints, safety (see Safety
restraints)
head ...........................................78
Safety restraints
adjusting the safety belts ....86,87
energy absorbing sew
pattern ..................................88,89
for children ...............................95
proper use ..................83,84,85,86
Safety seats for children
attaching with tether straps ..101
automatic locking mode
(retractor) ............................97,98
Seats ............................................79
adjusting the seat, power ........80
bench (60-40 split) ..................79
Servicing your vehicle ..............165
precautions when servicing ...165
servicing when you tow .........145
Snowplowing .................................4
Special notice ................................3
ambulance conversions ..............3
utility-type vehicles ....................3
Specification chart, lubricants .225
Speed control ..............................40
indicator light ........................8,43
Speedometer ...............................14
Starting your vehicle ................110preparing to start your
vehicle .....................................112
starting a warm engine ..........115
Steering wheel
tilting .........................................44
Storage compartments
overhead storage
compartment .............................52
Tachometer
mechanical cluster ...................15
Tires
changing ..................................156
checking the pressure ............197
inspection and maintenance ..195
replacing ..................................199
rotating ....................................198
snow tires and chains ............201
spare tire .................................156
tire grades ...............................195
treadwear ................................196
Traction-lok rear axle ...............119
Trailer towing ............................138
safety chains ...........................143
tips ....................................139,144
trailer brakes ...........................143
trailer lamps ............................143
Transfer case (see Differential
fluid) ..........................................188
Transmission
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................186
Trip odometer .............................14
Turn signal
indicator lights ............................9
Two step lock ..............................54
Vehicle dimensions ...................228
Vehicle headlamp aiming
device (VHAD) .........................214
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................230
Ventilating your vehicle ...........111
Index
235

FILLING STATION
INFORMATION
FuelUnleaded fuel only- Octane 87
Fuel tank capacity (2 door) 66.2 L (17.3 gallons)
Fuel tank capacity (4 door) 79.5 L (20.8 gallons)
Engine oil Use only engine oil displaying the
American Petroleum Institute
certification mark. SAE 5W-30 is
preferred.
Tire size and pressure Refer to the SCC label for tire
specifications.
Hood release Pull handle under the left side of the
instrument panel.
uno_filling_station
Filling station information
240