FORD EXPLORER 1998 2.G Owners Manual

Make sure that all replacement tires are of the same size, type,
load-carrying capacity and tread design (e.g., ``All Terrain'', etc.),
as originally offered by Ford.
Failure to follow these precautions may adversely affect the
handling of the vehicle and make it easier to lose control and roll
over.
Tires that are larger or smaller than your vehicle's original tires may also
affect the accuracy of your speedometer.
USING SNOW TIRES AND TRACTION DEVICES
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 traction
devices may be necessary. Ford offers tire cables 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 cables
for your vehicle.
Follow these guidelines when using snow tires and traction devices:
²Do not use tire chains on aluminum wheels. Chains may chip the
wheels.
²Install cables securely, verifying that the cables do not touch any
wiring, brake lines or fuel lines.
²Drive cautiously. If you hear the cables rub or bang against the
vehicle, stop and retighten them. If this does not work, remove the
cables to prevent vehicle damage.
²Avoid overloading your vehicle.
²Remove the tire cables when they are no longer needed.
²Do not use cables 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 traction devices.
²Do not exceed 48 km/h (30 mph) with tire cables on your vehicle.
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Consult your dealer for information on other Ford approved methods of
traction control.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT AUTOMOTIVE FUELS
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.
The fuel system may be under pressure. If the fuel cap is venting
vapor or if you hear a hissing sound, wait until it stops before
completely removing the cap.
Automotive fuels can cause serious injury or death if misused or
mishandled.
Observe the following guidelines when handling automotive fuel:
²Extinguish all smoking materials
and any open flames before
fueling your vehicle.
²Always turn off the vehicle before
fueling.
²Automotive fuels can be harmful
or fatal if swallowed. If fuel is
swallowed, call a physician
immediately, even if no symptoms
are immediately apparent. The
toxic effects of fuel may not be
visible for hours.
²Fuels can also be harmful if absorbed through the skin. If fuel is
splashed on the skin, promptly remove contaminated clothing and
wash skin thoroughly with soap and water.
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²If fuel is splashed in the eyes, remove contact lenses, flush with water
for 15 minutes and seek medical attention.
²Be particularly careful if you are taking ``Antabuse'' or other forms of
disulfiram for the treatment of alcoholism. Breathing gasoline vapors
or skin contact could cause an adverse reaction. Consult a physician
immediately.
Choosing the right fuel
Use only UNLEADED FUEL. The use of leaded fuel is prohibited by law
and could damage your vehicle.
Your vehicle was not designed to use fuel or fuel additives with metallic
compounds, including manganese-based compounds containing MMT.
Vehicles certified to California emission standards (indicated on the
underhood Vehicle Emissions Control Information label) are designed to
operate on California reformulated gasolines. If California reformulated
gasoline is not available when you refuel, your vehicle can be operated
on non-California fuels. However, even though your engine will perform
adequately on other gasolines, the performance of the emission control
devices and systems may be adversely affected.
Repair of damage caused by using a fuel that your vehicle was not
designed for may not be covered by your warranty.
Octane recommendations
Your vehicle is designed to use
``Regular'' unleaded with an (R+M)/2
octane rating of 87. We do not
recommend gasolines labeled as
``Regular'' in high altitude areas that
are sold with octane ratings of 86 or
even less.
Do not be concerned if your vehicle sometimes knocks lightly. However,
if it knocks heavily under most driving conditions on fuel with the
87
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recommended octane, see your dealer or a qualified service technician to
prevent any engine damage.
Fuel quality
If you are experiencing starting, rough idle or hesitation driveability
problems during a cold start, try a different brand of ``Regular'' gasoline.
``Premium'' gasoline is not recommended (particularly in the United
States) because it may cause these problems to become more
pronounced. If the problems persist, see your dealer or a qualified
service technician.
The American Automobile Manufacturers Association (AAMA) issued a
gasoline specification to provide information on high quality fuels that
optimize the performance of your vehicle. We recommend the use of
gasolines that meet the AAMA specification if they are available.
It should not be necessary to add any aftermarket products to your fuel
tank if you continue to use a high-quality fuel.
Cleaner air
Ford approves the use of gasolines to improve air quality, including
reformulated gasolines that contain oxygenates up to 10% ethanol or
15% MTBE.
Do not use gasolines containing methanol, which can damage critical fuel
system components. Damage resulting from the use of methanol may not
be covered by your warranty.
Calculating fuel economy
To accurately calculate your vehicle's fuel economy:
1. Fill the tank completely and record the initial odometer reading.
2. Each time you fill the tank, record the amount of fuel added (in liters
or gallons).
3. After at least three to five fuel tank fill-ups, fill the fuel tank and
record the current mileage reading.
4. Use one of the following equations to calculate fuel economy.
Liters used x 1004Total kilometers traveled
Total miles traveled4Total gallons used
Keep a record for at least one month. This will provide an accurate
estimate of the vehicle's fuel economy.
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EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM
Your vehicle is equipped with various emission control components and a
catalytic converter which will enable your vehicle to comply with
applicable exhaust emission standards. To make sure that the catalytic
converter and other emission control components continue to work
properly:
²Use only unleaded fuel.
²Avoid running out of fuel.
²Do not turn off the ignition while your vehicle is moving, especially at
high speeds.
²Have the services listed in your ``Service Guide'' performed according
to the specified schedule.
The Scheduled Maintenance Services listed in the ``Service Guide'' are
required because they are considered essential to the life and
performance of your vehicle and to its emissions system.
If other than Ford, Motorcraft or Ford authorized parts are used for
maintenance replacements or for service of components affecting
emission control such non-Ford parts should be equivalent to genuine
Ford Motor Company parts in performance and durability.
Do not park, idle, or drive your vehicle in dry grass or other dry
ground cover. The emission system heats up the engine
compartment and exhaust system, which can start a fire.
Watch for fluid leaks, strange odors, smoke, loss of oil pressure, the
charging system warning light, the ``Check Engine'' light or the
temperature warning light. These events could indicate that the emission
control system is not working properly.
If you smell exhaust fumes of any kind inside your vehicle, have
the dealer inspect and fix your vehicle immediately. Do not drive
if you smell exhaust fumes. These fumes are harmful and could kill
you.
Do not make any unauthorized changes to your vehicle or engine. By
law, vehicle owners and anyone who manufactures, repairs, services,
sells, leases, trades vehicles, or supervises a fleet of vehicles are not
permitted to intentionally remove an emission control device or prevent
it from working. Information about your vehicle's emission system is on
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the Vehicle Emission Control Information Decal located on or near the
engine. This decal identifies engine displacement and gives some tune up
specifications.
Please consult your ``Warranty Guide'' for complete emission warranty
information.
Readiness for inspection/maintenance (I/M) testing
In some localities, it may be a legal requirement to pass an I/M test of
the on-board diagnostic (OBD-II) system. If your ``check engine/service
engine soon'' light is on, reference the applicable light description in the
Warning Lights and Chimessection of your owners guide. Your vehicle
may not pass the I/M test with the ``check engine/service engine soon''
light on.
If the vehicle's powertrain system or its battery has just been serviced,
the OBD-II system is reset to a ``not ready for I/M test'' condition. To
ready the OBD-II system for I/M testing, a minimum of 30 minutes of city
and highway driving is necessary as described below:
²First, at least 10 minutes of driving on an expressway or highway.
²Next, at least 20 minutes driving in stop and go, city type traffic with
at least four idle periods.
Allow the vehicle to sit for at least eight hours without starting the
engine. Then, start the engine and complete the above driving cycle. The
engine must warm up to its normal operating temperature. Once started,
do not turn off the engine until the above driving cycle is complete.
EXTERIOR BULBS
Replacing exterior bulbs
Check the operation of the following lamps frequently:
²headlamps
²foglamps
²high-mount brakelamp
²brakelamps
²turn signals
²license plate lamp
²tail lamps
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²back-up lamps
Do not remove lamp bulbs unless they can be replaced immediately with
new ones. If a bulb is removed for an extended period of time,
contaminants may enter the lamp housings and affect lamp performance.
Replacing headlamp bulbs
Handle a halogen headlamp bulb carefully and keep out of
children's reach. Grasp the bulb only by its plastic base and do
not touch the glass. The oil from your hand could cause the bulb to
break the next time the headlamps are operated.
If the bulb is accidentally touched, it should be cleaned with rubbing
alcohol before being used.
To remove the headlamp bulb:
1. Make sure headlamp switch is in OFF position, then open the hood. If
you are replacing the driver side headlamp, unclip the electronic module
on the right side of the battery and move it out of the way.
2. Locate the headlamp bulb through the hole in the upper radiator
support assembly.
3. Disconnect the electrical
connector from the bulb by pulling
the connector rearward.
4. Remove the bulb retaining ring by
rotating it counterclockwise (when
viewed from the rear) about an
eighth of a turn to free it from the
bulb socket, and by sliding the ring
off the plastic base. Keep the ring
because it will be used again to
retain the new bulb.
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5. Remove the old bulb from its socket by gently pulling it straight back
out of the socket. Do not turn the bulb while removing it.
To install the new bulb:
1. With the flat side of the bulb's
plastic base facing upward, insert
the glass end of the bulb into the
socket. You may need to turn the
bulb left or right to line up the
grooves in the plastic base with the
tabs in the socket. When the
grooves are aligned, push the bulb
into the socket until the plastic base
contacts the rear of the socket.
2. Slip the bulb retaining ring over the plastic base until it contacts the
rear of the socket by rotating it clockwise until you feel a ``stop''.
3. Push the electrical connector into the rear of the plastic base until it
snaps, locking it into position.
4. Turn the headlamps on and make sure they work properly. If the
headlamp was correctly aligned before you changed the bulb, you should
not need to align it again.
Bulb specifications
Function Number of bulbs Trade number
Park/turn lamps (front) 4 3156 NAK
Headlamps 2 9007
Rear stop/tail lamps 2 3157K
Rear turn lamps 2 3156K
Rear license plate lamps 2 3156
Backup lamp 2 3156K
Rear/turn/sidemarker 2 916NA
Cargo lamp 1 211-2
Interior overhead lamp 1 912 (906)
Front door courtesy lamp 1 168
Map lamps 2 168 (T10)
Ashtray lamp 1 161
To replace all instrument panel lights - see your dealer.
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AIMING THE HEADLAMPS
Your vehicle is equipped with a
Vehicle Headlamp Aim Device
(VHAD) on each headlamp. Each
headlamp may be properly aimed in
the vertical (up/down) and the
horizontal (left/right) directions
using your VHAD system. The
headlamps on your vehicle are
properly aimed at the assembly
plant, and vertical and horizontal
indicators of the VHAD system are
calibrated.
A bubble (vertical indicator) that is
not centered between the two red
lines does not necessarily indicate
out-of-aim headlamps. If your
vehicle is not positioned on a level surface, the slope will be included in
the vertical indication. Therefore, vertical and horizontal headlamp
adjustment should be performed only when the beam direction appears
to be incorrect.
You will need one 4 mm wrench or socket with ratchet to make the
adjustments.
The following procedure assumes that the factory set horizontal indicator
reference has not changed and the vehicle's front structure is in its
factory alignment condition. If the vehicle has been in an accident
requiring the front end of the vehicle to be repaired, the horizontal
indicator should be recalibrated by the servicing facility according to
instructions in the vehicle's Workshop Manual.
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Horizontal aim adjustment
1. With the hood open, locate the
horizontal indicator and adjusting
screw. They are located below the
viewing hole at the rear of the
headlamp assembly.
2. Use a 4mm wrench or socket to
turn the horizontal adjusting screw
until the ``0'' mark on the yellow dial
lines up with the reference mark on
the marker (as shown) when viewed
directly from above.
Vertical aim adjustment
1. Park the vehicle on a level
surface.
2. With the hood open, locate the
bubble level and vertical adjustment
screw. The adjustment screw is
located on the outboard side of the
headlamp.
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