maintenance FORD EXPLORER 2000 2.G Owners Manual

Before driving
Introduction 2
Instrumentation 6
Controls and features 21
Seating and safety restraints 119
Starting and driving
Starting 150
Driving 155
Roadside emergencies 189
Servicing
Maintenance and care 212
Capacities and specifications 266
Customer assistance 275
Reporting safety defects 287
Index 288
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Copyright 1999 Ford Motor Company
Contents
1

3. The fuel cap may not have been properly installed and securely
tightened.
These temporary malfunctions can be corrected by filling the fuel tank
with high quality fuel of the recommended octane and/or properly
installing and securely tightening the gas cap. After three driving cycles
without these or any other temporary malfunctions present, theCheck
Enginelight should turn off. (A driving cycle consists of a cold engine
startup followed by mixed city/highway driving.) No additional vehicle
service is required.
If theCheck Enginelight remains on, have your vehicle serviced at the
first available opportunity.
Light is blinking:
Engine misfire is occurring which could damage your catalytic converter.
You should drive in a moderate fashion (avoid heavy acceleration and
deceleration) and have your vehicle serviced at the first available
opportunity.
Under engine misfire conditions, excessive exhaust temperatures
could damage the catalytic converter, the fuel system, interior
floor coverings or other vehicle components, possibly causing a fire.
Check fuel cap
Momentarily illuminates when the
ignition is turned to the ON position
to ensure your bulb is working.
When this light turns on, check the
fuel filler cap. Continuing to operate the vehicle with the check fuel cap
light on, can activate theService Engine Soon/Check Enginewarning
light. When the fuel filler cap is properly re-installed, the light(s) will
turn off after a period of normal driving.
It may take a long period of time for the system to detect an
improperly install fuel filler cap.
For more information, refer toFuel filler capin theMaintenance and
carechapter.
CHECK
FUEL CAP
Instrumentation
9

Turn signal
Illuminates when the left or right
turn signal or the hazard lights are
turned on. If one or both of the
indicators stay on continuously or
flash faster, check for a burned-out
turn signal bulb. Refer toBulbsin theMaintenance and carechapter.
High beams
Illuminates when the high beam
headlamps are turned on.
Anti-theft system (if equipped)
Refer toSecuriLockypassive
anti-theft systemin theControls
and featureschapter.
Charging system
Illuminates when the ignition is
turned to the ON position and the
engine is off. The light also
illuminates when the battery is not
charging properly, requiring
electrical system service.
Check gage
Illuminates when the engine coolant
temperature is high, the engine oil
pressure is low or the fuel gauge is
at or near empty. The ignition must
be in the ON position for this lamp to illuminate. The lamp will also stay
illuminated after the ignition is turned to the ON position. Refer to
Engine coolant temperature gauge, Engine oil pressure gaugeor
Fuel gaugein this chapter for more information.
THEFT
CHECK
GAGE
Instrumentation
11

GAUGES
Speedometer
Indicates the current vehicle speed.
Engine coolant temperature gauge
Indicates the temperature of the
engine coolant. At normal operating
temperature, the needle remains
within the normal area (the area
between the ªHº and ªCº). If it
enters the red section, the engine is
overheating. Stop the vehicle as
soon as safely possible, switch off
the engine immediately and let the
engine cool. Refer toEngine
coolantin theMaintenance and
carechapter.
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Instrumentation
14

Battery voltage gauge
This shows the battery voltage when
the ignition is in the ON position. If
the pointer moves and stays outside
the normal operating range (as
indicated), have the vehicle's
electrical system checked as soon as
possible.
Engine oil pressure gauge
This shows the engine oil pressure
in the system. Sufficient pressure
exists as long as the needle remains
in the normal range (the area
between the ªLº and ªHº).
If the gauge indicates low pressure,
stop the vehicle as soon as safely
possible and switch off the engine
immediately. Check the oil level.
Add oil if needed (refer toEngine
oilin theMaintenance and care
chapter). If the oil level is correct, have your vehicle checked at your
dealership or by a qualified technician.
Fuel gauge
Displays approximately how much
fuel is in the fuel tank (when the
key is in the ON position). The fuel
gauge may vary slightly when the
vehicle is in motion. The ignition
should be in the OFF position while
the vehicle is being refueled. When
the gauge first indicates empty,
there is a small amount of reserve
fuel in the tank. When refueling the
vehicle from empty indication, the
amount of fuel that can be added will be less than the advertised
capacity due to the reserve fuel.
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Instrumentation
16

For maximum accuracy of this display feature, the ignition should be in
the OFF position during fueling. The display FUEL LEVEL ERROR
indicates a problem with the fuel indication system. See your dealer or
qualified service technician for system maintenance.
Fuel status
Press once to display the
approximate amount of fuel
remaining in the fuel tank.
Press again to display the
approximate amount of fuel used
since the system was last reset.
Fuel economy
Press to display your vehicle's
average fuel economy in liters/
100 km or (miles/gallons).
Reset
Press the reset control to reset the
current feature being displayed.
Warnings, distance driven, average
fuel economy, fuel used and
personalized oil reset percentage are
the only features that respond to
reset.
ENGLISH/
METRICRANGESTATUS
ECONRESETSYSTEM
CHECKOIL
CHANGE
RESET
FUEL
ENGLISH/
METRICRANGESTATUS
ECONRESETSYSTEM
CHECKOIL
CHANGE
RESET
FUEL
ENGLISH/
METRICRANGESTATUS
ECONRESETSYSTEM
CHECKOIL
CHANGE
RESET
FUEL
Instrumentation
18

System check
Press the system check control to
display the status of the following
systems:
²engine oil life left
²engine oil level
²voltage level
²engine coolant temperature
²washer fluid level
²fuel level
The engine oil life left has two phases. The first display will indicate the
oil change status (OK, SOON, REQUIRED). The second display will
indicate the percentage of oil life remaining. The display OIL TEMP
SIGNAL ERROR indicates a problem with the system. Following this
display, contact your dealer or qualified service technician for system
maintenance.
Operating the message center during system check
The message center controls can be operated as follows during the
system check sequence:
1. Press the system check controls to advance to the next display.
2. Press the reset control to immediately conclude the system check.
3. Press the range, fuel status or fuel economy control to conclude the
system check and display the requested feature.
4. Press the metric/English control to conclude the system check and
change the previous display to the new mode.
5. Press the oil change reset control to conclude the system check and
begin the oil change reset procedure.
An oil change is recommended whenever indicated by the message
center. Use only recommended engine oils.
The message center will tell you the percent of oil life left during system
check. This percentage is based on your driving history and the time
since your last oil change. In order to ensure accurate oil life left
indications, you should only perform the following procedure after you
have the oil changed.
ENGLISH/
METRICRANGESTATUS
ECONRESETSYSTEM
CHECKOIL
CHANGE
RESET
FUEL
Instrumentation
19

Safety belt maintenance
Inspect the safety belt systems periodically to make sure they work
properly and are not damaged. Inspect the safety belts to make sure
there are no nicks, wears or cuts, replacing if necessary. All safety belt
assemblies, including retractors, buckles, front seat belt buckle
assemblies, buckle support assemblies (slide bar-if equipped), shoulder
belt height adjusters (if equipped), shoulder belt guide on seatback (if
equipped), child safety seat tether bracket assemblies (if equipped), and
attaching hardware, should be inspected after a collision. Ford
recommends that all safety belt assemblies used in vehicles involved in a
collision be replaced. However, if the collision was minor and a qualified
technician finds that the belts do not show damage and continue to
operate properly, they do not need to be replaced. Safety belt assemblies
not in use during a collision should also be inspected and replaced if
either damage or improper operation is noted.
Failure to inspect and if necessary replace the safety belt
assembly under the above conditions could result in severe
personal injuries in the event of a collision.
Refer toCleaning and maintaining the safety beltsin the
Maintenance and caresection.
AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS)
Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and diagnostic module
which records information about the air bag and sensor systems. In the
event of a collision this module may save information related to the
collision including information about the air bag system and impact
severity. This information will assist Ford in the servicing of your vehicle
and may help Ford better understand real world collisions and further
improve the safety of future vehicles.
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Seating and safety restraints
135

Several air bag system components get hot after inflation. Do not
touch them after inflation.
If the air bag has deployed,the air bag will not function
again and must be replaced immediately.If the air bag is not
replaced, the unrepaired area will increase the risk of injury in a
collision.
The SRS consists of:
²driver and passenger air bag modules (which include the inflators and
air bags).
²side air bags (if equipped). Refer toSide air bag systemlater in this
chapter.
²one or more impact and safing sensors.
²a readiness light and tone.
²diagnostic module.
²and the electrical wiring which connects the components.
The diagnostic module monitors its own internal circuits and the
supplemental air bag electrical system warning (including the impact
sensors), the system wiring, the air bag system readiness light, the air
bag back up power and the air bag ignitors.
Determining if the system is operational
The SRS uses a readiness light in the instrument cluster or a tone to
indicate the condition of the system. Refer to theAir bag readiness
section in theInstrumentationchapter. Routine maintenance of the air
bag is not required.
A difficulty with the system is indicated by one or more of the following:
²The readiness light will either
flash or stay lit.
²The readiness light will not
illuminate immediately after
ignition is turned on.
²A series of five beeps will be heard. The tone pattern will repeat
periodically until the problem and/or light are repaired.
Seating and safety restraints
139

Several air bag system
components get hot after
inflation. Do not touch them after
inflation.
If the side air bag has
deployed,the air bag will
not function again. The side
air bag system (including the
seat) must be inspected and
serviced by a qualified
technician in accordance with
the vehicle service manual.If
the air bag is not replaced, the
unrepaired area will increase the
risk of injury in a collision.
Determining if the system is operational
The SRS uses a readiness light in the instrument cluster or a tone to
indicate the condition of the system. Refer to theAir bag readiness
section in theInstrumentationchapter. Routine maintenance of the air
bag is not required.
A difficulty with the system is indicated by one or more of the following:
²The readiness light (same light as for front air bag system) will either
flash or stay lit.
²The readiness light will not illuminate immediately after ignition is
turned on.
²A series of five beeps will be heard. The tone pattern will repeat
periodically until the problem and light are repaired.
If any of these things happen, even intermittently, have the SRS serviced
at your dealership or by a qualified technician immediately. Unless
serviced, the system may not function properly in the event of a
collision.
Seating and safety restraints
142