key FORD EXPLORER 2006 4.G Owner's Manual

The control buttons are located on
the driver-side rear quarter trim
panel (accessible from the liftgate
area).
Push the bottom portion of the
control button to lower the desired
seatback.
Push the top of the control button
to return the seatback to its original
position.
The power fold down seats will operate for 30 minutes after the
ignition switch is in the 1 (OFF/Lock) position. The transmission
must be in P (Park), and the liftgate, or liftgate glass must be
open. Similar to the Battery Saver feature, the power 3rd row
seat will be disabled 30 minutes after turning the vehicle off. If
the power 3rd row seat is disabled after 30 minutes, the seat can
be enabled by opening any door, pressing the unlock control on
the remote entry transmitter, pressing any keyless keypad button
(if equipped), or turning the ignition key.
Seating and Safety Restraints
125

Reasons given... Consider...
ªI'd rather be thrown clearº Not a good idea.Peoplewho areejected
are 40 times more likely to DIE.Safety
belts help prevent ejection, WE CAN'T
ªPICK OUR CRASHº.
Do not sit on top of a buckled safety belt to avoid the
BeltMinderychime. Sitting on the safety belt will increase the
risk of injury in an accident. To disable (one-time) or deactivate the
BeltMinderyfeature please follow the directions stated below.
One time disable
If at any time the driver/front passenger quickly buckles then unbuckles
the safety belt for that seating position, the BeltMinderyis disabled for
the current ignition cycle. The BeltMinderyfeature will enable during
the same ignition cycle if the occupant buckles and remains buckled for
approximately 30 seconds. Confirmation is not given for the one time
disable.
Deactivating/activating the BeltMinderYfeature
The driver and front passenger BeltMinderyare
deactivated/activated independently. When deactivating/activating
one seating position, do not buckle the other position as this will
terminate the process.
Read Steps1-4thoroughly before proceeding with the
deactivation/activation programming procedure.
Note: The driver and front passenger BeltMinderyfeatures must be
disabled/enabled separately. Both cannot be disable/enabled during the
same key cycle.
The driver and front passenger BeltMinderyfeatures can be
deactivated/activated by performing the following procedure:
Before following the procedure, make sure that:
²The parking brake is set
²The gearshift is in P (Park) (automatic transmission)
²The ignition switch is in the OFF position
²The driver and front passenger safety belts are unbuckled
Seating and Safety Restraints
139

STARTING
Positions of the ignition
1. OFF/LOCK, shuts off the engine
and all accessories/locks the steering
wheel, gearshift lever and allows key
removal.
2. ACC, allows the electrical
accessories such as the radio to
operate while the engine is not
running. This position also unlocks
the steering wheel.
3. ON, all electrical circuits
operational. Warning lights illuminated. Key position when driving.
4. START, cranks the engine. Release the key as soon as the engine
starts.
Important safety precautions
When the engine starts, the idle RPM runs faster to warm the engine. If
the engine idle speed does not slow down automatically, have the vehicle
checked.
If the vehicle is operated in a heavy snow storm or blowing snow
conditions, the engine air induction may become partially clogged with
snow and/or ice. If this occurs the engine may experience a significant
reduction in power output. At the earliest opportunity, clear all snow
and/or ice away for the air induction inlet.
Before starting the vehicle:
1. Make sure all occupants buckle their safety belts. For more
information on safety belts and their proper usage, refer to theSeating
and Safety Restraintschapter.
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207

2. Make sure the headlamps and electrical accessories are off.
²Make sure the parking brake is
set.
²Make sure the gearshift is in P
(Park).
3. Turn the key to 3 (ON) without
turning the key to 4 (START).
Some warning lights will briefly illuminate. SeeWarning lights and
chimesin theInstrument Clusterchapter for more information
regarding the warning lights.
Driving
208

Starting the engine
1. Turn the key to 3 (ON) without
turning the key to 4 (START). If
there is difficulty in turning the key,
rotate the steering wheel until the
key turns freely. This condition may
occur when:
²the front wheels are turned
²a front wheel is against the curb
2. Turn the key to 4 (START), then
release the key as soon as the
engine starts. Excessive cranking could damage the starter.
Note:If the engine does not start within five seconds on the first try,
turn the key to OFF, wait 10 seconds and try again. If the engine still
fails to start, press the accelerator to the floor and try again; this will
allow the engine to crank with the fuel shut off in case the engine is
flooded with fuel.
Guarding against exhaust fumes
Carbon monoxide is present in exhaust fumes. Take precautions to avoid
its dangerous effects.
If you smell exhaust fumes inside your vehicle, have your dealer
inspect your vehicle immediately. Do not drive if you smell
exhaust fumes.
Important ventilating information
If the engine is idling while the vehicle is stopped for a long period of
time, open the windows at least one inch (2.5 cm) or adjust the heating
or air conditioning to bring in fresh air.
USING THE ENGINE BLOCK HEATER (IF EQUIPPED)
An engine block heater warms the engine coolant which aids in starting
and heater/defroster performance. Use of an engine block heater is
strongly recommended if you live in a region where temperatures reach
-10ÉF (-23ÉC) or below. For best results, plug the heater in at least three
hours before starting the vehicle. The heater can be plugged in the night
before starting the vehicle.
Driving
209

Loaded vehicles, with a higher center of gravity, may handle
differently than unloaded vehicles. Extra precautions such as
slower speeds and increased stopping distance should be taken when
driving a heavily loaded vehicle.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OPERATION
Brake-shift interlock
This vehicle is equipped with a brake-shift interlock feature that prevents
the gearshift lever from being moved from P (Park) when the ignition is
in the ON position unless brake pedal is depressed.
If you cannot move the gearshift lever out of P (Park) with ignition in
the ON position and the brake pedal depressed:
1. Apply the parking brake, turn ignition key to LOCK, then remove the
key.
2. Remove the rubber pad at the
bottom of the cup holder to locate
the access cap of the floor shifter
assembly.
3. Using a screwdriver (or
equivalent), remove the access
panel and depress the shifter lever
on the shift mechanism.
4. Apply the brake and shift into N (Neutral).
5. Return the cover plug to the console access hole. Start the vehicle.
If it is necessary to use the above procedure to move the gearshift lever,
it is possible that a fuse has blown or the vehicle's brakelamps are not
operating properly. Refer toFuses and relaysin theRoadside
Emergencieschapter.
Do not drive your vehicle until you verify that the brakelamps
are working.
Always set the parking brake fully and make sure the gearshift is
latched in P (Park). Turn the ignition to the LOCK position and
remove the key whenever you leave your vehicle.
Driving
217

P (Park)
This position locks the transmission
and prevents the rear wheels from
turning.
To put your vehicle in gear:
²Start the engine
²Depress the brake pedal
²Press the gearshift release button
on the front of the lever and
move the gearshift lever into the
desired gear
To put your vehicle in P (Park):
²Come to a complete stop
²Move the gearshift lever and
securely latch it in P (Park)
Always set the parking brake fully and make sure the gearshift is
latched in P (Park). Turn the ignition to the LOCK position and
remove the key whenever you leave your vehicle.
R (Reverse)
With the gearshift lever in R (Reverse), the vehicle will move backward.
Always come to a complete stop before shifting into and out of R
(Reverse).
N (Neutral)
With the gearshift lever in N (Neutral), the vehicle can be started and is
free to roll. Hold the brake pedal down while in this position.
D (Drive) with Overdrive
The normal driving position for the best fuel economy. Transmission
operates in gears one through five.
Driving
219

D (Drive) without Overdrive
Overdrive can be deactivated by
pressing the transmission control
switch on the side of the gearshift
lever.
²This position allows for all
forward gears (1-4) except
overdrive.
²Provides engine braking.
²Use when driving conditions
cause excessive shifting from O/D
to other gears. Examples: city
traffic, hilly terrain, heavy loads,
trailer towing and when engine
braking is required.
²O/D OFF lamp is illuminated.
²To return to O/D (overdrive mode), press the transmission control
switch. The O/D OFF lamp will not be illuminated.
²O/D (Overdrive) is automatically returned each time the key is turned
off.
3 (Third)
Transmission operates in third gear only.
Used for improved traction on slippery roads. Selecting 3 (Third)
provides engine braking.
2 (Second)
Use 2 (Second) to start-up on slippery roads or to provide additional
engine braking on downgrades.
O/D
OFF
Driving
220

1 (First)
²Provides maximum engine braking.
²Allows upshifts by moving gearshift lever.
²Will not downshift into 1 (First) at high speeds; allows for 1 (First)
when vehicle reaches slower speeds.
Forced downshifts
²Allowed in D (Overdrive) or Drive.
²Depress the accelerator to the floor.
²Allows transmission to select an appropriate gear.
Driving with a 6±speed automatic transmission
This vehicle is equipped with an
adaptive Transmission Shift Strategy.
Adaptive Shift Strategy offers the
optimal transmission operation and
shift quality. When the engine is
turned off, the shift data which
includes the adaptive information
will be stored automatically in the
Transmission Control Module
(TCM). If the battery is
disconnected for any reason, the
stored information from the last
time the key was turned to OFF will
be read. This way, no information
will be lost with any battery removal
or battery disconnect.
Driving
221

P (Park)
This position locks the transmission
and prevents the rear wheels from
turning.
To put your vehicle in gear:
²Depress the brake pedal
²Start the engine
²Press the gearshift lever release
button (on the front of the lever)
and shift into the desired gear
To put your vehicle in P (Park):
²Come to a complete stop
²Move the gearshift lever and
securely latch it in P (Park)
Always set the parking brake fully and make sure the gearshift is
latched in P (Park). Turn the ignition to the LOCK position and
remove the key whenever you leave your vehicle.
R (Reverse)
With the gearshift lever in R (Reverse), the vehicle will move backward.
Always come to a complete stop before shifting into and out of R
(Reverse).
N (Neutral)
With the gearshift lever in N (Neutral), the vehicle can be started and is
free to roll. Hold the brake pedal down while in this position.
D (Drive) with Overdrive
The normal driving position for the best fuel economy. Transmission
operates in gears one through six except in 4L where transmission
operates in gears two through six.
Driving
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