tow FORD EXPLORER 2012 5.G Workshop Manual

Ignition modes
1. Off — press and release the START/STOP button without applying the
brake pedal when your vehicle is in on mode or when the engine is
running and there is no vehicle speed.
Note:In order to switch off the engine while the vehicle is in motion,
press and hold the START/STOP button for at least one second or press
the START/STOP button three times within two seconds. Then, shift to
neutral and use the brakes to bring the vehicle to a safe stop. After the
vehicle has stopped, turn the engine off and shift into park.
2. Accessory — press and release the START/STOP button without
applying the brake pedal. This allows electrical accessories such as the
radio to operate while the engine is not running. ACCESSORY POWER
ACTIVE and PRESS BRAKE TO START will be displayed in the message
center. Refer toMessage centerin theInstrument Clusterchapter for
more information.
3. On — press the START/STOP button two times without applying the
brake pedal. This will power your vehicle’s electrical system and the
warning lights in the instrument cluster will illuminate, but the engine
will remain off.Note:You can start the engine from any ignition mode.
4. Start — press the START/STOP button (for any length of time) while
applying the brake pedal.Note:The indicator light on the start button
will illuminate when the vehicle is in on mode and when the engine is
started.
There may be areas inside your vehicle where the IA key is not detected.
If the message NO KEY DETECTED appears on your message center
when you press the START/STOP button, it may be necessary to move
your IA key to another area within the vehicle. The IA key may not be
detected near the roof (between the driver or passenger sunvisor and
the roof, or in the overhead console area) or in the extreme corners of
the rear package tray, near your audio speakers. It is not recommended
that you stow the IA key in these locations. If you move the IA key to a
location where it has been detected before and you still see the NO KEY
DETECTED message, your IA key’s battery may be low or you may be in
an area with excessive radio frequency interference. If this occurs, you
can use the back-up method to start your vehicle (see below).
Back-up method of starting:Your IA key uses a radio frequency signal
to communicate with your vehicle and authorize your vehicle to start
when you press the START/STOP button and apply the brake pedal.
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How to use the engine block heater
Ensure the receptacle terminals are clean and dry prior to use. To clean
them, use a dry cloth.
Depending on the type of factory installed equipment, your engine block
heater will use .4 to 1.0 kilowatt-hours of energy per hour of use. Your
factory installed block heater system does not have a thermostat;
however, maximum temperature is attained after approximately three
hours of operation. Block heater operation longer than three hours will
not improve system performance and will unnecessarily use additional
electricity.
Make sure system is unplugged and properly stowed before driving the
vehicle. While not in use, make sure the protective cover seals the
prongs of the engine block heater cord plug.
BRAKES
Occasional brake noise is normal. If a metal-to-metal, continuous grinding
or continuous squeal sound is present, the brake linings may be worn-out
and should be inspected by an authorized dealer. If the vehicle has
continuous vibration or shudder in the steering wheel while braking, the
vehicle should be inspected by an authorized dealer.
Refer toWarning lights and
chimesin theInstrument Cluster
chapter for information on the brake
system warning light.
Four-wheel anti-lock brake system (ABS)
Your vehicle is equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS). This
system helps you maintain steering control during emergency stops by
keeping the brakes from locking. Noise from the ABS pump motor and
brake pedal pulsation may be observed during ABS braking and the
brake pedal may suddenly travel a little farther as soon as ABS braking is
done and normal brake operation resumes. These are normal
characteristics of the ABS and should be no reason for concern.
Using ABS
When hard braking is required, apply continuous force on the brake
pedal. Do not pump the brake pedal since this will reduce the
effectiveness of the ABS and will increase your vehicle’s stopping
distance. The ABS will be activated immediately, allowing you to retain
steering control during hard braking and on slippery surfaces. However,
the ABS does not decrease stopping distance.
P!
BRAKE
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Brake assist
The brake assist system provides full braking force during panic braking
situations. It detects a rapid application of the brake pedal and uses the
ABS system to achieve maximum braking pressure. Once a panic brake
application is detected, the system will remain activated as long as the
brake pedal is pressed or ABS is engaged. The system is deactivated by
either releasing the brake pedal or coming to a complete stop. When the
system activates, noise from the ABS pump motor and brake pedal
pulsation may be observed; this is normal.
ABS warning lamp
The ABS lamp in the instrument
cluster momentarily illuminates
when the ignition is turned on. If
the light does not illuminate during
start up, remains on or flashes, the
ABS may be disabled and may need to be serviced.
Even when the ABS is disabled,
normal braking is still effective. If
your BRAKE warning lamp
illuminates with the parking brake
released, have your brake system
serviced immediately.
Brake over accelerator
This vehicle is equipped with a brake over accelerator feature. In the
event the accelerator pedal becomes stuck or entrapped, applying steady
and firm pressure to the brake pedal will both slow the vehicle and
reduce engine power. If you experience this condition, apply the brakes
and bring your vehicle to a safe stop. Turn the engine off, shift to P
(Park) and apply the parking brake, and then inspect the accelerator
pedal for any interferences. If none are found and the condition persists,
have your vehicle towed to the nearest authorized dealer.
ABS
P!
BRAKE
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•Entering a paved road from a gravel road, or vice versa
•Cornering while towing a heavily loaded trailer (refer toTrailer
towingin theTires, Wheels and Loadingchapter).
Roll Stability Control™ (RSC)
Roll Stability Control™ (RSC) may help to maintain roll stability of the
vehicle during adverse maneuvers. The RSCsystem operates by
detecting the vehicle’s roll motion and the rate at which it changes and
by applying the brakes to one or more wheels individually.
During an event that activates the RSCsystem, the stability control
light in the instrument cluster will flash.
Certain adverse driving maneuvers may activate the RSCsystem, which
include:
•Emergency lane-change
•Taking a turn too fast
•Quick maneuvering to avoid an accident, pedestrian or obstacle
Curve Control
Curve control may enhance your vehicle’s ability to follow the road
during adverse maneuvers, for example when cornering severely or
avoiding objects in the roadway. Curve Control operates by reducing
engine power and, if necessary, applying brakes to one or more of the
wheels individually. During Curve Control events, the stability control
light in the instrument cluster will flash and the brake lamps may
illuminate.
Certain adverse driving maneuvers may activate the Curve control
system, which include but are not limited to:
•Taking a turn too fast
•Maneuvering quickly to avoid an accident, pedestrian or obstacle
•Cornering while towing a heavily loaded trailer (seeTrailer towingin
theTires, Wheels and Loadingchapter). The Curve Control system
may be deactivated in certain terrain management modes. See
Terrain managementlater in this chapter.
Turning traction control off
If the vehicle is stuck in snow, mud or sand, and seems to lose engine
power, switching off traction control in the AdvanceTracwith RSC
system may be beneficial because the wheels are allowed to spin. This
will restore full engine power and will enhance momentum through the
obstacle.
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WARNING:Trailer sway control does not prevent a trailer from
swaying, it mitigates the sway from increasing once it has
occurred. If you are experiencing trailer sway it is likely that the trailer
is improperly loaded for the correct tongue weight or the speed of the
vehicle and trailer is too high. Pull the vehicle-trailer over to a safe
location to check the trailer weight distribution and tongue load and
reduce speed to a safe level while towing. If trailer sway is
experienced, SLOW DOWN.
During trailer sway control events, the stability control light in the
instrument cluster will flash momentarily. The message center will also
displayTRAILER SWAY REDUCE SPEED.In some cases when trailer
sway is detected, the vehicle speed is too high and may be at or above a
speed at which trailer sway will grow continuously. This may cause the
system to activate multiple times, and you may experience a slight
deceleration of the vehicle.
Disabling trailer sway control
Trailer sway control can be disabled during any key cycle. Refer to
Message centerin theInstrument Clusterchapter for more information.
Note that even if it was disabled before turning off the vehicle, trailer
sway control will be re-enabled at each new key cycle.
WARNING:Turning off trailer sway control increases the risk of
loss of vehicle control, serious injury, or death. Ford does not
recommend disabling this feature except in situations where speed
reduction may be detrimental (e.g., hill climbing), the driver has
significant trailer towing experience, and can control trailer sway and
maintain safe operation.
HILL DESCENT CONTROL™ (IF EQUIPPED)
Hill descent control allows the driver to set and maintain vehicle speed
while descending steep grades in various surface conditions.
WARNING:Hill descent control cannot control descent in all
surface conditions and circumstances, such as ice or extremely
steep grades. Hill descent control is a driver assist system and cannot
substitute for good judgment by the driver. Failure to do so may result
in loss of vehicle control, crash or serious injury.
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D (Drive) with Overdrive
The normal driving position for the best fuel economy. Transmission
operates in gears one through six.
The automatic transmission shift strategy has the ability to detect hilly
terrain or mountainous areas and will provide a limited amount of grade
assist features automatically. Refer to D (Drive) with Grade assist or
SelectShift for more information.
D (Drive) with Tow on
The tow feature improves transmission operation when towing a trailer
or a heavy load. All transmission gear ranges are available when using
tow.
Tow can be activated by pressing theTOWswitch located on the
instrument panel by the headlamp control. TheTOW/HAULmessage
will illuminate in the instrument cluster.
The tow feature delays upshifts to reduce frequency of transmission
shifting. Tow also provides engine braking in all forward gears when the
transmission is in the D (Overdrive) position. This engine braking will
slow the vehicle and assist the driver in controlling the vehicle when
descending a grade. Depending on driving conditions and load
conditions, the transmission may downshift, slow the vehicle and control
the vehicle speed when descending a hill, without the accelerator pedal
being pressed. The amount of downshift braking provided will vary based
upon the amount the brake pedal is depressed.
To deactivate the tow feature and return to normal driving mode, press
theTOWbutton. The tow light will no longer be illuminated.
When you shut-off and restart the engine, the transmission will
automatically return to normal D (Overdrive) mode (tow off).
WARNING:Do not use the tow feature when driving in icy or
slippery conditions as the increased engine braking can cause
the rear wheels to slide and the vehicle to swing around with the
possible loss of vehicle control.
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To use active guidelines, turn the steering wheel and point the active
guidelines towards an intended path. If the steering wheel position is
changed while reversing, the vehicle might deviate from the original
intended path.
Active guidelines project the intended path of the vehicle. Fixed
guidelines show the actual direction the vehicle is moving. The fixed and
active guidelines will fade in and out depending on the steering wheel
position. When the steering wheel position is straight, the active
guidelines will not be shown.
Always use caution while backing. Objects in the red zone (2) are closest
to your vehicle and objects in the green zone (4) are further away.
Objects are getting closer to your vehicle as they move from the green
zone (4) to the yellow (3) or red zones (2). Use the side mirrors and
rearview mirror to get better coverage on both sides and rear of the
vehicle.
Visual park aid alert (if equipped)
Visual park aid alert allows the driver to see the area that is causing the
reverse sensing system to beep. The visual alerts are red, yellow or green
highlights which appear on top of the video image when an object is
detected by the reverse sensing system. The visual alert will highlight
the closest object detected by the reverse sensing system. The reverse
sensing alert can be disabled and if visual park aid alert is enabled,
highlighted areas will still be displayed.
To turn this feature on or off when the vehicle is not in R (Reverse), do
the following on the touchscreen:
1. Select Menu
2. Select Vehicle
3. Select Rear View Camera
The visual park aid alert options are ON and OFF.
Note:The reverse sensing system is not effective at speeds above 3 mph
(5 km/h) and may not detect certain angular or moving objects.
Manual zoom
The manual zoom feature assists drivers with connecting their vehicle to
a trailer for the purpose of towing. It allows the driver to manually zoom
closer to an object behind the vehicle. The zoomed image keeps the
bumper in the image to provide a reference.
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Press(+) or(-) to manually adjust the zoom levels. You can
choose from OFF, Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3. The selected level will
appear between the buttons (i.e. Level 1). When activating manual zoom
mode, the system always starts from OFF.
When enabled, Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 will only be active while the
vehicle is in R (Reverse). The feature disables outside of R (Reverse)
and must be re-enabled the next time the vehicle shifts into R (Reverse).
When manual zoom is enabled, only
the centerline will be shown.
Rear camera delay
After shifting out of R (Reverse) and into any gear other than P (Park),
the image will remain until the vehicle speed reaches six mph (10 km/h).
This will only occur if the rear camera delay feature is on, or until any
radio button is selected.
The default setting for the rear camera delay is ON. To turn this feature
on or off when the vehicle is not in R (Reverse), do the following:
1. Select Menu
2. Select Vehicle
3. Select Rear View Camera
The rear camera delay options are ON and OFF.
The camera lens for the reverse camera system is located on the liftgate.
Keep the lens clean so the video image remains clear and undistorted.
Clean the lens with a soft, lint-free cloth and non-abrasive cleaner.
When towing, the reverse camera system will only see what is being
towed behind the vehicle. This might not provide adequate coverage as it
usually provides in normal operation and some objects might not be
seen.
Active guidelines, fixed guidelines, visual park aid alert and manual zoom
features are only available when the vehicle is in R (Reverse).
Zoom
{zoom
level}
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Activating/deactivating collision warning system
To turn the warning system and/or chime on or off and set the warning
sensitivity <– –>, refer toMessage centerin theInstrument Cluster
chapter.
Note:If the system cannot be turned off in a MyKeyequipped vehicle,
refer toMyKeyin theLocks and Securitychapter for more
information.
Note:If collision warnings are perceived as being too frequent or
disturbing then the warning sensitivity can be reduced, though the
manufacturer recommends using the highest sensitivity setting where
possible. Setting lower sensitivity would lead to fewer and later system
warnings. Refer to theMessage centerin theInstrument Cluster
chapter for instructions on reducing the sensitivity.
ACTIVE PARK ASSIST (APA) (IF EQUIPPED)
Active park assist (APA) will detect an available parallel parking space
and automatically steer the vehicle into the space (hands-free) while you
control the accelerator, gearshift and brakes. The system will visually
and/or audibly instruct the driver to park the vehicle.
WARNING:This system is designed to be a supplementary park
aid. It may not work in all conditions and is not intended to
replace the driver’s attention and judgment. The driver is responsible
for avoiding hazards and maintaining a safe distance and speed, even
when the APA is in use.
Conditions in which the system may not work:
•Something passes between the front bumper and the space such as a
pedestrian or cyclist
•The edge of the neighboring parked vehicle is high from the ground
such as a bus, tow truck or flatbed truck
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Trailer tow false alerts
When towing a trailer, the sensors may detect the trailer thus causing a
false alert. It may be desirable to turn the BLISoff if the false alerts
become annoying.
Day and night brightness
The BLISand/or CTA alert will automatically dim when the headlamp
switch is in PARK, ON, or AUTO ON and night time darkness has been
detected by the sun sensor.
FOUR WHEEL DRIVE (4WD) SYSTEM (IF EQUIPPED)
WARNING:For important information regarding safe operation
of this type of vehicle, seePreparing to drive your vehiclein
this chapter.
Your vehicle is equipped with an intelligent 4WD system that
continuously monitors vehicle conditions and automatically adjusts the
power distribution between the front and rear wheels. It combines
transparent all-surface operation with highly capable four-wheel drive.
The 4WD system is always active and requires no driver input. It is
capable of handling all road conditions, including street and highway
driving as well as off-road and winter driving. The driver can optimize
the 4WD by moving the TMS switch for the correct terrain. SeeTerrain
managementlater in this chapter.
Driving off-road with truck and utility vehicles
4WD vehicles are specially equipped for driving on sand, snow, mud and
rough terrain and have operating characteristics that are somewhat
different from conventional vehicles, both on and off the road.
How your vehicle differs from other vehicles
Truck and utility vehicles can differ from some other vehicles. Your
vehicle may be higher to allow it to travel over rough terrain without
getting hung up or damaging underbody components.
The differences that make your vehicle so versatile also make it handle
differently than an ordinary passenger car.
Maintain steering wheel control at all times, especially in rough terrain.
Since sudden changes in terrain can result in abrupt steering wheel
motion, make sure you grip the steering wheel from the outside. Do not
grip the spokes.
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