service FORD EXPLORER 2018 Owners Manual

The information contained in this publication was correct at the time of going to print. In the interest of
continuous development, we reserve the right to change specifications, design or equipment at any time
without notice or obligation. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, stored in a
retrieval system or translated into any language in any form by any means without our written permission.
Errors and omissions excepted.
© Ford Motor Company 2018
All rights reserved.
Part Number: 201711 20180425091459
California Proposition 65
WARNING: Operating, servicing and
maintaining a passenger vehicle or off-highway
motor vehicle can expose you to chemicals
including engine exhaust, carbon monoxide,
phthalates, and lead, which are known to the State
of California to cause cancer and birth defects or
other reproductive harm. To minimize exposure,
avoid breathing exhaust, do not idle the engine
except as necessary, service your vehicle in a
well-ventilated area and wear gloves or wash your
hands frequently when servicing your vehicle. For
more information go to
www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/passenger-vehicle. WARNING:
Battery posts, terminals and
related accessories contain lead and lead
compounds, chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer and reproductive harm.
Wash your hands after handling
.

Cargo Nets
......................................................241
Luggage Covers ...........................................
242
Roof Racks and Load Carriers ................
242
Load Limit ......................................................
243
Towing
Towing a Trailer ...........................................
249
Trailer Sway Control ..................................
250
Recommended Towing Weights ..........
250
Essential Towing Checks .........................
252
Towing the Vehicle on Four Wheels - 2.3L EcoBoost™ .....................................
254
Towing the Vehicle on Four Wheels - 3.5L Duratec/3.5L Ecoboost™ ..........
255
Driving Hints
Breaking-In ....................................................
257
Economical Driving .....................................
257
Driving Through Water ..............................
258
Floor Mats .....................................................
258
Roadside Emergencies
Roadside Assistance ................................
260
Hazard Flashers ...........................................
261
Fuel Shutoff ...................................................
261
Jump Starting the Vehicle .......................
262
Post-Crash Alert System .........................
264
Transporting the Vehicle .........................
264
Customer Assistance
Getting the Services You Need .............
266
In California (U.S. Only) ............................
267
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) Auto Line Program (U.S. Only) ....................
268
Utilizing the Mediation/Arbitration Program (Canada Only) ......................
269
Getting Assistance Outside the U.S. and Canada .......................................................
269
Ordering Additional Owner's Literature ........................................................................\
..
271 Reporting Safety Defects (U.S. Only)
........................................................................\
..
271
Reporting Safety Defects (Canada Only) ........................................................................\
..
271
Fuses
Fuse Specification Chart ..........................
273
Changing a Fuse ..........................................
282
Maintenance
General Information ..................................
284
Opening and Closing the Hood .............
284
Under Hood Overview - 2.3L EcoBoost™ ........................................................................\
285
Under Hood Overview - 3.5L Duratec ........................................................................\
286
Under Hood Overview - 3.5L Ecoboost™ ........................................................................\
287
Engine Oil Dipstick - 2.3L EcoBoost™ ........................................................................\
288
Engine Oil Dipstick - 3.5L Duratec/3.5L Ecoboost™ ...............................................
289
Engine Oil Check .........................................
289
Oil Change Indicator Reset .....................
290
Engine Coolant Check ...............................
291
Automatic Transmission Fluid Check - 2.3L EcoBoost™ .....................................
295
Automatic Transmission Fluid Check - 3.5L Duratec/3.5L Ecoboost™ .........
295
Brake Fluid Check .......................................
297
Power Steering Fluid Check ...................
298
Washer Fluid Check ...................................
298
Changing the 12V Battery ........................
298
Checking the Wiper Blades ....................
300
Changing the Wiper Blades ...................
300
Adjusting the Headlamps ........................
301
Removing a Headlamp ............................
303
Changing a Bulb .........................................
303
Bulb Specification Chart .........................
306
Changing the Engine Air Filter ...............
308
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Vehicle Care
General Information
..................................309
Cleaning Products .....................................
309
Cleaning the Exterior ................................
309
Waxing ..............................................................
311
Cleaning the Engine .....................................
311
Cleaning the Windows and Wiper Blades ........................................................................\
..
311
Cleaning the Interior ...................................
312
Cleaning the Instrument Panel and Instrument Cluster Lens ........................
312
Cleaning Leather Seats .............................
313
Repairing Minor Paint Damage ..............
314
Cleaning the Wheels ..................................
314
Vehicle Storage ............................................
314
Wheels and Tires
General Information ....................................
317
Tire Care ..........................................................
319
Using Summer Tires ..................................
332
Using Snow Chains ....................................
332
Tire Pressure Monitoring System ..........
333
Changing a Road Wheel ...........................
337
Technical Specifications ...........................
341
Capacities and Specifications
Engine Specifications - 2.3L EcoBoost™ ........................................................................\
343
Engine Specifications - 3.5L Duratec ........................................................................\
343
Engine Specifications - 3.5L Ecoboost™ ........................................................................\
344
Motorcraft Parts - 2.3L EcoBoost™ .....
345
Motorcraft Parts - 3.5L Duratec ............
346
Motorcraft Parts - 3.5L Ecoboost™ ......
347
Vehicle Identification Number ..............
348
Vehicle Certification Label ......................
349
Transmission Code Designation ...........
349
Capacities and Specifications - 2.3L EcoBoost™ ..............................................
350Capacities and Specifications - 3.5L
Duratec .......................................................
354
Capacities and Specifications - 3.5L Ecoboost™ ...............................................
358
Audio System
General Information ..................................
364
Audio Unit - Vehicles With: Premium AM/ FM/CD ........................................................
365
Audio Unit - Vehicles With: Sony AM/FM/ CD .................................................................
367
Audio Unit - Vehicles With: AM/FM/CD/ SYNC ...........................................................
368
Digital Radio ..................................................
372
Satellite Radio ..............................................
375
USB Port .........................................................
377
SYNC™
General Information ..................................
378
Using Voice Recognition ..........................
380
Using SYNC™ With Your Phone ...........
382
SYNC™ Applications and Services ......
394
Using SYNC™ With Your Media Player .......................................................................
399
SYNC™ Troubleshooting ........................
408
SYNC™ 3
General Information ...................................
416
Home Screen ...............................................
429
Using Voice Recognition ...........................
431
Entertainment ..............................................
437
Climate ...........................................................
448
Phone ...............................................................
451
Navigation .....................................................
456
Apps ................................................................
464
Settings ..........................................................
467
SYNC™ 3 Troubleshooting .....................
481
Accessories
Accessories ...................................................
495
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Horn control
Panic alarm
Parking aid
Parking brake
Power steering fluid
Power windows front/rear
Power window lockout
Requires registered technician
Safety alert
See Owner's Manual
See Service Manual
Service engine soon
Passenger airbag activated
Passenger airbag deactivated
Side airbag Shield the eyes
Stability control
Hill descent control
Trail control
Windshield wiping system
Windshield wash and wipe
DATA RECORDING
Service Data Recording
Service data recorders in your vehicle are
capable of collecting and storing
diagnostic information about your vehicle.
This potentially includes information about
the performance or status of various
systems and modules in the vehicle, such
as engine, throttle, steering or brake
systems. In order to properly diagnose and
service your vehicle, Ford Motor Company
(Ford of Canada in Canada), and service
and repair facilities may access or share
among them vehicle diagnostic
information received through a direct
connection to your vehicle when
diagnosing or servicing your vehicle.
Additionally, Ford Motor Company (Ford
of Canada, in Canada) may, where
permitted by law, use vehicle diagnostic
information for vehicle improvement or
with other information we may have about
you, (for example, your contact
information), to offer you products or
services that may interest you. Data may
be provided to our service providers such
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as part suppliers that may help diagnose
malfunctions, and who are similarly
obligated to protect data. We retain this
data only as long as necessary to perform
these functions or to comply with law. We
may provide information where required
in response to official requests to law
enforcement or other government
authorities or third parties acting with
lawful authority or court order, and such
information may be used in legal
proceedings. For U.S. only (if equipped), if
you choose to use connected apps and
services, such as SYNC Vehicle Health
Report or MyFord Mobile App, you consent
that certain diagnostic information may
also be accessed electronically by Ford
Motor Company and Ford authorized
service facilities, and that the diagnostic
information may be used to provide
services to you, personalizing your
experience, troubleshoot, and to improve
products and services and offer you
products and services that may interest
you, where permitted by law. For Canada
only, for more information, please review
the Ford of Canada privacy policy at
www.ford.ca, including our U.S. data
storage and use of service providers in
other jurisdictions who may be subject to
legal requirements in Canada, the United
States and other countries applicable to
them, for example, lawful requirements to
disclose personal information to
governmental authorities in those
countries. See SYNC™ (page 378).
Event Data Recording
This vehicle is equipped with an event
data recorder. The main purpose of an
event data recorder is to record, in
certain crash or near crash-like
situations, such as an airbag
deployment or hitting a road obstacle; this data will assist in understanding
how a vehicle
’s systems performed.
The event data recorder is designed to
record data related to vehicle dynamics
and safety systems for a short period
of time, typically 30 seconds or less.
The event data recorder in this vehicle
is designed to record such data as:
• How various systems in your vehicle
were operating;
• Whether or not the driver and
passenger safety belts were
buckled/fastened;
• How far (if at all) the driver was
depressing the accelerator and/or
the brake pedal; and
• How fast the vehicle was traveling;
and
• Where the driver was positioning
the steering wheel.
This data can help provide a better
understanding of the circumstances in
which crashes and injuries occur.
Note: Event data recorder data is
recorded by your vehicle only if a
non-trivial crash situation occurs; no data
is recorded by the event data recorder
under normal driving conditions and no
personal data or information (e.g., name,
gender, age, and crash location) is
recorded (see limitations regarding 911
Assist and Traffic, directions and
Information privacy below). However,
parties, such as law enforcement, could
combine the event data recorder data
with the type of personally identifying
data routinely acquired during a crash
investigation.
To read data recorded by an event data
recorder, special equipment is required,
and access to the vehicle or the event
data recorder is needed. In addition to
the vehicle manufacturer, other
parties, such as law enforcement, that
have such special equipment, can read
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the information if they have access to
the vehicle or the event data recorder.
Ford Motor Company and Ford of
Canada do not access event data
recorder information without obtaining
consent, unless pursuant to court order
or where required by law enforcement,
other government authorities or other
third parties acting with lawful
authority. Other parties may seek to
access the information independently
of Ford Motor Company and Ford of
Canada.
Note:
Including to the extent that any
law pertaining to Event Data Recorders
applies to SYNC or its features, please
note the following: Once 911 Assist (if
equipped) is enabled (set ON), 911 Assist
may, through any paired and connected
cell phone, disclose to emergency
services that the vehicle has been in a
crash involving the deployment of an
airbag or, in certain vehicles, the
activation of the fuel pump shut-off.
Certain versions or updates to 911 Assist
may also be capable of being used to
electronically or verbally provide to 911
operators the vehicle location (such as
latitude and longitude), and/or other
details about the vehicle or crash or
personal information about the
occupants to assist 911 operators to
provide the most appropriate emergency
services. If you do not want to disclose
this information, do not activate the 911
Assist feature. See SYNC™ (page 378).
Additionally, when you connect to
Traffic, Directions and Information (if
equipped, U.S. only), the service uses
GPS technology and advanced vehicle
sensors to collect the vehicle ’s current
location, travel direction, and speed
(“ vehicle travel information ”), only to
help provide you with the directions,
traffic reports, or business searches
that you request. If you do not want Ford or its vendors to receive this
information, do not activate the
service. For more information, see
Traffic, Directions and Information,
Terms and Conditions.
See
SYNC™
(page 378).
PERCHLORATE
Certain components in your vehicle such
as airbag modules, seatbelt pretensioners
and remote control batteries may contain
perchlorate material. Special handling
may apply for service or vehicle end of life
disposal.
For more information visit: Web Address
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazard- ouswaste/perchlorate
FORD CREDIT
US Only
Ford Credit offers a full range of financing
and lease plans to help you acquire your
vehicle. If you have financed or leased your
vehicle through Ford Credit, thank you for
your business.
We offer a number of convenient ways for
you to contact us, and to manage your
account.
Call 1-800-727-7000.
For more information about Ford Credit
and access to Account Manager, go to
www.ford.com/finance.
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REPLACEMENT PARTS
RECOMMENDATION
We have built your vehicle to the highest
standards using quality parts. We
recommend that you demand the use of
genuine Ford and Motorcraft parts
whenever your vehicle requires scheduled
maintenance or repair. You can clearly
identify genuine Ford and Motorcraft parts
by looking for the Ford, FoMoCo or
Motorcraft branding on the parts or their
packaging.
Scheduled Maintenance and
Mechanical Repairs
One of the best ways for you to make sure
that your vehicle provides years of service
is to have it maintained in line with our
recommendations using parts that
conform to the specifications detailed in
this Owner
’s Manual. Genuine Ford and
Motorcraft parts meet or exceed these
specifications.
Collision Repairs
We hope that you never experience a
collision, but accidents do happen.
Genuine Ford replacement collision parts
meet our stringent requirements for fit,
finish, structural integrity, corrosion
protection and dent resistance. During
vehicle development we validate that
these parts deliver the intended level of
protection as a whole system. A great way
to know for sure you are getting this level
of protection is to use genuine Ford
replacement collision parts. Warranty on Replacement Parts
Genuine Ford and Motorcraft replacement
parts are the only replacement parts that
benefit from a Ford Warranty. The Ford
Warranty may not cover damage caused
to your vehicle as a result of failed
non-Ford parts. For additional information,
refer to the terms and conditions of the
Ford Warranty.
SPECIAL NOTICES
New Vehicle Limited Warranty
For a detailed description of what is
covered and what is not covered by your
vehicle
’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty,
see the Warranty Manual that is provided
to you along with your Owner ’s Manual.
Special Instructions
For your added safety, your vehicle is fitted
with sophisticated electronic controls. WARNING: You risk death or serious
injury to yourself and others if you do not
follow the instruction highlighted by the
warning symbol. Failure to follow the
specific warnings and instructions could
result in personal injury. WARNING:
NEVER use a rearward
facing child restraint on a seat protected
by an ACTIVE AIRBAG in front of it, DEATH
or SERIOUS INJURY to the CHILD can
occur.
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On Board Diagnostics Data Link
Connector
WARNING: Do not connect wireless
plug-in devices to the data link connector.
Unauthorized third parties could gain
access to vehicle data and impair the
performance of safety related systems.
Only allow repair facilities that follow our
service and repair instructions to connect
their equipment to the data link connector.
Your vehicle has an OBD Data Link
Connector (DLC) that is used in
conjunction with a diagnostic scan tool for
vehicle diagnostics, repairs and
reprogramming services. Installing an
aftermarket device that uses the DLC
during normal driving for purposes such as
remote insurance company monitoring,
transmission of vehicle data to other
devices or entities, or altering the
performance of the vehicle, may cause
interference with or even damage to
vehicle systems. We do not recommend
or endorse the use of aftermarket plug-in
devices unless approved by Ford. The
vehicle Warranty will not cover damage
caused by an aftermarket plug-in device.
Notice to Owners of Pickup Trucks
and Utility Type Vehicles WARNING:
Utility vehicles have a
significantly higher rollover rate than other
types of vehicles.
Before you drive your vehicle, please read
this Owner ’s Guide carefully. Your vehicle
is not a passenger car. As with other
vehicles of this type, failure to operate this
vehicle correctly may result in loss of
vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal
injury or death. Using Your Vehicle With a
Snowplow
Do not use this vehicle for
snowplowing.
Your vehicle does not have a snowplowing
package.
Using Your Vehicle as an
Ambulance
Do not use this vehicle as an
ambulance.
Your vehicle does not have the Ford
Ambulance Preparation Package.
MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS
EQUIPMENT
WARNING: Driving while distracted
can result in loss of vehicle control, crash
and injury. We strongly recommend that
you use extreme caution when using any
device that may take your focus off the
road. Your primary responsibility is the safe
operation of your vehicle. We recommend
against the use of any hand-held device
while driving and encourage the use of
voice-operated systems when possible.
Make sure you are aware of all applicable
local laws that may affect the use of
electronic devices while driving.
Using mobile communications equipment
is becoming increasingly important in the
conduct of business and personal affairs.
However, you must not compromise your
own or others’ safety when using such
equipment. Mobile communications can
enhance personal safety and security when
appropriately used, particularly in
emergency situations. Safety must be
paramount when using mobile
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2. Grasp the shoulder portion and pull
downward until you pull the entire belt
out. As the belt retracts, you will hear
a clicking sound. This indicates the
seatbelt is now in the automatic
locking mode.
Rear Outermost Inflatable Seatbelts
(Second Row Only –If Equipped)1. Buckle the combination lap and
shoulder belt.
2. Grasp the lap portion of the belt and pull upward until you pull the entire
belt out.
3. Allow the belt to retract. As the belt retracts, you will hear a clicking sound.
This indicates the seatbelt is now in the
automatic locking mode.
How to Disengage the Automatic
Locking Mode
Unbuckle the combination lap and
shoulder belt and allow it to retract
completely to disengage the automatic
locking mode and activate the vehicle
sensitive (emergency) locking mode. Rear Inflatable Seatbelt (If Equipped) WARNING:
Do not attempt to
service, repair, or modify the
supplementary restraint system or
associated components. Failure to follow
this instruction could result in personal
injury or death.
The rear inflatable seatbelts are in the
shoulder portion of the seatbelts of the
second-row outermost seating positions.
Note: The rear inflatable seatbelts are
compatible with most infant and child
safety car seats and belt positioning booster
seats when you properly install them. This
is because they are designed to fill with a
cooled gas at a lower pressure and at a
slower rate than traditional airbags. After
inflation, the shoulder portion of the
seatbelt remains cool to the touch.
The rear inflatable seatbelt consists of the
following:
• An inflatable bag in the shoulder
seatbelt webbing.
• Lap seatbelt webbing with automatic
locking mode.
• The same warning light, electronic
control and diagnostic unit as used for
the front seatbelts.
• Impact sensors in various parts of the
vehicle.
How does the rear inflatable seatbelt
system work? WARNING:
If a supplementary
restraint system component has deployed,
it will not function again. Have the system
and associated components inspected as
soon as possible. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in personal injury
or death.
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PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
WARNING: Airbags do not inflate
slowly or gently, and the risk of injury from
a deploying airbag is the greatest close to
the trim covering the airbag module. WARNING:
All occupants of your
vehicle, including the driver, should always
properly wear their seatbelts, even when
an airbag supplemental restraint system
is provided. Failure to properly wear your
seatbelt could seriously increase the risk
of injury or death. WARNING:
Even with advanced
restraints systems, properly restrain
children 12 and under in a rear seating
position. Failure to follow this could
seriously increase the risk of injury or death. WARNING:
Do not place your arms
on the airbag cover or through the steering
wheel. Failure to follow this instruction
could result in personal injury. WARNING:
Keep the areas in front
of the airbags free from obstruction. Do
not affix anything to or over the airbag
covers. Objects could become projectiles
during airbag deployment or in a sudden
stop. Failure to follow this instruction could
result in personal injury or death. WARNING:
Airbags can kill or injure
a child in a child restraint. Never place a
rear-facing child restraint in front of an
active airbag. If you must use a
forward-facing child restraint in the front
seat, move the seat upon which the child
restraint is installed all the way back. WARNING:
Do not attempt to
service, repair, or modify the
supplementary restraint system or
associated components. Failure to follow
this instruction could result in personal
injury or death. WARNING:
Several airbag system
components get hot after inflation. To
reduce the risk of injury, do not touch them
after inflation. WARNING:
If a supplementary
restraint system component has deployed,
it will not function again. Have the system
and associated components inspected as
soon as possible. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in personal injury
or death.
The airbags are a supplemental restraint
system and are designed to work with the
seatbelts to help protect the driver and
right front passenger from certain upper
body injuries. Airbags do not inflate slowly;
there is a risk of injury from a deploying
airbag.
Note: You will hear a loud bang and see a
cloud of harmless powdery residue if an
airbag deploys. This is normal.
The airbags inflate and deflate rapidly
upon activation. After airbag deployment,
it is normal to notice a smoke-like, powdery
residue or smell the burnt propellant. This
may consist of cornstarch, talcum powder
(to lubricate the bag) or sodium
compounds (for example, baking soda)
that result from the combustion process
that inflates the airbag. Small amounts of
sodium hydroxide may be present which
may irritate the skin and eyes, but none of
the residue is toxic.
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