steering wheel FORD EXPLORER 2020 Owner's Manual

SITTING IN THE CORRECT
POSITION
WARNING: Sitting improperly, out
of position or with the seatback reclined
too far can take weight off the seat
cushion and affect the decision of the
passenger sensing system, resulting in
serious injury or death in the event of a
crash. Always sit upright against your
seat back, with your feet on the floor. WARNING:
Do not recline the
seatback too far as this can cause the
occupant to slide under the seatbelt,
resulting in serious injury in the event of
a collision. WARNING:
Do not place objects
higher than the top of the seat backrest.
Failure to follow this instruction could
result in personal injury or death in the
event of a sudden stop or crash. When you use them properly, the seat,
head restraint, seatbelt and airbags will
provide optimum protection in the event
of a crash. We recommend that you follow these
guidelines:
•
Sit in an upright position with the base
of your spine as far back as possible.
• Do not recline the seat backrest so that
your torso is more than
30° from the
upright position.
• Adjust the head restraint so that the
top of it is level with the top of your
head and as far forward as possible.
Make sure that you remain
comfortable.
• Keep sufficient distance between
yourself and the steering wheel. We
recommend a minimum of
10 in
(25 cm) between your breastbone and
the airbag cover.
• Hold the steering wheel with your arms
slightly bent.
• Bend your legs slightly so that you can
press the pedals fully.
• Position the shoulder strap of the
seatbelt over the center of your
shoulder and position the lap strap
tightly across your hips.
Make sure that your driving position is
comfortable and that you can maintain full
control of your vehicle.
HEAD RESTRAINTS WARNING:
Fully adjust the head
restraint before you sit in or operate your
vehicle. This will help minimize the risk
of neck injury in the event of a crash. Do
not adjust the head restraint when your
vehicle is moving.
144
Explorer (CTW) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201902, Third-Printing- SeatsE68595

AUTO-START-STOP (IF EQUIPPED)
The system helps reduce fuel consumption
by automatically stopping and restarting
the engine when your vehicle has stopped.
The engine restarts automatically when
you release the brake pedal.
In some situations, your vehicle may restart
automatically, for example:
• To maintain interior comfort.
• To recharge the battery.
Note: Power assist steering turns off when
the engine is off.
Note: If your vehicle is flex fuel capable,
Auto-Start-Stop will be inhibited for a short
time after a refuel event while the system
is verifying the fuel type being used. WARNING:
Apply the parking
brake, shift into park (P), switch the
ignition off and remove the key before
you leave your vehicle. Failure to follow
this instruction could result in personal
injury or death. WARNING:
Apply the parking
brake, shift into park (P), switch the
ignition off and remove the key before
you open the hood or have any service
or repair work completed. If you do not
switch the ignition off, the engine could
restart at any time. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in personal injury
or death. WARNING:
The system may
require the engine to automatically
restart when the auto-start-stop
indicator illuminates green or flashes
amber. Failure to follow this instruction
could result in personal injury. The Auto-Start-Stop system status is
available at a glance within the information
display.
See Information Displays (page
112).
Enabling Auto-Start-Stop
The system automatically enables every
time you start your vehicle if:
• You do not press the Auto-Start-Stop
button (not illuminated).
• Your vehicle exceeds an initial speed
of
3 mph (5 km/h) after you have
initially started your vehicle.
• You have stopped your vehicle.
• Your foot is on the brake pedal.
• The driver door is closed.
• The interior compartment has cooled
or warmed to an acceptable level.
• The front windshield defroster is off.
• You have not turned the steering wheel
rapidly or you do not have it at a sharp
angle.
• The vehicle is not on a steep road
grade.
• The battery is within optimal operating
conditions (battery state of charge and
temperature in range).
• The engine coolant is near operating
temperature.
• Elevation is below about
12,000 ft
(3,650 m).
• Ambient temperature is moderate.
• The trailer is not connected.
• If you select Normal, Eco, Snow/Wet
or Grass/Gravel/Snow modes.
• You are not in 4H or 4L.
• You have not selected Manual shift
mode.
• Hill descent control is not active.
• You have not selected Tow haul, Sport,
Sand or Mud/Rut modes.
180
Explorer (CTW) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201902, Third-Printing- Unique Driving Characteristics

The electric parking brake may apply when
you shift to park (P) without the brake
pedal fully pressed. The electric parking
brake applies when you shift to park (P)
on large slopes. The electric parking brake
releases with the drive away release
function or manually as described in the
Releasing the Electric Parking Brake
section. See Electric Parking Brake
(page 215).
Note: A warning tone sounds if you open
the driver door and you have not shifted the
transmission selector to park (P).
Reverse (R)
With the transmission selector in reverse
(R), your vehicle moves backward. Always
come to a complete stop before shifting
into and out of reverse (R).
Neutral (N)
With the transmission selector in neutral
(N), you can start your vehicle and it is free
to roll. Hold the brake pedal down when in
this position.
Drive (D)
Drive (D) is the normal driving position for
the best fuel economy and smoothness.
Shift the transmission selector to drive (D)
to allow your vehicle to move forward and
shift automatically through the forward
gears.
The transmission shifts to the appropriate
gear for optimum performance based on
ambient temperature, road slope, vehicle
load and your input. Manual Mode (M) - Vehicles with
Paddle Shifters
With the transmission selector in manual
(M), the driver can change gears up or
down. After selecting the Manual (M)
button while the transmission range
selector is in Drive (D) position you now
have control of selecting the gear you
desire using shift buttons on the steering
wheel. See Understanding your SelectShift
Automatic
™ transmission later in this
section.
To exit manual mode, push the manual
(M) button on your transmission selector.
Low (L) - Vehicles without Paddle
Shifters
With the transmission selector in low (L),
your vehicle provides maximum engine
braking. You can shift the transmission into
low (L) at any vehicle speed. The intent is
not for use under extended or normal
driving conditions, and results in lower fuel
economy.
Automatic Return to Park
Note: This feature does not operate when
your vehicle is in Stay in Neutral mode or
neutral tow.
The transmission returns to park (P) if any
of the following occur:
• You switch the ignition off.
• Your seatbelt is not fastened, and you
open the driver door.
• The driver door is open, and you
unfasten your seatbelt.
If you switch the ignition off when your
vehicle is moving, your vehicle shifts into
neutral (N) until it slows down enough to
shift into park (P).
203
Explorer (CTW) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201902, Third-Printing- Transmission

SelectShift Automatic
™
Transmission (If Equipped)
Your vehicle has a SelectShift Automatic
transmission, which gives you the ability
to change gears up or down, without a
clutch, as preferred.
To prevent the engine from running at too
low an RPM, which may cause it to stall,
SelectShift still automatically makes some
downshifts if it has determined that you
have not downshifted in time. Although
SelectShift makes some downshifts for
you, it still allows you to downshift at any
time if SelectShift determines that
damage to the engine from over-revving
does not occur.
Note: Engine damage may occur if you
maintain excessive engine revving without
shifting.
Note: Vehicles may have either steering
wheel controls or gearshift lever controls.
SelectShift could upshift if the engine
reaches its RPM limit. It may also be
upshifted by pressing the + button on the
steering wheel or shift lever control.
Pull the + paddle on the steering wheel
or push the + button on the gearshift
lever to activate SelectShift.
• Pull the right paddle (+) to upshift.
• Pull the left paddle (–) to downshift. SelectShift in drive (D):
•
Provides a temporary manual mode
for performing more demanding
maneuvers with extra control of gear
selection, for example, when towing or
overtaking. This mode holds a selected
gear for a temporary period of time
dependent on driver inputs, for
example, steering or accelerator pedal
input.
• You can exit SelectShift by holding the
(+) for two seconds or by driving
normally.
SelectShift in manual (M):
• Provides a permanent manual gear
selection with full control of gear
selection.
• You can exit SelectShift by pushing the
manual (M) button plus holding the
(+). This will shift you into the correct
gear.
The instrument cluster displays your
currently selected gear. If you request an
unavailable gear due to vehicle conditions,
for example, low speed, too high engine
speed for requested gear selection, the
current gear flashes three times.
Note: At full accelerator pedal travel, the
transmission automatically downshifts for
maximum performance.
Manual Park Release (MPR) WARNING:
When doing this
procedure, you need to take the
transmission out of park (P) which
means your vehicle can roll freely. To
avoid unwanted vehicle movement,
always fully apply the parking brake prior
to doing this procedure. Use wheels
chocks if appropriate.
205
Explorer (CTW) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201902, Third-Printing- TransmissionE144821

PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
This system is a proactive system. It has
the ability to anticipate wheel slip and
transfer torque to the rear wheels before
slip occurs. Even when wheel slip is not
present, the system is continuously making
adjustments to the torque distribution, in
an attempt to improve straight line and
cornering behavior, both on and off road.
The system automatically turns on every
time you switch the ignition on.
If any component requires maintenance,
a message appears in the information
display.
USING FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE
WARNING: Vehicles with a higher
center of gravity (utility and four-wheel
drive vehicles) handle differently than
vehicles with a lower center of gravity
(passenger cars). Avoid sharp turns,
excessive speed and abrupt steering in
these vehicles. Failure to drive cautiously
increases the risk of losing control of your
vehicle, vehicle rollover, personal injury
and death.
The intelligent 4WD system continuously
monitors vehicle conditions and 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. You can
optimize more 4WD control by selecting
different drive modes. See
Selecting a
Drive Mode (page 279). Note:
A warning message displays in the
information display when a 4WD system
fault is present. See
Information
Messages (page 120). A 4WD system fault
causes the 4WD system to default to
rear-wheel drive only mode. When this
warning message is displayed, have your
vehicle serviced at an authorized dealer.
Note: A warning message displays in the
information display if the 4WD system
overheats. See
Information Messages
(page 120). This condition could occur if the
vehicle is operated in extreme conditions
with excessive wheel slip, such as deep
sand. To resume normal 4WD function as
soon as possible, stop the vehicle in a safe
location and stop the engine for at least 10
minutes. After the engine is restarted and
the 4WD system is adequately cooled, the
warning message turns off and normal 4WD
function returns.
Operating Four-Wheel Drive (4WD)
Vehicles With Spare Tires
Do not use a different size spare tire other
than the tire provided. If the mini-spare tire
is installed, the 4WD system will disable
and enter rear-wheel drive only mode to
protect driveline components. Some
limited 4WD traction could be provided if
the mini-spare is installed on one of the
front wheels. If you are in driving conditions
where limited 4WD traction is needed
while the mini-spare is installed, it is
recommended the mini-spare be installed
on the front axle.
See Information
Messages (page 120).
If the mini-spare is installed, this condition
is indicated by a warning in the information
display. If there is a warning message in
the information display from using the
spare tire, this indicator should turn off
after reinstalling or replacing the normal
road tire and cycling the ignition off and
on. We recommended reinstalling or
208
Explorer (CTW) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201902, Third-Printing- Four-Wheel Drive
(If Equipped)

replacing the normal road tire as soon as
possible. Major dissimilar tire sizes
between the front and rear axles could
cause the 4WD system to stop functioning
and default to rear-wheel drive or damage
the 4WD system.
The slip response system could activate if
the mini spare is installed on the front
wheels. If the mini spare was installed on
the rear wheels the slip response system
will fully disable. In situations where there
is a wintery mix or an off road situation,
and you need to use a mini spare, you must
install the mini spare in the front tire
position and move a full size tire to the rear
tire position for the slip response system
to function.
Operating Four-Wheel drive (4WD)
Vehicles with Mismatched Tires
WARNING: Only use replacement
tires and wheels that are the same size,
load index, speed rating and type (such
as P-metric versus LT-metric or
all-season versus all-terrain) as those
originally provided by Ford. The
recommended tire and wheel size may
be found on either the Safety
Compliance Certification Label (affixed
to either the door hinge pillar, door-latch
post, or the door edge that meets the
door-latch post, next to the driver's
seating position), or the Tire Label which
is located on the B-Pillar or edge of the
driver's door. If this information is not
found on these labels, then you should
contact your authorized dealer as soon
as possible. Use of any tire or wheel not
recommended by Ford can affect the
safety and performance of your vehicle,
which could result in an increased risk of
loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover,
personal injury and death. Major dissimilar tire sizes between the front
and rear axles (for example, 17 inch low
profile tires on the front axle and 22 inch
high profile tires on the rear axle) could
cause the 4WD system to stop functioning
and default to rear-wheel drive or damage
the 4WD system.
For optimum 4WD Performance, it is
recommended to follow the tire rotation
maintenance schedule. To avoid potential
4WD malfunction or 4WD system damage,
it is recommended to replace all four tires
rather than mixing significantly worn tires
with new tires. For example, using 3 worn
tread tires and 1 new tread tire all of the
same original tire size/brand, can be
tolerated by the 4WD system as long as
the worn tires still have usable tread depth.
How Your Vehicle Differs from
Other Vehicles
Truck and utility vehicles can differ from
some other vehicles. Your vehicle could 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.
Drive cautiously to avoid vehicle damage
from concealed objects such as rocks and
stumps.
You should either know the terrain or
examine maps of the area before driving.
Map out your route before driving in the
area. To maintain steering and braking
control of your vehicle, you must have all
four wheels on the ground and they must
be rolling, not sliding or spinning.
209
Explorer (CTW) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201902, Third-Printing- Four-Wheel Drive
(If Equipped)

Driving in Special Conditions With
Four-Wheel drive (4WD)
Note:
Use of the 4WD system in slippery,
deep snow, and sand drive modes on dry
surfaces could produce some vibration,
driveline bind up, or excessive tire wear as
these drive modes are intended for slippery
and loose surfaces.
Note: The design of 4WD vehicles are for
driving on sand, snow, mud and rough roads
and have operating characteristics that are
somewhat different from conventional
vehicles, both on and off the highway.
Basic Operating Principles in Special
Conditions
• Drive slower in strong crosswinds which
can affect the normal steering
characteristics of your vehicle.
• Be extremely careful when driving on
pavement made slippery by loose sand,
water, gravel, snow or ice. If Your Vehicle Goes Off the Edge of the
Pavement
•
If your vehicle goes off the edge of the
pavement, slow down, but avoid severe
brake application, ease the vehicle
back onto the pavement only after
reducing your speed. Do not turn the
steering wheel too sharply while
returning to the road surface.
• It could be safer to stay on the apron
or shoulder of the road and slow down
gradually before returning to the
pavement. You could lose control if you
do not slow down or if you turn the
steering wheel too sharply or abruptly.
• It often could be less risky to strike
small objects, such as highway
reflectors, with minor damage to your
vehicle rather than attempt a sudden
return to the pavement which could
cause the vehicle to slide sideways out
of control or rollover. Remember, your
safety and the safety of others should
be your primary concern.
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck WARNING: Apply the parking
brake, shift into park (P), switch the
ignition off and remove the key before
you leave your vehicle. Failure to follow
this instruction could result in personal
injury or death. WARNING:
If the parking brake is
fully released, but the brake warning
lamp remains illuminated, the brakes
may not be working properly. Have your
vehicle checked as soon as possible. WARNING:
Do not spin the wheels
at over 34 mph (55 km/h). The tires may
fail and injure a passenger or bystander.
210
Explorer (CTW) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201902, Third-Printing- Four-Wheel Drive
(If Equipped)

If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow
you can rock it out by shifting between
forward and reverse gears, stopping
between shifts, in a steady pattern. Press
lightly on the accelerator in each gear.
If your vehicle comes with AdvanceTrac®
with Roll Stability Control
™, it could be
beneficial to disengage the AdvanceTrac®
with Roll Stability Control ™ system while
attempting to rock the vehicle.
Note: Do not rock the vehicle if the engine
is not at normal operating temperature or
damage to the transmission could occur.
Note: Do not rock the vehicle for more than
a few minutes or damage to the
transmission and tires could occur or the
engine could overheat.
Emergency Maneuvers
• In an unavoidable emergency situation
where a sudden sharp turn must be
made, remember to avoid
"over-driving" your vehicle (for
example, turn the steering wheel only
as rapidly and as far as required to
avoid the emergency). Excessive
steering can result in less vehicle
control, not more. Additionally, smooth
variations of the accelerator and/or
brake pedal pressure should be utilized
if changes in vehicle speed are called for. Avoid abrupt steering, acceleration
or braking which could result in an
increased risk of loss of vehicle control,
vehicle rollover and/or personal injury.
Use all available road surface to return
the vehicle to a safe direction of travel.
• In the event of an emergency stop,
avoid skidding the tires and do not
attempt any sharp steering wheel
movements.
• If the vehicle goes from one type of
surface to another (i.e., from concrete
to gravel) there is a change in the way
the vehicle responds to a maneuver
(steering, acceleration or braking).
Again, avoid these abrupt inputs.
Sand
When driving over sand, try to keep all four
wheels on the most solid area of the trail.
Avoid reducing the tire pressures but shift
to a lower gear and drive steadily through
the terrain. Apply the accelerator slowly
and avoid spinning the wheels.
Avoid excessive speed because vehicle
momentum can work against you and
cause the vehicle to become stuck to the
point that assistance could be required
from another vehicle. Remember, you
could be able to back out the way you
came if you proceed with caution.
Mud and Water
If you must drive through high water, drive
slowly. Traction or brake capability could
be limited.
Note: Driving through deep water could
damage your vehicle.
When driving through water, determine the
depth; avoid water higher than the bottom
of the hubs (if possible) and proceed
slowly. If the ignition system gets wet, the
vehicle could stall.
211
Explorer (CTW) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201902, Third-Printing- Four-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)

Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, therefore
apply the brakes steadily. Do not
“pump”
the brakes.
Driving on Snow and Ice WARNING: If you are driving in
slippery conditions that require tire
chains or cables, then it is critical that
you drive cautiously. Keep speeds down,
allow for longer stopping distances and
avoid aggressive steering to reduce the
chances of a loss of vehicle control
which can lead to serious injury or death.
If the rear end of your vehicle slides while
cornering, steer in the direction of the
slide until you regain control of your
vehicle.
Note: Excessive tire slippage can cause
driveline damage.
4WD vehicles have advantages over 2WD
vehicles in snow and ice but can skid like
any other vehicle.
Should you start to slide while driving on
snowy or icy roads, turn the steering wheel
in the direction of the slide until you regain
control.
Avoid sudden applications of power and
quick changes of direction on snow and
ice. Apply the accelerator slowly and
steadily when starting from a full stop.
Avoid sudden braking as well. Although a
4WD vehicle could accelerate better than
a two-wheel drive vehicle in snow and ice,
it will not stop any faster, because as in
other vehicles, braking occurs at all four
wheels. Do not become overconfident as
to road conditions. Make sure you allow sufficient distance
between you and other vehicles for
stopping. Drive slower than usual and
consider using one of the lower gears. In
emergency stopping situations, apply the
brake steadily. Since your vehicle comes
with a four wheel (ABS), do not
“pump”
the brakes. See Hints on Driving With
Anti-Lock Brakes (page 215).
Maintenance and Modifications
The suspension and steering systems on
your vehicle have been designed and
tested to provide predictable performance
whether loaded or empty and durable load
carrying capability. For this reason, we
strongly recommend that you do not make
modifications such as adding or removing
parts (such as lowering kits or stabilizer
bars) or by using replacement parts not
equivalent to the original factory
equipment.
Any modifications to a vehicle that raise
the center of gravity can make it more likely
the vehicle will rollover as a result of a loss
of control. We strongly recommend that
caution be used with any vehicle equipped
with a high load or device (such as ladder
or luggage racks).
Failure to maintain your vehicle properly
could void the warranty, increase your
repair cost, reduce vehicle performance
and operational capabilities and adversely
affect driver and passenger safety.
Frequent inspection of vehicle chassis
components is recommended if the vehicle
is subjected to off-highway usage.
213
Explorer (CTW) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201902, Third-Printing- Four-Wheel Drive
(If Equipped)

GENERAL INFORMATION
Note:
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 an
authorized dealer should check them. If the
vehicle has continuous vibration or shudder
in the steering wheel while braking, an
authorized dealer should check your vehicle.
Note: Brake dust may accumulate on the
wheels, even under normal driving
conditions. Some dust is inevitable as the
brakes wear and does not contribute to
brake noise. See Cleaning the Wheels
(page 350).
Wet brakes result in reduced braking
efficiency. Gently press the brake pedal a
few times when driving from a car wash or
standing water to dry the brakes.
Brake Over Accelerator
In the event the accelerator pedal
becomes stuck or entrapped, apply steady
and firm pressure to the brake pedal to
slow the vehicle and reduce engine power.
If you experience this condition, apply the
brakes and bring your vehicle to a safe
stop. Switch the engine off, move the
transmission to park (P) and apply the
parking brake. Inspect the accelerator
pedal and the area around it for any items
or debris that may be obstructing its
movement. If none are found and the
condition persists, have your vehicle towed
to the nearest authorized dealer.
Emergency Brake Assist
Emergency brake assist detects when you
brake heavily by measuring the rate at
which you press the brake pedal. It
provides maximum braking efficiency as
long as you press the pedal. Emergency
brake assist can reduce stopping distances
in critical situations. Anti-lock Brake System
This system helps you maintain steering
control during emergency stops by keeping
the brakes from locking. This lamp momentarily
illuminates when you switch the
ignition on. If the light does not
illuminate during start up, remains on or
flashes, the anti-lock braking system may
be disabled. Have the system checked by
an authorized dealer. If the anti-lock brake
system is disabled, normal braking is still
effective.
See Warning Lamps and
Indicators (page 107).
Note: Indicators vary depending on region. This lamp also illuminates
momentarily when you switch
the ignition on to confirm the
lamp is functional. If it does not
illuminate when you switch the
ignition on, or begins to flash at
any time, have the system checked by an
authorized dealer. If the brake warning
lamp illuminates with the parking brake
released, have the system checked
immediately.
Regenerative Braking System
This feature is used to simulate the engine
braking of an internal combustion engine
and assist the standard brake system while
recovering some of the energy of motion
and storing it in the battery to improve fuel
economy. The standard brake system is
designed to fully stop the car if
regenerative braking is not available.
During regenerative braking, the motor is
spun as a generator to create electrical
current. This recharges the battery and
slows the vehicle. In effect, once the
accelerator pedal is released, the motor
changes from an energy user to an energy
producer.
214
Explorer (CTW) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201902, Third-Printing- Brakes E270480