FORD EXPLORER 2021 Owners Manual

Illumination of the service engine soon
indicator, charging system warning light or
the temperature warning light, fluid leaks,
strange odors, smoke or loss of engine
power could indicate that the emission
control system is not working properly.
An improperly operating or damaged
exhaust system may allow exhaust to
enter the vehicle. Have a damaged or
improperly operating exhaust system
inspected and repaired immediately.
Do not make any unauthorized changes to
your vehicle or engine. By law, vehicle
owners and anyone who manufactures,
repairs, services, sells, leases, trades
vehicles, or supervises a fleet of vehicles
are not permitted to intentionally remove
an emission control device or prevent it
from working. Information about your
vehicle
’s emission system is on the Vehicle
Emission Control Information Decal
located on or near the engine. This decal
also lists engine displacement.
Please consult your warranty information
for complete details.
On-Board Diagnostics (OBD-II)
Your vehicle has a computer known as the
on-board diagnostics system (OBD-II) that
monitors the engine ’s emission control
system. The system protects the
environment by making sure that your
vehicle continues to meet government
emission standards. The OBD-II system
also assists a service technician in properly
servicing your vehicle. When the service engine soon
indicator illuminates, the OBD-II
system has detected a
malfunction. Temporary malfunctions may
cause the service engine soon indicator to
illuminate. Examples are: 1. Your vehicle has run out of fuel
—the
engine may misfire or run poorly.
2. Poor fuel quality or water in the fuel —the engine may misfire or run
poorly.
3. The fuel fill inlet may not have closed properly. See Refueling (page 189).
4. Driving through deep water —the
electrical system may be wet.
You can correct these temporary
malfunctions by filling the fuel tank with
good quality fuel, properly closing the fuel
fill inlet or letting the electrical system dry
out. After three driving cycles without these
or any other temporary malfunctions
present, the service engine soon indicator
should stay off the next time you start the
engine. A driving cycle consists of a cold
engine startup followed by mixed city and
highway driving. No additional vehicle
service is required.
If the service engine soon indicator remains
on, have your vehicle serviced at the first
available opportunity. Although some
malfunctions detected by the OBD-II may
not have symptoms that are apparent,
continued driving with the service engine
soon indicator on can result in increased
emissions, lower fuel economy, reduced
engine and transmission smoothness and
lead to more costly repairs.
Readiness for Inspection and
Maintenance (I/M) Testing
Some state and provincial and local
governments may have
Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) programs
to inspect the emission control equipment
on your vehicle. Failure to pass this
inspection could prevent you from getting
a vehicle registration. If the service engine soon
indicator is on or the bulb does
not work, your vehicle may need
service. See On-Board Diagnostics.
198
Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing Engine Emission Control

Your vehicle may not pass the I/M test if
the service engine soon indicator is on or
not working properly (bulb is burned out),
or if the OBD-II system has determined
that some of the emission control systems
have not been properly checked. In this
case, the vehicle is not ready for I/M
testing.
If the vehicle
’s engine or transmission has
just been serviced, or the battery has
recently run down or been replaced, the
OBD-II system may indicate that the
vehicle is not ready for I/M testing. To
determine if the vehicle is ready for I/M
testing, turn the ignition key to the on
position for 15 seconds without cranking
the engine. If the service engine soon
indicator blinks eight times, it means that
the vehicle is not ready for I/M testing; if
the service engine soon indicator stays on
solid, it means that your vehicle is ready
for I/M testing.
The OBD-II system checks the emission
control system during normal driving. A
complete check may take several days.
If the vehicle is not ready for I/M testing,
you can perform the following driving cycle
consisting of mixed city and highway
driving:
1. 15 minutes of steady driving on an expressway or highway followed by 20
minutes of stop-and-go driving with at
least four 30-second idle periods.
2. Allow your vehicle to sit for at least eight hours with the ignition off. Then,
start the vehicle and complete the
above driving cycle. The vehicle must
warm up to its normal operating
temperature. Once started, do not turn
off the vehicle until the above driving
cycle is complete.
If the vehicle is still not ready for I/M
testing, you need to repeat the above
driving cycle.
199
Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing Engine Emission Control

GENERAL INFORMATION -
HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE
(HEV)
WARNING: This battery pack
should only be serviced by an authorized
electric vehicle technician. Improper
handling can 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:
Do not touch the
electronic ignition system parts after you
have switched the ignition on or when
the engine is running. The system
operates at high voltage. Failure to
adhere to this warning could result in
serious personal injury or death. WARNING:
Keep your hands and
clothing clear of the engine cooling fan.
Your vehicle consists of various
high-voltage components and wiring. All
of the high-voltage power flows through
specific wiring assemblies labeled as such
or covered with a solid orange convolute,
or orange striped tape, or both. Do not
come in contact with these components. The high-voltage battery system is a
high-voltage, lithium-ion battery system.
The pack is located underneath the vehicle.
The high voltage battery system uses an
advanced active liquid heating and cooling
system to regulate high voltage battery
temperature and help maximize the life of
the high voltage battery.
Note:
The high-voltage battery does not
require regular service maintenance.
200
Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing High Voltage Battery
(If Equipped)

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WARNING: Always fully apply the
parking brake and make sure you shift
into park (P). Failure to follow this
instruction could result in personal injury
or death. WARNING:
Do not apply the brake
pedal and accelerator pedal
simultaneously. Applying both pedals
simultaneously for more than a few
seconds will limit engine performance,
which may result in difficulty maintaining
speed in traffic and could lead to serious
injury.
Note: You may not be able to shift out of
park (P) unless the intelligent access key is
inside your vehicle.
Understanding Your Transmission
Selector Positions
Your vehicle has an electronic transmission
shifter. The transmission selector is on the
center console. Park.
P
Reverse.
R
Neutral.
N
Drive.
D
Manual.
M
LowL
The instrument cluster displays the current
gear.
Note: Your vehicle could come with low (L)
or manual (M) in the center of the selector
depending on trim level.
Park (P)
With the transmission in park (P), your
vehicle locks the transmission and
prevents the wheels from turning. Always
come to a complete stop before putting
your vehicle into and out of park (P).
When you switch the ignition off, your
vehicle shifts into park (P). If you switch
the ignition off while your vehicle is moving,
the transmission first shifts into neutral (N)
until it reaches a speed less than
3 mph
(5 km/h) and then shifts into park (P).
201
Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing TransmissionE227917

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).
202
Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing Transmission

Note:
This feature may not work properly
if the door ajar switch is malfunctioning. If
your door ajar indicator does not illuminate
when you open the driver door, or the
indicator illuminates with the driver door
closed, or Transmission not in Park cluster
message still displays when the shifter has
already selected reverse (R), neutral (N), or
drive (D) and driver door remains closed,
see your authorized dealer.
Stay in Neutral Mode
Note: Stay in neutral mode is a temporary
vehicle state that works with the engine
being in the running or OFF state. Once in
this mode, sufficient battery voltage must
be maintained or your vehicle returns to park
if the feature is left active for extended time
when engine is OFF.
Failure to follow this instruction could
result in vehicle damage not covered by
the vehicle Warranty.
Note: When entering an automatic car
wash, always enter the Stay in Neutral
Mode. Stay in Neutral Mode must be
enabled, if you are exiting the vehicle before
the car wash.
Extended usage of Stay in Neutral mode
may result in a battery voltage reduction
to level where the vehicle may no longer
start.
Do not tow your vehicle in this mode.
With the transmission selector in Stay in
Neutral Mode, you can start your vehicle
and it is free to roll.
To enter Stay in Neutral mode, do the
following:
1. Bring your vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Shift into neutral (N).
3. Press the manual (M) or low (L) button
within five seconds after shifting to
neutral (N). Note:
Stay in Neutral Mode confirmation
message appears in the information display
when your vehicle has entered Stay in
Neutral mode and the neutral (N) button
on the transmission selector slowly blinks.
To exit Stay in Neutral mode, press the
brake pedal and shift to park (P) or start
the engine and apply brakes to shift to
another driving range, for example drive
(D) or reverse (R).
Tow Mode (If Equipped) To activate tow mode, use the
drive mode switch on the center
console.
See Selecting a Drive
Mode (page 278).
The indicator light illuminates and a
message displays in the instrument cluster
when the system becomes active. Select
a different mode to turn the system off.
The Tow Mode Feature:
• Moves upshifts to higher engine speeds
to reduce the frequency of
transmission shifting.
• Provides engine braking in all forward
gears, which slows your vehicle and
assist you in controlling your vehicle
when descending a grade.
• Depending on driving conditions and
load conditions, it may downshift the
transmission, slow your vehicle and
control your vehicle speed when
descending a hill, without pressing the
accelerator pedal. The amount of
downshift braking provided varies
based upon the amount you press the
brake pedal.
The tow mode feature improves
transmission operation when towing a
trailer or a heavy load. All transmission
gear ranges are available when using tow
mode.
203
Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing TransmissionE161509

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.
204
Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing TransmissionE144821

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 drive your
vehicle until you verify that the
stoplamps are working.
Use the manual park release to move your
transmission from the park (P) position in
the event of an electrical malfunction or
emergency.
Activating the Manual Park Release
Cable 1.
Apply the parking brake. See Electric
Parking Brake
(page 215).
Note: If the vehicle battery is dead, for
example, no electrical power is available,
you require an external power to apply the
parking brake.
2. Using the key or a flat head screwdriver,
maximum length
5 in (120 mm), as
shown in the picture, carefully open the
access cover under the arm rest
console.
See Keys and Remote
Controls (page 57). 3. Turn the vehicle ignition on without
starting the vehicle by pressing the
ignition push to start without pressing
the brake.
4. Once in the driver seat, fully apply the brake pedal and hold. Do not release. Note:
A:
2.0 in (50 mm) B: 0.1 in (3.3 mm)
5. Insert a screwdriver type tool, see description, or your car key into the
Manual Park Release (MPR) lever slot.
Pull the manual park release lever
toward the rear until the detent in the
slot pops up, against the tool or key.
Allow full upward travel of detent,
approximately
0.28 in (7 mm) in the
park override mode (Click). You can
remove the tool. If done correctly, a
message on the instrument cluster
displays Park Not Available,
Transmission Not in Park, or Shift
System Fault.
6. With your foot still fully applied on the
brake pedal, disengage the parking
brake.
See Electric Parking Brake
(page 215).
7. Your vehicle remains in neutral (N) for emergency towing purposes.
8. Switch off the ignition.
9. Once safe, and there is no risk of your vehicle rolling, disconnect the negative
(black) battery cable from the battery.
205
Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing TransmissionE292050 E317360

Returning Your Vehicle to Normal
Mode
1.
Reconnect the negative (black) battery
cable to the battery.
2. Apply the parking brake. See Electric
Parking Brake (page 215).
Note: If the vehicle battery is dead, for
example, no electrical power is available,
you require an external power to apply the
parking brake.
3. Fully apply the brake pedal and hold, do not release.
4. Insert the screwdriver tool or car key fully into the manual park release lever
slot. Push the tool downwards. The
system detent releases and the manual
park release lever moves forward,
allowing the vehicle to go back into
park (P). Remove the tool or car key.
5. Install the access cover.
6. With your foot fully applied on the brake pedal, start your vehicle. Confirm
that your vehicle is in the park (P)
position and that the instrument
cluster indicates park (P). 7. If the instrument cluster does not
display the park (P) position or there
is a message stating park (P) is not
available, transmission not in park (P)
or a shift system fault, apply the
parking brake before exiting your
vehicle and contact an authorized
dealer for service.
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck in Mud
or Snow
Note: Do not rock the vehicle if the engine
is not at normal operating temperature or
damage to the transmission may occur.
Note: Do not rock the vehicle for more than
a minute or damage to the transmission and
tires may occur, or the engine may overheat.
If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow,
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.
206
Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing TransmissionE297270

PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
This system is a proactive system. It has
the ability to anticipate wheel slip and
transfer torque to the front wheels before
slip occurs. Even when wheel slip is not
present, the system is continuously
adjusting 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 278). Note:
A warning message displays in the
information display when a 4WD system
fault is present. See
Information
Messages (page 121). 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 121). 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 121).
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
207
Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing Four-Wheel Drive
(If Equipped)