maintenance FORD EXPLORER 2021 Owners Manual

Introduction
About This Manual
..........................................9
Symbols Glossary ............................................
9
Perchlorate ........................................................
11
Ford Credit .........................................................
11
Replacement Parts Recommendation ........................................................................\
....
12
Special Notices ...............................................
12
Mobile Communications Equipment ........................................................................\
....
13
Export Unique Options ................................
14
Data Privacy
Data Privacy .....................................................
15
Service Data .....................................................
16
Event Data ........................................................
16
Settings Data ...................................................
17
Connected Vehicle Data ..............................
17
Mobile Device Data .......................................
18
Emergency Call System Data ....................
18
Environment
Protecting the Environment .......................
19
At a Glance
At a Glance - ST ............................................
20
Instrument Panel ............................................
21
Child Safety
General Information .....................................
23
Installing Child Restraints ..........................
25
Booster Seats .................................................
33
Child Restraint Positioning ........................
35
Child Safety Locks ........................................
36
Seatbelts
Principle of Operation .................................
38
Fastening the Seatbelts .............................
39
Seatbelt Height Adjustment ......................
41Seatbelt Warning Lamp and Indicator
Chime .............................................................
41
Seatbelt Reminder ........................................
42
Child Restraint and Seatbelt Maintenance ...............................................
43
Seatbelt Extensions .....................................
44
Personal Safety System ™
Personal Safety System ™.........................
45
Supplementary Restraints System
Principle of Operation .................................
46
Driver and Passenger Airbags ...................
47
Front Passenger Sensing System ...........
48
Side Airbags ....................................................
50
Driver and Passenger Knee Airbags ........
51
Safety Canopy ™.............................................
51
Crash Sensors and Airbag Indicator .......
52
Airbag Disposal ..............................................
53
Pedestrian Protection - Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)
Pedestrian Alert System ............................
54
911 Assist
What Is 911 Assist ..........................................
55
Emergency Call Requirements ................
55
Emergency Call Limitations ......................
56
Keys and Remote Controls
General Information on Radio Frequencies .................................................
57
Remote Control ..............................................
57
Replacing a Lost Key or Remote Control ........................................................................\
..
63
MyKey ™
Principle of Operation .................................
64
Creating a MyKey ..........................................
65
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Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing Table of Contents

Essential Towing Checks
.........................292
Towing the Vehicle on Four Wheels .....
294
Driving Hints
Reduced Engine Performance ...............
295
Economical Driving ....................................
295
Cold Weather Precautions ......................
296
Breaking-In ...................................................
296
Driving Through Water .............................
296
Floor Mats ......................................................
297
Roadside Emergencies
Roadside Assistance .................................
298
Hazard Flashers ..........................................
299
Fuel Shutoff .................................................
299
Jump Starting the Vehicle ......................
300
Collision, Damage or Fire Event ............
302
Post-Crash Alert System .........................
303
Transporting the Vehicle .........................
303
Customer Assistance
Getting the Services You Need .............
305
In California (U.S. Only) ...........................
306
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) Auto Line Program (U.S. Only) .....................
307
Utilizing the Mediation/Arbitration Program (Canada Only) .....................
308
Getting Assistance Outside the U.S. and Canada ......................................................
308
Ordering Additional Owner's Literature ........................................................................\
.
310
Reporting Safety Defects (U.S. Only) ........................................................................\
.
310
Reporting Safety Defects (Canada Only) ........................................................................\
.
310
Fuses
Fuse Specification Chart ...........................
312
Changing a Fuse .........................................
320Maintenance
General Information
...................................
322
Opening and Closing the Hood .............
322
Under Hood Overview - 2.3L EcoBoost™ ........................................................................\
323
Under Hood Overview - 3.0L ..................
324
Under Hood Overview - 3.3L ..................
325
Engine Oil Dipstick - 2.3L EcoBoost™ ........................................................................\
326
Engine Oil Dipstick - 3.0L ........................
326
Engine Oil Dipstick - 3.3L .........................
326
Engine Oil Check .........................................
326
Oil Change Indicator Reset ......................
327
Changing the Engine Air Filter - 2.3L EcoBoost™ ...............................................
328
Changing the Engine Air Filter - 3.0L ........................................................................\
329
Changing the Engine Air Filter - 3.3L ....
330
Engine Coolant Check ................................
331
Automatic Transmission Fluid Check ........................................................................\
335
Brake Fluid Check .......................................
335
Power Steering Fluid Check ....................
336
Changing the 12V Battery ........................
336
Adjusting the Headlamps .......................
338
Washer Fluid Check ...................................
340
Fuel Filter .......................................................
340
Checking the Wiper Blades ....................
340
Changing the Front Wiper Blades ........
340
Changing the Rear Wiper Blades ...........
341
Changing a Bulb ...........................................
341
Vehicle Care
General Information ..................................
343
Cleaning Products ......................................
343
Cleaning the Exterior .................................
344
Waxing ............................................................
345
Cleaning the Engine ...................................
345
Cleaning the Windows and Wiper Blades ........................................................................\
346
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Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing Table of Contents

Accessories
Accessories
...................................................479
Ford Protect
Ford Protect .................................................
480
Scheduled Maintenance
General Maintenance Information ......
482
Normal Scheduled Maintenance .........
485
Special Operating Conditions Scheduled Maintenance ............................................
488
Customer Information
Radio Frequency Certification Labels ........................................................................\
.
491
Appendices
Electromagnetic Compatibility .............
530
End User License Agreement .................
533
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Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing Table of Contents

For assistance call 1-800-727-7000, or for
more information about Ford Credit and
access to the online Account Manager tool,
visit www.ford.com/finance.
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 happen sometimes.
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 by your New Vehicle Limited
Warranty, see your warranty guide that is
available online. For more information,
refer to our website and download your
copy of the warranty guide.
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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Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing Introduction

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.
We respect your privacy and are
committed to protecting it. The
information contained in this manual was
correct at the time of publication, but as
technology rapidly changes, we
recommend that you visit the local Ford
website for the latest information.
Your vehicle has electronic control units
that have data recording functionality and
the ability to permanently or temporarily
store data. This data could include
information on the condition and status of
your vehicle, vehicle maintenance
requirements, events and malfunctions.
The types of data that can be recorded are
described in this section. Some of the data
recorded is stored in event logs or error
logs.
Note: Error logs are reset following a service
or repair.
Note: We may provide information in
response to requests from law enforcement,
other government authorities and third
parties acting with lawful authority or
through a legal process. Such information
could be used by them in legal proceedings.
Data recorded includes, for example:
• Operating states of system
components, for example fuel level,
tire pressure and battery charge level.
• Vehicle and component status, for
example wheel speed, deceleration,
lateral acceleration and seatbelt
status. •
Events or errors in essential systems,
for example headlamps and brakes.
• System responses to driving situations,
for example airbag deployment and
stability control.
• Environmental conditions, for example
temperature.
Some of this data, when used in
combination with other information, for
example an accident report, damage to a
vehicle or eyewitness statements, could
be associated with a specific person.
Services That We Provide
If you use our services, we collect and use
data, for example account information,
vehicle location and driving characteristics,
that could identify you. We transmit this
data through a dedicated, protected
connection. We only collect and use data
to enable your use of our services to which
you have subscribed, with your consent or
where permitted by law. For additional
information, see the terms and conditions
of the services to which you have
subscribed.
For additional information about our
privacy policy, refer to the local Ford
website.
Services That Third Parties
Provide
We recommend that you review the terms
and conditions and data privacy
information for any services equipped with
your vehicle or to which you subscribe. We
take no responsibility for services that third
parties provide.
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Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing Data Privacy

Seatbelt fastened.
A
Seatbelt not fastened.
B
Seatbelt recently unfastened.
C
Fault
D
Deactivating and Activating the
Belt-Minder Feature - Front outermost
seats only WARNING: While the system
allows you to deactivate it, this system
is designed to improve your chances of
being safely belted and surviving an
accident. We recommend you leave the
system activated for yourself and others
who may use the vehicle.
Note: The driver and front passenger
warnings switch on and off independently.
When you perform this procedure for one
seating position, do not buckle the other
position as this terminates the process.
Read Steps 1 - 4 before starting the
procedure.
Make sure that:
• You set the parking brake.
• The transmission is in park (P).
• The ignition is off.
• You close all vehicle doors.
• You unbuckle the driver and front
passenger seatbelts. 1.
Switch the ignition on. Do not start the
engine.
2. Wait until the seatbelt warning lamp turns off (about one minute). After
Step 2, wait an additional five seconds
before proceeding with Step 3. Once
you start Step 3, you must complete
the procedure within 60 seconds.
3. For the seating position you are switching off, buckle then unbuckle the
seatbelt three times at a moderate
speed, ending in the unbuckled state.
After Step 3, the seatbelt warning lamp
turns on.
4. When the seatbelt warning lamp is on,
buckle then unbuckle the seatbelt.
After Step 4, the seatbelt warning lamp
flashes for confirmation.
• This switches the feature off if it is
currently on.
• This switches the feature on if it is
currently off.
CHILD RESTRAINT AND
SEATBELT MAINTENANCE
Inspect the vehicle seatbelts and child
safety seat systems periodically to make
sure they work properly and are not
damaged. Inspect the vehicle and child
restraint seatbelts to make sure there are
no nicks, tears or cuts. Replace if
necessary. All vehicle seatbelt assemblies,
including retractors, buckles, front seatbelt
buckle assemblies, buckle support
assemblies (slide bar-if equipped),
shoulder belt height adjusters (if
equipped), shoulder belt guide on seat
backrest (if equipped), child safety seat
LATCH and tether anchors, and attaching
hardware, should be inspected after a
crash. Read the child restraint
manufacturer's instructions for additional
inspection and maintenance information
specific to the child restraint.
43
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While the system is designed to help
reduce serious injuries, contact with a
deploying airbag may also cause abrasions
or swelling. Temporary hearing loss is also
a possibility as a result of the noise
associated with a deploying airbag.
Because airbags must inflate rapidly and
with considerable force, there is the risk of
death or serious injuries such as fractures,
facial and eye injuries or internal injuries,
particularly to occupants who are not
properly restrained or are otherwise out of
position at the time of airbag deployment.
Thus, it is extremely important that
occupants be properly restrained as far
away from the airbag module as possible
while maintaining vehicle control.
Routine maintenance of the airbags is not
required.
DRIVER AND PASSENGER
AIRBAGS
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. The driver and front passenger airbags will
deploy during significant frontal and near
frontal crashes.
The driver and passenger front airbag
system consists of:
•
Driver and passenger airbag modules.
• Front passenger sensing system. · Crash sensors and monitoring
system with readiness indicator.
See Crash Sensors and Airbag
Indicator
(page 52).
Proper Driver and Front Passenger
Seating Adjustment WARNING:
National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
recommends a minimum distance of at
least
10 in (25 cm) between an
occupant's chest and the driver airbag
module.
To properly position yourself away from
the airbag:
• Move your seat to the rear as far as you
can while still reaching the pedals
comfortably.
• Recline the seat slightly (one or two
degrees) from the upright position.
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The restraints control module also
monitors the readiness of the above safety
devices plus the crash and occupant
sensors. The readiness of the safety
system is indicated by a warning indicator
light in the instrument cluster or by a
backup tone if the warning light is not
working. Routine maintenance of the
airbag is not required.
A difficulty with the system is indicated by
one or more of the following:
•
The readiness light will not illuminate
immediately after you switch the
ignition on.
• The readiness light either flashes or
stays lit.
• A series of five beeps is heard. The tone
pattern repeats periodically until the
problem, the light or both are repaired.
If any of these things happen, even
intermittently, have the supplemental
restraint system serviced at an authorized
dealer immediately. Unless serviced, the
system may not function properly in the
event of a crash.
The restraint system is designed to
activate when the vehicle sustains
conditions sufficient to cause the restraint
control module to deploy a safety device. The fact that not all the safety devices
activate for all occupants in a crash does
not mean something is wrong with the
system. Rather, it means the restraints
control module determined the accident
conditions (crash severity, type of crash,
belt usage) were not appropriate to
activate these safety devices.
•
The front airbags are designed to
activate only in frontal and near-frontal
crashes (not rollovers, side impacts or
rear impacts) unless the crash causes
sufficient frontal deceleration.
• The seatbelt pretensioners are
designed to activate in frontal,
near-frontal and side crashes, and in
rollovers.
• The knee airbag(s) may deploy based
on crash severity and occupant
conditions.
• The side airbags are designed to inflate
in certain side impact crashes or
rollover events. Side airbags may
activate in other types of crashes if your
vehicle experiences sufficient sideways
motion or deformation, or a certain
likelihood of rollover.
• The Safety Canopy is designed to
inflate in certain side impact crashes
or rollover events. The Safety Canopy
may activate in other types of crashes
if your vehicle experiences sufficient
sideways motion or deformation, or a
certain likelihood of rollover.
AIRBAG DISPOSAL
Contact your authorized dealer as soon as
possible. Airbags must be disposed of by
qualified personnel.
53
Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing Supplementary Restraints SystemE67017

High Voltage Electric System
Failure (If Equipped)
It illuminates if your hybrid
electric vehicle has an electrical
component fault or failure that
causes your vehicle to shutdown or enter
a limited operating mode. A message may
appear in the instrument cluster display.
Hill Descent
(If Equipped) Illuminates when you switch hill
descent on.
Hood Ajar Illuminates when the ignition is
on and the hood is not
completely closed.
Lamps On Illuminates when you switch the
low beam headlamps or the
parking lamps on.
Liftgate Ajar Illuminates when the liftgate is
not completely closed.
Low Beam Warning Illuminates when the low beam
headlamp bulb is not functioning
properly.
Low Fuel Level Illuminates when the fuel level
is low or the fuel tank is nearly
empty. Refuel as soon as
possible. Low Tire Pressure Warning Illuminates when the tire
pressure is low. If the lamp
remains on with the engine
running or when driving, check the tire
pressure as soon as possible.
It 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.
Low Washer Fluid Illuminates when the windshield
washer fluid is low.
Powertrain Fault Illuminates when the system
detects a powertrain or a
4WD/AWD fault. Contact an
authorized dealer as soon as possible.
Ready to Drive
(If Equipped) Illuminates when you have
switched on your hybrid electric
vehicle and it is ready to drive. A
corresponding message may appear
stating ready to drive.
Service Engine Soon It illuminates when you switch
the ignition on prior to engine
start to check the bulb and to
indicate whether your vehicle is ready for
Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) testing.
110
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Normally, it illuminates until the engine is
cranked and automatically turns off if no
system errors are present. However, if after
15 seconds it flashes eight times, this
indicates that your vehicle is not ready for
Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) testing.
See Catalytic Converter (page 197).
If it illuminates when the engine is running
this indicates a system error. The On Board
Diagnostics system has detected an error
in the vehicle emission control system.
If it flashes, engine misfire may be
occurring. Continuing to drive your vehicle
may cause reduced power or the engine
to stop. Failure to respond to the warning
lamp may cause component damage not
covered by the vehicle Warranty. Have
your vehicle checked as soon as possible.
Stability Control It flashes when the system is
active. If it remains illuminated
or does not illuminate when you
switch the ignition on, this indicates a
system error. During a system error the
system switches off. Have the system
checked by an authorized dealer
immediately. See
Using Stability
Control (page 226).
Stability Control Off Illuminates when you switch the
system off. It goes out when you
switch the system back on or
when you switch the ignition off.
AUDIBLE WARNINGS AND
INDICATORS
Key in Ignition Warning Chime
Sounds when you open the driver's door
and you have left the key in the ignition. Keyless Warning Alert
(If Equipped)
Sounds the horn twice when you exit your
vehicle with the intelligent access key, after
the last door is closed and your keyless
vehicle is in RUN, indicating your vehicle is
still on.
Headlamps On Warning Chime
Sounds when you remove the key from the
ignition and open the driver's door and you
have left the headlamps or parking lamps
on.
Parking Brake On Warning Chime
Sounds when you have left the parking
brake on and drive your vehicle. If the
warning chime remains on after you have
released the parking brake, have the
system checked by an authorized dealer
immediately.
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