FORD EXPLORER 2023 Owners Manual

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WARNING: Apply the parking brakeand make sure your vehicle is in park (P).Power the vehicle off and remove thekeys or remote control whenever youleave your vehicle. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in personal injuryor death.
WARNING: Do not apply the brakepedal and accelerator pedalsimultaneously. Applying both pedalssimultaneously for more than a fewseconds limits vehicle performance,which may result in difficulty maintainingspeed in traffic and could lead to seriousinjury.
Note:You may not be able to shift out ofpark (P) unless the intelligent access key isinside your vehicle.
Automatic Transmission PositionIndicators
The instrument cluster displays the currentposition.
Note:The position may illuminate on thetransmission selector.
Understanding Your TransmissionSelector Positions
Your vehicle has an electronic transmissionshifter. The transmission selector is on thecenter console.
Park.P
Reverse.R
Neutral.N
Drive.D
Manual.M
Low.L
The instrument cluster displays the currentgear.
Note:Your vehicle may come with low (L)or manual (M) in the center of the selectordepending on trim level.
Park (P)
With the transmission in park (P), yourvehicle locks the transmission andprevents the wheels from turning. Alwayscome to a complete stop before puttingyour vehicle into and out of park (P).
When you switch the ignition off, yourvehicle shifts into park (P). If you switchthe 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).
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The electric parking brake could applywhen you shift to park (P) without thebrake pedal fully pressed. The electricparking brake applies when you shift topark (P) on large slopes. The electricparking brake releases with the drive awayrelease function or manually. See ElectricParking Brake (page 211).
Note:A warning tone sounds if you openthe driver door and you have not shifted thetransmission selector to park (P).
Automatic Return to Park
What is Automatic Return to Park (P)
Your vehicle shifts in park (P) if youattempt to exit your vehicle without thetransmission in park (P).
How Does Automatic Return to Park (P)Work
Your vehicle shifts into park (P) when yourvehicle is stationary and any of thefollowing occur:
•You switch the vehicle off.
•You open the driver door with yourseatbelt unlatched.
•You unlatch the driver seatbelt whenthe driver door is open.
Note:Do not use automatic return to park(P) when your vehicle is moving, except inan emergency. See Starting and Stoppingthe Engine (page 168).
Automatic Return to Park (P) Limitations
Automatic return to park (P) may not workif the door ajar switch is malfunctioning.
Have the system checked immediately ifany of the following occur:
•Door ajar indicator does not illuminatewith the driver door open.
•Door ajar indicator illuminates with thedriver door closed.
•Transmission not in park messageappears with the driver door closed,after you shift out of park (P).
Reverse (R)
With the transmission selector in reverse(R), your vehicle moves backward. Alwayscome to a complete stop before shiftinginto and out of reverse (R).
Neutral (N)
With the transmission selector in neutral(N), you can start your vehicle and it is freeto roll. Hold the brake pedal down when inthis position.
Temporary Neutral Mode
What is Temporary Neutral Mode
This mode keeps your vehicle in neutral(N) when you switch your vehicle off. Usethis mode at an automatic car wash if youexit your vehicle or switch your vehicle off.
Note:Do not tow your vehicle in this mode.
Note:Automatic return to park (P) delayswhen your vehicle is in this mode.
Temporary Neutral Mode Limitations
Your vehicle may shift to park (P) after 30minutes, or when the vehicle batterycharge level is low. Prolonged use of thismode can cause the vehicle battery to runout of charge.
Do not tow your vehicle in this mode.Failure to follow these instructions couldresult in vehicle damage not covered bythe vehicle warranty.
Entering Temporary Neutral Mode
1.Switch your vehicle on.
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2.Bring your vehicle to a complete stop.
3.Press and hold the brake pedal.
4.Shift into neutral (N).
Note:A instructional message appears.
5.Press the manual (M), or low (L)button.
Note:A confirmation message appearswhen your vehicle enters the mode.
6.Release the brake pedal.
Note:Your vehicle is free to roll.
7.Switch your vehicle off.
Note:Do not tow your vehicle in this mode.
Note:The neutral (N) indicator on thetransmission selector may flash in thismode.
Exiting Temporary Neutral Mode
1.Press the brake pedal.
2.Shift into park (P), or switch yourvehicle on and shift into drive (D), orreverse (R).
Drive (D)
Drive (D) is the normal driving position forthe best fuel economy and smoothness.Shift the transmission selector to drive (D)to allow your vehicle to move forward andshift automatically through the forwardgears.
The transmission shifts to the appropriategear for optimum performance based onambient temperature, road slope, vehicleload and your input.
Manual Mode (M) - Vehicles withPaddle Shifters
With the transmission selector in manual(M), the driver can change gears up ordown. After selecting the Manual (M)button while the transmission rangeselector is in the Drive (D) position, younow have control of selecting the gear youdesire using shift buttons on the steeringwheel.
To exit manual mode, push the manual(M) button on your transmission selector.
Low (L) - Vehicles without PaddleShifters
With the transmission selector in low (L),your vehicle provides maximum enginebraking. You can shift the transmission intolow (L) at any vehicle speed. Do not useunder extended or normal drivingconditions as it results in lower fueleconomy.
Manually Shifting Gears
Shifting Using Paddle Shifters
The instrument cluster displays the currentgear. The current gear flashes when yourvehicle cannot shift into the requestedgear. Your vehicle will not shift if therequested gear raises or lowers the enginespeed beyond the limit.
Your vehicle may shift when you fully pressthe accelerator or brake pedal.
Note:Prolonged driving with high enginespeed could cause vehicle damage notcovered by vehicle warranty.
Note:When the vehicle shifts into therequested gear, it could affect drive modes.
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Manually Shifting Gears in Drive (D)
Use this feature when overtaking anothervehicle, or to temporarily change gear.
•Pull any paddle to switch the featureon.
•Pull the right (+) paddle to upshift.
•Pull the left (-) paddle to downshift.
•Hold the (+) paddle for a few secondsto switch the feature off.
Note:If you do not pull either paddle, thefeature switches off after a short period oftime.
Manually Shifting Gears in Manual (M)
Use this feature for engine braking on hillyor mountainous roads, or to select aspecific gear.
•Shift to manual (M) to switch thefeature on.
•Pull the right (+) paddle to upshift.
•Pull the left (-) paddle to downshift.
•Shift to drive (D) to switch the featureoff.
Tow Mode (If Equipped)
To activate tow mode, use thedrive mode switch on the centerconsole. See Selecting a DriveMode (page 273).
The indicator light illuminates and amessage displays in the instrument clusterwhen the system becomes active. Selecta different mode to switch the system off.
The Tow Mode Feature:
•Moves upshifts to higher engine speedsto reduce the frequency oftransmission shifting.
•Provides engine braking in all forwardgears, which slows your vehicle andassists you in controlling your vehiclewhen descending a slope.
•Depending on driving conditions andload conditions, it may downshift thetransmission, slow your vehicle andcontrol your vehicle speed whendescending a hill, without pressing theaccelerator pedal. The amount ofdownshift braking provided variesbased upon the amount you press thebrake pedal.
The tow mode feature improvestransmission operation when towing atrailer or a heavy load. All transmissiongear ranges are available when using towmode.
Transmission Not in Park (P)Audible Warning
Sounds if you open the driver door beforeshifting into park (P).
Manual Park Release (MPR)
WARNING: When doing thisprocedure, you need to take thetransmission out of park (P) whichmeans your vehicle can roll freely. Toavoid unwanted vehicle movement,apply the parking brake prior to doingthis procedure. Use wheel chocks ifappropriate.
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WARNING: If the parking brake isfully released, but the brake warninglamp remains illuminated, the brakesmay not be working properly. Have yourvehicle checked as soon as possible.
WARNING: Do not drive yourvehicle until you verify that thestoplamps are working.
Use the manual park release to move yourtransmission from the park (P) position inthe event of an electrical malfunction oremergency.
Activating the Manual Park ReleaseCable
1.Apply the parking brake. See ElectricParking Brake (page 211).
Note:If the vehicle battery is dead, forexample, no electrical power is available,you require an external power to apply theparking brake.
2.Using a flat head screwdriver,maximum length 5 in (120 mm), asshown in the picture, carefully open theaccess cover under the arm restconsole.
3.Switch the vehicle ignition on withoutstarting the vehicle by pressing theignition push to start without pressingthe brake.
4.Once in the driver seat, fully apply thebrake 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 into theManual Park Release (MPR) lever slot.Pull the manual park release levertoward the rear until the detent in theslot pops up, against the tool. Allowfull upward travel of detent,approximately 0.28 in (7 mm) in thepark override mode (Click). You canremove the tool. If done correctly, amessage on the instrument clusterdisplays Park Not Available,Transmission Not in Park, or ShiftSystem Fault.
6.With your foot still fully applied on thebrake pedal, disengage the parkingbrake. See Electric Parking Brake(page 211).
7.Your vehicle remains in neutral (N) foremergency towing purposes.
8.Switch off the ignition.
9.Once safe, and there is no risk of yourvehicle rolling, disconnect the negative(black) battery cable from the battery.
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Returning Your Vehicle to NormalMode
1.Reconnect the negative (black) batterycable to the battery.
2.Apply the parking brake. See ElectricParking Brake (page 211).
Note: If the vehicle battery is dead, forexample, no electrical power is available,you require an external power to apply theparking brake.
3.Fully apply the brake pedal and hold,do not release.
4.Insert the screwdriver tool fully into themanual park release lever slot. Pushthe tool downwards. The systemdetent releases and the manual parkrelease lever moves forward, allowingthe vehicle to go back into park (P).Remove the tool.
5.Install the access cover.
6.With your foot fully applied on thebrake pedal, start your vehicle. Confirmthat your vehicle is in the park (P)position and that the instrumentcluster indicates park (P).
7.If the instrument cluster does notdisplay the park (P) position or thereis a message stating park (P) is notavailable, transmission not in park (P)or a shift system fault, apply theparking brake before exiting yourvehicle and have your vehicle checkedimmediately.
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck in Mudor Snow
If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow,rock it out by shifting between forward andreverse gears, stopping between shifts ina steady pattern. Press lightly on theaccelerator in each gear.
Note:Do not rock the vehicle if the engineis not at normal operating temperature ordamage to the transmission could occur.
Note:Do not rock the vehicle for more thana minute or damage to the transmission andtires may occur, or the engine couldoverheat.
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PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
This system is a proactive system. It hasthe ability to anticipate wheel slip andtransfer torque to the front wheels beforeslip occurs. Even when wheel slip is notpresent, the system is continuouslyadjusting to the torque distribution, in anattempt to improve straight line andcornering behavior, both on and off road.
The system automatically turns on everytime you switch the ignition on.
If any component requires maintenance,a message appears in the informationdisplay.
USING FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE
WARNING: Vehicles with a highercenter of gravity (utility and four-wheeldrive vehicles) handle differently thanvehicles with a lower center of gravity(passenger cars). Avoid sharp turns,excessive speed and abrupt steering inthese vehicles. Failure to drive cautiouslyincreases the risk of losing control of yourvehicle, vehicle rollover, personal injuryand death.
The intelligent 4WD system continuouslymonitors vehicle conditions and adjuststhe power distribution between the frontand rear wheels. It combines transparentall-surface operation with highly capablefour-wheel drive.
The 4WD system is always active andrequires no driver input. It is capable ofhandling all road conditions includingstreet and highway driving as well asoff-road and winter driving. You canoptimize more 4WD control by selectingdifferent drive modes. See Selecting aDrive Mode (page 273).
Note:A warning message displays in theinformation display when a 4WD systemfault is present. See InformationMessages (page 119). A 4WD system faultcauses the 4WD system to default torear-wheel drive only mode. When thiswarning message is displayed, have yourvehicle serviced at an authorized dealer.
Note:A warning message displays in theinformation display if the 4WD systemoverheats. See Information Messages(page 119). This condition could occur if thevehicle is operated in extreme conditionswith excessive wheel slip, such as deepsand. To resume normal 4WD function assoon as possible, stop the vehicle in a safelocation and stop the engine for at least 10minutes. After the engine is restarted andthe 4WD system is adequately cooled, thewarning message turns off and normal 4WDfunction returns.
Operating Four-Wheel Drive (4WD)Vehicles With Spare Tires
Do not use a different size spare tire otherthan the tire provided. If the mini-spare tireis installed, the 4WD system will disableand enter rear-wheel drive only mode toprotect driveline components. Somelimited 4WD traction could be provided ifthe mini-spare is installed on one of thefront wheels. If you are in driving conditionswhere limited 4WD traction is neededwhile the mini-spare is installed, it isrecommended the mini-spare be installedon the front axle. See InformationMessages (page 119).
If the mini-spare is installed, this conditionis indicated by a warning in the informationdisplay. If there is a warning message inthe information display from using thespare tire, this indicator should turn offafter reinstalling or replacing the normalroad tire and cycling the ignition off andon. We recommended reinstalling or
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replacing the normal road tire as soon aspossible. Major dissimilar tire sizesbetween the front and rear axles couldcause the 4WD system to stop functioningand default to rear-wheel drive or damagethe 4WD system.
The slip response system could activate ifthe mini spare is installed on the frontwheels. If the mini spare was installed onthe rear wheels the slip response systemwill fully disable. In situations where thereis a wintery mix or an off road situation,and you need to use a mini spare, you mustinstall the mini spare in the front tireposition and move a full size tire to the reartire position for the slip response systemto function.
Operating Four-Wheel drive (4WD)Vehicles with Mismatched Tires
WARNING: Only use replacementtires and wheels that are the same size,load index, speed rating and type (suchas P-metric versus LT-metric orall-season versus all-terrain) as thoseoriginally provided by Ford. Therecommended tire and wheel size maybe found on either the SafetyCompliance Certification Label (affixedto either the door hinge pillar, door-latchpost, or the door edge that meets thedoor-latch post, next to the driver'sseating position), or the Tire Label whichis located on the B-Pillar or edge of thedriver's door. If this information is notfound on these labels, then you shouldcontact your authorized dealer as soonas possible. Use of any tire or wheel notrecommended by Ford can affect thesafety and performance of your vehicle,which could result in an increased risk ofloss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover,personal injury and death.
Major dissimilar tire sizes between the frontand rear axles (for example, 17 inch lowprofile tires on the front axle and 22 inchhigh profile tires on the rear axle) couldcause the 4WD system to stop functioningand default to rear-wheel drive or damagethe 4WD system.
For optimum 4WD Performance, it isrecommended to follow the tire rotationmaintenance schedule. To avoid potential4WD malfunction or 4WD system damage,it is recommended to replace all four tiresrather than mixing significantly worn tireswith new tires. For example, using 3 worntread tires and 1 new tread tire all of thesame original tire size/brand, can betolerated by the 4WD system as long asthe worn tires still have usable tread depth.
How Your Vehicle Differs fromOther Vehicles
Truck and utility vehicles can differ fromsome other vehicles. Your vehicle could behigher to allow it to travel over roughterrain without getting hung up ordamaging underbody components.
The differences that make your vehicle soversatile also make it handle differentlythan an ordinary passenger car.
Maintain steering wheel control at alltimes, especially in rough terrain. Sincesudden changes in terrain can result inabrupt steering wheel motion, make sureyou grip the steering wheel from theoutside. Do not grip the spokes.
Drive cautiously to avoid vehicle damagefrom concealed objects such as rocks andstumps.
You should either know the terrain orexamine maps of the area before driving.Map out your route before driving in thearea. To maintain steering and brakingcontrol of your vehicle, you must have allfour wheels on the ground and they mustbe rolling, not sliding or spinning.
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Driving in Special Conditions WithFour-Wheel drive (4WD)
Note:Use of the 4WD system in slippery,deep snow, and sand drive modes on drysurfaces could produce some vibration,driveline bind up, or excessive tire wear asthese drive modes are intended for slipperyand loose surfaces.
Note:The design of 4WD vehicles are fordriving on sand, snow, mud and rough roadsand have operating characteristics that aresomewhat different from conventionalvehicles, both on and off the highway.
Basic Operating Principles in SpecialConditions
•Drive slower in strong crosswinds whichcan affect the normal steeringcharacteristics of your vehicle.
•Be extremely careful when driving onpavement made slippery by loose sand,water, gravel, snow or ice.
If Your Vehicle Goes Off the Edge of thePavement
•If your vehicle goes off the edge of thepavement, slow down, but avoid severebrake application, ease the vehicleback onto the pavement only afterreducing your speed. Do not turn thesteering wheel too sharply whilereturning to the road surface.
•It could be safer to stay on the apronor shoulder of the road and slow downgradually before returning to thepavement. You could lose control if youdo not slow down or if you turn thesteering wheel too sharply or abruptly.
•It often could be less risky to strikesmall objects, such as highwayreflectors, with minor damage to yourvehicle rather than attempt a suddenreturn to the pavement which couldcause the vehicle to slide sideways outof control or rollover. Remember, yoursafety and the safety of others shouldbe your primary concern.
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck
WARNING: Apply the parkingbrake, shift into park (P), switch theignition off and remove the key beforeyou leave your vehicle. Failure to followthis instruction could result in personalinjury or death.
WARNING: If the parking brake isfully released, but the brake warninglamp remains illuminated, the brakesmay not be working properly. Have yourvehicle checked as soon as possible.
WARNING: Do not spin the wheelsat over 34 mph (55 km/h). The tires mayfail and injure a passenger or bystander.
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If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snowyou can rock it out by shifting betweenforward and reverse gears, stoppingbetween shifts, in a steady pattern. Presslightly on the accelerator in each gear.
If your vehicle comes with AdvanceTrac®with Roll Stability Control™, it could bebeneficial to disengage the AdvanceTrac®with Roll Stability Control™ system whileattempting to rock the vehicle.
Note:Do not rock the vehicle if the engineis not at normal operating temperature ordamage to the transmission could occur.
Note:Do not rock the vehicle for more thana few minutes or damage to thetransmission and tires could occur or theengine could overheat.
Emergency Maneuvers
•In an unavoidable emergency situationwhere a sudden sharp turn must bemade, remember to avoid"over-driving" your vehicle (forexample, turn the steering wheel onlyas rapidly and as far as required toavoid the emergency). Excessivesteering can result in less vehiclecontrol, not more. Additionally, smoothvariations of the accelerator and/orbrake pedal pressure should be utilizedif changes in vehicle speed are called
for. Avoid abrupt steering, accelerationor braking which could result in anincreased risk of loss of vehicle control,vehicle rollover and/or personal injury.Use all available road surface to returnthe vehicle to a safe direction of travel.
•In the event of an emergency stop,avoid skidding the tires and do notattempt any sharp steering wheelmovements.
•If the vehicle goes from one type ofsurface to another (i.e., from concreteto gravel) there is a change in the waythe vehicle responds to a maneuver(steering, acceleration or braking).Again, avoid these abrupt inputs.
Sand
When driving over sand, try to keep all fourwheels on the most solid area of the trail.Avoid reducing the tire pressures but shiftto a lower gear and drive steadily throughthe terrain. Apply the accelerator slowlyand avoid spinning the wheels.
Avoid excessive speed because vehiclemomentum can work against you andcause the vehicle to become stuck to thepoint that assistance could be requiredfrom another vehicle. Remember, youcould be able to back out the way youcame if you proceed with caution.
Mud and Water
If you must drive through high water, driveslowly. Traction or brake capability couldbe limited.
Note:Driving through deep water coulddamage your vehicle.
When driving through water, determine thedepth; avoid water higher than the bottomof the hubs (if possible) and proceedslowly. If the ignition system gets wet, thevehicle could stall.
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