steering FORD EXPLORER 2023 Manual PDF

1.Park your vehicle on a level surface.
2.Look at the brake fluid reservoir to seewhere the brake fluid level is relativeto the MIN and the MAX marks on thereservoir.
Note:If the brake fluid level is between theMIN and the MAX marks on the reservoir, itis acceptable.
Note:If the brake fluid level is below theMIN mark or above the MAX mark, haveyour vehicle checked as soon as possible.
Note:To avoid fluid contamination, thereservoir cap must remain in place and fullytight, unless you are adding fluid.
Only use fluid that meets ourspecifications. See Capacities andSpecifications (page 378).
Brake Fluid Service Interval
Brake fluid absorbs water over time whichdegrades the effectiveness of the brakefluid. Change the brake fluid at thespecified intervals to prevent degradedbraking performance.
For detailed interval information, seeScheduled Maintenance in your Owner'sManual or your local maintenance guide.
POWER STEERING FLUID
CHECK
Your vehicle is equipped with an electricpower steering (EPS) system. There is nofluid reservoir to check or fill.
CHANGING THE 12V BATTERY
- EXCLUDING: HYBRID
ELECTRIC VEHICLE (HEV)
WARNING: Batteries normallyproduce explosive gases which cancause personal injury. Therefore, do notallow flames, sparks or lightedsubstances to come near the battery.When working near the battery, alwaysshield your face and protect your eyes.Always provide correct ventilation.
WARNING: When lifting aplastic-cased battery, excessive pressureon the end walls could cause acid to flowthrough the vent caps, resulting inpersonal injury and damage to thevehicle or battery. Lift the battery with abattery carrier or with your hands onopposite corners.
WARNING: Keep batteries out ofreach of children. Batteries containsulfuric acid. Avoid contact with skin,eyes or clothing. Shield your eyes whenworking near the battery to protectagainst possible splashing of acidsolution. In case of acid contact with skinor eyes, flush immediately with water fora minimum of 15 minutes and get promptmedical attention. If acid is swallowed,call a physician immediately.
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•Climate control.
•Heated steering wheel.
•Audio unit.
•Navigation system.
A message may appear in the informationdisplay to alert you that battery protectionactions are active. This message is only fornotification that an action is taking place,and not intended to indicate an electricalproblem or that the battery requiresreplacement.
After battery replacement, or in somecases after charging the battery with anexternal charger, the battery managementsystem requires eight hours of vehicle sleeptime to relearn the battery state of charge.During this time, your vehicle must remainfully locked with the ignition switched off.
Note:Prior to relearning the battery stateof charge, the battery management systemmay temporarily disable some electricalsystems.
Electrical Accessory Installation
To make sure the battery managementsystem works correctly, do not connect anelectrical device ground connectiondirectly to the battery negative post. Thiscan cause inaccurate measurements ofthe battery condition and potentialincorrect system operation.
Note:If you add electrical accessories orcomponents to the vehicle, it may adverselyaffect battery performance and durability.This may also affect the performance ofother electrical systems in the vehicle.
Remove and Reinstall the Battery
Install a battery approved for use by ourspecifications. See Capacities andSpecifications (page 378).
To disconnect or remove the battery, dothe following:
1.Apply the parking brake and switch theignition off.
2.Switch all electrical equipment off, forexample lights and radio.
3.Wait a minimum of two minutes beforedisconnecting the battery.
Note:The engine management system hasa power hold function and remains poweredfor a period of time after you switch theignition off. This is to allow the system tostore diagnostic and adaptive tables.Disconnecting the battery without waitingcan cause damage not covered by thevehicle warranty.
4.Disconnect the negative battery cableterminal.
5.Disconnect the positive battery cableterminal.
6.Remove the battery securing clamp.
7.Remove the battery.
8.To install, reverse the removalprocedure.
Note:Before reconnecting the battery,make sure the ignition remains switched off.
Note:Make sure to fully tighten the batterycables.
If you disconnect or replace the vehiclebattery, you must reset the followingfeatures:
•Window bounce-back. See PowerWindows (page 94).
•Clock Settings.
•Pre-set radio stations.
Battery Disposal
Make sure that you dispose ofold batteries in anenvironmentally friendly way.Seek advice from your local authorityabout recycling old batteries.
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•Climate control.
•Heated steering wheel.
•Audio unit.
•Navigation system.
A message may appear in the informationdisplay to alert you that battery protectionactions are active. This message is only fornotification that an action is taking place,and not intended to indicate an electricalproblem or that the battery requiresreplacement.
After battery replacement, or in somecases after charging the battery with anexternal charger, the battery managementsystem requires eight hours of vehicle sleeptime to relearn the battery state of charge.During this time, your vehicle must remainfully locked with the ignition switched off.
Note:Prior to relearning the battery stateof charge, the battery management systemmay temporarily disable some electricalsystems.
Electrical Accessory Installation
To make sure the battery managementsystem works correctly, do not connect anelectrical device ground connectiondirectly to the battery negative post. Thiscan cause inaccurate measurements ofthe battery condition and potentialincorrect system operation.
Note:If you add electrical accessories orcomponents to the vehicle, it may adverselyaffect battery performance and durability.This may also affect the performance ofother electrical systems in the vehicle.
Remove and Reinstall the Battery
Install a battery approved for use by ourspecifications. See Capacities andSpecifications (page 378).
To disconnect or remove the battery, dothe following:
1.Apply the parking brake and switch theignition off.
2.Switch all electrical equipment off, forexample lights and radio.
3.Wait a minimum of two minutes beforedisconnecting the battery.
Note:The engine management system hasa power hold function and remains poweredfor a period of time after you switch theignition off. This is to allow the system tostore diagnostic and adaptive tables.Disconnecting the battery without waitingcan cause damage not covered by thevehicle warranty.
4.Disconnect the negative battery cableterminal.
5.Disconnect the positive battery cableterminal.
6.Remove the battery securing clamp.
7.Remove the battery.
8.To install, reverse the removalprocedure.
Note:Before reconnecting the battery,make sure the ignition remains switched off.
Note:Make sure to fully tighten the batterycables.
If you disconnect or replace the vehiclebattery, you must reset the followingfeatures:
•Window bounce-back. See PowerWindows (page 94).
•Clock Settings.
•Pre-set radio stations.
Battery Disposal
Make sure that you dispose ofold batteries in anenvironmentally friendly way.Seek advice from your local authorityabout recycling old batteries.
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CLEANING THE INSTRUMENT
PANEL AND INSTRUMENT
CLUSTER LENS
WARNING: Do not use chemicalsolvents or strong detergents whencleaning the steering wheel orinstrument panel to avoid contaminationof the airbag system.
Note:Follow the same procedure ascleaning leather seats for cleaning leatherinstrument panels and leather interior trimsurfaces. See Cleaning Leather Seats(page 343).
Clean the instrument panel and clusterlens with a clean, damp and soft cloth,then use a clean, dry and soft cloth to drythese areas.
•Avoid cleaners or polishes that increasethe gloss of the upper portion of theinstrument panel. The dull finish in thisarea helps protect you fromundesirable windshield reflection.
•Do not use any household cleaningproducts or glass cleaners as thesemay damage the finish of theinstrument panel, interior trim andcluster lens.
•Wash or wipe your hands clean if youhave been in contact with certainproducts such as insect repellent andsuntan lotion to avoid possible damageto the interior painted surfaces.
•Do not allow air fresheners and handsanitizers to spill onto interior surfaces.If a spill occurs, wipe off immediately.Your warranty may not cover thesedamages.
If a staining liquid like coffee or juice hasbeen spilled on the instrument panel or oninterior trim surfaces:
1.Wipe up spilled liquid using a clean,soft cloth as quickly as possible.
2.Use Motorcraft Premium Leather andVinyl Cleaner or a commerciallyavailable leather cleaning product forautomotive interiors. Test any cleaneror stain remover on an inconspicuousarea.
3.Alternatively, wipe the surface with aclean, soft cloth and a mild soap andwater solution. Dry the area with aclean, soft cloth.
4.If necessary, apply more soap andwater solution or cleaning product toa clean, soft cloth and press it onto thesoiled area. Allow this to set at roomtemperature for 30 minutes.
5.Remove the soaked cloth, then with aclean, damp cloth, use a rubbingmotion for 60 seconds on the soiledarea.
6.Dry the area with a clean, soft cloth.
CLEANING LEATHER SEATS
Note:Follow the same procedure ascleaning leather seats for cleaning leatherinstrument panels and leather interior trimsurfaces.
For routine cleaning, wipe the surface witha soft, damp cloth and a mild soap andwater solution. Dry the area with a clean,soft cloth.
For cleaning and removing stains such asdye transfer, use Motorcraft PremiumLeather and Vinyl Cleaner or acommercially available leather cleaningproduct for automotive interiors.
Note:Test any cleaner or stain remover onan inconspicuous area.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
The recommended tire inflation pressuresare found on the Tire Label which islocated on the B-pillar or the edge of thedriver door. This information can also befound on the Safety ComplianceCertification Label, affixed to either thedoor hinge pillar, door-latch post, or thedoor edge that meets the door-latch post,next to the driver’s seating position.
We strongly recommend maintaining thesetire pressures at all times. Failure to followthe tire pressure recommendations cancause uneven treadwear patterns, reducedfuel economy, and adversely affect theway your vehicle handles.
Note:Check and set the tire pressure at theambient temperature in which you areintending to drive your vehicle and when thetires are cold.
Note:Check your tire pressures at leastonce per month.
If your vehicle has a spare tire, set thepressure to the highest value given for yourvehicle and tire size combination.
Use only approved wheels and tire sizes;using other sizes could damage yourvehicle.
If you change the diameter of the factoryinstalled tires, the speedometer coulddisplay the incorrect speed. This couldeffect the functionality of the 4WD system(if equipped). Take your vehicle to anauthorized dealer and have the enginemanagement system reprogrammed.
If you intend to change the size of thefactory installed tires, check the suitabilitywith an authorized dealer.
Additional information related to thefunctionality and maintenance of your tirescan be found in the Wheels and Tiresection. See Tire Care (page 349).
Self-Sealing Tires (If Equipped)
Self-Sealing tires are a special type of tirethat have a material on the inside of thetire that can seal punctures up to 0.2 in(6 mm) in diameter in the tread area. Thismaterial does not protect from damage orpunctures in the sidewall of the tire.Self-sealing tires can be identified by thetire manufacturer with a special mark.
If your TPMS warning light comes on,inspect your tires for damage and re-inflateyour tires to the pressure indicated on thetire placard. See Tire PressureMonitoring System (page 364). If yourtires are damaged or continue to lose air,take your vehicle to the nearest authorizeddealer to have your tires inspected andrepaired/replaced as necessary.
Note:Replace self-sealing tires withself-sealing tires to maintain thefunctionality provided.
Note:Do not drive on a deflatedself-sealing tire. This damages the tirebeyond repair.
Notice to utility vehicle and truckowners
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.
WARNING: In a rollover crash, anunbelted person is significantly morelikely to die than a person wearing aseatbelt.
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Utility vehicles and trucks handledifferently than passenger cars in thevarious driving conditions that areencountered on streets, highways andoff-road. Utility vehicles and trucks are notdesigned for cornering at speeds as highas passenger cars any more than low-slungsports cars are designed to performsatisfactorily under off-road conditions.
Study your owner's manual and anysupplements for specific information aboutequipment features, instructions for safedriving and additional precautions toreduce the risk of an accident or seriousinjury.
Four-Wheel Drive system (ifequipped)
WARNING: Do not becomeoverconfident in the ability of four-wheeldrive vehicles. Although a four-wheeldrive vehicle may accelerate better thana two-wheel drive vehicle in low tractionsituations, it won't stop any faster thantwo-wheel drive vehicles. Always driveat a safe speed.
A vehicle equipped with Four-Wheel Drivehas the ability to use all four wheels topower itself. This increases traction whichmay enable you to safely drive over terrainand road conditions that a conventionaltwo-wheel drive vehicle cannot. Power issupplied to all four wheels through atransfer case. Four-wheel drive vehiclesallow you to select different modes asnecessary. You can find more informationon transfer case operation, drive modeselection, and transfer case maintenancein this manual. See Four-Wheel Drive(page 203). You should become thoroughlyfamiliar with this information before youoperate your vehicle.
We recommend installing the temporaryspare wheel and tire on the front axle whenpossible. This could provide limited 4WDtraction.
Four-wheel drive: Never use a spare tire ofa different size than the one provided withyour vehicle. This could cause thefour-wheel drive system to default torear-wheel drive.
How your vehicle differs fromother vehicles
Sport utility vehicles and trucks can differfrom some other vehicles in a fewnoticeable ways. Your vehicle may be:
•Higher - to allow higher load carryingcapacity and to allow it to travel overrough terrain without getting hung upor damaging underbody components.
•Shorter - to give it the capability toapproach inclines and drive over thecrest of a hill without getting hung upor damaging underbody components.All other things held equal, a shorterwheelbase may make your vehiclequicker to respond to steering inputsthan a vehicle with a longer wheelbase.
•Narrower - to provide greatermaneuverability in tight spaces,particularly in off-road use.
As a result of the above dimensionaldifferences, sport utility vehicles and trucksoften have a higher center of gravity and agreater difference in center of gravitybetween the loaded and unloadedcondition. These differences that makeyour vehicle so versatile also make ithandle differently than an ordinarypassenger car.
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WARNING: Snow tires must be thesame size, load index and speed ratingas those originally provided by Ford. Useof any tire or wheel not recommendedby Ford can affect the safety andperformance of your vehicle, which couldresult in an increased risk of loss ofcontrol, vehicle rollover, personal injuryand death. Additionally, the use ofnon-recommended tires and wheels cancause steering, suspension, axle, transfercase or power transfer unit failure.Follow the Ford recommended tireinflation pressure found on the SafetyCompliance Certification Label (on thedoor hinge pillar, door latch post or thedoor edge that meets the door latchpost, next to the driver seat), or TireLabel on the B-Pillar or the edge of thedriver door. Failure to follow the tirepressure recommendations can causeuneven treadwear patterns andadversely affect the way your vehiclehandles.
USING SNOW CHAINS
WARNING: Do not exceed 30 mph(50 km/h). Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in the loss ofcontrol of your vehicle, personal injury ordeath.
WARNING: Do not use snow chainson snow-free roads.
WARNING: Only fit snow chains tospecified tires.
WARNING: If your vehicle is fittedwith wheel trims, remove them beforefitting snow chains.
Only use snow chains on rear wheels.Install snow chains in pairs. Do not useself-tensioning snow chains.
Only use snow chains on the followingspecified tire sizes:
•255/60R18
•Only install chains that are 10 mmor less.
•255/65R18
•Only install chains that are 10 mmor less.
•265/60R18
•Only install chains that are 10 mmor less.
•255/55R20
•Only install chains that are 10 mmor less.
We recommend you use steel wheels ofthe same size and specification if snowchains are required because chains maychip aluminum wheels.
Follow these guidelines when using snowtires and traction devices:
•If possible, avoid fully loading yourvehicle.
•Purchase snow chains from amanufacturer that clearly labels bodyto tire dimension restrictions.
•When driving with snow chains do notexceed 30 mph (50 km/h) or themaximum speed recommended by thechain manufacturer, whichever is less.
•Drive cautiously. If you hear the snowchains rub or bang against the vehicle,stop and tighten them. If this does notwork, remove the snow chains toprevent vehicle damage.
•Remove the snow chains when theyare no longer needed. Do not use snowchains on dry roads.
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11.Set all four tires to the recommendedair pressure as indicated on theSafety Compliance CertificationLabel, affixed to either the door hingepillar, door-latch post, or the dooredge that meets the door-latch post,next to the driver seating position orTire Label located on the B-Pillar orthe edge of the driver door.
CHANGING A ROAD WHEEL
WARNING: If the tire pressuremonitor sensor becomes damaged itmay not function.
Note:You should only use tire sealants inroadside emergencies as they may causedamage to the tire pressure monitoringsystem sensor.
Note:The tire pressure monitoring systemindicator light illuminates when the sparetire is in use. To restore the full function ofthe monitoring system, all road wheelsequipped with tire pressure monitoringsensors must be mounted on the vehicle.
If you get a flat tire when driving, do notapply the brake heavily. Instead, graduallydecrease your speed. Hold the steeringwheel firmly and slowly move to a safeplace on the side of the road.
Have a flat serviced by an authorizeddealer in order to prevent damage to thetire pressure monitoring system sensors.See Tire Pressure Monitoring System(page 364). Replace the spare tire with aroad tire as soon as possible. Duringrepairing or replacing of the flat tire, havethe authorized dealer inspect the tirepressure monitoring system sensor fordamage.
Dissimilar Spare Wheel and TireAssembly Information
WARNING: Failure to follow theseguidelines could result in an increasedrisk of loss of vehicle control, injury ordeath.
If you have a dissimilar spare wheel andtire, then it is intended for temporary useonly. This means that if you need to use it,you should replace it as soon as possiblewith a road wheel and tire assembly thatis the same size and type as the road tiresand wheels that were originally providedby us. If the dissimilar spare tire or wheelis damaged, you should replace it ratherthan repair it.
A dissimilar spare wheel and tire assemblyis defined as a spare wheel and tireassembly that is different in brand, size orappearance from the road tires and wheelsand can be one of three types:
1.T-type mini-spare: This spare tirebegins with the letter T for tire size andmay have Temporary Use Only molded inthe sidewall.
2.Full-size dissimilar spare with labelon wheel: This spare tire has a label onthe wheel that states: THIS WHEEL ANDTIRE ASSEMBLY FOR TEMPORARY USEONLY.
When driving with one of the dissimilarspare tires listed above, do not:
•Exceed 50 mph (80 km/h).
•Load the vehicle beyond maximumvehicle load rating listed on the SafetyCompliance Label.
•Tow a trailer.
•Use snow chains on the end of thevehicle with the dissimilar spare tire.
•Use more than one dissimilar spare tireat a time.
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WARNING: Do not work on yourvehicle when the jack is the only supportas your vehicle could slip off the jack.Failure to follow this instruction couldresult in personal injury or death.
WARNING: Use only the specifiedjacking points. If you use other positions,you may damage the body, steering,suspension, engine, braking system orthe fuel lines.
WARNING: Never place anythingbetween the vehicle jack and yourvehicle.
WARNING: Never place anythingbetween the vehicle jack and the ground.
WARNING: Park your vehicle sothat you do not obstruct the flow oftraffic or place yourself in any danger andset up a warning triangle.
WARNING: Do not attempt tochange a tire on the side of the vehicleclose to moving traffic. Pull far enoughoff the road to avoid the danger of beinghit when operating the jack or changingthe wheel.
Note:Passengers should not remain in yourvehicle when the vehicle is being jacked.
Note:Jack at the specified locations toavoid damage to the vehicle.
Note:No maintenance or additionallubrication of your jack is required over theservice life of your vehicle.
1.Park on a level surface, set the parkingbrake and switch on the hazardflashers.
2.Apply the parking brake, place thetransmission in park (P) or reverse (R)for manual transmission. Turn theengine off.
3.If your vehicle has air suspension, usethe touch screen to switch on the AirSuspension Service Mode prior tojacking.
4.Block the wheel diagonally oppositethe flat tire. For example, if the leftfront tire is flat, block the right rearwheel.
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Switching Automatic System UpdatesOn
Select the settings option on thefeature bar.
1.Select Automatic Updates.
2.Switch Automatic System Updateson.
The system is now set to check for andreceive system updates when it isconnected to a Wi-Fi network.
Note:You can use the system when adownload is in progress.
Note:If the system is disconnected fromthe Wi-Fi network when a download is inprogress, the download continues the nexttime the system is connected to a Wi-Finetwork.
Additional Information andAssistance
For additional information and assistance,we recommend that you contact anauthorized dealer or refer to the local Fordwebsite.
USING VOICE RECOGNITION
The system allows you to interact with theentertainment, information andcommunication systems on your vehicleusing voice commands. This allows youto keep your hands on the steering wheeland focus on what is in front of you.
Press the voice control buttonon the steering wheel and waitfor the voice prompt.
Note:Press the voice control button againto interrupt a voice prompt and beginspeaking.
Note:Turn the volume control when a voiceprompt plays to adjust the volume.
Note:Press and hold the voice controlbutton on the steering wheel to use Siri onyour iOS device.
The following voice commands aredesigned to help you from any screen:
•List of Commands
•Help
The following tables list some of the morefrequently used voice commands. For acomplete list of voice commands, refer toour website.
General
DescriptionVoice Command
Get a list of voice commands for a specific feature.1___ List of Commands
Cancel an active voice session.Cancel
Get a list of voice commands for a specific feature.1___ Help
Return to the previous screen.Go back
Go to the main menu.Main Menu
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