FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC 2008 Owners Manual
Manufacturer: FORD, Model Year: 2008, Model line: EXPLORER SPORT TRAC, Model: FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC 2008Pages: 368, PDF Size: 3.27 MB
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Most geographic areas (zones) have a magnetic north compass point that
varies slightly from the northerly direction on maps. This variation is four
degrees between adjacent zones and will become noticeable as the
vehicle crosses multiple zones. A correct zone setting will eliminate this
error. Refer toCompass zone/calibration adjustment.
Note:Compass zone and calibration adjustments can be entered by
using the INFO and SETUP MENU controls or using the reset button on
top of the compass sensor mounted behind the mirror.
Compass zone adjustment (if equipped)
1. Determine your magnetic zone by
referring to the zone map.
2. Turn ignition to the ON position.
3. Start the engine.
4. From SETUP menu, select
compass zone.
5. Press RESET control until the
message center display changes to
show the current zone setting (XX).
6. Press the RESET control
repeatedly until the correct zone
setting for your geographic location
is displayed on the message center.
The range of zone values are from
01 to 15 and “wraps” back to 01.
1 2 3
4
5
6 7 8 9 101112 13 14 15
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7. Wait 4 seconds when correct zone
is chosen.
Compass calibration adjustment (if equipped)
Perform compass calibration in an open area free from steel structures
and high voltage lines. For optimum calibration, turn off all electrical
accessories (heater/air conditioning, wipers, etc.) and make sure all
vehicle doors are shut.
1. From the SETUP menu, press the
SETUP control to select the
compass calibration function.
2. Press RESET for calibration.
3. Slowly drive the vehicle in a
circle (less than 3 mph [5 km/h])
until the CIRCLE SLOWLY TO
CALIBRATE display changes to
CALIBRATION COMPLETE. It will
take up to five circles to complete
calibration.
4. The compass is now calibrated.
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![FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC 2008 Owners Manual Oil life Setup and Start Value
To reset the oil monitoring system to 100% after each oil change
[approximately 7,500 miles (12,070 km) or 6 months] perform the following:
1. Press RESET control to dis FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC 2008 Owners Manual Oil life Setup and Start Value
To reset the oil monitoring system to 100% after each oil change
[approximately 7,500 miles (12,070 km) or 6 months] perform the following:
1. Press RESET control to dis](/img/11/58760/w960_58760-132.png)
Oil life Setup and Start Value
To reset the oil monitoring system to 100% after each oil change
[approximately 7,500 miles (12,070 km) or 6 months] perform the following:
1. Press RESET control to display
“HOLD RESET IF NEW OIL”.
2. Press and hold the RESET control
for more than 2 seconds. Oil life is
set to 100% and “OIL CHANGE SET
TO 100%” is displayed.
Note:To change oil life 100% miles
value from 7,500 miles (12,070 km)
or 6 months to another value,
proceed to step 3.
3. Once “OIL LIFE SET TO XXX%”
is displayed, release and press the
RESET control switch to change the
Oil Life Start Value. Each release
and press will reduce the value by
10 percent.
Note:Oil Life Start Value of 100%
equals 7,500 miles (12,070 km) or 6
months. For example, setting Oil Life Start Value to 60% sets the Oil Life
Start Value to 3,000 miles (4,828 km) and 120 days.
System warnings
System warnings alert you to possible problems or malfunctions in your
vehicle’s operating systems.
In the event of a multiple warning situation, the message center will cycle
the display to show all warnings by displaying each one for 4 seconds.
The message center will display the last selected feature if there are no
more warning messages. This allows you to use the full functionality of
the message center after you acknowledge the warning by pressing the
RESET control and clearing the warning message.
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Warning messages are divided into four categories:
•They cannot be cleared until the condition is corrected.
•They will reappear on the display ten minutes from the reset if the
condition has not been corrected.
•They will not reappear until an ignition OFF-ON cycle has been
completed.
•They reappear if the condition clears then reoccurs within the same
ignition ON-OFF cycle.
This acts as a reminder that these warning conditions still exist within
the vehicle.
Warning display Status
Door ajar Warning cannot be reset
Fuel level low Warning returns after 10
minutes
Park brake engaged
Check brake system
Check park aid (if equipped) Warning returns only after
the ignition key is turned
from OFF to ON. Brake fluid level low
Check headlamp
Check highbeam lamp
Check turn lamp
Washer fluid level low
Oil change required
Engine oil change soon
Clear objects by pass seat Warning returns after the
condition has cleared then
reoccurs within the same
ignition ON-OFF cycle. Check charging system
Low tire pressure
Tire monitor fault
Tire sensor fault
For 4x4 low stop vehicle (if equipped) Temporary alert
For 4x4 low shift to N (if equipped)
To exit 4x4 low stop vehicle (if equipped)
To exit 4x4 low shift to N (if equipped)
DOOR AJAR.Displayed when a door is not completely closed.
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CLEAR OBJECTS BY PASS SEAT.Displayed when objects are by the
passenger seat. After the objects are moved away from the seat, if the
warning stays on or continues to come on contact your authorized dealer.
CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM.Displayed when the electrical system is
not maintaining proper voltage. If you are operating electrical accessories
when the engine is idling at a low speed, turn off as many of the
electrical loads as soon as possible. If the warning stays on or comes on
when the engine is operating at normal speeds, have the electrical
system checked as soon as possible.
FUEL LEVEL LOW.Displayed as an early reminder of a low fuel condition.
PARK BRAKE ENGAGED.Displayed when the manual park brake is
set, the engine is running and the vehicle is driven more than 3 mph (5
km/h). If the warning stays on after the park brake is released, contact
your authorized dealer as soon as possible.
CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM.Displayed when the braking system is not
operating properly. If the warning stays on or continues to come on,
contact your authorized dealer as soon as possible.
CHECK PARK AID (if equipped).Displayed when the transmission is
in R (Reverse) and the Reverse Sensing System (Park Aid) is disabled.
Refer toReverse Sensing System (Park Aid)in this section to enable.
LOW TIRE PRESSURE.Displayed when one or more tires on your
vehicle have low tire pressure. Refer toInflating Your Tiresin the
Tires, Wheels and Loadingchapter.
TIRE MONITOR FAULT.Displayed when the Tire Pressure Monitoring
System is malfunctioning. If the warning stays on or continues to come
on, have the system inspected by your authorized dealer.
TIRE SENSOR FAULT.Displayed when a tire pressure sensor is
malfunctioning, or your spare tire is in use. For more information on how
the system operates under these conditions, refer toUnderstanding
Your Tire Pressure Monitoring Systemin theTires, Wheels and
Loadingchapter. If the warning stays on or continues to come on, have
the system inspected by your authorized dealer.
BRAKE FLUID LEVEL LOW.Indicates the brake fluid level is low and
the brake system should be inspected immediately. Refer toBrake fluid
reservoirin theMaintenance and Specificationschapter.
CHECK HEADLAMP.Displayed when the headlamps are activated and
at least one bulb is burned out. Check the lamps as soon as possible and
have the burned out lamp replaced. Refer toReplacing headlamp bulbs
in theLightschapter.
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CHECK HIGHBEAM LAMP.Displayed when the highbeam lamps are
activated and at least one bulb is burned out. Check the lamps as soon
as possible and have the burned out lamp replaced. Refer toReplacing
headlamp bulbsin theLightschapter.
CHECK TURN LAMP.Displayed when the turn lamps are activated and
at least one bulb is burned out. Check the lamps as soon as possible and
have the burned out lamp replaced. Refer toReplacing headlamp bulbs
in theLightschapter.
WASHER FLUID LEVEL LOW.Indicates the washer fluid reservoir is
less than one quarter full. Check the washer fluid level. Refer to
Windshield washer fluidin theMaintenance and Specifications
chapter.
OIL CHANGE REQUIRED.Displayed when the engine oil life
remaining is 0%.
An oil change is required whenever indicated by the message center and
according to the recommended maintenance schedule. USE ONLY
RECOMMENDED ENGINE OILS.
ENGINE OIL CHANGE SOON.Displayed when the engine oil life
reaches 5% or less of the Oil Life Start Value.
FOR 4X4 LOW STOP VEHICLE (if equipped).Displayed when 4X4
LOW is selected while the vehicle is moving. For more information, refer
toControl trac four-wheel drive (4x4) operationin theDriving
chapter.
FOR 4X4 LOW SHIFT TO N (if equipped).Displayed when 4X4 LOW
is selected and the vehicle is stopped. For more information, refer to
Control trac four-wheel drive (4x4) operationin theDrivingchapter.
TO EXIT 4X4 LOW STOP VEHICLE (if equipped).Displayed when
2WD is selected while the vehicle is operating in 4X4 LOW. For more
information, refer toControl trac four-wheel drive (4x4) operationin
theDrivingchapter.
TO EXIT 4X4 LOW SHIFT TO N (if equipped).Displayed when 2WD
is selected while the vehicle has been stopped in 4X4 LOW. For more
information, refer toControl trac four-wheel drive (4x4) operationin
theDrivingchapter.
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POSITIVE RETENTION FLOOR MAT
Do not install additional floor mats on top of the factory installed
floor mats as they may interfere with the accelerator or the
brake pedals.
Position the driver floor mat so that
the eyelet is over the pointed end of
the retention post and rotate
forward to lock in. Make sure that
the mat does not interfere with the
operation of the accelerator or the
brake pedal. To remove the floor
mat, reverse the installation
procedure.
TAILGATE LOCK
The tailgate lock is designed to help
prevent theft of the tailgate.
•Insert ignition key and turn to the
right to lock.
•Turn ignition key to the left to
unlock.
Tailgate removal
Vehicles equipped with a cap, keep passengers and pets out of
the pickup box area when vehicle is running to prevent exhaust
fumes from being drawn into the vehicle. Exhaust fumes contain
carbon monoxide which can injure your lungs and cause drowsiness
and even death.
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Your tailgate is removable to allow
more room for loading.
1. Lower the tailgate.
2. Use a screwdriver to pry the
spring clip (on each connector) past
the head of the support screw.
Disconnect cable.
3. Disconnect the other cable.
4. Lift tailgate to a 45–degree angle
from horizontal.
5. Lift right side off of its hinge.
6. Lift tailgate to a 80–degree angle from horizontal.
7. Remove tailgate from left side hinge by sliding tailgate to the right.
To install, follow the removal procedures in reverse order.
Exterior tiedown hooks
Exterior tiedown hooks mounted on
the side of the pickup box:
•can be used to secure loads
within the pickup box.
•can be used to secure half the
tonneau cover in an open
position.
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CARGO CAGE (IF EQUIPPED)
Your vehicle may be equipped with a cargo cage designed to extend the
pickup box for larger loads.
To extend the cargo cage:
1. Lower tailgate.
2. Pull the lever on each side of the
cargo cage to release it from the
pickup box.
3. Lift the cargo cage over onto the
tailgate.
4. Evenly push down on the cargo
cage and push the lever in on each
side locking it in place.
To stow the cargo cage, follow steps
one through four in reverse order.
The cargo cage may be used to
secure a load of up to 100 lb.
(46 kg) on the tailgate.
The cargo cage should always be
kept in the stowed position with
the tailgate closed when not in use.
Activating Cargo Cage Theft
Deterrent Device:
The following procedure can be
done with the cargo cage in the
stowed or extended position.
1. Locate the Phillips head screw in
the middle of the vertical brace on
the locking clip.
2. Turn the screw counterclockwise
until you hear an audible click.
3. To deactivate, turn the screw clockwise until the locking clip moves
freely.
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To remove the cargo cage:
1. Extend the cargo cage.
2. Pull the lever on each side of the
cage to unlock it.
Make sure the locking clip screws
are loose before removing the cargo
cage.
3. Press the locking clips below the
middle bar and lift the cargo cage
out of the channels on the “D” pillar.
To install the cargo cage, follow the removal procedure in reverse order.
TONNEAU COVER (IF EQUIPPED)
The tonneau cover has been designed to maximize fuel economy and
should be fully installed whenever possible.
The rear panel can be folded in half and secured behind the cab, or the
whole cover can be removed completely from the vehicle.
To avoid damage to the cover, do not operate the vehicle unless
the cover is fully installed and securely latched, or securely
stowed.
To avoid damage to the cover, do not stand, sit or load anything
on top of the cover.
The tonneau cover has been designed to be a water resistant system. A
small amount of water may drain into the pickup box with the cover
installed.
To open the front panel:
•Open the driver side lock cover
and unlock the front panel using
your ignition key.
•Lift the panel to access items in
the pickup box near the cab.
•To close, lower the panel down
on the pickup box.
Do not drive with front panel
unlocked or folded on top of the
rear panel.
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