Get Driver Controls -> MESSAGE CENTER (IF EQUIPPED) Guide for Ford Explorer SUV Third Generation (2002-2005)

Driver Controls

MESSAGE CENTER (IF EQUIPPED)

With the ignition in the ON position,

the message center, located on your

instrument cluster, displays

important vehicle information

through a constant monitor of

vehicle systems. You may select

display features on the message center for a display of status preceded

by a brief indicator chime. The system will also notify you of potential

vehicle problems with a display of system warnings followed by a long

indicator chime.

Selectable features

Reset

Press this control to select and reset

functions shown in the INFO menu

and SETUP menu.

Info menu

This control displays the following

control displays:

• Odometer/Compass

• Trip odometer/Odometer/Compass

• Average Fuel Economy

• Trip Elapsed Drive Time

• Distance to Empty

Odometer/Trip odometer

Refer to Gauges in the Instrument Cluster chapter.

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Compass display

The compass reading may be affected when you drive near large

buildings, bridges, power lines and powerful broadcast antenna. Magnetic

or metallic objects placed in, on or near the vehicle may also affect

compass accuracy.

Usually, when something affects the compass readings, the compass will

correct itself after a few days of operating your vehicle in normal

conditions. If the compass still appears to be inaccurate, a manual

calibration may be necessary. Refer to Compass zone/calibration

adjustment.

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 to Compass zone/calibration adjustment.

Compass zone/calibration adjustment

Perform this adjustment 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. Turn ignition to the ON position.

2. Start the engine.

3. Determine your magnetic zone by

referring to the zone map.

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4

1

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4. From Info menu, select the

Compass/Odometer function. (Do

not select Trip, DTE, or AFE. The

top of the message center must be

blank).

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5

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6

7 8 91011

5. Press and hold the RESET and

SETUP control until the message

center display changes to show the

current zone setting.

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6. Release the RESET AND SETUP

control, then slowly press RESET

down again.

7. Press the SETUP control

repeatedly until the correct zone

setting for your geographic location is displayed on the message center.

To exit the zone setting mode press and release the RESET control.

8. Press the RESET control to start

the compass calibration function.

9. Slowly drive the vehicle in a

circle (less than 5 km/h [3 mph])

until the CIRCLE SLOWLY TO

CALIBRATE indicator changes to

CALIBRATION COMPLETED. This

will take up to three circles to complete calibration.

10. The compass is now calibrated.

Average fuel economy (AFE)

Select this function from the INFO

menu to display your average fuel

economy in liters/100 km or

miles/U.S. gallon.

If you calculate your average fuel

economy by dividing liters of fuel used by 100 kilometers traveled (miles

traveled by gallons used), your figure may be different than displayed for

the following reasons:

• Your vehicle was not perfectly level during fill-up

• Differences in the automatic shut-off points on the fuel pumps at

service stations

• Variations in top-off procedure from one fill-up to another

• Rounding of the displayed values to the nearest 0.1 liter (gallon)

1. Drive the vehicle at least 8 km (5 miles) with the speed control

system engaged to display a stabilized average.

2. Record the highway fuel economy for future reference.

It is important to press the RESET control after setting the speed

control to get accurate highway fuel economy readings.

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Average fuel economy for FFV-equipped vehicles

Upon refueling, your vehicle must determine the percentage of Ethanol

in the fuel. For the first several minutes, or few miles of driving, the

message CALCULATING FUEL will appear in the message center. The

correct fuel economy will appear within approximately five miles of

driving.

Trip elapsed drive time

Select this function from the INFO

menu to display a timer.

To operate the Trip Elapsed Drive

Time perform the following:

1. Press and release RESET in order

to start the timer.

2. Press and release RESET to pause the timer.

3. Press and hold RESET for 2 seconds in order to reset the timer.

Distance to empty (DTE)

Selecting this function from the

INFO menu estimates approximately

how far you can drive with the fuel

remaining in your tank under

normal driving conditions.

Remember to turn the ignition OFF when refueling to allow this feature

to correctly detect the added fuel.

The DTE function will display LOW FUEL LEVEL and sound a tone for

one second when you have approximately 80 km (50 miles) to empty. If

you RESET this warning message, this display and tone will return

within 10 minutes.

DTE is calculated using a running average fuel economy, which is based

on your recent driving history of 800 km (500miles). This value is not

the same as the average fuel economy display. The running average fuel

economy is reinitialized to a factory default value if the battery is

disconnected.

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Setup menu

Press this control for the following

displays:

• Autolock

• Easy Entry/Exit

• Autolamp Delay

• Language

• Units (English/Metric)

• System Check

• Oil Change

Autolocks

1. Select this function from the

SETUP control for the current

display mode.

2. Press the RESET control to turn

the autolocks ON or OFF.

Easy entry/exit (if equipped)

1. Select this function from the

SETUP control for the current

display mode.

2. Press the RESET control to turn

the easy entry/exit feature ON or

OFF. For more information refer to Memory Seat and Pedals in the

Seating and Safety Restraints chapter.

Autolamp delay

1. Select this function from the

SETUP control for the current

display mode.

2. Press the RESET control to select

the autolamp delay time.

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Language

1. Select this function from the

SETUP menu for the current

language to be displayed.

2. Pressing the RESET control

cycles the message center through

each of the language choices.

3. Press and hold the RESET

control to set the language choice.

Units (English/Metric)

1. Select this function from the

SETUP menu for the current units

to be displayed.

2. Press the RESET control to

change from English to Metric.

System check

Selecting this function from the

SETUP menu causes the message

center to cycle through each of the

systems being monitored. For each

of the monitored systems, the

message center will indicate either an OK message or a warning message

for three seconds.

Pressing the RESET control cycles the message center through each of

the systems being monitored.

The sequence of the system check report and how it appears in the

message center is as follows:

1. FUEL LEVEL

2. WASHER FLUID LEVEL

3. OIL LIFE IN XX%

4. ENGINE TEMP

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5. OIL PRESSURE

6. TIRE PRESSURE SYSTEM (if equipped)

7. BRAKE FLUID LEVEL

8. CHARGING SYSTEM

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 several

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.

Warning messages that have been reset are divided into three categories:

• They will reappear on the display every minute from the reset.

• They will reappear on the display ten minutes from the reset.

• They will not reappear until an ignition OFF-ON cycle has been

completed.

This acts as a reminder that these warning conditions still exist within

the vehicle.

Warning display

Check engine temperature

Transmission overheated

Check transmission

Low fuel level

Status

Warning returns after 10 minutes

Check fuel cap

Check charging system

Low brake fluid level

Low oil pressure

Warning-tire very low (if

equipped)

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Warning display

Check tire pressure (if

equipped)

Status

Warning returns after the ignition key

is turned from OFF to ON.

Tire pressure monitor fault (if

equipped)

Tire pressure sensor fault (if

equipped)

Check AdvanceTrac௢ (if

equipped)

Advtrac off t/c on (if equipped)

Low washer fluid level

Door ajar

Change oil soon

Oil change required

CHECK ENGINE TEMPERATURE. Displayed when the engine

coolant is overheating. Stop the vehicle as soon as safely possible, turn

off the engine and let it cool. Check the coolant and coolant level. Refer

to Engine coolant in the Maintenance and specifications chapter. If

the warning stays on or continues to come on, contact your dealer as

soon as possible.

TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED. Indicates the transmission is

overheating. This warning may appear when towing heavy loads or when

driving in a low gear at a high speed for an extended period of time.

Stop the vehicle as soon as safely possible, turn off the engine and let it

cool. Refer to Transmission fluid in the Maintenance and

specifications chapter. If the warning stays on or continues to come on,

contact your dealer for transmission service as soon as possible.

CHECK TRANSMISSION. Indicates the transmission is not operating

properly. If this warning stays on, contact your dealer as soon as

possible.

LOW FUEL LEVEL. Displayed as an early reminder of a low fuel

condition.

CHECK FUEL CAP. Displayed when the fuel filler cap is not properly

installed. Check the fuel filler cap for proper installation. Refer to Fuel

filler cap in the Maintenance and specifications chapter.

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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 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.

LOW BRAKE FLUID LEVEL. Indicates the brake fluid level is low and

the brake system should be inspected immediately. Refer to Checking

and adding brake fluid in the Maintenance and specifications

chapter.

LOW OIL PRESSURE. Displayed when the engine oil level is low. If

this warning message is displayed, check the level of the engine oil.

Refer to Engine oil in the Maintenance and specifications chapter for

information about adding engine oil.

WARNING-TIRE VERY LOW (if equipped). Displayed when one or

more tires have very low pressure. When this warning message is

displayed, a warning chime will sound reminding you to stop the vehicle

as soon as safely possible and check your tires for proper pressure, leaks

and damage. Refer to Servicing your tires in the Maintenance and

specifications chapter.

CHECK TIRE PRESSURE (if equipped). Displayed when any of the

tire pressures are low. Refer to Checking the tire pressure in the

Maintenance and specifications chapter.

TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR FAULT (if equipped). Displayed when

the Tire pressure monitoring system is malfunctioning. If the warning

stays on or continues to come on, have the system checked by your

dealer.

TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR FAULT (if equipped). Displayed when a

Tire pressure sensor is malfunctioning. If the warning stays on or

continues to come on, have the system checked by your dealer.

LOW WASHER FLUID LEVEL. Indicates the washer fluid reservoir is

less than one quarter full. Check the washer fluid level. Refer to

Windshield washer fluid in the Maintenance and specifications

chapter.

CHECK ADVANCETRAC௢ (if equipped). Displayed when the

AdvanceTrac௢ system is not operating properly. If this message is

displayed on the message center the AdvanceTrac௢ system will be

partially operable. If this warning stays on while the engine is running,

contact your dealer for service as soon as possible. For further

information, refer to AdvanceTrac௢ stability enhancement system in

the Driving chapter.

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ADVTRAC OFF T/C ON. Displayed on 4x4 vehicles only when 4x4 Low

Range is selected. In this mode, the stability enhancement portion of the

AdvanceTrac௢ is disabled, but the traction enhancement feature remains

enabled. For further information, refer to AdvanceTrac௢ stability

enhancement system in the Driving chapter.

DOOR AJAR. Displayed when a door or liftgate is not completely

closed.

CHANGE OIL SOON/OIL CHANGE REQUIRED. Displayed when the

engine oil life remaining is 5 percent or less. When oil life left is between

5% and 0%, the CHANGE OIL SOON message will be displayed. When oil

life left reaches 0%, the OIL CHANGE REQUIRED message will be

displayed.

An oil change is required whenever indicated by the message center.

USE ONLY RECOMMENDED ENGINE OILS.

To reset the oil monitoring system to 100% after each oil change

[approximately 8,000 km (5,000 miles) or 180 days] perform the

following:

1. Press the SETUP control to

access the System Check function.

2. Press and release the RESET

control to display “OIL LIFE XX%

HOLD RESET NEW”.

3. Press and hold the RESET

control for 2 seconds to display “IF

NEW OIL HOLD RESET”.

4. Press and hold the RESET

control to display OIL LIFE SET TO

100%. Your oil life is now reset.

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To reset the oil monitoring system to your personalized oil life %:

1. Press the SETUP control to

access the System Check function.

2. Press and release the RESET

control to display “OIL LIFE XX%

HOLD RESET NEW”.

3. Press and hold the RESET

control for 2 seconds to display “IF

NEW OIL HOLD RESET”.

4. Release the RESET control

momentarily, then press RESET and

SETUP controls at the same time to

activate a service mode which will

display OIL LIFE XX% RESET TO

ALTER.

5. Press RESET until you find your personalized OIL LIFE XX%.

6. With your personalized OIL LIFE XX% displayed, press SETUP to

continue the system check.

TIRE PRESSURE SYSTEM OFF (if equipped). Displayed when the

tire pressure monitoring system is turned off. Only your dealer can turn

the system on or off. It is recommended that the tire pressure

monitoring system is always turned ON.

DATA ERR. These messages indicate improper operation of the vehicle

network communication between electronic modules.

• Fuel computer

• Oil life

• Washer fluid

• Brake fluid

• Compass

• Charging system

• Door sensor

• Outside temperature

• Engine sensor

Contact your dealer as soon as possible if these messages occur on a

regular basis.

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Driver Controls -> MESSAGE CENTER (IF EQUIPPED) for Your Ford Explorer SUV Third Generation (2002-2005)

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