Get Driving -> ADVANCETRAC WITH ROLL STABILITY CONTROL (RSC) STABILITY ENHANCEMENT SYSTEM Guide for Ford Explorer SUV Fifth Generation (2005-2011)

Driving

ADVANCETRACா WITH ROLL STABILITY CONTROL™ (RSCா)

STABILITY ENHANCEMENT SYSTEM

WARNING: Vehicle modifications involving braking system,

aftermarket roof racks, suspension, steering system, tire

construction and/or wheel/tire size may change the handling

characteristics of the vehicle and may adversely affect the performance

of the AdvanceTrac௡ with RSC௡ system. In addition, installing any

stereo loudspeakers may interfere with and adversely affect the

AdvanceTrac௡ with RSC௡ system. Install any aftermarket stereo

loudspeaker as far as possible from the front center console, the

tunnel, and the front seats in order to minimize the risk of interfering

with the AdvanceTrac௡ with RSC௡ sensors. Reducing the effectiveness

of the AdvanceTrac௡ with RSC௡ system could lead to an increased risk

of loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal injury and death.

WARNING: Remember that even advanced technology cannot

defy the laws of physics. It’s always possible to lose control of a

vehicle due to inappropriate driver input for the conditions. Aggressive

driving on any road condition can cause you to lose control of your

vehicle increasing the risk of personal injury or property damage.

Activation of the AdvanceTrac௡ with RSC௡ system is an indication that

at least some of the tires have exceeded their ability to grip the road;

this could reduce the operator’s ability to control the vehicle,

potentially resulting in a loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover,

personal injury and death. If your AdvanceTrac௡ with RSC௡ system

activates, SLOW DOWN.

WARNING: If a failure has been detected within the

AdvanceTrac௡ with RSC௡ system, the “sliding car” icon

will

illuminate steadily. Verify that the AdvanceTrac௡ with RSC௡ system is

not manually disabled (push the AdvanceTrac௡ with RSC௡ button

located on the center of the instrument panel). If the “sliding car”

icon

still illuminates steadily, have the system serviced by an

authorized dealer immediately. Operating your vehicle with

AdvanceTrac௡ with RSC௡ disabled could lead to an increased risk of

loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal injury and death.

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The AdvanceTrac௡ with RSC௡ system provides the following stability

enhancement features for certain driving situations:

• Traction Control System (TCS), which functions to help avoid

drive-wheel spin and loss of traction.

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC), which functions to help avoid skids

or lateral slides

• Roll Stability Control™ (RSC௡), which functions to help avoid a

vehicle roll-over.

The AdvanceTrac௡ with RSC௡ system automatically enables each time the

engine is started. All features of the AdvanceTrac௡ with RSC௡ system

(TCS, ESC, and RSC௡) are active and monitor the vehicle from start-up.

However, the system will only intervene if the driving situation requires it.

The AdvanceTrac௡ with RSC௡

system includes an AdvanceTrac௡

with RSC௡ button on the center of

the instrument panel, and a “sliding

car” icon

in the instrument

cluster. The “sliding car” icon

in

the instrument cluster will illuminate temporarily during start-up as part

of a normal system self-check, or during driving if a driving situation

causes the AdvanceTrac௡ with RSC௡ system to operate. If the “sliding

car” icon

illuminates steadily, verify that the AdvanceTrac௡ with

RSC௡ system is not manually disabled by pressing the AdvanceTrac௡

with RSC௡ button located on the center stack of the instrument panel. If

the “sliding car” icon

remains steadily illuminated, or if the message

center (if equipped) displays SERVICE RSC NOW, have the system

serviced by an authorized dealer immediately.

When AdvanceTrac௡ with RSC௡ performs a normal system self-check,

some drivers may notice a slight movement of the brake, and/or a

rumble, grunting, or grinding noise after startup and when driving off.

When an event occurs that activates AdvanceTrac௡ with RSC௡ you may

experience the following:

• A slight deceleration of the vehicle

• The “sliding car”

indicator light will flash.

• A vibration in the pedal when your foot is on the brake pedal

• If the driving condition is severe and your foot is not on the brake, the

brake pedal may move as the systems applies higher brake forces. You

may also hear a whoosh of air from under the instrument panel during

this severe condition.

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• The brake pedal may feel stiffer than usual.

Traction Control System (TCS)

The TCS is a driver aid feature that helps your vehicle maintain traction

of the wheels, typically when driving on slippery and/or hilly road

surfaces, by detecting and controlling wheel spin.

Excessive wheel spin is controlled in two ways, which may work

separately or in tandem: engine traction control and brake traction

control. Engine traction control works to limit drive-wheel spin by

momentarily reducing engine power. Brake traction control works to limit

wheel spin by momentarily applying the brakes to the wheel that is

slipping. Traction control is most active at low speeds.

During TCS events the “sliding car” icon

will flash.

in the instrument cluster

If the TCS is activated excessively in a short period of time, the braking

portion of the system may become temporarily disabled to allow the

brakes to cool down. In this situation, TCS will use only engine power

reduction or transfer to help control the wheels from over-spinning.

When the brakes have cooled down, the system will regain all features.

Anti-lock braking, RSC௡, and ESC are not affected by this condition and

will continue to function during the cool-down period.

The engine traction control and brake traction control systems may be

deactivated in certain situations. See the Switching Off AdvanceTrac௡

with RSC௡ section following.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

Electronic stability control (ESC) may enhance your vehicle’s directional

stability during adverse maneuvers, for example when cornering severely

or avoiding objects in the roadway. The ESC operates by applying brakes

to one or more of the wheels individually and, if necessary, reducing

engine power if the system detects that the vehicle is about to skid or

slide laterally.

During ESC events the “sliding car” icon

will flash.

in the instrument cluster

Certain adverse driving maneuvers may activate the ESC system, which

include but are not limited to:

• Taking a turn too fast

• Maneuvering quickly to avoid an accident, pedestrian or obstacle

• Driving over a patch of ice or other slippery surfaces

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• Changing lanes on a snow-rutted road

• Entering a snow-free road from a snow-covered side street, or vice

versa

• Entering a paved road from a gravel road, or vice versa

• Cornering while towing a heavily loaded trailer (refer to Trailer

towing in the Tires, Wheels and Loading chapter).

The ESC system may be deactivated in certain situations. See the

Switching Off AdvanceTrac௡ with RSC௡ section following.

Roll Stability Control™ (RSC௡)

Roll Stability Control™ (RSC௡) may help to maintain roll stability of the

vehicle during adverse maneuvers. The RSC௡ system operates by

detecting the vehicle’s roll motion and the rate at which it changes and

by applying the brakes to one or more wheels individually.

During an event that activates the RSC௡ system, the “sliding car”

icon

in the instrument cluster will flash.

Certain adverse driving maneuvers may activate the RSC௡ system, which

include:

• Emergency lane-change

• Taking a turn too fast

• Quick maneuvering to avoid an accident, pedestrian or obstacle

The RSC௡ system may be deactivated in certain situations. See the

Switching Off AdvanceTrac௡ with RSC௡ section following.

Switching Off AdvanceTrac௡ with RSC௡

If the vehicle is stuck in snow, mud or sand, and seems to lose engine

power, switching off certain features of the AdvanceTrac௡ with RSC௡

system may be beneficial because the wheels are allowed to spin. This

will restore full engine power and will enhance momentum through the

obstacle. To switch off the AdvanceTrac௡ with RSC௡ system press the

AdvanceTrac௡ with RSC௡ button. Full features of the AdvanceTrac௡ with

RSC௡ system can be restored by pressing the AdvanceTrac௡ with RSC௡

button again or by turning off and restarting the engine.

If you switch off the AdvanceTrac௡ with RSC௡ system, the “sliding car”

icon

will illuminate steadily. Pressing the AdvanceTrac௡ with RSC௡

button again will turn off the “sliding car” icon

.

In R (Reverse), ABS and the engine traction control and brake traction

control features will continue to function; however, ESC and RSC௡ are

disabled.

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AdvanceTrac௡ with RSC௡ Features

“Sliding

car”

icon

Engine

traction traction

control

Brake

Button

functions

RSC௡

ESC

control

Default at

start-up

Off

Enabled Enabled Enabled

Disabled Disabled Disabled

Enabled

Button

pressed

momentarily

Illuminated

solid

below

Enabled

25 mph

(40 km/h) (40 km/h) (40 km/h)

Button

Flashes

then

illuminated 25 mph

solid

Disabled Disabled Disabled Disabled

pressed and

held more

than five

seconds

below

25 mph

(40 km/h) (40 km/h) (40 km/h) (40 km/h)

Trailer Sway Control

When properly equipped, trailer sway control will use the vehicle’s

AdvanceTrac௡ with RSC௡ system to detect and help reduce trailer sway

by applying brake force at individual wheels and, if necessary, by

reducing engine power. Trailer sway control is only enabled above

40 mph (64 km/h).

WARNING: Trailer sway control does not prevent a trailer from

swaying, it mitigates the sway from increasing once it has

occurred. If you are experiencing trailer sway it is likely that the trailer

is improperly loaded for the correct tongue weight or the speed of the

vehicle and trailer is too high. Pull the vehicle-trailer over to a safe

location to check the trailer weight distribution and tongue load and

reduce speed to a safe level while towing. If trailer sway is

experienced, SLOW DOWN.

During trailer sway control events, the

icon in the instrument cluster

will flash momentarily. The message center will also display TRAILER

SWAY REDUCE SPEED. In some cases when trailer sway is detected,

the vehicle speed is too high and may be at or above a speed at which

trailer sway will grow continuously. This may cause the system to

activate multiple times, and you may experience a slight deceleration of

the vehicle.

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Disabling Trailer Sway Control

Trailer sway control can be disabled during any key cycle. Refer to

Message center in the Instrument Cluster chapter for more information.

Note that even if it was disabled before turning off the vehicle, Trailer

Sway Control will be re-enabled at each new key cycle.

WARNING: Turning off trailer sway control increases the risk of

loss of vehicle control, serious injury, or death. Ford does not

recommend disabling this feature except in situations where speed

reduction may be detrimental (e.g., hill climbing), the driver has

significant trailer towing experience, and can control trailer sway and

maintain safe operation.

STEERING

To help prevent damage to the power steering system:

• Never hold the steering wheel at its furthest turning points (until it

stops) for more than a few seconds when the engine is running

• Do not operate the vehicle with a low power steering pump fluid level

(below the MIN mark on the reservoir).

• Some noise is normal during operation. If the noise is excessive, check

for low power steering pump fluid level before seeking service by your

authorized dealer.

• Heavy or uneven steering efforts may be caused by low power steering

pump fluid level. Check for low power steering pump fluid level before

seeking service by your authorized dealer.

• Do not fill the power steering pump reservoir above the MAX mark on

the reservoir, as this may result in leaks from the reservoir.

If the power steering system breaks down (or if the engine is turned

off), you can steer the vehicle manually, but it takes more effort. If the

steering wanders or pulls, check for:

• an improperly inflated tire

• uneven tire wear

• loose or worn suspension components

• loose or worn steering components

• improper steering alignment

A high crown in the road or high crosswinds may also make the steering

seem to wander/pull.

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Driving -> ADVANCETRAC WITH ROLL STABILITY CONTROL (RSC) STABILITY ENHANCEMENT SYSTEM for Your Ford Explorer SUV Fifth Generation (2005-2011)

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