Get Lights Guide for Ford Explorer SUV Fifth Generation (2005-2011)

Lights

HEADLAMP CONTROL

Turns the lamps off.

Turns on the parking lamps,

instrument panel lamps, license

plate lamps and tail lamps.

Turns the headlamps on.

Autolamp control

(if equipped)

P

A

The autolamp control sets the

headlamps to turn on and off

automatically. The autolamp control,

located on the headlamp control,

may be set to:

• turn on the lamps automatically

at night

• turn off the lamps automatically

during the daylight

• keep the lamps on for up to three minutes after the key is turned to

off.

To turn the autolamps on, rotate the control counterclockwise to

.

Note: With autolamps, your vehicle has a windshield wiper rainlamp

feature. When the headlamp control is in the autolamp position and the

windshield wipers are turned on during daylight, the exterior lamps will

turn on after a brief delay.

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Fog lamp control

The fog lamps can be turned on

only when the headlamp control is

in the

,

or

position and

the high beams are not turned on.

Pull headlamp control towards you

to turn fog lamps on. The fog lamp

indicator light below the

icon

will illuminate when fog lamp is

activated.

Push the headlamp control towards

the instrument panel to deactivate the fog lamps.

Daytime running lamps (DRL) (if equipped)

To activate DRL:

• the ignition must be in the on position and

• the headlamp control is in the

or

position

• the transmission is not in P (Park).

WARNING: Always remember to turn on your headlamps at

dusk or during inclement weather. The Daytime Running Light

(DRL) System does not activate your tail lamps and generally may not

provide adequate lighting during these conditions. Failure to activate

your headlamps under these conditions may result in a collision.

High beams

Push the lever toward the

instrument panel to activate. Pull

the lever toward you to deactivate.

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Flash-to-pass

Pull the lever toward you to

activate. Release the lever to

deactivate.

PANEL DIMMER CONTROL

Use to adjust the brightness of the

instrument panel when exterior

lights are on.

• Rotate the thumbwheel from left

to right to brighten the

instrument panel.

• Rotate the thumbwheel from right

to left to dim the instrument

panel.

• Rotate fully to the right (past detent) to turn on interior lamps.

• Rotate to the left position (past detent) to turn off the interior lamps

and to disable the illuminated entry feature. When the control is in the

far left position, it acts as a dome lamp defeat/override.

Note: If the battery is disconnected, discharged, or a new battery is

installed, the dimmer switch requires re-calibration. Rotate the dimmer

switch from the full dim position to the full dome/on position to reset.

This will ensure that your displays are visible under all lighting

conditions.

AIMING THE HEADLAMPS

The headlamps on your vehicle are properly aimed before leaving the

assembly plant. If your vehicle is involved in an accident or if you have

problems fixing the alignment of your headlamps, have them checked by

a qualified service technician.

Headlamp aim adjustment

The headlamps on your vehicle can only be vertically adjusted. Your

vehicle does not require horizontal aim adjustments.

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To adjust the headlamps:

1. Park your vehicle on a level surface about 25 feet (7.6 meters) away

from a vertical plain surface (3). Check your headlamp alignment at

night or in a dark area so that you can see the headlamp beam pattern.

• (1) 8 feet (2.4 m)

• (2) Center height of lamp to

ground

• (3) 25 feet (7.6 m)

• (4) Horizontal reference line

2. The center of the headlamp has a

3.0 mm circle on the lens. Measure

the height from the center of your

headlamp to the ground (2) and

mark an 8 foot (2.4 m) long

horizontal line on the plain surface (1) at this height (masking tape

works well).

3. Turn on the low beam headlamps.

The brightest part of the light

should be below the horizontal line

(4). If it is above the line the

headlamp will need to be adjusted.

4. Open the hood.

5. Locate the vertical adjuster for

each headlamp. Adjust the aim by

turning the adjuster control either

clockwise (to adjust down) or

counterclockwise (to adjust up).

Note: Use a 4 mm socket or box

wrench to turn the vertical adjuster

control.

HORIZONTAL AIMING IS NOT

REQUIRED FOR THIS VEHICLE

AND IS NON-ADJUSTABLE.

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Lights

TURN SIGNAL CONTROL

• Push down to activate the left

turn signal.

• Push up to activate the right turn

signal.

INTERIOR LAMPS

Dome/reading lamps

The dome lamp lights when:

• any door is opened.

• the instrument panel dimmer

switch is rotated up until the

courtesy lamps come on.

• any of the remote entry controls

are pressed and the ignition is

off.

The reading portion, the two outer lights, can only be toggled on and off

at the lamp.

The front map lamps are located in

the overhead console (if equipped).

Press the controls on either side of

each map lamp to activate the

lamps.

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Cargo/reading lamps

The dome portion of the lamp or

the center light can be turned on

when the panel dimmer control is

rotated fully up or when a door is

opened.

The rear dome lamp can be turned

on or off by sliding the control.

BULB REPLACEMENT

Lamp assembly condensation

Exterior lamps are vented to accommodate normal changes in pressure.

Condensation can be a natural by-product of this design. When moist air

enters the lamp assembly through the vents, there is a possibility that

condensation can occur when the temperature is cold. When normal

condensation occurs, a thin film of mist can form on the interior of the

lens. The thin mist eventually clears and exits through the vents during

normal operation. Clearing time may take as long as 48 hours under dry

weather conditions.

Examples of acceptable condensation are:

• Presence of thin mist (no streaks, drip marks or droplets)

• Fine mist covers less than 50% of the lens

Examples of unacceptable moisture (usually caused by a lamp water

leak) are:

• Water puddle inside the lamp

• Large water droplets, drip marks or streaks present on the interior of

the lens

Take your vehicle to dealer for service if any of the above conditions of

unacceptable moisture are present.

Using the right bulbs

Replacement bulbs are specified in the chart below. Headlamp bulbs

must be marked with an authorized “D.O.T.” for North America and an

“E” for Europe to ensure lamp performance, light brightness and pattern

and safe visibility. Using incorrect bulbs may damage the lamp assembly

or void the lamp assembly warranty or may not provide quality bulb burn

time.

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Lights

Function

Number of bulbs

Trade number

Headlamp low & high

beam

2

H13

Front park/turn lamp

Side park/turn lamp

Upper rear tail lamp

Rear backup lamp

Lower rear

stop/tail/turn lamp

High-mount stop

lamps

2

3457 NAK (amber)

194

921

3057K

W5WL

168

5

2

Rear license plate

lamps

Front fog lamp

Cargo lamp

Interior overhead lamp

Front door courtesy

lamp

2

1

9145

211-2

912 (906)

168

Map lamps

2

1

2

168 (T10)

161

Ashtray lamp

Visor vanity lamp -

Slide on rail system

(SOR)

A6224PF

All replacement bulbs are clear in color except where noted.

To replace all instrument panel lights - see your authorized dealer .

Replacing interior bulbs

Check the operation of the bulbs frequently. To replace any of the

interior bulbs, see a dealer or qualified technician.

Replacing exterior bulbs

Check the operation of all the bulbs frequently.

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Replacing headlamp bulbs

Do not touch the glass of a halogen bulb.

1. Turn off the headlamps and open

the hood.

2. Remove three screws from the

headlamp assembly and pull

headlamp forward.

3. Disconnect the electrical

connector.

4. Remove the old bulb by turning

counterclockwise and pull it out.

WARNING: Handle a halogen headlamp bulb carefully and keep

out of children’s reach. Grasp the bulb only by its plastic base

and do not touch the glass. The oil from your hand could cause the

bulb to break the next time the headlamps are operated.

Reverse steps to reinstall bulb(s).

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Replacing front parking lamp/turn signal/sidemarker bulbs

1. Turn off the headlamps and open

the hood.

2. Remove three screws from the

headlamp assembly and pull

headlamp forward.

3. Rotate the bulb socket

counterclockwise and remove it

from the lamp assembly.

4. Pull the bulb straight out of the

socket.

Reverse steps to reinstall bulb(s).

Replacing tail/brake/turn/backup lamp bulbs

1. Turn the headlamps off and open

the liftgate.

2. Remove the two bolts from the

lamp assembly.

3. Remove the lamp assembly by

pulling it away from the vehicle at

an angle to disengage the two snap

attachments.

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4. Rotate the bulb socket

counterclockwise and remove it

from the lamp assembly.

5. Pull the bulb straight out of the

socket.

Reverse steps to reinstall bulb(s).

Replacing fog lamp bulbs

1. Make sure the headlamp switch is

off.

2. Remove the bulb socket from the

fog lamp by turning it

counterclockwise.

3. Disconnect the electrical

connector.

Reverse steps to reinstall bulb(s).

Replacing license plate lamp bulbs

1. Make sure the headlamp switch is

off.

2. Remove the lamp assembly by

pressing the small tab and rocking

the lamp assembly out.

3. Remove the bulb socket from the

lamp assembly by turning

counterclockwise and pull the bulb

straight out.

Reverse steps to reinstall bulb(s).

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Replacing high-mount brakelamp bulb

1. Remove the two screws and lamp

assembly away from the vehicle.

2. Remove the bulb holder from the

lamp assembly by pressing the

snaps.

3. Pull the bulb straight out of the

socket and push in the new bulb.

Reverse steps to reinstall bulb(s).

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Lights for Your Ford Explorer SUV Fifth Generation (2005-2011)

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