Get Fuel and Refueling -> Four-Wheel Drive Guide for Ford Explorer SUV Sixth Generation (2012-2020)

Four-Wheel Drive(If Equipped)

Note: A warning message displays in the

PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION

information display when a 4WD system

fault is present. See Information

This system is a proactive system. It has

the ability to anticipate wheel slip and

transfer torque to the front wheels before

slip occurs. Even when wheel slip is not

present, the system is continuously

Messages (page 121). A 4WD system fault

causes the 4WD system to default to

rear-wheel drive only mode. When this

warning message is displayed, have your

vehicle serviced at an authorized dealer.

adjusting to the torque distribution, in an

attempt to improve straight line and

cornering behavior, both on and off road.

Note: A warning message displays in the

information display if the 4WD system

overheats. See Information Messages

(page 121). This condition could occur if the

vehicle is operated in extreme conditions

with excessive wheel slip, such as deep

sand. To resume normal 4WD function as

soon as possible, stop the vehicle in a safe

location and stop the engine for at least 10

minutes. After the engine is restarted and

the 4WD system is adequately cooled, the

warning message turns off and normal 4WD

function returns.

The system automatically turns on every

time you switch the ignition on.

If any component requires maintenance,

a message appears in the information

display.

USING FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE

WARNING: Vehicles with a higher

center of gravity (utility and four-wheel

drive vehicles) handle differently than

vehicles with a lower center of gravity

(passenger cars). Avoid sharp turns,

excessive speed and abrupt steering in

these vehicles. Failure to drive cautiously

increases the risk of losing control of your

vehicle, vehicle rollover, personal injury

and death.

OperatingFour-WheelDrive(4WD)

Vehicles With Spare Tires

Do not use a different size spare tire other

than the tire provided. If the mini-spare tire

is installed, the 4WD system will disable

and enter rear-wheel drive only mode to

protect driveline components. Some

limited 4WD traction could be provided if

the mini-spare is installed on one of the

front wheels. If you are in driving conditions

where limited 4WD traction is needed

while the mini-spare is installed, it is

recommended the mini-spare be installed

on the front axle. See Information

Messages (page 121).

The intelligent 4WD system continuously

monitors vehicle conditions and adjusts

the power distribution between the front

and rear wheels. It combines transparent

all-surface operation with highly capable

four-wheel drive.

If the mini-spare is installed, this condition

is indicated by a warning in the information

display. If there is a warning message in

the information display from using the

spare tire, this indicator should turn off

after reinstalling or replacing the normal

road tire and cycling the ignition off and

on. We recommended reinstalling or

The 4WD system is always active and

requires no driver input. It is capable of

handling all road conditions including

street and highway driving as well as

off-road and winter driving. You can

optimize more 4WD control by selecting

different drive modes. See Selecting a

Drive Mode (page 278).

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Four-Wheel Drive^{(If Equipped)}

replacing the normal road tire as soon as

Major dissimilar tire sizes between the front

and rear axles (for example, 17 inch low

profile tires on the front axle and 22 inch

high profile tires on the rear axle) could

cause the 4WD system to stop functioning

and default to rear-wheel drive or damage

the 4WD system.

possible. Major dissimilar tire sizes

between the front and rear axles could

cause the 4WD system to stop functioning

and default to rear-wheel drive or damage

the 4WD system.

The slip response system could activate if

the mini spare is installed on the front

wheels. If the mini spare was installed on

the rear wheels the slip response system

will fully disable. In situations where there

is a wintery mix or an off road situation,

and you need to use a mini spare, you must

install the mini spare in the front tire

position and move a full size tire to the rear

tire position for the slip response system

to function.

For optimum 4WD Performance, it is

recommended to follow the tire rotation

maintenance schedule. To avoid potential

4WD malfunction or 4WD system damage,

it is recommended to replace all four tires

rather than mixing significantly worn tires

with new tires. For example, using 3 worn

tread tires and 1 new tread tire all of the

same original tire size/brand, can be

tolerated by the 4WD system as long as

the worn tires still have usable tread depth.

OperatingFour-Wheeldrive(4WD)

Vehicles with Mismatched Tires

How Your Vehicle Differs from

Other Vehicles

Truck and utility vehicles can differ from

some other vehicles. Your vehicle could be

higher to allow it to travel over rough

terrain without getting hung up or

WARNING: Only use replacement

tires and wheels that are the same size,

load index, speed rating and type (such

as P-metric versus LT-metric or

damaging underbody components.

all-season versus all-terrain) as those

originally provided by Ford. The

The differences that make your vehicle so

versatile also make it handle differently

than an ordinary passenger car.

recommended tire and wheel size may

be found on either the Safety

Compliance Certification Label (affixed

to either the door hinge pillar, door-latch

post, or the door edge that meets the

door-latch post, next to the driver's

seating position), or the Tire Label which

is located on the B-Pillar or edge of the

driver's door. If this information is not

found on these labels, then you should

contact your authorized dealer as soon

as possible. Use of any tire or wheel not

recommended by Ford can affect the

safety and performance of your vehicle,

which could result in an increased risk of

loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover,

personal injury and death.

Maintain steering wheel control at all

times, especially in rough terrain. Since

sudden changes in terrain can result in

abrupt steering wheel motion, make sure

you grip the steering wheel from the

outside. Do not grip the spokes.

Drive cautiously to avoid vehicle damage

from concealed objects such as rocks and

stumps.

You should either know the terrain or

examine maps of the area before driving.

Map out your route before driving in the

area. To maintain steering and braking

control of your vehicle, you must have all

four wheels on the ground and they must

be rolling, not sliding or spinning.

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Four-Wheel Drive(If Equipped)

If Your Vehicle Goes Off the Edge of the

Pavement

Driving in Special Conditions With

Four-Wheel drive (4WD)

•

If your vehicle goes off the edge of the

Note: Use of the 4WD system in slippery,

deep snow, and sand drive modes on dry

surfaces could produce some vibration,

driveline bind up, or excessive tire wear as

these drive modes are intended for slippery

and loose surfaces.

Note: The design of 4WD vehicles are for

driving on sand, snow, mud and rough roads

and have operating characteristics that are

somewhat different from conventional

vehicles, both on and off the highway.

pavement, slow down, but avoid severe

brake application, ease the vehicle

back onto the pavement only after

reducing your speed. Do not turn the

steering wheel too sharply while

returning to the road surface.

•

It could be safer to stay on the apron

or shoulder of the road and slow down

gradually before returning to the

pavement. You could lose control if you

do not slow down or if you turn the

steering wheel too sharply or abruptly.

Basic Operating Principles in Special

Conditions

It often could be less risky to strike

small objects, such as highway

•

Drive slower in strong crosswinds which

can affect the normal steering

characteristics of your vehicle.

Be extremely careful when driving on

pavement made slippery by loose sand,

water, gravel, snow or ice.

reflectors, with minor damage to your

vehicle rather than attempt a sudden

return to the pavement which could

cause the vehicle to slide sideways out

of control or rollover. Remember, your

safety and the safety of others should

be your primary concern.

If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck

WARNING: Apply the parking

brake, shift into park (P), switch the

ignition off and remove the key before

you leave your vehicle. Failure to follow

this instruction could result in personal

injury or death.

WARNING: If the parking brake is

fully released, but the brake warning

lamp remains illuminated, the brakes

may not be working properly. Have your

vehicle checked as soon as possible.

WARNING: Do not spin the wheels

at over 34 mph (55 km/h). The tires may

fail and injure a passenger or bystander.

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Four-Wheel Drive^{(If Equipped)}

If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow

for. Avoid abrupt steering, acceleration

or braking which could result in an

increased risk of loss of vehicle control,

vehicle rollover and/or personal injury.

Use all available road surface to return

the vehicle to a safe direction of travel.

In the event of an emergency stop,

avoid skidding the tires and do not

attempt any sharp steering wheel

movements.

If the vehicle goes from one type of

surface to another (i.e., from concrete

to gravel) there is a change in the way

the vehicle responds to a maneuver

(steering, acceleration or braking).

Again, avoid these abrupt inputs.

you can rock it out by shifting between

forward and reverse gears, stopping

between shifts, in a steady pattern. Press

lightly on the accelerator in each gear.

If your vehicle comes with AdvanceTrac®

with Roll Stability Control™, it could be

beneficial to disengage the AdvanceTrac®

with Roll Stability Control™ system while

attempting to rock the vehicle.

Note: Do not rock the vehicle if the engine

is not at normal operating temperature or

damage to the transmission could occur.

Note: Do not rock the vehicle for more than

a few minutes or damage to the

transmission and tires could occur or the

engine could overheat.

•

Sand

When driving over sand, try to keep all four

wheels on the most solid area of the trail.

Avoid reducing the tire pressures but shift

to a lower gear and drive steadily through

the terrain. Apply the accelerator slowly

and avoid spinning the wheels.

Avoid excessive speed because vehicle

momentum can work against you and

cause the vehicle to become stuck to the

point that assistance could be required

from another vehicle. Remember, you

could be able to back out the way you

came if you proceed with caution.

Emergency Maneuvers

•

In an unavoidable emergency situation

where a sudden sharp turn must be

made, remember to avoid

"over-driving" your vehicle (for

example, turn the steering wheel only

as rapidly and as far as required to

avoid the emergency). Excessive

steering can result in less vehicle

control, not more. Additionally, smooth

variations of the accelerator and/or

brake pedal pressure should be utilized

if changes in vehicle speed are called

Mud and Water

If you must drive through high water, drive

slowly. Traction or brake capability could

be limited.

Note: Driving through deep water could

damage your vehicle.

When driving through water, determine the

depth; avoid water higher than the bottom

of the hubs (if possible) and proceed

slowly. If the ignition system gets wet, the

vehicle could stall.

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Four-Wheel Drive(If Equipped)

Once through water, always try the brakes.

Note: Avoid driving crosswise or turning on

steep slopes or hills. A danger lies in losing

traction, slipping sideways and possibly

rolling over. Whenever driving on a hill,

determine beforehand the route you will

use. Do not drive over the crest of a hill

without seeing what conditions are on the

other side. Do not drive in reverse over a hill

without the aid of an observer.

When climbing a steep slope or hill, start

in a lower gear rather than downshifting to

a lower gear from a higher gear once the

ascent has started. This reduces strain on

the engine and the possibility of stalling.

Wet brakes do not stop the vehicle as

effectively as dry brakes. Drying can be

improved by moving your vehicle slowly

while applying light pressure on the brake

pedal.

Be cautious of sudden changes in vehicle

speed or direction when you are driving in

mud. Even 4WD vehicles can lose traction

in slick mud. As when you are driving over

sand, apply the accelerator slowly and

avoid spinning your wheels. If the vehicle

does slide, steer in the direction of the slide

until you regain control of the vehicle.

After driving through mud, clean off residue

stuck to rotating driveshafts and tires.

Excess mud stuck on tires and rotating

driveshafts causes an imbalance that

could damage drive components.

If you do stall out, do not try to turn around

because you might roll over. It is better to

back down to a safe location.

Apply just enough power to the wheels to

climb the hill. Too much power can cause

the tires to slip, spin or lose traction,

resulting in loss of vehicle control.

E143950

“Tread Lightly” is an educational program

designed to increase public awareness of

land-use regulations and responsibilities

in our nations wilderness areas. Ford Motor

Company joins the U.S. Forest Service and

the Bureau of Land Management in

encouraging you to help preserve our

national forest and other public and private

lands by “treading lightly.”

E143949

Descend a hill in the same gear you would

use to climb up the hill to avoid excessive

brake application and brake overheating.

Do not descend in neutral; instead,

Driving on Hilly or Sloping Terrain

Although natural obstacles could make it

necessary to travel diagonally up or down

a hill or steep incline, you should always

try to drive straight up or straight down.

disengage overdrive or manually shift to a

lower gear. When descending a steep hill,

avoid sudden hard braking as you could

lose control. The front wheels have to be

turning in order to steer the vehicle.

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Four-Wheel Drive^{(If Equipped)}

Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, therefore

Make sure you allow sufficient distance

between you and other vehicles for

stopping. Drive slower than usual and

consider using one of the lower gears. In

emergency stopping situations, apply the

brake steadily. Since your vehicle comes

with a four wheel (ABS), do not “pump”

the brakes. See Hints on Driving With

Anti-Lock Brakes (page 215).

apply the brakes steadily. Do not “pump”

the brakes.

Driving on Snow and Ice

WARNING: If you are driving in

slippery conditions that require tire

chains or cables, then it is critical that

you drive cautiously. Keep speeds down,

allow for longer stopping distances and

avoid aggressive steering to reduce the

chances of a loss of vehicle control

which can lead to serious injury or death.

If the rear end of your vehicle slides while

cornering, steer in the direction of the

slide until you regain control of your

vehicle.

Maintenance and Modifications

The suspension and steering systems on

your vehicle have been designed and

tested to provide predictable performance

whether loaded or empty and durable load

carrying capability. For this reason, we

strongly recommend that you do not make

modifications such as adding or removing

parts (such as lowering kits or stabilizer

bars) or by using replacement parts not

equivalent to the original factory

Note: Excessive tire slippage can cause

driveline damage.

equipment.

4WD vehicles have advantages over 2WD

vehicles in snow and ice but can skid like

any other vehicle.

Should you start to slide while driving on

snowy or icy roads, turn the steering wheel

in the direction of the slide until you regain

control.

Any modifications to a vehicle that raise

the center of gravity can make it more likely

the vehicle will rollover as a result of a loss

of control. We strongly recommend that

caution be used with any vehicle equipped

with a high load or device (such as ladder

or luggage racks).

Avoid sudden applications of power and

quick changes of direction on snow and

ice. Apply the accelerator slowly and

steadily when starting from a full stop.

Avoid sudden braking as well. Although a

4WD vehicle could accelerate better than

a two-wheel drive vehicle in snow and ice,

it will not stop any faster, because as in

other vehicles, braking occurs at all four

wheels. Do not become overconfident as

to road conditions.

Failure to maintain your vehicle properly

could void the warranty, increase your

repair cost, reduce vehicle performance

and operational capabilities and adversely

affect driver and passenger safety.

Frequent inspection of vehicle chassis

components is recommended if the vehicle

is subjected to off-highway usage.

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Fuel and Refueling -> Four-Wheel Drive for Your Ford Explorer SUV Sixth Generation (2012-2020)

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