1997 Ford Explorer Owner Guide 1st Printing - Page 120

Driving Ride control switch (All wheel drive vehicles with Automatic Ride Control only) The Ride Control switch provides direct control of the Automatic Ride Control system. The switch does not control or change the performance of the All Wheel Drive system. The switch should be placed in the Normal position for all on road and most dirt, gravel or snow covered roads. For severe off-road conditions where additional body ground clearance is desired and vehicle speeds are below 30 mph, the Off-road position should be selected. Service switch The Automatic Ride Control service switch is mounted in the jack storage area. The switch should be turned off to deactivate the system during jacking, hoisting, towing or transport of the vehicle to avoid unexpected vehicle movement. TRANSMISSION OPERATION Driving an automatic transmission (if equipped) Brake-shift interlock Vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission are equipped with a brake-shift interlock feature that prevents the gearshift lever from being moved from the P (Park) position unless 121