1997 Ford Explorer Owner Guide 1st Printing - Page 123
1997 Ford Explorer Manual
Page 123 highlights
Driving D Drive Not shown on the display. Activate by pressing the transmission control switch. O/D OFF will illuminate in the instrument cluster. Transmission operates in gears one through four. D (Drive) provides more engine braking than D (Overdrive) and is useful when towing a trailer or heavy loads through heavy terrain. To return to D (Overdrive) mode, press the transmission control switch. O/D OFF will turn off. When starting your vehicle, the transmission will automatically return to normal D (Overdrive) mode. 2 Second Use the 2 (Second) position to start-up on slippery roads or to provide additional braking on downgrades. Transmission operates in third gear. 1 Low Use the 1 (Low) position to provide maximum engine braking on steep downgrades. Upshifts may be made by shifting to the 2 (Second) position or to D (Overdrive). Selecting the 1 (Low) position at high speeds causes the transmission to downshift through the gears and will shift to 1 (Low) after the vehicle decelerates to the proper speed. 124