2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Owner Guide 6th Printing - Page 137

Driving Do not drive your vehicle until you verify that the brakelamps are working. If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow it may be rocked out by shifting between forward and reverse gears, stopping between shifts, in a steady pattern. Press lightly on the accelerator in each gear. Do not rock the vehicle if the engine is not at normal operating temperature or damage to the transmission may occur. Do not rock the vehicle for more than a few minutes or damage to the transmission and tires may occur or the engine may overheat. Always set the parking brake fully and make sure the gearshift is latched in P (Park). Turn off the ignition whenever you leave your vehicle. If the parking brake is fully released, but the brake warning lamp remains illuminated, the brakes may not be working properly. See your dealer or a qualified service technician. Driving with a 5-speed automatic transmission (if equipped) Your automatic transmission electronically controls the shift feel by using an adaptive learning strategy. This feature is designed to increase durability, and provide consistent shift feel over the life of the vehicle. It is normal for a new transmission to shift firmly. This operation is considered normal and will not affect function durability of the transmission. Once the vehicle is at operating temperature it may take several shifts at the same operating condition for the transmission to properly adapt. Over time the adaptive learning process will fully update transmission operation. The more varied the driving habits, speed and torque, the longer it may take to adapt but the more complete the process will be. When the battery is disconnected or a new battery installed, the transmission must learn its adaptive strategy. As a result of this, the transmission may shift firmly. This operation is considered normal and will fully update transmission operation to its optimum shift feel. 137