2003 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Owner Guide 4th Printing - Page 125

Driving If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, apply the brakes steadily. Do not "pump" the brakes. Driving on snow and ice 4WD vehicles can skid like any other vehicle. If you start to skid while driving on a snowy or icy road, turn the steering wheel in the direction of the slide until you regain control. Although a 4WD vehicle may accelerate better than a two-wheel drive vehicle in snow and ice, it won't stop any faster. Don't press hard on the accelerator or brake pedal or make quick steering changes while on snow or ice. Apply the accelerator slowly and steadily when starting from a full stop. If your vehicle is equipped with ABS, apply the brake steadily. Do not "pump" the brakes. Refer to the Brakes section of this chapter for additional information on the operation of the anti-lock brake system. If your vehicle is not equipped with ABS, use a "squeeze" braking technique. Push on the brake pedal with a steadily increasing force which allows the wheels to brake yet continue to roll so that you may steer in the direction you want to travel. If you lock the wheels, release the brake pedal and repeat the squeeze technique. Never drive with chains on the front tires of 4WD vehicles without also putting them on the rear tires. This could cause the rear to slide and swing around during braking. Maintenance and Modifications Ford strongly recommends that you do not add or remove steering or suspension parts (such as lift kits or stabilizer bars) or by using replacement parts not equivalent to the original factory equipment. Do not use aftermarket "lift kits" or other suspension modifications. These could adversely affect the vehicle's handling characteristics, which could lead to loss of vehicle control or roll over and serious injury. Frequent inspection of vehicle chassis components is recommended if the vehicle is subjected to heavy off-road usage. DRIVING THROUGH WATER If driving through deep or standing water is unavoidable, proceed very slowly especially if the depth is not known. Never drive through water that is higher than the bottom of the hubs (for trucks) or the bottom of the wheel rims (for cars). Traction or brake capability may be limited and your vehicle may stall. Water may also enter your engine's air intake and severely damage your engine. Once through the water, always dry the brakes by moving your vehicle slowly while applying light pressure on the brake pedal. Wet brakes do 125 2003 P207 Explorer Sport Trac (p27) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA English (fus)