2012 Ford Explorer Driving Your SUV or Truck 1st Printing
2012 Ford Explorer Manual
2012 Ford Explorer manual content summary:
- 2012 Ford Explorer | Driving Your SUV or Truck 1st Printing - Page 1
Utility Vehicle and Truck Owners Vehicle Characteristics Driving On Roadways Driving Off-Road Inflating Your Tires Tire Care Tire Replacement Requirements Loading Your retrieval system or translation in whole or part is not permitted without written authorization from Ford Motor Company. Ford may - 2012 Ford Explorer | Driving Your SUV or Truck 1st Printing - Page 2
. This is because your vehicle has special design and equipment features for cargo-hauling or off-road operation. Study this supplement and the Owner's Guide for specific information about equipment features and instructions for safe driving. You must also learn and understand the capabilities and - 2012 Ford Explorer | Driving Your SUV or Truck 1st Printing - Page 3
children/infants must use appropriate restraints to minimize the risk of injury or ejection. Study your Owner's Guide and any supplements for specific information about equipment features, instructions for safe driving and additional precautions to reduce the risk of an accident or serious injury - 2012 Ford Explorer | Driving Your SUV or Truck 1st Printing - Page 4
and AWD systems A vehicle equipped with AWD or 4WD (when you select the 4WD mode) has drive modes as necessary. Information on shifting procedures and maintenance can be found in your Owner's Guide. You wheel drive vehicle in low traction situations, it won't stop any faster than two-wheel drive vehicles - 2012 Ford Explorer | Driving Your SUV or Truck 1st Printing - Page 5
other vehicles SUVs and trucks can differ from some other vehicles in a few noticeable ways. Your vehicle may be: • Higher - to allow higher load carrying capacity and to allow it it handle differently than an ordinary passenger car. 5 2012 Four Wheel Drive (4wd) Supplement, 1st Printing USA (fus) - 2012 Ford Explorer | Driving Your SUV or Truck 1st Printing - Page 6
trucks are not designed for cornering at speeds as high as passenger cars any more than low-slung off the edge of the pavement, slow down and avoid severe brake application or aggressive steering. Ease the vehicle back onto the pavement 2012 Four Wheel Drive (4wd) Supplement, 1st Printing USA (fus) - 2012 Ford Explorer | Driving Your SUV or Truck 1st Printing - Page 7
Instead, smooth variations of the accelerator and/or brake pedal pressure should be utilized if changes in vehicle speed are 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. 7 2012 - 2012 Ford Explorer | Driving Your SUV or Truck 1st Printing - Page 8
-lock brake system working. See your Owner's Guide for additional information on the operation of the anti-lock brake system. Parking Before leaving the driver's seat, make sure that the gearshift is engaged in P (Park) with an automatic transmission or either 1 (First) or R (Reverse) with a manual - 2012 Ford Explorer | Driving Your SUV or Truck 1st Printing - Page 9
Ford 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 . Avoid reducing the tire pressure. Instead, shift to a 2012 Four Wheel Drive (4wd) Supplement, 1st Printing USA (fus) - 2012 Ford Explorer | Driving Your SUV or Truck 1st Printing - Page 10
splashing; if the ignition system gets wet, the vehicle may stall. Once through water, always try the brakes. Wet brakes do not stop the vehicle as effectively as dry brakes. You can dry the brakes faster by driving the vehicle slowly while applying light pressure on the brake pedal. Driving in deep - 2012 Ford Explorer | Driving Your SUV or Truck 1st Printing - Page 11
gear from a higher gear once the ascent has started. This reduces strain on the engine and the possibility of stalling. If you do stall out, do not try to you might induce a rollover. It is better to back down to a safe location. Apply just enough power to the wheels to climb the hill. Too much power - 2012 Ford Explorer | Driving Your SUV or Truck 1st Printing - Page 12
or either 1 (First) or R (Reverse) with a manual transmission. Set the parking brake fully, shut off the ignition and remove the key. Some 4WD vehicles include a Neutral mode. When the transfer case is in the N (Neutral) position, the engine and transmission are disconnected from the rest of the - 2012 Ford Explorer | Driving Your SUV or Truck 1st Printing - Page 13
to check pressure of all tires, and adjust if required. Remember that a tire can lose up to half of its air pressure without appearing pressure recommended by Ford Motor Company. You are strongly urged to buy a reliable tire pressure gauge, as automatic service station gauges may be inaccurate. Ford - 2012 Ford Explorer | Driving Your SUV or Truck 1st Printing - Page 14
pressure with your tire gauge. 4. Replace the valve cap. 5. Repeat this procedure for each tire, including the spare. Note: Some spare tires operate at a higher inflation pressure than the other tires. For T-type/mini-spare tires (see T-Type/Mini-Spare Tire Information section in the Owner's Guide - 2012 Ford Explorer | Driving Your SUV or Truck 1st Printing - Page 15
the tire and valve stems for holes, cracks, or cuts that may permit air leakage and repair or replace the tire and replace the valve stem. Inspect the tire sidewalls for cracking, cuts, bruises and off-road use is also recommended. 15 2012 Four Wheel Drive (4wd) Supplement, 1st Printing USA (fus) - 2012 Ford Explorer | Driving Your SUV or Truck 1st Printing - Page 16
conditions of use (load, speed, inflation pressure, etc.) the tires experience throughout their lives. In general, tires should be replaced after six years regardless of tread wear. customers if a tire defect requires a recall. 16 2012 Four Wheel Drive (4wd) Supplement, 1st Printing USA (fus) - 2012 Ford Explorer | Driving Your SUV or Truck 1st Printing - Page 17
than the maximum pressure, a Ford dealer or other tire service professional should do the mounting. Always inflate steel carcass tires with a remote air fill with the person inflating standing at a minimum of 12 ft (3.66 m) away from the tire wheel assembly. Important: Remember to replace the wheel - 2012 Ford Explorer | Driving Your SUV or Truck 1st Printing - Page 18
The use of wheels or tires not recommended by Ford Motor Company may affect the operation of your tire pressure monitoring system (if equipped). If the TPMS indicator (if equipped) is flashing, your TPMS (if equipped) is malfunctioning. Your replacement tire might be incompatible with your TPMS, or - 2012 Ford Explorer | Driving Your SUV or Truck 1st Printing - Page 19
or when a heavy accessory such as a snowplow has been added to the vehicle. Other terms related to loading include base curb weight, gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), gross axle weight rating (GAWR), gross combined weight rating (GCWR). Refer to your Owner's Guide for additional information - 2012 Ford Explorer | Driving Your SUV or Truck 1st Printing - Page 20
in a crash. Cargo should be evenly distributed over the floor of the cargo area, with the heaviest cargo on the creating a greater possibility of vehicle rollover. If you must haul cargo on the roof of the vehicle, use extra caution 2012 Four Wheel Drive (4wd) Supplement, 1st Printing USA (fus) - 2012 Ford Explorer | Driving Your SUV or Truck 1st Printing - Page 21
slide-in camper, the total cargo load of the truck consists of the manufacturer's camper weight figure, the weight of installed additional camper equipment not included in the manufacturer's camper weight figure, the weight of the camper cargo, and the weight of all the passengers and cargo in your - 2012 Ford Explorer | Driving Your SUV or Truck 1st Printing - Page 22
be less than or equal to the recommended Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) and must be properly balanced and secured. Refer to the RV & Trailer Towing Guide, your Owner's Guide or see an authorized dealer for additional information. 22 2012 Four Wheel Drive (4wd) Supplement, 1st Printing USA - 2012 Ford Explorer | Driving Your SUV or Truck 1st Printing - Page 23
. Ford recommends chassis and powertrain components is recommended if the vehicle is subjected to heavy off-road usage. Refer to the Owner's Guide for more information and to the Scheduled Maintenance Guide chapter of your Owner's Guide for proper maintenance instructions and schedules. 23 2012
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Introduction
2
Notice To Utility Vehicle and Truck Owners
3
Vehicle Characteristics
4
Driving On Roadways
6
Driving Off-Road
9
Inflating Your Tires
13
Tire Care
15
Tire Replacement Requirements
17
Loading Your Vehicle
19
Trailer Towing
22
Maintenance and Modifications
23
All rights reserved. Reproduction by any means, electronic or mechanical
including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval
system or translation in whole or part is not permitted without written
authorization from Ford Motor Company. Ford may change the contents without
notice and without incurring obligation.
Copyright © 2011 Ford Motor Company
Table of Contents
1
2012 Four Wheel Drive
(4wd)
Supplement, 1st Printing
USA
(fus)