1996 Ford Explorer Owner's Manual - Page 381

Servicing Your Explorer If the power steering fluid is low, do not drive your vehicle for a long period of time before adding fluid. This can damage the power steering pump. If you check the power steering fluid when it is cold, make sure that the fluid reaches the FULL COLD range on the dipstick. The reading will only be accurate if the fluid temperature is approximately 50 to 85˚F (10 to 30˚C). NOTE: Do not turn the steering wheel of your vehicle with the engine off. It could force power steering fluid out from the reservoir cap or in extreme cases, it could unseat the cap. Fuses Fuses protect your vehicle's electrical system from overloading. If electrical parts in your vehicle are not working, the system may have been overloaded and blown a fuse. Before you replace or repair any electrical parts, check the appropriate fuses. The following charts tell you which fuses protect each electrical part of your vehicle. If a fuse blows, all the parts of your vehicle that use that circuit will not work. Once you have determined which fuses to check, follow the procedures under Checking and replacing fuses later in this chapter. 381