Starting – FORD 2002 Explorer Sport Trac v.1 User Manual
Page 125
–18 degrees C (0 degrees F). If you experience this condition you may
find that a different brand of winter grade (E
d
85) (if available in your
area) improves the performance of your vehicle.
Cold starting performance can also be improved with the use of an
engine block heater. The engine block heater is available as a Ford
option and can also be obtained from your Ford dealer. Consult the
engine block heater section for proper use of the engine block heater.
If you should experience cold weather starting problems on (E
d
85)
ethanol, and neither an alternative brand of (E
d
85) ethanol nor an
engine block heater is available, the addition of unleaded gasoline to your
tank will improve cold starting performance. Your vehicle is designed to
operate on (E
d
85) ethanol alone, unleaded gasoline alone, or any mixture
of the two.
If the engine fails to start using the preceding instructions
1. Press the accelerator pedal 1/3 to 1/2 way to floor and hold.
2. Turn the key to START position.
3. When the engine starts, release the key, then release the accelerator
pedal gradually as the engine speeds up.
4. If the engine still fails to start, repeat steps one through three.
5. After the engine starts, hold your foot on the brake pedal, put the
gearshift lever in gear and release the parking brake. Slowly release the
brake pedal and drive away in a normal manner.
Using the engine block heater (if equipped)
An engine block heater warms the engine coolant, which improves
starting, warms up the engine faster and allows the heater-defroster
system to respond quickly. Use of an engine block heater is strongly
recommended if you live in a region where temperatures reach -23° C
(-10° F) or below.
For best results, plug the heater in at least three hours before starting
the vehicle. Using the heater for longer than three hours will not harm
the engine, so the heater can be plugged in the night before starting the
vehicle.
To prevent electrical shock, do not use your heater with
ungrounded electrical systems or two-pronged (cheater)
adapters.
Starting
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