Ford Explorer Quiz
Maintenance

12V Battery Replacement

In this manual: Maintenance
Introduction — 10At a Glance — 3Child Safety — 11Seat Belts — 10Personal Safety System™ — 1Supplemental Restraint System — 10Pedestrian Protection — 1911 Assist — 3Keys and Remote Controls — 10MyKey™ — 8Doors & Locks — 9Liftgate — 7Safety — 3Steering Wheel — 11Wipers and Washers — 5Lighting — 13Automatic High Beam Control — 3Windows and Mirrors — 6Instrument Cluster — 4Information Displays — 4Climate Control — 6Cabin Air Quality — 2Seats — 9Garage Door Opener — 2Auxiliary Power Points — 3Storage Compartments — 2Starting and Stopping the Engine — 5Unique Driving Characteristics — 4Fuel and Refueling — 8Engine Emission Control — 3High-Voltage Battery — 1Infection Transmission — 8All-Wheel Drive Vehicle — 1Brakes — 5Reverse Brake Assist — 4Traction Control — 1Stability Control — 3Hill Descent Control — 3Park Aid — 8Cruise Control — 4Adaptive Cruise Control — 19Driver Assistance — 12Drive Mode Control — 4Loading — 6Tow/Haul — 6Driving Tips — 5Roadside Emergencies — 8Customer Assistance — 9Fuses — 3Maintenance — 21Vehicle Care — 12Wheels and Tires — 8Capacities and Specifications — 16Connectivity — 3Wi-Fi Hotspot — 3Audio System — 6SYNC™ 3 — 14Accessories — 1Ford Protect — 1Scheduled Maintenance — 5Appendices — 4
8steps
~48min
5/5difficulty
Done 0 of 8

The battery is located in the engine compartment. Refer to Under Hood Overview.

Your vehicle is equipped with a maintenance-free battery. It does not require adding water during its service life.

If the battery has a cap and vent hose, make sure it is correctly reinstalled after cleaning or replacing the battery.

For longer and trouble-free service, keep the top of the battery clean and dry, and the battery cables securely fastened to the battery terminals. If corrosion is present on the battery or terminals, disconnect the cables from the terminals and clean them with a wire brush. A solution of baking soda and water can be used to neutralize acid.

We recommend disconnecting the negative battery cable from the battery if you plan to store the vehicle for an extended period of time.

When replacing the battery, make sure it meets the electrical requirements of your vehicle.

If you disconnect or replace the battery on a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission, the transmission must relearn its adaptive strategy. As a result, the shifts may feel firm during initial driving. This is normal operation while the transmission fully updates its shift performance to an optimal feel.

Battery Management System (if equipped)

The Battery Management System monitors the battery condition and takes steps to extend battery life. If excessive battery discharge is detected, the system temporarily disables some electrical systems to protect the battery.

Systems that may be affected:

  • Rear window defroster.
  • Heated seats.
  • Climate control.
  • Heated steering wheel.
  • Audio unit.
  • Navigation system.

A message may appear in the information display warning you that battery protection actions are active. These messages are for notification only that an action is being taken and do not indicate an electrical problem or that the battery requires replacement.

After replacing the battery or, in some cases, after charging the battery with an external battery charger, the Battery Management System requires eight hours of vehicle sleep time to relearn the battery state of charge. During this time, the vehicle must remain completely locked with the ignition off.

Installing Electrical Accessories

To ensure the Battery Management System operates correctly, do not connect the ground of an electrical device directly to the negative battery terminal. This may cause inaccurate battery state of charge readings and system operation.

Remove and Reinstall the Battery

To disconnect or remove the battery, perform the following steps:

  1. Apply the parking brake and switch the ignition off.
  2. Switch off all electrical equipment, such as lights and radio.
  3. Wait at least two minutes before disconnecting the battery.
  4. Disconnect the negative battery cable from the battery.
  5. Disconnect the positive battery cable from the battery.
  6. Remove the battery retainer.
  7. Remove the battery.
  8. To install, reverse the removal procedure.

If you disconnect or replace the vehicle battery, you must reset the following functions:

  • Power windows return to normal operation. Refer to Power Windows.
  • Clock settings.
  • Preset radio stations.

Battery Disposal

Make sure you dispose of old batteries in an environmentally responsible manner. Consult your local authority for battery recycling information.

Test yourself

A quick Ford Explorer quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.