Ford Explorer Quiz
Infection Transmission

Understanding Your Gear Selector Positions

In this manual: Infection Transmission
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
~2min read

Your vehicle is equipped with an electronic gear selector. The gear selector is located on the center console.

P - Park.

R - Reverse.

N - Neutral.

D - Drive.

M - Manual.

The current gear is displayed in the instrument cluster.

Park (P)

When the transmission is in Park (P), your vehicle locks the transmission and prevents the wheels from turning. Always come to a complete stop before shifting into and out of Park (P).

When you switch off the ignition, your vehicle shifts into Park (P). If you shift with the ignition switched off while the vehicle is moving, the transmission first shifts into Neutral (N) until the speed drops below 3 mph (5 km/h), then shifts into Park (P).

The electric parking brake may apply when you shift into Park (P) without the brake pedal fully depressed. The electric parking brake applies when you shift into Park (P) on steep inclines. The electric parking brake releases when you start moving or manually, as described in Releasing the Electric Parking Brake. Refer to Electric Parking Brake.

Reverse (R)

When the gear selector is in Reverse (R), your vehicle moves backward. Always come to a complete stop before shifting into and out of Reverse (R).

Neutral (N)

When the gear selector is in Neutral (N), you can start the vehicle and it will roll freely. Keep the brake pedal depressed in this position.

Drive (D)

Drive (D) is the normal driving position that provides the best fuel economy and smooth operation. Shift the gear selector into Drive (D) to allow your vehicle to move forward and shift automatically through the forward gears.

The transmission shifts into the appropriate gear for optimal operation based on ambient temperature, road grade, vehicle load and your driving input.

Manual Mode (M)

When the gear selector is in Manual mode (M), the driver can shift the transmission to higher or lower gears. After pressing the Manual (M) button when the gear selector is in Drive (D), you can now control gear selection using the steering wheel gear shift paddles. Refer to SelectShift Automatic Transmission General Information later in this section.

To exit Manual mode, press the Manual (M) button on the gear selector.

Test yourself

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