Ford Explorer: Automatic Transmission / Understanding your Transmission Selector Positions

Your vehicle has an electronic transmission shifter. The transmission selector is on the center console.

P - Park.

R - Reverse.

N - Neutral.

D - Drive.

M - Manual.

The instrument cluster displays the current gear.

Park (P)

With the transmission in park (P), your vehicle locks the transmission and prevents the wheels from turning. Always come to a complete stop before putting your vehicle into and out of park (P).

When you switch the ignition off, your vehicle shifts into park (P). If you switch the ignition off while your vehicle is moving, the transmission first shifts into neutral (N) until it reaches a speed less than 3 mph (5 km/h) and then shifts into park (P).

The electric parking brake may apply when you shift to park (P) without the brake pedal fully pressed. The electric parking brake applies when you shift to park (P) on large slopes. The electric parking brake releases with the drive away release function or manually as described in the Releasing the Electric Parking Brake section. See Electric Parking Brake.

Note: A warning tone sounds if you open the driver door and you have not shifted the transmission selector to park (P).

Reverse (R)

With the transmission selector in reverse (R), your vehicle moves backward. Always come to a complete stop before shifting into and out of reverse (R).

Neutral (N)

With the transmission selector in neutral (N), you can start your vehicle and it is free to roll. Hold the brake pedal down when in this position.

Drive (D)

Drive (D) is the normal driving position for the best fuel economy and smoothness. Shift the transmission selector to drive (D) to allow your vehicle to move forward and shift automatically through the forward gears.

The transmission shifts to the appropriate gear for optimum performance based on ambient temperature, road slope, vehicle load and your input.

Manual Mode (M)

With the transmission selector in manual (M), the driver can change gears up or down. After selecting the Manual (M) button while the transmission range selector is in Drive (D) position you now have control of selecting the gear you desire using shift buttons on the steering wheel. See Understanding your SelectShift Automatic™ transmission later in this section.

To exit manual mode, push the manual (M) button on your transmission selector.