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Autopapyrus · Ford Explorer (6th generation)
https://autopapyrus.com/guides/ford/explorer/battery-replacement/
Compiled automatically from service literature and owner experience. Specs are for the typical configuration — check them against your exact car before you start.

Ford Explorer (6th generation): Battery Replacement

On the Explorer VI with the 2.3 EcoBoost, the battery is located in the engine compartment, and a battery monitoring system (BMS) module is mounted on the negative terminal. All current drawn by the vehicle's electrical consumers must pass through it, so the negative terminal must be removed carefully, and after the replacement the system needs time to "learn" the new battery.

Difficulty: Medium Time: 30-60 minutes Steps: 14 Tools: Socket set and ratchet (usually 10 mm and 13 mm; verify the sizes on your vehicle), extension, battery terminal brush, torque wrench, memory saver if needed (external 12 V power source connected through the cigarette lighter)

Part

№PartAlternatives
01 12 V AGM battery (Start-Stop compatible)same dimensions, polarity and capacity as the original Varta, Bosch, Exide
There's a full repair manual for this car Every system, wiring diagrams and torque specs — not just this job. Haynes and 11 more. See manuals →

Step by step

14 steps
  1. Shut off the engine, remove the key or move the key fob away from the vehicle, close all doors, and turn off the lights and all electrical loads. Wait a few minutes for the control modules to go to sleep.
  2. Open the hood and remove the plastic battery cover, if there is one. Take a photo of the cable routing and the vent hose (if equipped).
  3. Connect an external memory saver power source if you have one. This preserves the settings of the onboard systems, but it is not required.
  4. Disconnect the negative terminal (with the BMS module): loosen the nut and lift the terminal off the post. Do not pull on the module's wire and do not damage the BMS connector. Move the terminal aside so that it does not touch the post.
  5. Disconnect the positive terminal and flip up the protective cover. Make sure your tool does not short the positive terminal to the body.
  6. Remove the fastener of the battery hold-down bar or frame and take it off.
  7. Lift out the old battery, holding it by the case with both hands. It is heavy (about 18-25 kg), so lift it straight up without tilting it.
  8. Clean the battery tray and the seat of dirt and corrosion. Clean the terminals with a brush and check the cables and covers for damage.
  9. Install the new battery in the same position: the polarity and the location of the terminals must match the old one. Secure it with the hold-down bar. Tighten it firmly but not excessively, so the case does not shift or crack, to about 5-10 N·m (4-7 lb-ft) (check the exact value in the manufacturer's specifications).
  10. Connect the positive terminal first, then the negative terminal with the BMS module. The terminal nuts take only light tightening, per specification, without excessive force, so you do not strip the post threads. The terminal must not rotate by hand. Do not connect any additional equipment with its negative lead directly to the battery post, only through the module.
  11. Close the positive terminal cover and put the battery cover back in place. Turn the ignition on, check the instrument cluster, and start the engine. After the power was disconnected, error messages may appear; they usually clear after a drive.
  12. Reset the BMS data (this affects how the new battery is charged). A common procedure on this generation: turn the ignition on without starting the engine, turn on the low beams, flash the high beams 5 times, press the brake pedal 3 times, then turn the ignition off. If this does not work, the reset can be done with a diagnostic scan tool.
  13. Leave the vehicle undisturbed for several hours (about 8 hours for the modules to sleep), then take a drive. The system will learn the new battery's parameters on its own. If an energy-saving mode is active, the Start-Stop system sometimes does not engage right away.
  14. If you have a smartwatch, one-touch windows, navigation or vehicle settings, check that they work and reconfigure them if necessary.

Common mistakes and warnings

  • Install only an AGM battery of the correct capacity: a conventional flooded lead-acid battery will fail quickly in Start-Stop operation
  • Do not short the positive terminal to the body, and work without rings, watches or gloves with metal parts
  • Take the old battery to a recycling point and do not throw it away
  • If charging system or BMS warnings stay on after the replacement, take the vehicle to a repair shop for diagnosis