trailer FORD ESCAPE 2002 1.G User Guide

If you use the temporary spare tire continuously or do not follow
these precautions, the tire could fail, causing you to lose control
of the vehicle, possibly injuring yourself or others.
When driving with the temporary spare tiredo not:
²use more than one temporary spare tire at a time
²exceed 80 km/h (50 mph) or drive further than 3 200 km
(2 000 miles) total under any circumstances
²load the vehicle beyond maximum vehicle load rating listed on the
Safety Compliance Label
²tow a trailer
²use tire chains
²try to repair the temporary spare tire or remove it from its wheel
²use the wheel for any other type of vehicle
Use of a temporary spare tire at any one wheel location can lead to
impairment of the following:
²handling, stability and braking performance
²comfort and noise
²ground clearance and parking at curbs
²Winter driving capability
Tire change procedure
When one of the front wheels is off the ground, the transmission
alone will not prevent the vehicle from moving or slipping off the
jack, even if the vehicle is in P (Park) (automatic transaxle) or R
(Reverse) (manual transaxle).
To prevent the vehicle from moving when you change a tire, be
sure the parking brake is set, then block (in both directions) the
wheel that is diagonally opposite (other side and end of the vehicle) to
the tire being changed.
Roadside Emergencies
196

In case of a roadside emergency with a disabled vehicle (without access
to wheel dollies, car hauling trailer, or flatbed transport vehicle) your
vehicle (regardless of transmission powertrain configuration) can be flat
towed (all wheels in the ground) under the following conditions:
²Place the transmission in N (Neutral).
²Maximum speed is not to exceed 56 km/h (35 mph).
²Maximum distance is 80 km (50 miles).
Ford Motor Company provides a towing manual for all authorized tow
truck operators. Have your tow truck operator refer to this manual for
proper hook-up and towing procedures for your vehicle.
Roadside Emergencies
207

²Sudden or hard accelerations may reduce fuel economy.
²Slow down gradually.
²Driving at reasonable speeds (traveling at 88 km/h [55 mph] uses 15%
less fuel than traveling at 105 km/h [65 mph]).
²Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce fuel economy.
²Using the air conditioner or defroster may reduce fuel economy.
²You may want to turn off the speed control in hilly terrain if
unnecessary shifting between third and fourth gear occurs.
Unnecessary shifting of this type could result in reduced fuel
economy.
²Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
²Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
²Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
Maintenance
²Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
²Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
²Use recommended engine oil. Refer toLubricant specificationsin
this chapter.
²Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found in your vehicle scheduled maintenance guide.
Conditions
²Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
²Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
0.4 km/L [1 mpg] is lost for every 180 kg [400 lb] of weight carried).
²Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example bug
deflectors, rollbars/light bars, running boards, ski/luggage racks) may
reduce fuel economy.
²Using fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel economy.
Maintenance and Specifications
249

TRANSMISSION FLUID
Checking automatic transmission fluid (if equipped)
Refer to your scheduled maintenance guide for scheduled intervals for
fluid checks and changes. Your transaxle does not consume fluid.
However, the fluid level should be checked if the transaxle is not working
properly, i.e., if the transaxle slips or shifts slowly or if you notice some
sign of fluid leakage.
Automatic transmission fluid expands when warmed. To obtain an
accurate fluid check, drive the vehicle until it is warmed up
(approximately 30 km [20 miles]). If your vehicle has been
operated for an extended period at high speeds, in city traffic
during hot weather or pulling a trailer, the vehicle should be
turned off for about 30 minutes to allow fluid to cool before
checking.
1. Drive the vehicle 30 km (20 miles) or until it reaches normal operating
temperature.
2. Park the vehicle on a level surface and engage the parking brake.
3. With the parking brake engaged and your foot on the brake pedal,
start the engine and move the gearshift lever through all of the gear
ranges. Allow sufficient time for each gear to engage.
4. Latch the gearshift lever in P (Park) and leave the engine running.
5. Remove the dipstick, wiping it clean with a clean, dry lint free rag. If
necessary, refer toIdentifying components in the engine compartment
in this chapter for the location of the dipstick.
6. Install the dipstick making sure it is fully seated in the filler tube.
7. Remove the dipstick and inspect the fluid level. The fluid should be in
the crosshatch zone for normal operating temperature.
Low fluid level
Do not drive the vehicle if the fluid
level is at the bottom of the dipstick
and the outside temperatures are
above 10ÉC (50ÉF).
Correct fluid level
The transmission fluid should be checked at normal operating
temperatures 66ÉC-77ÉC (150ÉF-170ÉF) on a level surface. The normal
Maintenance and Specifications
254

Floor cargo net
Tire step
Travel equipment
Auto headlamps with DRL (Daytime Running Lights)
Console
Daytime running lights
Factory luggage rack adaptors
Hitch mounted bike rack
Mirror I/S electrochromic compass with and without temperature display
Pet guard
Removable luggage rack (Track riders)
Removable luggage rack adapters
Running boards and running bars
Soft luggage cover
Trailer hitch (Class II)
Trailer hitch bars and balls
Trailer hitch wiring adaptor
Protection and appearance equipment
Air bag anti-theft locks
Car/truck covers
Cargo liners, interior (soft and rigid)
Carpet floor mats
Door edge guards
Front end covers (full and mini)
Grill guard
Hood deflectors
Molded splash guards
Molded vinyl floor mats
Moonroof deflector
Rear air deflectors
Accessories
272

low fuel ......................................13
oil pressure ...............................12
overdrive off ..............................13
safety belt .................................12
service engine soon ..................10
turn signal indicator .................13
Load limits .................................178
GAWR ......................................178
GVWR ......................................178
trailer towing ..........................178
Loading instructions .................180
Locks
childproof ................................103
Lubricant specifications ...265, 267
Lumbar support, seats .............115
M
Manual transaxle
fluid, checking and adding ....256
Manual transmission
fluid capacities ........................262
lubricant specifications ..........267
Mirrors
fold away ...................................86
side view mirrors (power) .......85
Moon roof ....................................89
Motorcraft parts ................246, 262
O
Octane rating ............................245
Odometer .....................................17
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................231
Overdrive ...................................165P
Panic alarm feature, remote
entry system ..............................104
Parking brake ............................160
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....262
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ...............................192
Power door locks ......................102
Power mirrors .............................85
Power steering ..........................161
fluid, checking and adding ....252
fluid, refill capacity ................262
fluid, specifications .........265, 267
Power Windows ...........................83
Preparing to drive your
vehicle ........................................162
R
Radio ......................................25, 46
Radio reception ...........................61
Rear window defroster ...............67
Relays ........................................189
Remote entry system .......103±104
illuminated entry ....................106
locking/unlocking
doors ................................102, 104
panic alarm .............................104
replacement/additional
transmitters .............................105
replacing the batteries ...........105
Roadside assistance ..................186
Roof rack .....................................92
Index
278

S
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ....................15, 125±129
Safety defects, reporting ..........217
Safety restraints ................125±130
belt minder .............................132
cleaning the safety
belts .................................135, 224
extension assembly ................131
for adults .........................126±129
for children .....................144±145
lap belt ....................................130
warning light and
chime ...................12, 14, 131±132
Safety seats for children ..145±146
Seat belts
(see Safety restraints) .............125
Seats ..........................................113
child safety seats ............145±146
cleaning ...................................224
SecuriLock passive
anti-theft system ...............107±109
Servicing your vehicle ..............226
Snowplowing .................................7
Spare tire (see Changing
the Tire) ....................................195
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................262, 267
Special notice
ambulance conversions ..............7
utility-type vehicles ....................6
Specification chart,
lubricants ...........................265, 267
Speed control ..............................86
Speedometer ...............................16Starting your
vehicle ........................154±155, 157
jump starting ..........................200
Steering wheel
controls ......................................86
T
Tachometer .................................17
Temperature control
(see Climate control) .................62
Tires ...........................195, 258±259
changing ..........................195±196
checking the pressure ............259
replacing ..................................260
rotating ....................................260
snow tires and chains ............261
tire grades ...............................259
treadwear ................................258
Towing .......................................181
recreational towing .................185
trailer towing ..........................181
wrecker ....................................206
Transaxle
automatic operation ...............163
fluid, checking and adding
(manual) .................................256
Transmission
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................254
fluid, refill capacities ..............262
lubricant specifications ..265, 267
Turn signal ............................13, 71
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................267
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................269
Index
279