FORD ESCORT 1997 7.G Owners Manual

plug it in at night to start the
vehicle the next morning.
Do not use your heater
with ungrounded electrical
systems or two-pronged
(cheater) adapters. You can be
injured by an electrical shock if
you use an ungrounded
connection.
GUARDING AGAINST EXHAUST
FUMES
Carbon monoxide, although
colorless and odorless, is present
in exhaust fumes. Take precautions
to avoid its dangerous effects.
If you smell exhaust fumes
inside your vehicle, have
your dealer inspect your vehicle
immediately. Do not drive if you
smell exhaust fumes.
Have the exhaust and body
ventilation systems checked
whenever:
²the vehicle is raised for service
²the sound of the exhaust system
changes
²the vehicle has been damaged in
a collision
Improve vehicle ventilation by
keeping all air inlet vents clear of
snow, leaves, and other debris.
Starting
91

If the engine is idling while the
vehicle is stopped in an open area
for long periods of time, open the
windows at least 2.5 cm (1 in).
Adjust the heating or air
conditioning (if equipped) to bring
in fresh air.
*If equipped with air conditioning
OFF
HI LO*A/C*MAX
A/C
HI LOOFF*A/C*MAX
A/C
TUNE
DISCS

SEEK
TUNE
SCAN
EJ REW FF
BAL BASSTREBFADE TAPE
CD AM
FM
–+1
SIDE 1-22
345
COMP1
SIDE 1-2VOL–
PUSH ON
MIRRORS
0000000002030405060
70
80
90
10 0
11 020 40608010 0
12 0
16 0
18 0 140FUEL FILLCHEF1/22
13RPM x 1000
RSM
SET
ACC
CST OFF ONOFFPULL2INT
1 OFF MIST
R L
Starting
92

BRAKES
Power-assisted brakes
Apply the brake pedal gradually to
avoid locking up the wheels. The
brakes will adjust automatically as
the brake pads or linings wear
down.
Utilize these strategies for
maximum braking performance:
²If driving down a long or steep
hill, shift to a lower gear and do
not apply the brakes
continuously. Continuously
applying the brakes on a hill
could overheat them and make
them less effective.
²Occasional brake squeal during
light to moderate stops is
normal. Significantly increased
squeal is an indicator that brake
service is needed.
²Apply the brakes gently several
times after driving through
standing water or washing your
vehicle to dry them.
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
Apply ABS brakes steadily.Do not
pump the brakes in a panic stop.
The brake system will prevent
wheel lockup by automatically
releasing and reapplying the
brakes.
Even with ABS, the brakes could
lock up on roads with alternating
slippery and dry patches or with
loose surfaces such as snow or
gravel. Be careful when braking.
Driving
93

The ABS brake system conducts a
self-test each time the vehicle is
driven. A mechanical noise may be
heard while the system conducts
its self-test.
ABS warning light
TheABSlight in the instrument
cluster illuminates and remains
illuminated if an ABS fault is
detected. Have your vehicle
serviced by a qualified service
technician as soon as possible.
Normal braking operation is still
effective unless the
P!BRAKElight is
also illuminated.
Parking brake
The parking brake should be used
whenever the vehicle is parked.
To set the parking brake:
The parking brake is not designed
to stop a moving vehicle. However,
if the normal brakes fail, the
parking brake can be set to stop
the vehicle. The vehicle's stopping
distance will increase greatly and
vehicle steering response will be
limited.
When the ignition is turned to ON,
the
P!BRAKElight in the instrument
cluster illuminates and remains
illuminated until the parking brake
is released.
Driving
94

If the parking brake is fully
released but the
P!BRAKEwarning light remains on,
have the brakes checked
immediately. They may not be
working properly.
Always set the parking
brake fully and make sure
that the gearshift is securely
latched in P (automatic
transaxle) or first gear (manual
transaxle).
To release the parking brake:
²While pressing the release
button, pull the handle upward
to release the brake.
²Push handle downward to the
off position.
Driving
95

TRANSAXLES
Automatic
The normal driving position for the
automatic transaxle is the
Dposition.
To move the automatic transaxle
gearshift:
P Ð Park
R Ð Reverse
N Ð Neutral
DÐ Overdrive: the normal
driving position for best fuel
economy
D Ð Drive: more engine braking
than
D
L Ð Low: more engine braking
than D at speeds up to 60 km/h
(38 mph)
HI LOOFF*A/C*MAX
A/CTUNE
DISCS

SEEK
TUNE
SCAN
EJ REW FF
BAL BASSTREBFADE TAPE
CD AM
FM
–+1
SIDE 1-22
345
COMP1
SIDE 1-2VOL–
PUSH ONLMIRRORR0000000002030405060
70
80
90
10 0
11 020 40608010 0
12 0
16 0
18 0 140FUEL FILLCHEF1/22
13RPM x 1000RESET
SET
ACC
SET XXXX XXXOFF2INT
1 OFF MIST
P
R
N
D
D
L
Driving
96

Hold the brake the pedal
down while you move the
gearshift lever from position to
position. If you do not hold the
brake pedal down, your vehicle
may move unexpectedly and
cause injury.
Moving a locked gearshift
Automatic transaxle vehicles are
equipped with a shift-lock safety
feature that prevents the gearshift
from being moved out of P without
the brake pedal depressed.
If you cannot move the gearshift
out of P with the brake pedal
depressed:
1. Continue depressing the brake
pedal, and remove the shift-lock
override cap with a 2.5 cm (1
inch) or longer screwdriver.
2. Insert the screwdriver into the
shift-lock override opening and
push down.
P
R
N
D
D
L
Driving
97

3. Push and hold the thumb
button.
4. Move the gearshift.
If it is necessary to use the above
procedure to move the gearshift, it
is possible that a fuse has blown
and the vehicle's brakelamps may
not be operating properly. For
more information on fuses and fuse
replacement, refer toFuses and
relaysin theRoadside
emergencieschapter.
Do not drive your vehicle
until you verify that the
brakelamps are working.
If an automatic transaxle vehicle
gets stuck in mud or snow it may
be rocked out of the spot. To rock
the vehicle out, shift between
forward and reverse gears in a
steady rhythm. Press lightly on the
accelerator in each gear. Do not
rock the vehicle for more than a
few minutes; this could damage
the vehicle.
Do not spin the wheels at
over 55 km/h (35 mph).
The tires may fail and injure a
passenger or bystander.
P
R
N
D
D
L
Driving
98

Manual
To move the manual transaxle
gearshift:
²Depress the brake pedal and
then the clutch.
²Move the gearshift to the
selected gear.
Always come to a complete stop
before shifting into R. Shift
through the neutral position (in
the center) before moving the
gearshift into R. If R is not
engaged, move the gearshift lever
back to the neutral position,
release the clutch, and try again.
HI LOOFF*A/C*MAX
A/CTUNE
DISCS

SEEK
TUNE
SCAN
EJ REW FF
BAL BASSTREBFADE TAPE
CD AM
FM
–+1
SIDE 1-22
345
COMP1
SIDE 1-2VOL–
PUSH ONLMIRRORR0000000002030405060
70
80
90
10 0
11 020 40608010 0
12 0
16 0
18 0 140FUEL FILLCHEF1/22
13RPM x 1000RESET
SET
ACC
SET XXXX XXXOFF
4 25 3 1
R
2INT
1 OFF MIST
4 25 3 1
R
Driving
99

Upshifting
For normal acceleration:
Upshift from... At the following speed:
1 to 2 22 km/h (14 mph)
2 to 3 40 km/h (25 mph)
3 to 4 58 km/h (36 mph)
4 to 5 72 km/h (45 mph)
For cruising:
Upshift from... At the following speed:
1 to 2 18 km/h (11 mph)
2 to 3 35 km/h (22 mph)
3 to 4 51 km/h (32 mph)
4 to 5 66 km/h (41 mph)
Upshift light (if equipped)
Thelight in the instrument
cluster illuminates to indicate
when to shift for the best fuel
economy. The vehicle will not be
harmed if the transaxle is not
shifted when the light illuminates,
but the vehicle will use more fuel.
The
light can be ignored when
you are:
²downshifting
²driving on steep hills
²using the engine to brake the
vehicle
²seeking more power for a
difficult acceleration
To maximize gearshift
performance:
Driving
100