FORD ESCORT 1997 7.G Owners Manual

²Do not drive with your foot
resting on the clutch pedal and do
not use the clutch pedal to hold
the vehicle at a standstill. These
actions will reduce clutch life.
²Downshift on steep hills to
reduce the vehicle's chances of
stalling and to prevent
unnecessary brake wear.
LOADING YOUR VEHICLE
Before loading a vehicle, familiarize
yourself with these terms:
²Base curb weightÐ weight of
the vehicle including any
standard equipment, fluids,
lubricants, etc. It does not
include passengers or
aftermarket equipment.
²PayloadÐ combined maximum
allowable weight of cargo,
passengers and optional
equipment.
²GVW (Gross vehicle weight)
Ðbase curb weight plus the
payload weight (including
passengers, cargo and optional
equipment). Remember, the
GVW is not a limit or a
specification.
²GVWR (Gross vehicle weight
rating)Ð maximum total
weight of the base vehicle,
passengers, optional equipment,
and cargo. The GVWR is specific
to each vehicle and is listed on
the Safety Compliance
Certification Label on the
driver's door pillar.
Driving
101

²GAWR (Gross axle weight
rating)Ð carrying capacity for
each axle system (front and
rear). This amount is specific to
each vehicle and is listed on the
Safety Compliance Certification
Label on the driver's door pillar.
Payload = Gross vehicle weight
rating - Base curb weight
To obtain correct weights, try
taking your vehicle to a shipping
company or an inspection station
for trucks.
Do not use replacement tires with
lower weight capacities than the
originals because they may lower
the vehicle's GVWR and GAWR
limitations. (Replacement tires
with a higher weight limit than the
originals do not increase the
GVWR and GAWR limitations.)
If the GVWR or the GAWR
specified on the Safety
Compliance Certification Label is
exceeded, your vehicle may be
damaged or you may lose control
and cause injury.
Trailer towing
Your vehicle is capable of towing a
trailer up to 454 kg (1000 lb) gross
trailer weight with a maximum
tongue load of 45 kg (100 lb). The
trailer should have 18.6 m
2(20 ft2)
or less frontal area.
Do not exceed the maximum loads
stated on the Safety Compliance
Certification Label. For load
Driving
102

specification terms found on the
label, refer toLoading your
vehiclein this chapter. Remember
to figure in the tongue load of your
loaded trailer when figuring the
total weight.
Towing trailers beyond the
maximum recommended
gross trailer weight exceeds the
limits of the vehicle and could
result in engine damage,
transaxle/axle damage, structural
damage, loss of control, and
personal injury.
Preparing to tow
Use the proper equipment for
towing a trailer and make sure it is
properly attached to your vehicle.
See your dealer or a reliable trailer
dealer if you require assistance.
Auxiliary coolers are recommended
for the power steering system and
automatic transaxle system (if
equipped ) if you are planning on:
²traveling farther than 80 km (50
miles).
²towing in hilly terrain.
²towing frequently.
Using a hitch
Do not use hitches that clamp onto
the vehicle bumper. Use a load
carrying hitch.
Distribute the load so that only 10
to 15% of the total weight of the
trailer is on the tongue. Tie down
the load so that it does not shift
Driving
103

and change the weight on the
hitch.
Using trailer brakes
Use electric brakes or manual,
automatic, or surge-type hydraulic
brakes that meet federal and local
regulations. Install and adjust the
brakes according to the
manufacturer's instructions.
Do not connect a trailer's
hydraulic brake system
directly to your vehicle's brake
system. Your vehicle may not
have enough braking power and
your chances of having a
collision greatly increase.
Using safety chains
Always connect the trailer's safety
chains to the vehicle. To connect
the chains, cross the chains under
the trailer tongue and attach to the
vehicle frame or hook retainers
(not the bumper). Make sure there
is enough slack to allow the vehicle
to turn corners.
Using trailer lamps
See your local trailer dealer or
rental agency for the proper
instructions and equipment for
hooking up trailer lamps.
Do not hook the trailer lights
directly into the vehicle's lighting
system wiring. If the trailer lamps
are not installed properly, the
warning lights in the instrument
cluster may not work properly.
Driving
104

Driving while towing a trailer
Do not drive faster than 88 km/h
(55 mph) while towing a 454 kg
(1000 lb) trailer. Do not drive
faster than 72 km/h (45 mph) with
any weight trailer while towing in
hilly country or on hot days.
Speed control (if equipped) may
not work properly while towing on
very long, steep grades.
If driving with an automatic
transaxle:
²use D or L rather than
Dwhile towing up or down
steep hills.
²anticipate stops and brake
gradually.
If driving with a manual transaxle:
²select a gear that avoids jerking
or excessive engine speed.
²avoid driving excessively in first
or second gear. In first or
second gear the trailer may be
too big or too heavily loaded for
the vehicle drivetrain.
²shift to a lower gear while
towing up or down steep hills.
²anticipate stops and brake
gradually.
Servicing while towing
If you tow a trailer for long
distances, your vehicle requires
more frequent service than a
vehicle not used for towing. Refer
to theService Guidefor more
information.
Driving
105

Towing behind a recreational
vehicle (RV)
Do not tow your vehicle behind
another vehicle, such as an RV,
unless front wheel dollies are used.
Luggage rack (if equipped)
Load luggage as far back as it will
safely go on the rack without
causing the vehicle to exceed the
gross vehicle weight rating
(GVWR) or gross axle weight
rating (GAWR).
FUEL CONSUMPTION
Fuel economy can be improved by
avoiding:
²lack of regular, scheduled
maintenance
²excessive speed
²rapid acceleration
²driving with the brake pedal
depressed
²sudden stops
²extended engine idling
²use of speed control in hilly
terrain
²extended use of the air
conditioner, defroster, rear
window defroster and other
accessories
²underinflated tires
²heavy loads
²aftermarket add-ons such as
bike, ski or luggage racks, bug
deflectors, etc.
Driving
106

USING THE HAZARD SWITCH
Use the hazard flashers to warn
traffic of vehicle problems:
²Slide the hazard switch to the
right to activate the hazard
flashers.
²Slide the hazard switch to the
left to deactivate the
continuously blinking flashers.
RESETTING THE FUEL PUMP
SHUT-OFF SWITCH
The fuel pump shut-off switch
stops the fuel pump when the
vehicle has been involved in a
collision or major jolt. If the
vehicle does not start, it is possible
that the fuel pump shut-off switch
needs to be reset.
If you see or smell fuel, do
not reset the switch or try
to start your vehicle. Have all
passengers get out of the vehicle
and call the local fire department
or a towing service.
To reset the fuel pump, press the
button on the switch. The switch is
located immediately below the hole
in the trunk side trim.
Roadside emergencies
107

²Sedan
²Wagon
Roadside emergencies
108

FUSES AND RELAYS
If electrical components in the
vehicle are not working, a fuse
may have blown. Blown fuses are
identified by a broken wire. Check
the appropriate fuses before
replacing any electrical
components.
Use the fuse puller tool provided
on the passenger compartment
fuse panel cover to replace fuses.
Always replace a fuse with
one that has the specified
amperage rating. Using a fuse
with a higher amperage rating
can cause severe wire damage
and could start a fire.
15 15
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
LMIRRORR
0000000002030405060
70
80
90
10 0
11 020 40608010 0
12 0
16 0
18 0 140FUEL FILLCHEF1/22
13RPM x 1000
RESET
SET
ACC
SET XXXX XXXOFF2INT
1 OFF MIST
Roadside emergencies
109

Even after a fuse is replaced, it
will continue to blow if the cause
of the overload is not identified
and corrected. If a fuse continues
to blow, have the vehicle's
electrical system checked.
The (POWER WIND) 30A on the
instrument panel fuse panel cover
represents a circuit breaker that
contols the vehicle's power
windows. The circuit breaker is
located just above the fuse panel
cover. To reset a circuit breaker,
press the reset button.
The (HEATER) 30A circuit
breaker controls the vehicle's
heater. The circuit breaker is
located just above and to the left
of the instrument panel fuse panel.
To reset a circuit breaker, press
the reset button.
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
LMIRRORR
0000000002030405060
70
80
90
10 0
11 020 40608010 0
12 0
16 0
18 0 140FUEL FILLCHEF1/22
13RPM x 1000
RESET
SET
ACC
SET XXXX XXXOFF2INT
1 OFF MIST
HEATER
30A
USE THE DESIGNATED FUSES ONLY
(POWER WIND)30A
1234 5
678916 17
18 19
20 21
10
11 12 13 14 15
Roadside emergencies
110