1996 FORD ESCORT warning light

109
*
[ST08400(ALL)01/95]
Before you start your vehicle, do the following:
*
[ST08500(ALL)08/95]
1. Make sure all occupants in the vehicle
buckle their safety belts. SeeSafety Restraints
in the Index for more details.
*
[ST08600(ALL)03/95]
2. Make sure the headlamps and other
accessories are turned off when starting.
*
[ST08700(ALL)02/92]
3.If you have an automatic transaxle, make
sure that the gearshift is in P (Park) and the
parking brake is set before you turn the key.
[ST08750(ALL)03/95]
If you have an automatic transaxle, your
vehicle has a special shift-lock safety feature.
It prevents you from moving the gearshift
lever out of the P (Park) position unless the
ignition is in the ON position and your foot
is on the brake. To move the gearshift lever,
you must also depress the thumb button.
*
[ST08800(ALL)07/93]
If you have a manual transaxle, make sure
that the parking brake is fully set, push the
clutch pedal to the floor, and put the
gearshift into Neutral before you turn the
key.(Remember, the starter will operate
only if the clutch pedal is pushed all the
way to the floor.)
[ST09000(ALL)06/95]
4. Before you start your vehicle, you should
check the warning lights on the instrument
panel to make sure that they work. Refer to
theWarning Lights and Gaugeschapter.
%*
[ST09400(ALL)02/95]
Starting Your Engine
*
[ST09500(ALL)06/95]
To start your engine:
*
[ST09600(ALL)05/95]
1. Follow the steps underPreparing to Start
Your Vehicleat the beginning of this section.
*
[ST09650(ALL)03/95]
2. Turn the ignition key to the ON position.
*
[ST09720(ALL)06/95]
3. DO NOT depress the accelerator pedal when
starting your engine. DO NOT use the
accelerator while the vehicle is parked.
File:04ctste.ex
Update:Tue Sep 19 14:42:54 1995

117
Warning Lights and
Gauges
*
[LG00500(E )02/95]
Your vehicle has one of the following clusters:
*
[LG00600(E )05/91]
q
Standard Cluster
*
[LG00700(E )12/89]
q
Sport Cluster
*
[LG01100(E )05/94]
If you are not sure which cluster your vehicle
has, check the diagrams on the following pages.
*
[LG01700(E )12/89]
Standard Cluster
*
[LG01800(E )12/89]
The following warning lights and gauges are on
the standard cluster. All of the warning lights
and gauges alert you to possible problems with
your vehicle. The following sections detail what
each of these indicators means.
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Update:Tue Sep 19 14:44:43 1995

119
*
[LG01875(ALL)01/95]
Indicator Lights and Chimes
[LG02500(ALL)04/94]
Safety Belt Warning Light/Chime (U.S.
vehicles equipped with motorized passive
restraint)
*
[LG02510(ALL)08/95]
The safety belt warning light/chime reminds you
to fasten your safety belt. One of the following
will take place:
[LG02520(ALL)03/95]
q
If the lap belt is not buckled when the key is
turned to the ON position, the light will
come on for one to two minutes and the
chime will sound for four to eight seconds.
[LG02530(ALL)03/95]
q
If the lap belt is buckled while the light is on
and the chime is sounding, both the light and
chime will turn off.
[LG02540(ALL)03/95]
q
If the lap belt is buckled before the key is
turned to the ON position, neither the light
nor chime will activate.
[LG02545(ALL)05/94]
If the warning light remains illuminated for
more than one minute, check to be sure that
both shoulder belts are latched to the emergency
release buckle. If the warning light remains
illuminated with both front seat shoulder belts
latched to the emergency release buckles, refer to
the section titledWhat to Do If Your Shoulder Belt
Does Not Engage Properlybefore driving the
vehicle.
File:05ctlge.ex
Update:Tue Sep 19 14:44:43 1995

120 [LG02549(E )06/94]Safety Belt Warning Light/Chime
(Canadian vehicles equipped with
combination lap and shoulder belts)
[LG02550(E )09/95]
This warning light and chime remind you in two
ways to fasten your safety belt. If you do not
fasten the safety belt before you turn the ignition
key to ON, the chime sounds for four (4) to
eight (8) seconds. Also, each time you turn the
ignition key to ON, the warning light comes on
for one to two minutes to remind you to fasten
your combination lap and shoulder belt.
[LG02700(ALL)03/91]
one inch art:0070005-A
The safety belt light
[LG02750(ALL)08/95]
Brake Warning Light
*
[LG02900(ALL)03/95]
The warning light for the brakes can show two
things Ð that the parking brake is not fully
released, or that the brake fluid level is low in
the master cylinder reservoir. If the fluid level is
low, the brake system should be checked by
your dealer or a qualified service technician.
[LG03500(ALL)12/89]
This light comes on when you turn the ignition
key to START, but it normally goes off shortly
after the engine starts and you release the
parking brake. If the light stays on or comes on
after you have released the parking brake fully,
have the hydraulic brake system serviced.
File:05ctlge.ex
Update:Tue Sep 19 14:44:43 1995

121 [LG03550(ALL)08/95]
one inch art:0000837-A
The brake system and parking brake light
*
[LG03600(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
The BRAKE light indicates that the brakes
may not be working properly. Have the
brakes checked immediately.
%*
[LG03800(ALL)01/95]
Charging System Light
*
[LG03900(ALL)03/95]
This light indicates that your battery is not being
charged and that you need to have the electrical
system checked.
*
[LG04300(ALL)07/95]
This light comes on every time you turn the
ignition to the ON or START position (engine
off). The light should go off when the engine
starts and the alternator begins to charge.
*
[LG04400(ALL)01/95]
If the light stays on or comes on when the
engine is running, have the electrical system
checked as soon as possible.
[LG04500(ALL)12/89]
one inch art:0000838-A
The charging system light
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Update:Tue Sep 19 14:44:43 1995

123 [LG06600(ALL)07/93]
Liftgate Ajar Light (Wagons only)
[LG06700(ALL)01/92]
This light comes on when you turn the ignition
key to ON if the liftgate is not fully closed.
[LG06750(ALL)12/89]
one inch art:0000892-A
The liftgate ajar light
[LG07000(ALL)08/95]
Chime for Headlamps On
*
[LG07100(ALL)07/95]
This chime sounds if the driver or any passenger
door is open when the parking lamps or
headlamps are on. The chime sounds until you
close the door, turn off the lamps or turn the
ignition to the ON position.
%*
[LG07200(ALL)01/95]
Air Bag Readiness Light
*
[LG07210(ALL)05/95]
A problem with the system is indicated by one
or more of the following: the readiness light will
either flash or stay lit, or it will not light, or a
group of five beeps will be heard.
*
[LG07220(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
If any of these things happen, even
intermittently, have the air bag system
serviced at your Ford or Lincoln-Mercury
dealer immediately.
[LG07300(ALL)04/94]
This light illuminates for approximately six
seconds when the ignition is turned to the ON
position. If the light fails to illuminate, continues
to flash, or remains on, have the system serviced
as soon as possible.
File:05ctlge.ex
Update:Tue Sep 19 14:44:43 1995

124 [LG07400(ALL)03/93]
one inch art:0070095-AAir bag readiness light
%*
[LG07900(ALL)03/95]
Check Engine Warning Light
[LG08000(ALL)08/95]
The Powertrain On-Board Diagnostic II (OBD II)
system consists of the hardware and software
necessary to monitor the operation of the
powertrain. The OBD II system is designed to
check the function of the vehicle's powertrain
control system during normal operation. If an
emission problem is detected, the Check Engine
Warning Light is turned on.
[LG08100(ALL)03/91]
one inch art:0070007-A
The check engine light
[LG08200(ALL)08/95]
Modification or additions to the vehicle may
cause incorrect operation of the OBD II system.
Additions such as burglar alarms, cellular
phones, and CB radios must be carefully
installed. Do not install these devices by tapping
into or running wires close to powertrain control
system wires or components.
[LG08300(ALL)08/95]
The light comes on briefly when you turn the
ignition key to ON, but it should turn off when
the engine starts. If the light does not come on
when you are driving, have your vehicle
File:05ctlge.ex
Update:Tue Sep 19 14:44:43 1995

125
serviced as soon as possible. This indicates a
possible problem with one of the vehicle's
emission control systems. You do not need to
have your vehicle towed in.
[LG08400(ALL)08/95]
If the light turns on and off at one (1) second
intervals while you are driving the vehicle, it
means that the engine is misfiring. If this
condition persists, damage could occur to the
engine or catalytic convertor. Have your vehicle
serviced at the first opportunity. You do not
need to have your vehicle towed in.
[LG08500(ALL)08/95]
If the light turns on and off on rare occasions
while you are driving, it means that a
malfunction occurred and the condition corrected
itself.
[LG08600(ALL)08/95]
An example of a condition which corrects itself
occurs when an engine running out of fuel
begins to misfire. In this case, the Check Engine
Warning Light may turn on and will then set a
Diagnostic Trouble Code indicating that the
engine was misfiring while the last of the fuel
was being consumed. After refueling, the Check
Engine Warning light will turn off after the
vehicle has completed three consecutive warm
up cycles without a misfire condition occurring.
A warm up cycle consists of engine start from a
cold condition (engine at ambient temperature)
and running until the engine reaches normal
operating temperature.
[LG08700(ALL)08/95]
On the fourth engine start up, the Check Engine
Warning Light will turn off as soon as the
engine begins to crank. It is not necessary to
have the engine serviced.
File:05ctlge.ex
Update:Tue Sep 19 14:44:43 1995