1996 FORD ESCORT Owners Manual

225 [DR05020(ALL)07/93]
Your vehicle has a special shift-lock safety
feature which prevents you from shifting out of
P (Park) without the brake pedal depressed. To
shift the transaxle out of the P (Park) position,
the ignition must be in the ON position, the
battery must be supplying electrical power, and
your foot must be pressing on the brake pedal.
[DR05030(ALL)01/92]
In the unlikely event that you cannot move the
selector lever from the P (Park) position with the
brake pedal depressed, continue depressing the
brake. Then:
*
[DR05035(ALL)06/95]
1. Remove the shift-lock override cap with a 1ª
or longer screwdriver.
[DR05038(ALL)02/94]
half page art:0070192-B
Shift-lock override
*
[DR05040(ALL)03/93]
2. Insert the screwdriver into the shift-lock
override opening and push the screwdriver
handle down.
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226 [DR05045(ALL)06/94]NOTE: You may use the override handle
provided in your Owner Guide
portfolio in place of a screwdriver.
*
[DR05050(ALL)03/93]
3. Push and hold the thumb button.
*
[DR05060(ALL)09/93]
4. Move the gearshift lever.
*
[DR05070(ALL)07/95]
If you need to shift out of P (Park) by using the
alternate procedure described above, it is
possible that a fuse has blown and that your
brakelamps may also not be functional. Please
refer to the chapter titledServicing Your Escortin
this Owner Guide for instructions on checking
and replacing fuses.
*
[DR05075(ALL)09/95]
RWARNING
DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE UNTIL
YOU VERIFY THAT THE BRAKELAMPS
ARE WORKING.
%*
[DR05300(ALL)01/95]
Driving
%*
[DR05400(ALL)04/95]
When to usej(Overdrive)
*
[DR05500(ALL)04/95]
j(Overdrive) is the usual driving position for
an automatic overdrive transaxle. It works the
same way D (Drive) works, automatically
upshifting or downshifting as the vehicle speeds
or slows.
*
[DR05600(ALL)04/95]
However,j(Overdrive) also shifts into a fourth
gear Ð an overdrive gear Ð when your vehicle
cruises at a consistent speed for any length of
time. This fourth gear will increase your fuel
economy when you travel at cruising speeds.
*
[DR05700(ALL)04/95]
j(Overdrive) may not be appropriate for
certain terrain. If the transaxle shifts back and
forth between third and fourth gears while you
are driving on hilly roads or if your vehicle
requires additional power for climbing hills, shift
to D (Drive).
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227
*
[DR05800(ALL)06/95]
When to use D (Drive)
*
[DR06000(ALL)04/95]
D (Drive) eliminates the excessive shifting
between third and fourth gears that your vehicle
sometimes does when you are traveling through
hilly terrain injOverdrive. It also gives more
engine braking to slow your vehicle on
downgrades thanjOverdrive.
[DR06100(ALL)09/95]
When to use L (Low)
[DR06200(ALL)08/93]
Use L (Low) when more power is needed to
drive up steep hills. It also gives more engine
braking than Drive when driving on hilly roads.
[DR06300(ALL)06/95]
Do not go faster than 38 mph (60 km/h) in this
gear. You can upshift from L (Low) to Drive or
from L (Low) to Overdrive at any speed.
[DR06320(ALL)09/95]
Reverse
*
[DR06340(ALL)08/95]
With the gearshift in the R (Reverse) position,
the vehicle will move backward. You should
always come to a complete stop before shifting
into or out of R (Reverse).
[DR06350(ALL)08/95]
Neutral
[DR06379(ALL)09/95]
In N (Neutral), the wheels of the transaxle are
not locked. Your vehicle will roll freely, even on
the slightest incline, unless the parking brake or
brakes are on.
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228
*
[DR06400(ALL)06/92]
Parking
*
[DR06500(ALL)11/94]
Always come to a complete stop before you shift
into P (Park). Make sure that the gearshift is
securely latched in P (Park). This locks the
transaxle and prevents the front wheels from
rotating.
*
[DR06600(ALL)06/95]
RWARNING
Always set the parking brake fully and
make sure the gearshift is securely latched
in P (Park).
*
[DR06625(ALL)06/95]
RWARNING
Never leave your vehicle unattended
while it is running.
*
[DR06675(ALL)02/91]
You can tell the gearshift is securely latched
when the thumb button has popped out. In this
position the gearshift selector lever cannot be
moved unless the button is pushed in.
*
[DR06680(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Hold the brake 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 injure someone.
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229
*
[DR06900(ALL)01/89]
Driving with a Manual Transaxle
%*
[DR07000(ALL)03/95]
Using the Clutch
*
[DR07100(ALL)11/94]
In order to start the vehicle, the clutch pedal
must be fully depressed to the floor. Before
starting the engine, make sure the vehicle is in
Neutral and the parking brake is set.
*
[DR07400(ALL)03/95]
Do not drive with your foot resting on the
clutch pedal and do not use the clutch to hold
your vehicle at a standstill while waiting on a
hill. These actions will seriously reduce clutch
life.
%*
[DR07600(ALL)03/95]
Shifting the Gears
*
[DR07700(ALL)11/94]
The gearshift for a manual transaxle is mounted
on the floor. The gearshift can be in one of
seven possible positions, as shown.
[DR07750(ALL)09/89]
one third page art:0000864-A
The positions of the floor-mounted gearshift
%*
[DR08000(ALL)03/95]
Backing up
*
[DR08100(ALL)03/95]
To shift into R (Reverse):
*
[DR08200(ALL)11/94]
1. Completely stop your vehicle.
*
[DR08300(ALL)11/94]
2. Depress the clutch pedal to the floor and
place the gearshift lever in the Neutral
position. Do not release the clutch pedal.
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230 [DR08370(ALL)06/94]3. Push the gearshift lever completely to the
right and then pull rearward on the gearshift
lever to engage the Reverse gear.
[DR08380(ALL)06/94]
4. If the Reverse gear is engaged, slowly
release the clutch pedal from the floor.
[DR08385(ALL)06/94]
5. If the Reverse gear is not engaged, do not
release the clutch pedal from the floor. Place
the gearshift lever back in Neutral and then
momentarily release the clutch pedal from
the floor.
[DR08390(ALL)06/94]
6. Repeat steps 2 through 4.
[DR08400(ALL)08/95]
Upshifting
*
[DR08500(ALL)06/93]
For normal acceleration, you should upshift at
the following speeds:
[DR08600(ALL)06/93]
ten pica chart:0070154-AFile:10ctdre.ex
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231 [DR08700(ALL)06/93]
For cruising, you should upshift at the following
speeds:
[DR08800(ALL)06/93]
ten pica chart:0070155-A[DR09400(ALL)08/95]
Upshift indicator light (If equipped)
[DR09500(ALL)09/93]
After the engine warms up, the upshift light will
come on if you could get better fuel economy by
shifting to the next higher gear. The vehicle will
not be harmed if the transaxle is not shifted
when the light comes on, but the vehicle will
use more fuel.
[DR09600(ALL)09/93]
The shift indicator light can be ignored when
you are downshifting, on steep hills, using the
engine to ºbrakeª the vehicle, or need more
power for a difficult acceleration.
%*
[DR09700(ALL)05/95]
Downshifting
*
[DR09800(ALL)03/95]
When you slow down or climb a steep hill,
always downshift before the engine starts to lose
power. Downshifting reduces the chance of
stalling and gives your vehicle better acceleration
to increase speed again.
*
[DR09900(ALL)03/95]
When you drive down steep hills, downshifting
helps you keep a safe speed and helps prevent
unnecessary wear on the brakes.
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232 [DR10200(ALL)02/92]Do not attempt to shift into 1 (First) gear with
the clutch pedal depressed at speeds higher than
10 mph (16 km/h). If you do, it could cause a
complete clutch failure, making your vehicle
inoperative.
%
*
[DR15600(ALL)01/95]
Steering Your Vehicle
[DR15700(ALL)07/93]
Your vehicle may be equipped with power
steering. Power steering uses energy from the
engine to help steer your vehicle.
%*
[DR15800(ALL)04/95]
If the amount of effort needed to steer your
vehicle changes at a constant vehicle speed, have
the power steering system checked. If the power
steering system breaks down (or if the engine is
turned off), you can steer the vehicle manually
but it takes more effort.
*
[DR16000(ALL)01/95]
Never hold the steering wheel to the extreme
right or left for more than five seconds if the
engine is running. This can damage the power
steering pump.
%
*
[DR16200(ALL)03/95]
Brakes
%*
[DR16300(ALL)01/95]
Applying the Brakes
[DR16350(ALL)07/93]
Your vehicle has power-assisted brakes that
adjust automatically as the brake pads or linings
wear down.
[DR16400(ALL)08/95]
Your vehicle may have four-wheel anti-lock disc
brakes which adjust automatically through
everyday use. Refer to section on anti-lock
brakes later in this chapter.
*
[DR16700(ALL)05/95]
Apply the brake pedal gradually. Use the
ºsqueezeª technique Ð push on the brake pedal
with a steadily increasing force. This allows the
wheels to continue to roll while you are slowing
down, which lets you steer properly.
File:10ctdre.ex
Update:Tue Sep 19 14:53:34 1995