Page 110 of 387
![FORD ESCORT 1996 7.G Owners Manual 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  FORD ESCORT 1996 7.G Owners Manual 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](/manual-img/11/4888/w960_4888-109.png)
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.
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        Page 123 of 387
122 [LG05700(ALL)08/95]Upshift Indicator Light (If equipped)
[LG05725(ALL)03/91]
This light comes on to indicate when you should
shift your manual transaxle to the next higher
gear. This light will help you get better fuel
economy by lighting when you should shift.
(If you have a 1.8L engine you will not have an
upshift indicator light.)
[LG05750(ALL)08/95]
one inch art:0000886-A
The upshift indicator light
%*
[LG06200(ALL)01/95]
High Beam Light
*
[LG06300(ALL)03/95]
This light comes on when the headlamps are
turned to high beam or when you flash the
lights.
[LG06400(ALL)03/91]
one inch art:0070006-A
The high beam light
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        Page 124 of 387
![FORD ESCORT 1996 7.G Owners Manual 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 FORD ESCORT 1996 7.G Owners Manual 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](/manual-img/11/4888/w960_4888-123.png)
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.
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        Page 151 of 387
![FORD ESCORT 1996 7.G Owners Manual 151
%*
[IP23600(ALL)01/95]
The Interior and Exterior Lights
%*
[IP23700(ALL)01/95]
Turning On the Exterior Lights
[IP23750(ALL)08/95]
To turn on your headlamps, parking lamps, side
markers, license la FORD ESCORT 1996 7.G Owners Manual 151
%*
[IP23600(ALL)01/95]
The Interior and Exterior Lights
%*
[IP23700(ALL)01/95]
Turning On the Exterior Lights
[IP23750(ALL)08/95]
To turn on your headlamps, parking lamps, side
markers, license la](/manual-img/11/4888/w960_4888-150.png)
151
%*
[IP23600(ALL)01/95]
The Interior and Exterior Lights
%*
[IP23700(ALL)01/95]
Turning On the Exterior Lights
[IP23750(ALL)08/95]
To turn on your headlamps, parking lamps, side
markers, license lamps, instrument panel lamps,
and tail lamps, twist the knob at the end of the
turn signal lever located to the left of the
steering wheel.
[IP23920(ALL)08/95]
To turn on the parking lamps, side marker
lamps, instrument panel lamps, license lamps,
and tail lamps, rotate the knob to the first
position.
[IP23930(ALL)03/95]
To turn on the headlamps in addition to the
other lamps, rotate the knob to the second
position.
[IP23950(ALL)03/95]
quarter page art:0070171-A
The lever for the headlamps, parking lamps and tail lamps
[IP25400(ALL)12/89]
To change your headlamps from low to high
beam, push the turn signal lever away from you
until it latches, and release.
*
[IP25600(ALL)03/93]
For more information about how the high beam
headlamps work, seeSteering column controlsin
the Index.
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        Page 152 of 387
152 %
*
[IP25605(ALL)01/95]
Daytime Running Light System
*
[IP25610(ALL)03/95]
(Canadian vehicles only)
*
[IP25615(ALL)03/95]
The Daytime Running Light (DRL) system turns
the high beam headlamps on, with a reduced
light output, when:
*
[IP25619(ALL)03/95]
q
The headlamp system is in the OFF position,
and
*
[IP25620(ALL)03/95]
q
The vehicle is running, and
*
[IP25625(ALL)01/95]
q
The vehicle has a fully released parking
brake.
*
[IP25630(ALL)05/95]
The high beam indicator light on the instrument
cluster will not be on.
*
[IP25640(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
The Daytime Running Light (DRL) system
will not illuminate the tail lamps and
parking lamps. Turn on your headlamps
at dusk. Failure to do so may result in a
collision.
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        Page 153 of 387
153 [IP25710(E )08/95]
Fog Lamps (If equipped)
[IP25720(E )10/91]
The fog lamps switch is located to the left of the
steering wheel on the instrument panel. The fog
lamps will operate only when the low beam
headlamps are on.
[IP25730(E )09/95]
half page art:0070196-C
Fog lamp switch
%*
[IP25735(ALL)08/95]
Cleaning the Exterior Lamps
*
[IP25740(ALL)08/95]
Do not use dry paper towel, chemical solvents
or abrasive cleaners to clean the lamps, as these
may cause scratches or crack the lamps.
%*
[IP29800(ALL)01/95]
Lighting Up the Interior and Instrument
Panel
[IP29900(ALL)09/89]
You can brighten or dim the lights in the
instrument panel.
[IP29910(ALL)12/89]
To do this, turn the instrument panel dimmer
thumbwheel located on the instrument panel to
the left of the turn signal lever.
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        Page 184 of 387
184
*
[FV16250(ALL)04/95]
NOTE: Before using any cleaner, test it on a
small, hidden area of fabric. If the
fabric's color or texture is adversely
affected by a particular cleaner, do not
use it.
%
*
[FV23600(ALL)01/95]
Mirrors
*
[FV23900(ALL)08/95]
You can tilt the mirror from day to night
position to reduce the glare from the headlamps
of vehicles behind you. Move the tab toward
you for the night position and away from you
for the day position.
[FV23950(ALL)06/93]
one third page art:0070008-D
The rearview mirror
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        Page 278 of 387
![FORD ESCORT 1996 7.G Owners Manual 279
Servicing Your Escort
%*
[SV00300(ALL)03/95]
Service Made Easy
*
[SV00400(ALL)01/95]
Ford has two goals for servicing your vehicle.
*
[SV00500(ALL)01/95]
1. When we can, we design parts that do no FORD ESCORT 1996 7.G Owners Manual 279
Servicing Your Escort
%*
[SV00300(ALL)03/95]
Service Made Easy
*
[SV00400(ALL)01/95]
Ford has two goals for servicing your vehicle.
*
[SV00500(ALL)01/95]
1. When we can, we design parts that do no](/manual-img/11/4888/w960_4888-277.png)
279
Servicing Your Escort
%*
[SV00300(ALL)03/95]
Service Made Easy
*
[SV00400(ALL)01/95]
Ford has two goals for servicing your vehicle.
*
[SV00500(ALL)01/95]
1. When we can, we design parts that do not
need to be serviced.
*
[SV00600(ALL)01/95]
2. We want to make servicing your vehicle as
easy as possible. To help you:
*
[SV00700(ALL)01/95]
q
We highlight do-it-yourself items in yellow in
the engine compartment so that you can find
them easily.
*
[SV00800(ALL)01/95]
q
When possible, we design parts Ð such as
the headlamp bulbs Ð that can be replaced
without tools.
*
[SV00900(ALL)05/94]
q
We give you a Maintenance Schedule that
makes tracking routine service for your
vehicle easy. The maintenance schedule is
located in theMaintenance Schedule and Record
booklet.
*
[SV01000(ALL)01/95]
This chapter tells you about the basic parts that
you need to check and service regularly.
[SV01050(ALL)03/95]
If your vehicle needs professional servicing, your
dealership can provide the parts and service
required. Check yourWarranty Information Booklet
to find out which parts and services are covered.
Also see theCustomer Assistancechapter of this
owner guide.
[SV01150(ALL)02/94]
For more information concerning the
maintenance and service of your vehicle, see
Understanding the Emission Control Systemin this
chapter.
File:15ctsve.ex
Update:Tue Sep 19 14:37:50 1995