1997 FORD ESCORT seats

²put the safety belt in the
automatic locking mode. Refer
toUsing the automatic locking
modein this chapter.
Installing child safety seats in
combination lap and shoulder
belt seating positions
1. Position the child safety seat in
a seat with a combination lap and
shoulder belt.
If you choose to install a child
safety seat in the front passenger
seat, move the seat as far back as
possible.
2. Pull down on the shoulder belt
and then grasp the shoulder belt
and lap belt together.
Seating and safety restraints
68

7. Pull the lap belt portion across
the child seat toward the buckle
and pull up on the shoulder belt
while pushing down on the child
seat to tighten the belt as much as
possible.
8. Allow the safety belt to retract
to remove any slack in the belt.
9. Before placing the child in the
seat, forcibly tilt the seat from side
to side and forward and back to
make sure the seat is securely held
in place.
10. Try to pull the belt out of the
retractor to make sure the
retractor is in the automatic
locking mode (you should not be
able to pull more belt out). If the
retractor is not locked, unbuckle
the belt and repeat steps two
through nine.
²Check to make sure the child
seat is properly secured before
each use.
Installing child safety seats in
the rear center seating position
1. Tip the tongue and pull to
lengthen the lap belt.
2. Place the child safety seat in the
center seating position.
3. Route the lap belt through the
child safety seat according to the
child seat manufacturer's
instructions.
Seating and safety restraints
70

Tether anchor hardware
(Canadian vehicles only)
All vehicles built for sale in Canada
include a tether anchor hardware
kit for use with Canadian child
safety seats. Attachment holes (at
each rear seating position) have
been provided in your vehicle to
attach the anchor hardware, if
required. Additional kits can be
obtained at no charge from any
Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer.
Tether anchor hardware (US
vehicles only)
Vehicles built for sale in the US do
not include a tether anchor
hardware kit for use with child
safety seats. However, attachment
holes (at each rear seating
position) have been provided in
your vehicle to attach the anchor
hardware, if required. Kits can be
obtained at no charge from any
Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer.
Only use the tether
attachment hole locations
shown. The tether anchor may
not perform properly if the
wrong mounting location is used.
Ford recommends using child
safety seats with a top tether strap
designed to secure an aftermarket
child safety seat in the front or
rear seating position. Follow the
child safety seat manufacturer's
instructions for installing a child
safety seat with a tether strap.
Seating and safety restraints
72

Ford recommends you attach
tethered safety seats in a rear
seating position with the tether
strap attached to the tether
anchoring bracket as shown in the
instructions provided with the
tether anchor kit.
If a tethered seat must be installed
in the front passenger seat:
1. Install the child safety seat in
the front passenger seat. For
instructions on how to install the
seat, refer toInstalling child
safety seats in combination lap
and shoulder belt seating
positionsin this chapter.
2. Hook the tether strap clip to the
tongue of the rear center lap belt
and ensure that the belt is pulled
tight.
To install a child safety seat using
a tether strap in the back seat:
1. Install the child safety seat in
the rear right, left or center seat
position. For instructions on how
to install the seat, refer to
Installing child safety seats in
lap belt seating positionsin this
chapter.
²Sedan
Seating and safety restraints
73

²Wagon
2. Refer to the instructions
provided with the tether anchor
kit.
3. Refer to the instructions
provided with your child safety
seat to securely attach the child
safety seat by tether to the tether
strap anchor location.
Failure to follow these
precautions could increase
the risk and / or severity of
injury in a collision.
BUILT-IN CHILD SEAT (IF
EQUIPPED)
The rear seat may include a
built-in child seat. This child seat
conforms to all federal and
Canadian motor vehicle safety
standards.
Read the labels located on the
child seat cushion and the
shoulder belt for information on
the built-in child seat.
Use the built-in child seatonly
under the following conditions:
At least one year old 10-27 kg (22-60 lb) Shoulders must be
below the shoulder
harness slots on the
built-in child seat
Children not meeting these
requirements should be secured in
an approved aftermarket child
seat. Refer toChildren and
infant or child safety seatsin this
chapter.
Seating and safety restraints
74

Inspecting the built-in child seat
after a collision
All built-in child restraints,
including seats, buckles,
retractors, seat latches,
interlocks, and attaching
hardware should be inspected by
a qualified Dealer technician
after any collision. If the child
seat was in use during a
collision, Ford recommends
replacing it. However, if the
collision was minor and a
qualified technician finds that
the child restraints do not show
damage and continue to operate
properly, they do not need to be
replaced. Built-in child seats not
in use during a collision should
also be inspected and replaced if
either damage or improper
operation is noted.
For information on cleaning your
built-in child seat, refer to
Cleaning the built-in child seat
in theMaintenance and care
section.
Seating and safety restraints
84

Aiming headlamps ....................173
Air bag supplemental restraint
system ..........................................62
description ...........................62,63
disposal ......................................63
driver air bag ............................64
indicator light ........................7,64
operation ...................................63
tone generator ..........................64
wearing safety belts .................64
Air cleaner filter .......................145
replacing ..................................146
Air conditioning
manual heating and air
conditioning system .................19
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) ...93
noise ..........................................93
see also Brake ...........................93
warning light .............................94
Anti-theft system ........................45
arming the system ....................50
description ................................50
disarming a triggered system ..52
disarming an untriggered
system .......................................51
warning light ...............................9
Automatic transaxle ...................96
driving with ...............................96
fluid, adding ............................141
fluid, checking ........................140
Battery .......................................142
servicing ..................................143
Brakes ..........................................93
anti-lock .....................................93
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...............................9
fluid, checking and adding ....133
power braking ...........................93
Break-in period .............................2
Bulbs, replacing ........................160
halogen ....................................161
headlamps ...............................162high-mount brakelamp ...........164
rear lamps ..........164,165,167,168
specifications ..........................172
Cargo area shade ........................41
Changing a tire .........................114
Charging system warning light ....9
Child safety seats
and air bags ............................185
Childproof locks ..........................33
Cleaning your vehicle ...............175
built-in child seat ...................178
engine compartment ..............177
exterior ....................................177
instrument panel ....................177
plastic parts ............................176
safety belts ..............................178
washing ....................................175
waxing .....................................175
wheels ......................................176
wiper blades ............................178
Climate control system ..............17
air conditioning .........................19
air distribution dial ...................19
temperature dial .......................18
Clutch
fluid ..........................................134
Controls ...................15,31,36,39,40
steering column ........................25
Daytime running light system ...26
Defects, reporting .....................186
Disabled vehicle (see Towing) 123
Driving under special
conditions
towing a trailer .......................105
Emergencies, roadside .............107
Emission control system ...157,158
Engine .................................129,182
check engine warning light .......7
Engine block heater ...................91
Engine coolant
checking and adding ..............136
low coolant warning light ........10
Index
187

Lights, warning and indicator ......6
air bag .....................................7,64
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..............9
anti-theft .....................................9
brake ............................................8
charging system ..........................9
checkcoolant .............................10
high beam ...................................9
liftgate ajar ................................10
low fuel ........................................7
oil pressure .................................9
safety belt ...................................8
service engine soon ....................7
turn signal indicator ...................9
upshift indicator .........................8
Load limits .................................101
GVWR ......................................101
trailer towing ..........................102
Lubricant specifications ...........180
Luggage rack .............................106
Manual transaxle .........................99
driving .......................................99
fluid, checking and adding ....134
shifting gears ..........................100
Mirrors
side view mirrors (power) .......16
Motorcraft parts ........................179
National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration ...............186
Parking brake ..............................94
automatic release .....................38
operation ...................................94
warning light ...............................8
Parts (see Motorcraft Parts) ...179
Power door locks ........................31
Power features
door locks ..................................31
windows ....................................34
Power steering
fluid, checking and adding ....139
Rear window
defroster ....................................24washer .......................................30
wiper ..........................................30
Refill capacities for fluids ........179
Relays ........................................109
Remote control ...........................45
Remote entry system .................45
illuminated entry ......................49
locking/unlocking doors ......46,47
opening the trunk .....................47
panic alarm ...............................49
Repairing paint chips ...............176
Reporting safety defects ..........186
Restraints, safety(see Safety
restraints) ....................................55
head ...........................................54
infant .........................................67
Roadside emergencies ..............107
Safety chains, when towing a
trailer .........................................104
Safety defects, reporting ..........186
Safety restraints ..........................55
adjusting the safety belts .........59
automatic locking mode
(retractor) .................................57
for children ...............................65
lap and shoulder belts ........56,59
maintenance ..............................60
proper use ............................55,56
vehicle sensitive locking
mode ..........................................57
warning light and chime ..8,10,62
Safety seats for children ............67
automatic locking mode
(retractor) .................................81
built-in child seat .....................74
in front seat ..............................68
in rear seat ................................70
tether anchorage hardware .....71
Seats ............................................53
adjusting the seat, manual .......53
child safety seats ......................67
folding rear seats ......................54
Index
189