1997 FORD ESCORT belt

PREPARING TO START THE
VEHICLE
Engine starting is controlled by the
spark ignition system. This system
meets all Canadian
Interference-Causing Equipment
standard requirements regulating
the impulse electrical field strength
of radio noise.
Before starting the vehicle:
1. Make sure all vehicle occupants
have buckled their safety belts. For
more information on safety belts
and their proper usage, refer to
theSeating and safety restraints
chapter.
2. Make sure the headlamps and
vehicle accessories are off.
If starting a vehicle with an
automatic transaxle:
²Make sure the parking brake
is set.
OFF
Starting
86

4. Turn the key to the ON position
(without turning the key to
START). Make sure the following
lights illuminate briefly. If a light
fails to illuminate, have the vehicle
serviced.
If the driver's safety belt is
fastened, the
light does not
illuminate.
STARTING THE VEHICLE
After completing the steps under
Preparing to start the vehicle:
1. Turn the key to START and
release.Do notpress the
accelerator.
²The key will return to the ON
position.
2. After idling for a few seconds,
apply the brake and release the
parking brake.
ON
II
ACC
I
LOCK
0
START
III
MP
km/10 203040520 4060
80
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON
LOW
FUELABS
0
80
90
10 0
12 011 012 0
16 0
18 0 140
200
CHECK
COOLANTTHEFT
ON
II
ACC
I
LOCK
0
START
III
Starting
88

Number Fuse amperage
ratingCircuits protected
9 Meter 10 amp Backup lamps, shift
lock, gauges, speed
control, turn signals,
key-in-ignition
reminder chime
10 Wiper 20 amp Windshield wipers
and washer
11 (Rear wiper) 10 amp Rear wiper and
washer
12 Hazard 15 amp Hazard flashers, turn
signals
13 Room 10 amp Clock, interior lamp,
luggage compartment
lamp, safety belt
warning chime, radio
power
14 Engine 15 amp Engine control system
15 Mirrors 5 amp Power mirrors
16 Ð Ð Not used
17 Ð Ð Not used
18 (Fog) 10 amp Daytime running
lamps / fog lamps
19 Ð Ð Not used
20 Cigar 20 amp Cigar lighter
21 (Radio) 15 amp Radio (Premium
sound)
Roadside emergencies
112

WRECKER TOWING
If towing is necessary, it is
recommended that your vehicle be
towed with wheel lift or flatbed
equipment. Do not tow with
slingbelt equipment. Ford Motor
Company has not developed or
approved a T-hook or slingbelt
towing procedure.
Roadside emergencies
123

Rotating your tires
Rotate your tires at regular
intervals to ensure even wear.
These intervals are listed in the
Service Guide.
²Four-tire rotation
²Five-tire rotation
Replacing the tires
Replace the tires when the wear
band is visible through the tire
treads.
When replacing full size;
tires, never mix radial bias
belted or bias-type tires. Use
only the tire sizes that are listed
on the tire pressure decal.
Maintenance and care
151

Cleaning the wiper blades
If the blades do not wipe properly,
clean both the windshield and the
wiper blades using undiluted
windshield washer solution or a
mild detergent. Rinse thoroughly
with clean water. Do not use fuel,
kerosene, paint thinner, or other
solvents to clean the wiper blades;
these fluids will damage the
blades.
Cleaning the built-in child seat
Clean the built in child seat with
mild soap and water. Do not use
household cleaning products
because they may weaken the
safety belt webbing or damage the
vinyl parts of the seat.
The child seat liner is removable
and may be machine washed and
air dried.
Cleaning and maintaining the
safety belts
Clean the safety belts with a mild
soap solution recommended for
cleaning upholstery or carpets. Do
not bleach or dye the belts; this
may weaken the belt webbing.
Check the safety belt system
periodically to ensure there are no
nicks, wear, or cuts. If the vehicle
has been involved in an accident,
have all the safety belts and child
seat anchoring brackets (if
equipped) examined by a qualified
technician.
Maintenance and care
178

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