1997 FORD ESCORT maintenance

²engine runs more than five
seconds after shut off or engine
misfires, surges, stalls, or
backfires
²loss of oil pressure
Important emission control
information
By law, anyone who manufactures,
repairs, services, sells, leases, or
trades vehicles, or who supervises
a fleet of vehicles is not permitted
to intentionally remove an
emission control device or prevent
it from working. Do not make any
unauthorized changes to the
vehicle or engine. Changes that
cause more unburned fuel to reach
the exhaust system can increase
the temperature of the engine or
exhaust system.
When your vehicle is serviced,
never use a metal exhaust
collector. The use of a metal
collector may melt or deform
plastic parts.
Do not park, idle, or drive
your vehicle in dry grass
or other dry ground cover. The
emission system heats up the
engine compartment and exhaust
system, which can start a fire.
Preparing your vehicle for
inspection / maintenance (I/M)
testing
In some localities it may become a
legal requirement to pass an I/M
test of the on-board diagnostic
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158

(OBD) II system. If the vehicle's
powertrain system or battery has
just been serviced, the OBD II
system is reset to a not ready for
I/M testing condition. To ready the
OBD II system for I/M testing, the
law specifies that a minimum of 30
minutes of city and highway
driving is necessary as described
below:
²At least twenty minutes driving
in stop-and-go, city-type traffic
with at least four idle periods.
²At least ten minutes of driving
on an expressway or highway.
Before completing the above
driving modes, the engine must be
warmed up and at operating
temperature. Once started, the
vehicle must not be turned off
during these modes.
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159

EXTERIOR LAMPS
REPLACING THE EXTERIOR
BULBS
Check the operation of the
following lamps frequently:
²headlamps
²foglamps (if equipped)
²high-mount brakelamp
²license plate lamp
²tail lamps/backup lamps
²interior overhead lamp
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160

²hazard flasher
The overview of your vehicle's
exterior lamps shows the tail lamp/
backup lamp assembly for the
sedan model only. The lamp
assembly for the wagon is similar,
although the bulb replacement
process differs. For more
information, seeTail lamps/
Backup lampsin this section. In
addition, the headlamp assembly
includes the headlamp and the
turn signal/parking lamp
assemblies
Do not remove lamp bulbs unless
they may be replaced immediately
with new ones. If a bulb is
removed for an extended period of
time, contaminants may enter the
lamp housings and affect
performance.
Handle a halogen bulb
carefully and keep out of
children's reach. Grasp the bulb
only by its plastic base and do
not touch the glass; the oil from
your hand could cause the bulb
to break the next time that the
headlamps are operated.
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161

Headlamps
To change the headlamp bulbs:
1. Be sure that the headlamp knob
is in the OFF position.
2. Open the hood and find the
headlamp socket.
3. Remove the protective dust
shield housing by turning the
shield counterclockwise.
4. Remove the bulb retaining ring
by rotating it counterclockwise
(when viewed from the rear).
5. Disconnect the electrical
connector and remove the bulb by
pulling it straight out.
6. Replace the bulb by pushing a
new one straight in with the bulb's
plastic base facing upward. You
may need to turn the bulb slightly
to align the grooves in the plastic
base with the tabs in the bulb
socket.
7. Slip the bulb retaining ring over
the plastic base and lock the ring
by rotating it clockwise until it
snaps.
8. Reconnect electrical connector.
9. Replace the housing protective
dust shield and lock the shield by
rotating clockwise until it locks
into position.
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162

Foglamps (if equipped)
To change the foglamp bulbs:
1. Disconnect the electrical
connector from the back of the
foglamp assembly.
2. Twist, then pull the bulb from
the foglamp assembly and twist in
a replacement bulb.
3. Connect the electrical connector
to the back of the foglamp
assembly.
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163

High-mount brakelamp (sedan)
The high-mount brakelamp is
located on the rear of your vehicle.
The brakelamp will be mounted
with two fastener clips and an
assembly cover on the package
tray.
1. Remove the push pins and cover
from the package tray.
2. Detach the socket from the
housing and remove the bulb.
3. Replace the bulb and ease the
socket back into the housing.
4. Replace the housing cover and
secure with the push pins.
Liftgate lamp (wagon)
The wagon liftgate lamp is located
on the rear of the vehicle. Follow
these steps to replace the liftgate
lamp bulb:
1. Open the liftgate.
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164

2. To remove the liftgate lamp bulb
assembly cover mounted on the
liftgate's interior rear window:
²press in the inner portion of the
two mounting screws on either
side of the cover
²pull out the outer portion of the
mounting screws
3. Detach the socket from the
housing and remove the bulb.
4. Replace the bulb and ease the
socket back into the housing.
5. Replace the bulb assembly cover
and secure the mounting screws.
License plate lamps
To change the license plate lamp
bulbs:
1. Carefully remove screws and
pull the license plate lamp
assembly from the rear bumper.
2. Carefully pull the lamp lens
from the assembly.
3. Remove the bulb to be replaced
and install a new bulb.
4. Replace the lamp lens, the
assembly, and the screws.
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165