1997 FORD ESCORT lock

Changing your air filter
1. Unlock the clamp that holds the
engine air cleaner assembly in
place by releasing the clamp
locking clip on the front portion of
the assembly.
²The clamp will spring open and
remain attached to the left side
of the assembly.
2. Swing the left side of the
assembly open.
3. Remove the air filter element
from the open end of the engine
air cleaner assembly and replace it
with a new element.
²When replacing the element, be
sure to align the nubs on both
the air cleaner element and the
open end of the air cleaner
assembly. If these nubs are not
aligned, the new element will
not fit properly within the
assembly and the assembly may
malfunction.
4. Swing the left side of the
assembly closed and secure the
locking clamp.
CHECKING AND CHANGING
YOUR WIPER BLADES
Check the windshield wiper blades
at least twice a year; also check
them whenever the wipers seem
less effective than usual.
Substances such as tree sap and
some hot wax treatments used by
commercial car washes can reduce
the effectiveness of wiper blades.
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146

To make reaching the wiper blades
easy, simply turn the ignition to
the ON position and turn the
wipers on. Wait for them to reach
a vertical position and turn the
ignition to LOCK. Do not move the
wipers manually across the
windshield, this may cause damage
to the wipers.
Inspect the wiper arm pivots on a
regular basis to ensure that the
wiper arms move freely. Lubricate
the pivot points as necessary.
Replacing wiper blades
If the wiper blades do not work
properly after cleaning,
replacement of the blade assembly
or the blade element may be
necessary.
There are three different lengths
of wiper blades on your vehicle.
The driver side wiper blade is 51
cm (20 in) long, and the passenger
side wiper blade is 44.5 cm (17.5
in) long, and the rear window
wiper is 35 cm (13.75 in) long.
Ensure that you install the correct
length wiper blade in the correct
location.
To replace the wiper blades:
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147

1. Pull the wiper arm away from
the windshield and lock into the
service position.
2. Turn the blade at an angle from
the wiper arm. Push the lock pin
with a screwdriver to release the
blade and pull the wiper blade
down toward the windshield to
remove it from the arm.
3. Attach the new wiper to the
wiper arm and press it into place
until a click is heard.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
ABOUT TIRE GRADES
The U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT) requires
Ford to give its customers the
following tire information:
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a
comparative rating based on the
wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150
would wear 1
1¤2times as well on
the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative
performance of tires depends upon
the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart
significantly from the norm due to
variations in driving habits, service
practices, and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
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148

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

Tail lamps / Backup lamps
(sedan)
The tail lamp assemblies and the
backup bulb assemblies are located
in the same portion of the vehicle
rear, one just below the other.
Follow the same steps to replace
either bulb.
1. Open the trunk lid to expose the
tail lamp assembly. Remove the
two screws from the front of the
lamp.
2. The tail lamp has hidden
fasteners which can be disengaged
by hitting the lamp, with your
hand, toward the side of the
vehicle.
3. Remove the socket that contains
the burned out bulb by rotating it
counterclockwise, then pulling it
out of the lamp assembly.
4. Pull the burned out bulb from
the socket and replace it with a
new bulb.
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167

5. Push the socket into the lamp,
then secure it by rotating it
clockwise.
6. Position the tail lamp on the
vehicle and gently hit the lens to
engage the clips. Replace the
screws.
Tail lamps/Backup lamps
(wagon)
To replace the tail lamp bulbs:
1. Open the liftgate to expose the
tail lamp assembly. Remove the
lens screws and pull the lens aside.
2. Remove the socket that contains
the burned out bulb by rotating it
counterclockwise, then pulling it
out of the lamp assembly.
3. Pull the burned out bulb from
the socket and secure a new bulb.
4. Push the socket into the lamp,
then secure it by rotating
clockwise.
5. Position the lamp on the vehicle
and replace the screws.
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168

2. Remove the bulb assembly form
the interior recess.
3. Twist the bulb counterclockwise
to remove it and secure a new
bulb.
4. Replace the bulb assembly in
the interior recess and replace the
access panel.
Interior overhead lamp
The interior overhead lamp is
located on the center of the ceiling
of the vehicle. To replace the
bulbs:
1. Remove the lamp lens by
applying pressure to both tabs at
the top of the lamp assembly and
pulling the lens down and off.
2. Pull the bulb to remove it and
secure a new bulb.
3. Replace the lamp lens by
applying pressure to both sides of
the lamp lens and popping the lens
up and on to the lamp assembly.
OFF DOOR ON
OFF DOOR ON
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170

Adjusting the horizontal aim
1. With the hood open, locate the
horizontal indicator and adjusting
screw.
2.Usea4mmwrench to turn the
horizontal adjusting screw until the
reference mark on the reflector
extension aligns with the ``O''
reference mark on the horizontal
indicator when viewed directly
from above.
3. When the horizontal aim has
been adjusted, close the headlamp
access panel.
Adjusting the vertical aim
1. Do not adjust the vertical aim
until after adjusting the horizontal
aim.
2. With the hood open, locate the
bubble level vertical aim indicator.
It is visible when viewed from
above the rear of the headlamp.
3. With the vehicle on a level
surface, usea4mmwrench to
turn the vertical aim adjustment
screw (outboard screw) located on
the back of the lamp assembly
clockwise or counterclockwise until
the bubble in the spirit level is
centered when viewed from
directly above the bubble.
4. Close the hood.
If the vehicle is on a downward or
upward slope of not more than
1.2É, the VHAD's bubble level can
be used to correct for the effects
of the surface slope, provided that
the slope is accurately known.
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174