1997 FORD ESCORT maintenance

²Sedan
²Wagon
Maintenance and care
166

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.
Maintenance and care
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.
Maintenance and care
168

The side marker lamp assemblies
are accessible through the interior
of the vehicle. The right assembly
(when facing the front of the
vehicle) is behind the same
interior panel as the liftgate
washer fluid; the left assembly is
located behind a similar-looking
interior panel directly opposite the
right panel. Both access panels are
directly below the rear side
windows.
To replace the backup lamp bulbs:
1. Open the liftgate and lean inside
the vehicle. Access the backup
bulb assemblies by carefully pulling
open the interior panel.
Maintenance and care
169

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
Maintenance and care
170

The interior overhead lamp is
equipped with a battery saver
control system designed to prevent
excessive wear on the battery.
When a door is not closed
properly, the battery saver control
system timer is activated. The
timer will give you between eight
and ten minutes to close the door
before it automatically turns off
the interior overhead lamp. If the
door is left open, closed, and then
left open again, the timer will
automatically reset.
The battery saver control system is
not activated when the headlamps
are left on. A warning chime will
sound when the engine is turned
off to draw your attention to
headlamps left on.
Map lamp
The map lamps are located in the
rear portion of the interior
overhead lamp assembly.
Replacement of the two bulbs
requires removal of the bulb
assembly cover and the use of
several different tools. See a
qualified service technician or your
dealer for replacement of the map
lamp bulbs.
Hazard flasher
For more information on the
hazard flasher and hazard switch,
refer toUsing the hazard switch
in theRoadside emergencies
chapter. For bulb replacement, see
your dealer or a qualified service
technician.
Maintenance and care
171

BULB SPECIFICATIONS
Function Number of
bulbsTrade number
Exterior illumination
Front park/turn lamps 2 3457
Foglamps (if equipped) 2 881
Headlamps Ð aero high and low
beam2 9007
Rear license plate lamp 2 168
High-mount brakelamp 1 921
Notchback Ð Backup lamp 2 3156
Notchback Ð Brakelamp 2 3157
Notchback Ð Rear/turn/side
marker2 3157
Liftgate wagon rear side marker
lamp2
(1 each side)168
Interior illumination
Cargo lamp liftgate (wagon) 1 12V/5W
Interior overhead lamp 2 12V/10W
Luggage compartment lamp (if
equipped)15W
PRNDL illumination 1 197
Heater control nomenclature 1 14V/3.0
High beam indicator 1 W
Instrument panel gauge (cluster) 4 194
Sport cluster w/ tachometer 2 194
Turn signal indicator 1 194
Upshift indicator (if equipped) (1 each) 194
Warning lights Ð all 194
Maintenance and care
172

Function Number of
bulbsTrade number
Anti-theft LED 1 LED See your dealer
to order
replacement
assembly,
service part
#F57Z13B765-A
Aiming the headlamps
Your vehicle is equipped with a
variable headlamp aiming device
(VHAD) on each headlamp
reflector extension and headlamp
housing. Each headlamp may be
properly aimed in the horizontal
direction and the vertical direction
by performing the following steps.
The horizontal aim must be
adjusted first. This procedure
requires the use ofa4mmbox
wrench or open end wrench.
Position the vehicle on a surface
that is level in the front-to-rear
direction.
If the vehicle cannot be placed on
a true level surface, the headlamps
still can be adjusted using the
VHAD if the slope of the surface is
accurately known and does not
differ by more than 30.5 mm (1.2
in) from true level.
Maintenance and care
173