1997 FORD ESCORT maintenance

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.
Maintenance and care
174

Each graduation of the bubble
level represents 0.19É of downward
or upward slope. To correct for the
effects of surface slope, turn the
vertical aim adjustment screw until
the bubble is centered at a
position corresponding to the slope
of the surface.
CLEANING AND CARING FOR
YOUR VEHICLE
Contact your dealer for more
information on recommended
cleaners and their availability in
your area.
Washing your vehicle
Wash your vehicle regularly with
cold or lukewarm water. Never use
strong detergents or soap. If your
vehicle is particularly dirty, use a
quality car shampoo. Always use a
clean sponge and plenty of water
for best results. We recommend
that you have the underbody of
your vehicle washed at the end of
the winter to remove deposits left
by snow, salt, and water.
Wax the body paintwork of your
vehicle several times a year. This
will help to retain the glossy
paintwork finish and water
droplets will run off more easily.
Remove any after dealer
accessories, such as
antennae, before entering a
commercial car wash.
Maintenance and care
175

After washing your vehicle, apply
the brakes several times to dry
them.
Repairing paint chips
Minor scratches or paint damage
from road chippings may be
camouflaged with Ford exterior
lacquer touch-up paint,
AL81-XXXX-B or
ALBZ-19500-XXXXA. XXXX
indicates the code, meeting Ford
specification ESR-M2P100-C.
Follow the application instructions
on the product. Be sure to remove
aggressive particles such as bird
droppings, tree resins, insect
remains, tar spots, and road salt,
that may damage your paint.
Cleaning the wheels
Wash the wheels with the same
detergent used to clean the body
of your vehicle. Do not use acid
based wool cleaners, steel wool,
fuel, or strong detergents. Never
use abrasives that will damage the
finish of special wheel surfaces.
Use a tar and road oil remover to
remove grease and tar.
Cleaning plastic parts
Some of the vehicle's trim parts
are plastic. Clean with a tar and
road oil remover if necessary. Use
a vinyl cleaner for routine cleaning.
Do not clean plastic parts with
thinners, solvents, or petroleum
based cleaners.
Maintenance and care
176

Cleaning the instrument panel
Any cleaner or polish that
increases the gloss of the upper
portion of the instrument panel
should be avoided. The dull finish
in this area is to help protect the
driver from windshield reflection.
Cleaning the exterior lamps
Do not use dry paper towels,
chemical solvents, or abrasive
cleaners to clean the lamps; these
products may cause scratches or
crack the lamps.
Cleaning the engine
A clean engine is more efficient
than a dirty one because a buildup
of grease and dirt acts as an
insulator and keeps the engine
warmer than normal. Follow these
guidelines to clean your engine:
²Take care when using a power
washer to clean the engine. The
high pressure fluid could
penetrate sealed parts and
cause damage.
²In order to avoid cracking the
engine block or fuel injection
pump, do not spray these
components with cold water.
²The alternator and air intake
must be covered to prevent
water damage when cleaning the
engine.
²Never wash or rinse the engine
while it is running; water in a
running engine may cause
internal damage.
Maintenance and care
177

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

MOTORCRAFT PART NUMBERS
Component Ford part number Ð 2.0 liter
SPI engine
Air filter F7CX-9601-AA
Battery BX-58C
Fuel filter FG-862
Oil filter FL400-A
PCV valve EV-229
Spark plug* AGSF-34-E
* Refer to the Vehicle Emission
Control Information (VECI) decal,
located on the underside of the
hood, for gap specifications.
REFILL CAPACITIES
Your vehicle's fuel capacity
The fuel capacity for your vehicle
is 48.0 L (12.7 gallons).
²To avoid overspill from the filler
neck, stop fueling at the second
automatic shut off.
²For more information on fueling
your vehicle, refer toChoosing
the right fuelin the
Maintenance and carechapter.
Capacities and specifications
179

ENGINE DATA
Engine 2.0 liter; 121 CID; 4 cylinder (in-line);
compression ratio 9.2:1; single overhead cam;
split port induction (SPI)
Horsepower 110 at 5,000 rpm
Torque 169 Nm (125 lb ft at 3,750 rpm)
Required fuel grade 87 (R+M)/2
Firing order /
Injection timing1-3-4-2
Spark plug gap 1.3 to 1.4 mm / 0.052 to 0.056
Ignition system DIS
Valve clearances cold
inlet exhaust0: Maintenance free 0: Maintenance free
VEHICLE DIMENSIONS
Dimensions Ð cm
(inches)Sedan Wagon
V1Overall length 443.25 cm (174.5 in) 439.1 cm (172.9 in)
V2Overall width
(excluding exterior
mirrors)168.00 cm (66.2 in) 170 cm (67 in)
V3Maximum height 135.00 cm (53.2 in) 136.9 cm (53.9 in)
V4Wheelbase 250.00 cm (98.4 in) 250 cm (98.4 in)
V5Track Front
Rear143.5 cm (56.5 in),
143.5 cm (56.5 in)143.5 cm (56.5 in),
143.5 cm (56.5 in)
Capacities and specifications
182

Engine oil ..................................130
check oil warning light ...............9
checking and adding ..............130
Exhaust fumes ............................91
Fan ...............................................18
Flashing the lights ......................27
Floor mats ...................................39
Foglamps ..............................27,163
Fuel
capacity ...................................179
improving fuel economy ........106
low fuel warning light ................7
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................153
Fuel pump shut-off switch ..43,107
starting after a collision ...........43
Fuse panels
engine compartment ..............113
instrument panel ....................111
Fuses ..........................................109
charts ................................111,113
checking and replacing ..........109
circuit breakers .......................110
Gauges, Electronic ......................12
Gauges, Mechanical ....................12
engine coolant temperature
gauge .........................................13
fuel gauge ..................................13
odometer ...................................14
speedometer .............................13
trip odometer ............................14
Gearshift .................................36,97
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating) .......................................101
definition .................................101
Hazard flashers ....................29,107
Head restraints ...........................54
Headlamps
daytime running lights .............26
replacing bulbs .......................162
turning on and off ....................26High beams
indicator light .............................9
operation ...................................27
High-mount brakelamp
replacing the bulb ..................164
Hood ..........................................128
prop rod ..................................128
release lever ............................128
working under the hood ........124
Idle
relearning ................................144
Ignition
positions of the ignition ...........25
Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing ........................................158
Instrument cluster
sport .........................................6,7
standard ......................................6
Instrument panel ........................15
lighting up panel and interior 6,15
location of components ...........4,5
Interval wipers ............................30
Jump-starting your vehicle ......120
attaching cables ......................121
disconnecting cables ..............122
Lamps ........................................160
bulb replacement
specifications chart ................172
daytime running light system ..26
dome lamps .............................170
fog lamps ............................27,163
headlamps ..........................26,162
high beams ................................27
high-mount brakelamp ...........164
illuminated entry system .........33
interior lamps ....................31,170
map lamps ..........................31,171
replacing bulbs .......................160
tail lamps ..........................167,168
License plate lamps ..................165
Liftgate .................................40,164
warning light .............................10
Index
188