1997 FORD ESCORT parking brake

Safety belt
The safety warning light/chime is a
reminder to fasten your safety belt.
One of the following will take
place:
²If the lap/shoulder belt is not
buckled before the key is turned
to the ON position, the
will
illuminate for approximately one
minute or until the safety belt is
buckled.
²If the lap/shoulder belt is
buckled while
is illuminated
and the chime is sounding, both
will turn off.
²If the lap/shoulder belt is
buckled before the key is turned
to the ON position, neither light
or chime will activate.
Upshift (if equipped)
Illuminates when it is best to shift
to the next highest manual
transaxle gear for the maximum
fuel economy.
Brake
Illuminates when the parking brake
is activated and the ignition is
keyed to ON or the brake fluid
level is low. In addition, with the
parking brake off, the light will
illuminate when the engine is
cranked.
!P
BRAKE
Instrumentation
8

ACC allows operation of some
accessories without starting the
engine.
ON allows testing of the vehicle's
warning lights.
START cranks the engine. The key
returns to the ON position after it
is released.
For more information on the
vehicle ignition and starting the
vehicle, refer toPreparing to start
the vehiclein theStarting
chapter.
Headlamp switch
Rotate the headlamp switch to the
desired position.
Headlamps on
Parking lamps, side marker
lamps, instrument panel lamps,
license lamps, and tail lamps on
OFF Lamps off
Daytime running light (DRL)
system (if equipped)
The DRL system turns on the high
beam headlamps, with a reduced
light output, when:
²the vehicle is running
²the vehicle has a fully released
parking brake
²the headlamp system is in the
OFF position
OFF
Controls and features
26

Parking brake
For information on the parking
brake, refer toPreparing to start
the vehiclein theDriving
chapter.
Controls and features
38

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

The ABS brake system conducts a
self-test each time the vehicle is
driven. A mechanical noise may be
heard while the system conducts
its self-test.
ABS warning light
TheABSlight in the instrument
cluster illuminates and remains
illuminated if an ABS fault is
detected. Have your vehicle
serviced by a qualified service
technician as soon as possible.
Normal braking operation is still
effective unless the
P!BRAKElight is
also illuminated.
Parking brake
The parking brake should be used
whenever the vehicle is parked.
To set the parking brake:
The parking brake is not designed
to stop a moving vehicle. However,
if the normal brakes fail, the
parking brake can be set to stop
the vehicle. The vehicle's stopping
distance will increase greatly and
vehicle steering response will be
limited.
When the ignition is turned to ON,
the
P!BRAKElight in the instrument
cluster illuminates and remains
illuminated until the parking brake
is released.
Driving
94

If the parking brake is fully
released but the
P!BRAKEwarning light remains on,
have the brakes checked
immediately. They may not be
working properly.
Always set the parking
brake fully and make sure
that the gearshift is securely
latched in P (automatic
transaxle) or first gear (manual
transaxle).
To release the parking brake:
²While pressing the release
button, pull the handle upward
to release the brake.
²Push handle downward to the
off position.
Driving
95

Fuse rating Color
10 amp Red
15 amp Blue
20 amp Yellow
30 amp Light Green
30 amp fuse link Pink
40 amp Green
60 amp fuse link Yellow
80 amp fuse link Black
100 amp fuse link Blue
Instrument panel fuse panel
Number Fuse amperage
ratingCircuits protected
1 Stop 15 amp Brakelamps, shift lock
2 Tail 15 amp Instrument cluster
illumination, license
plate lamp, parking
lamps, side marker
lamps, tail lamps,
(radio, climate control
illumination)
3 Sun roof Ð Not used
4 ASC 10 amp Speed control
5 Ð Ð Not used
6 (Door lock) 30 amp Power door locks
7 Horn 15 amp Horn
8 (Air Conditioning) 15 amp A/C, clutch
Roadside emergencies
111