1998 FORD ESCORT Owners Manual

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.
Watch for fluid leaks, strange
odors, smoke, loss of oil pressure,
the charging system warning light,
the ªService Engine Soonº light or
the temperature warning light.
These events could indicate that
the emission control system is not
working properly.
If you smell exhaust fumes
of any kind inside your
vehicle, have the dealer inspect
and fix your vehicle immediately.
Do not drive if you smell exhaust
fumes. These fumes are harmful
and could kill you.
Do not make any unauthorized
changes to your vehicle or engine.
By law, vehicle owners and anyone
who manufactures, repairs,
services, sells, leases, trades
vehicles, or supervises a fleet of
vehicles are not permitted to
intentionally remove an emission
control device or prevent it from
working. Information about your
vehicle's emission system is on the
Vehicle Emission Control
Information Decal located on or
near the engine. This decal
identifies engine displacement and
gives some tune up specifications.
Maintenance and care
161

Please consult your ªWarranty
Guideº for complete emission
warranty information.
Readiness for
inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing
In some localities, it may be a legal
requirement to pass an I/M test of
the on-board diagnostic (OBD-II)
system. If your ªcheck
engine/service engine soonº light is
on, reference the applicable light
description in theWarning Lights
and Chimessection of your
owners guide. Your vehicle may
not pass the I/M test with the
ªcheck engine/service engine soonº
light on.
If the vehicle's powertrain system
or its battery has just been
serviced, the OBD-II system is
reset to a ªnot ready for I/M testº
condition. To ready the OBD-II
system for I/M testing, a minimum
of 30 minutes of city and highway
driving is necessary as described
below:
²First, at least 10 minutes of
driving on an expressway or
highway.
²Next, at least 20 minutes driving
in stop and go, city type traffic
with at least four idle periods.
Allow the vehicle to sit for at least
eight hours without starting the
engine. Then, start the engine and
complete the above driving cycle.
The engine must warm up to its
normal operating temperature.
Maintenance and care
162

Once started, do not turn off the
engine until the above driving
cycle is complete.
EXTERIOR BULBS
It is a good idea to check the
operation of the following lights
frequently:
²Headlamps
²Turn signals
²Foglamps (if equipped)
Coupe
Sedan/wagon
²High-mount brake lamp
²Tail lamps
²Brake lamps
²Backup lamps
²License plate lamp
Maintenance and care
163

Sedan
Wagon
Coupe
²Hazard flashers
²Interior overhead lamps
Do not remove lamp bulbs unless
they will be replaced immediately.
If a bulb is removed for an
extended period of time,
contaminants may enter the lamp
housings and affect performance.
Maintenance and care
164

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.
Replacing headlamp bulbs
1. Make sure that the headlamps
are turned OFF.
Coupe
Sedan/wagon
2. Open the hood and find the
headlamp wiring socket and
disconnect from the in-line
connector. This will make it easier
to change the bulb.
Maintenance and care
165

3. Remove the protective dust
shield from the housing by turning
the dust shield counterclockwise
(when viewed from the rear).
4. Disconnect the electrical
connector from the bulb by pulling
it straight out.
5. Remove the bulb retaining ring
by rotating it counterclockwise
(when viewed from the rear).
6. Remove the old bulb from its
socket by pulling it straight back
out of the socket. Do not turn the
bulb while removing it.
7. 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.
8. Slip the bulb retaining ring over
the plastic base and lock the ring
by rotating it clockwise until it
snaps into place.
9. Reconnect the electrical
connector to the bulb.
Maintenance and care
166

10. Replace the protective dust
shield and lock the shield by
rotating it clockwise until it locks
into position.
11. Reconnect the headlamp wiring
socket to the in-line connector.
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.
3. Install the new bulb.
4. Connect the electrical connector
to the back of the foglamp
assembly.
High-mount brake lamp
The brake lamp is mounted with
two fastener clips and an assembly
cover on the package tray.
Maintenance and care
167

Coupe
Sedan
Wagon
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.
Maintenance and care
168