1999 FORD ESCORT wheel

Failure to follow these precautions may adversely affect the
handling of the vehicle and make it easier for the driver to lose
control and roll over.
Tires that are larger or smaller than your vehicle's original tires may also
affect the accuracy of your speedometer.
SNOW TIRES AND CHAINS
Snow tires must be the same size and grade as the tires you
currently have on your vehicle.
The tires on your vehicle have all weather treads to provide traction in
rain and snow. However, in some climates, you may need to use snow
tires and chains. If you need to use snow tires and chains, it is
recommended that steel wheels are used of the same size and
specifications as those originally installed.
Follow these guidelines when using snow tires and chains:
²Do not use tire chains on aluminum wheels. Chains may chip the
wheels.
²Use only SAE Class S chains.
²Install chains securely, verifying that the chains do not touch any
wiring, brake lines or fuel lines.
²Drive cautiously. If you hear the chains rub or bang against your
vehicle, stop and re-tighten the chains. If this does not work, remove
the chains to prevent damage to your vehicle.
²If possible, avoid fully loading your vehicle.
²Do not use tire chains with 38 cm (15 inch) wheel/tire options. Using
chains on this size tire may cause damage to steering, suspension
and/or body components.
²Remove the tire chains when they are no longer needed. Do not use
tire chains on dry roads.
²The suspension insulation and bumpers will help prevent vehicle
damage. Do not remove these components from your vehicle when
using snow tires and chains.
Maintenance and care
151

²Idling for long periods of time (greater than one minute) may waste
fuel.
²Anticipate stopping; slowing down may eliminate the need to stop.
²Sudden or hard accelerations may reduce fuel economy.
²Slow down gradually.
²Driving at reasonable speeds (traveling at 88 km/h [55 mph] uses 15%
less fuel than traveling at 105 km/h [65 mph]).
²Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce fuel economy.
²Using the air conditioner or defroster may reduce fuel economy.
²Using speed control (if equipped) may improve fuel economy. Speed
control can help maintain a constant speed and reduce speed changes.
You may want to turn off the speed control in hilly terrain as
unnecessary shifting between third and fourth gears may occur and
could result in reduced fuel economy.
²Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
²Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
²Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
Maintenance
²Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
²Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
²Use recommended engine oil. Refer toLubricant Specifications.
²Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found in your vehicle Scheduled Maintenance Guide.
Conditions
²Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
²Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
2 km/h [1 mpg] is lost for every 180 kg [400 lb] of weight carried).
Maintenance and care
158

Remove particles such as bird droppings, tree sap, insect remains, tar
spots, road salt and industrial fallout immediately.
Cleaning the wheels
Wash with the same detergent as the body of your vehicle. Do not use
acid-based or alcohol-based wheel cleaners, steel wool, fuel or strong
detergents. Never use abrasives that will damage the finish of special
wheel surfaces. Use a tar remover to remove grease and tar.
The brushes used in some automatic car washes may damage the finish
on your wheels. Before going to a car wash, find out if the brushes are
abrasive.
Cleaning the engine
Engines are more efficient when they are clean because grease and dirt
buildup keep the engine warmer than normal. When washing:
²Take care when using a power washer to clean the engine. The high
pressure fluid could penetrate the sealed parts and cause damage.
²Do not spray with cold water to avoid cracking the engine block or
other engine components.
²Never apply anything to the drive belt (including belt dressing).
²Cover the highlighted areas to prevent water damage when cleaning
the engine.
Maintenance and care
171

VEHICLE DIMENSIONS
Vehicle
dimensionsCoupe mm (in) Sedan mm (in) Wagon mm
(in)
(1) Overall
length4 451.0 (175.2) 4 432.3 (174.5) 4 392.0 (172.9)
(2) Overall
width1 712.0 (67.4) 1 681.0 (66.2) 1 701.0 (67.0)
(3) Overall
height1 328.4 (52.3) 1 351.0 (53.2) 1 369.1 (53.9)
(4) Wheelbase 2 499.0 (98.4) 2 499.0 (98.4) 2 499.0 (98.4)
(5) Track -
Front1 435.1 (56.5) 1 435.1 (56.5) 1 435.1 (56.5)
(5) Track - Rear 1 435.1 (56.5) 1 435.1 (56.5) 1 435.1 (56.5)
²Coupe and Sedan models
2
55
Capacities and specifications
177

* May be sold with the Motorcraft name
A wide selection of accessories is available through your local authorized
Ford, Lincoln-Mercury or Ford of Canada dealer. These quality
accessories have been specifically engineered to fulfill your automotive
needs; they are custom designed to complement the style and
aerodynamic appearance of your vehicle. In addition, each accessory is
made from high quality materials and meets or exceeds Ford's rigid
engineering and safety specifications. Ford accessories are warranted for
up to 12 months or 20,000 km (12,000 miles) on all cars and light trucks
and 12 months with unlimited distance on medium/heavy duty trucks
unless the accessory is installed on a new vehicle, then the warranty
becomes the balance of the new vehicle's warranty or the accessories
warranty, whichever is greater. See your dealer for complete warranty
information and availability.
Not all accessories are available for all models.
Vehicle Security
Remote keyless entry
Styled wheel protector locks
Vehicle security systems
Comfort and convenience
Air conditioner
Air filtration systems
Cargo nets
Cargo organizers
Cargo shades
Cargo trays
Dash trim
Engine block heaters
Gear shift knob
Luggage presenter (Continental only)
Manual sliding rear window
Tire step
Customer assistance
189

Air bag supplemental
restraint system ..........................71
and child safety seats ..............73
description ................................71
disposal ......................................75
driver air bag ............................73
indicator light ........................8,75
operation ...................................73
passenger air bag .....................73
Air cleaner filter ................146,174
Air conditioning ..........................37
Anti-theft system ...................58,59
arming the system ....................59
disarming a
triggered system ..................59,60
disarming an untriggered
system .......................................59
warning light ...............................9
Automatic transaxle ...................95
driving with ...............................97
fluid, refill capacities ..............174
fluid, specification ..................176
Battery .......................................144
acid, treating emergencies .....144
charging system
warning light .............................10
jumping a disabled battery ....117
maintenance-free ....................144
replacement, specifications ...174
servicing ..................................144
Brakes ..........................................89
anti-lock ................................89,90
anti-lock brake system
(ABS) warning light ..............9,89
brake warning light ....................8
fluid, checking and adding ....134
fluid, refill capacities ..............174
fluid, specifications ..........175,176
lubricant specifications ...175,176
parking ......................................90
shift interlock ............................95
Break-in period .............................2Capacities for refilling fluids ....174
Cargo cover .................................54
Child safety restraints ................76
child safety belts ......................76
child safety seats ......................77
Child safety seats ........................77
attaching with tether straps ....80
built-in child seat .....................77
in front seat ..............................78
in rear seat ................................78
tether anchorage
hardware ..............................80,81
Cleaning your vehicle ...............169
engine compartment ..............171
exterior ....................................170
exterior lamps .........................172
instrument panel ....................172
interior .....................................173
plastic parts ............................172
safety belts ..............................173
washing ....................................170
waxing .....................................170
wheels ......................................171
wiper blades ............................172
Clock ..................................19,25,33
Clutch
fluid ..........................................135
operation while driving ............92
recommended shift speeds ......94
Coolant ........................137,139,140
checking and adding ..............138
refill capacities .................139,174
specifications ...................175,176
Customer Assistance ................181
Ford accessories
for your vehicle ......................188
Ford Extended
Service Plan ............................182
Getting assistance outside the
U.S. and Canada .....................187
Getting roadside assistance ...181
Index
194

illuminated entry ......................58
locking/unlocking doors ......55,56
opening the trunk .....................56
panic alarm ...............................57
replacement/additional
transmitters ...............................58
replacing the batteries .............57
Roof rack ...................................104
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ................10,65,66,67,68
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................180
Safety defects, reporting ..........193
Safety restraints ...........65,66,67,68
cleaning the safety belts ...70,173
extension assembly ..................69
for adults ..............................66,67
for children ..........................75,76
lap belt ......................................68
warning light
and chime .....................8,10,69,70
Safety seats for children ............77
Seat belts
(see Safety restraints) ...............65
Seats ............................................61
child safety seats ......................77
cleaning ...................................173
Servicing your vehicle ..............123
Spark plugs,
specifications ...............174,176,177
Specification chart,
lubricants ............................175,176
Speed control ..............................44
Speedometer ...............................13
Starting your vehicle .............83,86
jump starting ..........................117
Steering wheel
tilting .........................................48
Tachometer .................................13
Tilt steering wheel ......................48
Tires .............................113,148,149changing ...........................113,114
checking the pressure ............149
replacing ..................................150
rotating ....................................149
snow tires and chains ............151
tire grades ...............................149
treadwear ................................148
Towing
wrecker ....................................122
Transaxle .....................................92
automatic operation .................95
fluid, refill capacities ..............174
lubricant specifications ..........176
manual operation ......................92
Transmission
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................141
fluid, checking and adding
(manual) .................................143
Trip odometer .............................13
Trunk
remote release .....................15,56
Turn signal ...............................9,43
Vehicle dimensions ...................177
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................180
Vehicle loading ..........................100
Ventilating your vehicle .............88
Warning chimes ...........................10
Warning lights (see Lights) .........6
Washer fluid ..............................136
Water, Driving through .............102
Windows
power .........................................53
rear wiper/washer .....................50
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers
checking and cleaning ............147
operation ...................................49
replacing wiper blades ...........147
Wrecker towing .........................122
Index
197