2001 FORD ESCAPE seats

7. Pull the lap belt portion across
the child seat toward the buckle and
pull up on the shoulder belt while
pushing down with your knee on the
child seat.
8. Allow the safety belt to retract to
remove any slack in the belt.
9. Before placing the child in the
seat, forcibly tilt the seat forward
and back to make sure the seat is
securely held in place. To check
this, grab the seat at the belt path
and attempt to move it side to side
and forward and back. There should
be no more than one inch of
movement for proper installation.
10. Try to pull the belt out of the retractor to make sure the retractor is
in the automatic locking mode (you should not be able to pull more belt
out). If the retractor is not locked, unbuckle the belt and repeat steps
two through nine.
Check to make sure the child seat is properly secured before each use.
Attaching child safety seats with tether straps
Most new forward-facing child safety seats include a tether strap which
goes over the back of the seat and hooks to an anchoring point. Tether
straps are available as an accessory for many older safety seats. Contact
the manufacturer of your child seat for information about ordering a
tether strap.
The rear seating positions of your vehicle are equipped with built-in
tether strap anchors located behind the seats on the roof panel in the
cargo area.
Seating and safety restraints
132

4. Clip the tether strap to the
anchor as shown.
If the tether strap is clipped
incorrectly, the child safety
seat may not be retained properly
in the event of a collision.
5. Refer to theInstalling child
safety seats in combination lap
and shoulder belt seating positionssection of this chapter for further
instructions to secure the child safety seat.
6. Tighten the child safety seat tether strap according to the
manufacturer's instructions.
If the safety seat is not anchored properly, the risk of a child
being injured in a collision greatly increases.
Attaching child safety seats with Lower Anchor and Tethers for
Children (LATCH) attachments for child seat anchors
Some child safety seats are labeled as LATCH or LATCH-compatible child
seats. These seats include two rigid or webbing mounted attachments
that connect to two anchors at specific seating positions in your vehicle.
This type of child seat eliminates the need to use seat belts to attach the
child seat. For forward-facing child seats, the tether strap must also be
attached to the proper tether anchor point. For information on using
tether straps with the child safety seats, refer toAttaching safety seats
with tether strapsin this chapter.
Seating and safety restraints
134

LATCH anchors for child seat
installation have been provided in
your vehicle at the following
locations:
The anchors at the center of the
rear seat are further apart than the
sets of lower anchors for child seat
installation at other seating
positions. A child seat with rigid
LATCH attachments cannot be installed at this seating position. LATCH
compatible child seats (with attachments on belt webbing) can be used
at this seating position only if the child seat instructions state that the
child seat can be installed to anchors that are 400 mm apart. Do not
attach a child seat to any lower anchor if an adjacent child seat is
attached to that anchor.
Do not attach a child seat to any lower anchors used for child
seat installation if an adjacent child seat is attached to that
anchor. In a crash, one anchor may not be strong enough to hold two
child seat attachments and may break, causing serious injury or death.
The lower anchors for child seat
installation are located at the rear
section of the rear seat between the
cushion and seat back. Each lower
anchor for child seat installation is
located 2±3 inches below the locator
symbols.
Follow the child seat manufacturer's
instructions to properly install safety
seats with LATCH lower anchors
and LATCH-compatible attachments.
Attach the lower anchors for child seat installation or lower
anchors for child seat installation compatible child seats only to
the appropriate locations shown.
Seating and safety restraints
135

To avoid scratching the lamps, do not use a dry paper towel, chemical
solvents or abrasive cleaners.
Cleaning the windshield, wiper blades and rear window
If the wiper blades do not wipe properly, clean the wiper blade rubber
element with undiluted windshield washer solution or a mild detergent.
To avoid damaging the blades, do not use fuel, kerosene, paint thinner or
other solvents.
If the wiper still does not wipe properly, this could be caused by
substances on the windshield or rear window such as tree sap and some
hot wax treatments used by commercial car washes. Clean the outside of
the windshield or rear window with a non-abrasive cleaner such as Ford
Ultra-Clear Spray Glass Cleaner, (E4AZ-19C507±AA), available from your
Ford Dealer.Do notuse abrasive cleansers on glass as they may cause
scratches. The windshield or rear window is clean if beads do not form
when you rinse it with water. The windshield, rear window and wiper
blades should be cleaned on a regular basis, and blades or rubber
elements replaced when worn.
Cleaning seats equipped with side air bags
Remove dust and loose dirt with a whisk broom or a vacuum cleaner.
Remove fresh spots immediately. Follow the directions that come with
the cleaner. Do not saturate the seat cover with upholstery cleaner.
Do not use chemical solvents or strong detergents when cleaning
the seat mounted side air bag. Such products could contaminate
the side air bag system and affect performance of the side air bag in a
collision.
Cleaning the instrument panel
Clean with a damp cloth, then dry with a dry cloth.
Avoid cleaner or polish that increases the gloss of the upper portion of
the instrument panel. The dull finish in this area helps protect the driver
from undesirable windshield reflection.
Do not use chemical solvents or strong detergents when cleaning
the steering wheel or instrument panel to avoid contamination of
the air bag system.
Maintenance and care
245

A
Air bag supplemental restraint
system ........................118±119, 124
and child safety seats ............121
description ......................119, 124
disposal ....................................127
driver air bag ..................121, 125
indicator light ...........11, 123, 126
operation .........................121, 125
passenger air bag ...........121, 125
side air bag ..............................124
Air cleaner filter ...............207, 247
Air conditioning ..........................21
All Wheel Drive (AWD),
driving off road ...................20, 150
Ambulance packages ....................5
Antifreeze (see Engine
coolant) .....................................208
Anti-lock brake system (see
Brakes) ..............................142±143
Anti-theft system ........................95
arming the system ....................96
disarming a triggered system ..96
warning light .............................13
Audio system (see Radio) ...26, 54
Automatic transaxle .................146
driving with .............................147
fluid, adding ............................214
fluid, checking ........................214
Automatic transmission
fluid, refill capacities ..............247
fluid, specification ..................252
Auxiliary power point .................85
Axle
lubricant specifications ..250, 252
refill capacities ........................247B
Battery .......................................216
acid, treating emergencies .....216
charging system warning light 13
jumping a disabled battery ....188
maintenance-free ....................216
replacement, specifications ...247
servicing ..................................216
Belt minder ...............................113
Brakes ........................................142
anti-lock ...........................142±143
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light .....................12, 142
brake warning light ..................12
fluid, checking and adding ....205
fluid, refill capacities ..............247
fluid, specifications .........250, 252
lubricant specifications ..250, 252
parking ....................................143
shift interlock ..........................146
Break-in period .............................3
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....247
Cargo cover .................................86
Cargo net .....................................86
Certification Label ....................254
Child safety restraints ..............127
child safety belts ....................127
Child safety seats ......................128
attaching with tether straps ..132
in front seat ............................129
in rear seat ..............................129
LATCH .....................................134
Cleaning your vehicle ...............241
engine compartment ..............243
Index
270

Headlamps ...................................81
aiming ......................................240
bulb specifications ..................239
daytime running lights .............81
flash to pass ..............................82
high beam ...........................13, 81
replacing bulbs .......................235
turning on and off ....................81
warning chime ..........................15
Heating ........................................21
heater only system ...................21
heating and air conditioning
system .......................................22
Hood ..........................................197
I
Ignition .................................71, 252
Infant seats
(see Safety seats) .....................128
Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing ........................................234
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................245
cluster ................................10, 246
lighting up panel and
interior .......................................19
location of components ............10
J
Jack ............................................183
positioning ...............................183
storage .....................................183
Jump-starting your vehicle ......188K
Keys .......................................93±94
key in ignition chime ...............15
positions of the ignition ...........71
L
Lamps
bulb replacement
specifications chart ................239
cargo lamps ...............................19
daytime running light ...............81
fog lamps ...................................82
headlamps .................................81
headlamps, flash to pass ..........82
instrument panel, dimming .....19
interior lamps .............79±80, 239
replacing bulbs .......235, 237±239
Lane change indicator (see
Turn signal) .................................71
Liftgate ........................................89
Lights, warning and indicator ....10
air bag ........................................11
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ....12, 142
anti-theft ...................................13
brake ..........................................12
charging system ........................13
cruise indicator .........................13
door ajar ....................................14
fuel cap light .............................15
high beam .................................13
low coolant ................................14
low fuel ......................................11
oil pressure ...............................13
overdrive off ..............................14
safety belt .................................12
service engine soon ..................10
turn signal indicator .................12
Index
273

Load limits .................................155
GAWR ......................................155
GVWR ......................................155
trailer towing ..........................155
Loading instructions .................156
Locks
childproof ..................................84
Lubricant specifications ...250, 252
Lumbar support, seats .............100
M
Manual transaxle
fluid, checking and adding ....216
Manual transmission
fluid capacities ........................247
lubricant specifications ..........252
Mirrors
cleaning ...................................246
fold away ...................................20
side view mirrors (power) .......19
Moon roof ....................................79
Motorcraft parts ................230, 247
O
Octane rating ............................227
Odometer .....................................18
Off-Road Driving .......................152
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................201
Overdrive ...................................146
P
Panic alarm feature, remote
entry system ................................90
Parking brake ............................143Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....247
Power distribution box (see
Fuses) ........................................180
Power door locks ........................84
Power steering ..........................144
fluid, checking and adding ....213
fluid, refill capacity ................247
fluid, specifications .........250, 252
Preparing to drive your
vehicle ........................................145
R
Radio ............................................26
Rear window defroster ...............20
Relays ........................................176
Remote entry system ...........89±90
illuminated entry ......................92
locking/unlocking doors ...........90
panic alarm ...............................90
replacement/additional
transmitters ...............................91
replacing the batteries .............91
Roof rack ...................................162
S
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ....................15, 107±111
Safety defects, reporting ..........269
Safety restraints ................107±111
belt minder .............................113
cleaning the safety
belts .................................117, 246
extension assembly ................112
for adults .........................108±110
for children .............................127
lap belt ....................................112
Index
274

warning light and
chime ...........................12, 15, 113
Safety seats for children ..........128
Seat belts (see Safety
restraints) ..................................107
Seats ............................................98
child safety seats ....................128
cleaning ...................................245
SecuriLock passive anti-theft
system ....................................93±94
Servicing your vehicle ..............196
Snowplowing .................................5
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................247, 252
Special notice ................................4
ambulance conversions ..............5
utility-type vehicles ....................4
Specification chart,
lubricants ...........................250, 252
Speed control ..............................73
Speedometer ...............................17
Starting your vehicle ........137, 139
jump starting ..........................188
Steering wheel
controls ......................................73
T
Tachometer .................................17
Temperature control (see
Climate control) ..........................21
Tires ...........................183, 219±221
changing ..........................183±184
checking the pressure ............221
replacing ..................................223rotating ....................................221
snow tires and chains ............223
tire grades ...............................220
treadwear ................................220
Towing .......................................157
recreational towing .................161
trailer towing ..........................157
wrecker ....................................194
Transaxle
automatic operation ...............146
fluid, checking and adding
(manual) .................................216
Transmission
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................214
fluid, refill capacities ..............247
lubricant specifications ..250, 252
Turn signal ............................12, 71
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................252
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................254
Vehicle loading ..........................155
Ventilating your vehicle ...........141
W
Warning chimes ...........................15
Warning lights (see Lights) .......10
Washer fluid ..............................206
Water, Driving through .............157
Windows
power .........................................82
rear wiper/washer .....................77
Index
275