2001 FORD ESCORT tow

WRECKER TOWING
If you need to have your vehicle towed, contact a professional towing
service or, if you are a member, your roadside assistance center.
It is recommended that your vehicle be towed with a wheel lift or flatbed
equipment. Do not tow with a slingbelt. Ford Motor Company has not
approved a slingbelt towing procedure.
If your vehicle is to be towed from the rear using wheel lift equipment,
the front wheels (drive wheels) must be placed on a dolly to prevent
damage to the transmission.
If the vehicle is towed by other means or incorrectly, vehicle
damage may occur.
Ford Motor Company provides a towing manual for all authorized tow
truck operators. Have your tow truck operator refer to this manual for
proper hook-up and towing procedures for your vehicle.
Roadside emergencies
134

Changing the wiper blades
To replace the wiper blades:
1. Pull the wiper arm away from the
windshield and lock into the service
position.
2. Turn the blade at an angle from
the wiper arm. Push the lock pin
manually to release the blade and
pull the wiper blade down toward
the windshield to remove it from the
arm.
3. Attach the new wiper to the
wiper arm and press it into place
until a click is heard.
INFORMATION ABOUT UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING
New vehicles are fitted with tires
that have a rating on them called
Tire Quality Grades. The Quality
grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall
between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For
example:
²Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
These Tire Quality Grades are determined by standards that the United
States Department of Transportation has set.
Tire Quality Grades apply to new pneumatic tires for use on passenger
cars. They do not apply to deep tread, winter-type snow tires,
space-saver or temporary use spare tires, tires with nominal rim
diameters of 10 to 12 inches or limited production tires as defined in
Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 575.104(c)(2).
U.S. Department of Transportation-Tire quality grades:The U.S.
Department of Transportation requires Ford to give you the following
information about tire grades exactly as the government has written it.
Maintenance and care
161

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.
²
You may want to turn off the speed control in hilly terrain if
unnecessary shifting between third and fourth gear occurs. Unnecessary
shifting of this type 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.
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
0.4 km/L [1 mpg] is lost for every 180 kg [400 lb] of weight carried).
²Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example bug
deflectors, rollbars/light bars, running boards, ski/luggage racks) may
reduce fuel economy.
²Using fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel economy.
²Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first
12±16 km (8±10 miles) of driving.
Maintenance and care
173

Tail lamp/turn signal/backup lamp bulbs
The tail/turn signal lamp and backup
lamp bulbs are located in the same
portion of the tail lamp assembly,
one just below the other. Follow the
same steps to replace either bulb.
1. Open trunk to expose the tail
lamp assembly screws. Remove the
two screws from the front of the lamp.
2. The tail lamp has hidden fasteners which can be disengaged by hitting
the lamp, with the side of your hand, toward the side of the vehicle.
3. Pull lamp assembly away from vehicle for access to bulbs.
4. Remove the bulb socket by
rotating it counterclockwise, then
pulling it out of the lamp assembly.
5. Pull the bulb from the socket and
push in the new bulb.
6. Install the bulb socket into the
lamp by rotating it clockwise.
7. Position the tail lamp on the
vehicle and gently tap the lens to
engage the clips. Install the screws.
Maintenance and care
179

Cleaning the exterior lamps
Wash with the same detergent as the exterior of your vehicle. If
necessary, use a tar remover such as Ford Extra Strength Tar and Road
Oil Remover (B7A-19520±AA).
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 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).
Maintenance and care
186

Ford Extended Service Plan
You can get more protection for your new car or light truck by
purchasing Ford Extended Service Plan (Ford ESP) coverage. Ford ESP
is an optional service contract which is backed by Ford Motor Company
or Ford Motor Service Company (in the U.S.) and Ford of Canada (in
Canada). It provides the following:
²Benefits during the warranty period depending on the plan you
purchase (such as: reimbursement for rentals; coverage for certain
maintenance and wear items).
²Protection against covered repair costs after your Bumper-to-Bumper
Warranty expires.
You may purchase Ford ESP from any participating Ford and Lincoln
Mercury and Ford of Canada dealer. There are several plans available in
various time, distance and deductible combinations which can be tailored
to fit your own driving needs. Ford ESP also offers reimbursement
benefits for towing and rental coverage.
When you buy Ford ESP, you receive Peace-of-Mind protection throughout
the United States and Canada, provided by a network of more than 5,000
participating Ford or Lincoln Mercury and Ford of Canada dealers.
If you did not take advantage of the Ford Extended Service Plan at the
time of purchasing your vehicle, you may still be eligible. Please contact
your dealer for further information. Since this information is subject to
change, please ask your dealer for complete details about Ford Extended
Service Plan coverage options, or visit the Ford ESP website at
www.ford-esp.com.
GETTING THE SERVICES YOU NEED
At home
Ford Motor Company and Ford of Canada have authorized dealerships to
service your vehicle. It is preferred that you return to the Ford dealer
where your vehicle was purchased when warranty repairs are needed.
However, you may also take your vehicle to another Ford Motor
Company or Ford of Canada dealership authorized for warranty repairs.
Certain warranty repairs require special training though, so not all
dealers are authorized to perform all warranty repairs. That means that
depending on the warranty repair needed, the vehicle may need to be
taken to another dealer. If a particular dealership can not assist you,
then contact the Customer Relationship Center.
Customer assistance
196

Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing ........................................175
Instrument panel ..........................8
cleaning ...................................187
cluster ..................................8, 187
lighting up panel and
interior .......................................17
location of components ..............8
J
Jack ............................................125
positioning ...............................125
storage .....................................125
Jump-starting your vehicle ......129
K
Keys
key in ignition chime ...............13
positions of the ignition ...........44
L
Lamps
bulb replacement
specifications chart ................181
cargo lamps ...............................17
daytime running light ...............44
fog lamps ...................................45
headlamps .........................44, 176
headlamps, flash to pass ..........45
instrument panel, dimming .....17
interior lamps ...................53, 180
replacing bulbs .......176, 178±180
Lane change indicator (see
Turn signal) .................................46
Lights, warning and indicator ......8
air bag ........................................10
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ......11, 99anti-theft ...................................11
brake ..........................................10
charging system ........................11
fuel cap light .............................12
high beam .................................11
low fuel ........................................8
oil pressure ...............................12
safety belt .................................10
service engine soon ....................9
turn signal indicator .................11
Load limits .................................109
GAWR ......................................109
GVWR ......................................109
trailer towing ..........................109
Locks
childproof ..................................54
Lubricant specifications ...191±192
M
Manual transaxle
fluid capacities ........................190
lubricant specifications ..........192
reverse .....................................108
Mirrors
cleaning ...................................185
side view mirrors (power) .......18
Moon roof ....................................52
Motorcraft parts ................171, 189
O
Octane rating ............................169
Odometer .....................................15
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................142
Index
212

Towing .......................................111
trailer towing ..........................111
wrecker ....................................134
Transaxle
automatic operation ...............101
fluid, refill capacities ..............190
lubricant specifications ..........192
Transmission
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................154
fluid, checking and adding
(manual) .................................156
lubricant specifications ..........191
Trip odometer .............................16
Trunk ...........................................56
remote release ....................18, 59
Turn signal ............................11, 46
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................193
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................195Vehicle loading ..........................109
Ventilating your vehicle .............97
W
Warning chimes .....................12±13
Warning lights (see Lights) .........8
Washer fluid ..............................147
Water, Driving through .............113
Windows
power .........................................55
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers
checking and adding fluid .....147
checking and cleaning ............160
operation ...................................51
replacing wiper blades ...........161
Wrecker towing .........................134
Index
214