2003 FORD ESCORT tow

MULTI-FUNCTION LEVER
Windshield wiper:
•For intermittent wiping, move the
control down one position and
rotate the wiper switch to the
desired position.
•For low speed wiping, move the
control down two positions.
•For high speed wiping, move the
control down three positions.
Windshield washer:
•For mist wiping, move the control
up one position.
•To spray the washer fluid, pull
the wiper control toward you.
MIST
OFF
INT
1
2
F
S
PULL
INT
MIST
OFF
INT
1
2
F
S
PULL
INT
Driver Controls
43

Changing the wiper blades
1. Pull the wiper armaway fromthe
vehicle. Turn the blade at an angle
fromthe wiper arm. Push the lock
pin manually to release the blade
and pull the wiper blade down
toward the windshield to remove it
fromthe arm.
2. Attach the new wiper to the
wiper armand press it into place
until a click is heard.
3. Replace wiper blades every 6
months for optimum performance.
TILT STEERING (IF EQUIPPED)
Pull the tilt steering control down to
move the steering wheel up or
down. Hold the control while
adjusting the wheel to the desired
position, then push the control back
up to lock the steering wheel in
position.
Never adjust the steering
wheel when the vehicle is
moving.
POWER WINDOWS (IF EQUIPPED)
When closing the power
windows, you should verify
they are free of obstructions and
ensure that children and/or pets
are not in the proximity of the
window openings.
Driver Controls
44

Locking the doors
1. Pressand release to lock all the doors. On vehicles equipped with
the driver’s door only remote entry system, only the driver’s door will
lock.Note:the interior lamps will turn off.
2. On vehicles with the all-door remote entry, press
and release again
within three seconds to confirmthat all the doors are closed and locked.
Note:the doors will lock again, the horn will chirp once and the
headlamps will flash.
If any of the doors are not properly closed the horn will make two quick
chirps.
This process will also activate the vehicle’s anti-theft system(if
equipped). For more information on arming the anti-theft system, refer
toAnti-theft systemin this chapter.
Opening the trunk
Pressonce to open the trunk.
•Ensure that the trunk is closed and latched before driving your
vehicle. Failure to properly latch the trunk may cause objects to fall
out or block the driver’s rear view.
Sounding a panic alarm
Press
to activate the alarm. Press again or turn the ignition to ACC
or ON to deactivate.
Note:The panic alarmwill only operate when the ignition is in the OFF
position.
Replacing the battery
The remote entry transmitter uses one coin type three-volt lithium
battery CR2032 or equivalent. The typical operating range for your
remote entry transmitter is approximately 10 meters (33 feet). A
decrease in the operating range could be caused by:
•weather conditions,
•nearby radio towers,
•structures around the vehicle and
•other vehicles parked next to the vehicle.
Locks and Security
54

Never place your armover the air bag module as a deploying air
bag can result in serious armfractures or other injuries.
To properly position yourself away fromthe air bag:
•Move your seat to the rear as far as you can while still reaching the
pedals comfortably.
•Recline the seat slightly one or two degrees fromthe upright position.
Do not put anything on or over the air bag module. Placing
objects on or over the air bag inflation area may cause those
objects to be propelled by the air bag into your face and torso causing
serious injury.
Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the air bag
supplemental restraint systems or its fuses. See your Ford or
Lincoln Mercury dealer.
Modifying or adding equipment to the front end of the vehicle
(including frame, bumper, front end body structure and tow
hooks) may affect the performance of the air bag system, increasing
the risk of injury. Do not modify the front end of the vehicle.
Seating and Safety Restraints
70

The shoulder belt should cross the chest, resting snugly on the center of
the shoulder. The lap belt should rest low and snug across the hips,
never up high across the stomach.
If the booster seat slides on the vehicle seat, placing a rubberized mesh
sold as shelf or carpet liner under the booster seat may improve this
condition.
The importance of shoulder belts
Using a booster without a shoulder belt increases the risk of a child’s
head hitting a hard surface in a collision. For this reason, you should
never use a booster seat with a lap belt only. It is best to use a booster
seat with lap/shoulder belts in the back seat- the safest place for children
to ride.
Follow all instructions provided by the manufacturer of the
booster seat.
Never put the shoulder belt under a child’s armor behind the
back because it eliminates the protection for the upper part of
the body and may increase the risk of injury or death in a collision.
Never use pillows, books, or towels to boost a child. They can
slide around and increase the likelihood of injury or death in a
collision.
SAFETY SEATS FOR CHILDREN
Child and infant or child safety seats
Use a safety seat that is recommended for the size and weight of the
child. Carefully follow all of the manufacturer’s instructions with the
Seating and Safety Restraints
76

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 move 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. 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 seats of your vehicle are equipped with built-in tether strap
anchors located behind the seats as described below.
The tether anchors in your vehicle are located below the rear window
marked with the tether anchor symbol (shown with title).
Seating and Safety Restraints
80

VEHICLE LOADING
Before loading a vehicle, familiarize yourself with the following terms:
•Base Curb Weight:Weight of the vehicle including any standard
equipment, fluids, lubricants, etc. It does not include occupants or
aftermarket equipment.
•Payload:Combined maximum allowable weight of cargo, occupants
and optional equipment. The payload equals the gross vehicle weight
rating minus base curb weight.
•GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight):Base curb weight plus payload
weight. The GVW is not a limit or a specification.
•GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating):Maximum permissible total
weight of the base vehicle, occupants, optional equipment and cargo.
The GVWR is specific to each vehicle and is listed on the Safety
Certification Label on the driver’s door pillar.
•GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating):Carrying capacity for each axle
system. The GAWR is specific to each vehicle and is listed on the
Safety Certification Label on the driver’s door pillar.
•GCW (Gross Combined Weight):The combined weight of the
towing vehicle (including occupants and cargo) and the loaded trailer.
•GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating):Maximum permissible
combined weight of towing vehicle (including occupants and cargo)
and the loaded trailer
•Maximum Trailer Weight Rating:Maximum weight of a trailer the
vehicle is permitted to tow. The maximum trailer weight rating is
determined by subtracting the vehicle curb weight for each
engine/transmission combination, any required option weight for trailer
towing and the weight of the driver fromthe GCWR for the towing
vehicle.
•Maximum Trailer Weight:Maximum weight of a trailer the loaded
vehicle (including occupants and cargo) is permitted to tow. It is
determined by subtracting the weight of the loaded trailer towing
vehicle fromthe GCWR for the towing vehicle.
•Trailer Weight Range:Specified weight range that the trailer must
fall within that ranges from zero to the maximum trailer weight rating.
Remember to figure in the tongue load of your loaded trailer when
figuring the total weight.
Driving
99

Do not exceed the GVWR or the GAWR specified on the
certification label.
Do not use replacement tires with lower load carrying capacities than the
originals because they may lower the vehicle’s GVWR and GAWR
limitations. Replacement tires with a higher limit than the originals do
not increase the GVWR and GAWR limitations.
The Safety Certification Label, found on the driver’s door pillar, lists
several important vehicle weight rating limitations. Before adding any
additional equipment, refer to these limitations. If you are adding weight
to the front of your vehicle, (potentially including weight added to the
cab), the weight added should not exceed the front axle reserve capacity
(FARC). Additional frontal weight may be added to the front axle reserve
capacity provided you limit your payload in other ways (i.e. restrict the
number of occupants or amount of cargo carried).
Always ensure that the weight of occupants, cargo and equipment being
carried is within the weight limitations that have been established for
your vehicle including both gross vehicle weight and front and rear gross
axle weight rating limits. Under no circumstance should these limitations
be exceeded.
Exceeding any vehicle weight rating limitation could result in
serious damage to the vehicle loss of vehicle control, vehicle
rollover, and/or personal injury.
TRAILER T OWING
Your vehicle is capable of towing a trailer up to 454 kg (1,000 lbs.) gross
trailer weight with a maximum tongue load of 45 kg (100 lbs.). Do not
tow a trailer until your vehicle has been driven at least 800 km(500
miles).
Towing a trailer places an additional load on your vehicle’s engine,
transaxle, brakes, tires and suspension. Inspect these components
carefully after towing.
Do not exceed the GVWR or the GAWR specified on the
certification label.
Driving
100