2004 FORD ESCAPE tow

•Anticipate stopping; slowing down may eliminate the need to stop.
•Sudden or hard accelerations may reduce fuel economy.
•Slow down gradually.
•Driving at reasonable speeds (traveling at 88 km/h [55 mph] uses 15%
less fuel than traveling at 105 km/h [65 mph]).
•Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce fuel economy.
•Using the air conditioner or defroster may reduce fuel economy.
•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.
•Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
•Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
•Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
Maintenance
•Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
•Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
•Use recommended engine oil. Refer toLubricant specificationsin
this chapter.
•Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found in your vehicle scheduled maintenance guide.
Conditions
•Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
•Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
0.4 km/L [1 mpg] is lost for every 180 kg [400 lb] of weight carried).
•Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example bug
deflectors, rollbars/light bars, running boards, ski/luggage racks) may
reduce fuel economy.
•Using fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel economy.
•Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first
12–16 km (8–10 miles) of driving.
2004 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
207

Interior style
Cell phone holders
Electrochromatic compass/temperature interior mirrors
Floor mats
Interior trim kits
Leather wrapped steering wheels
Scuff plates
Lifestyle
Bike racks
Cargo organization and management
Engine block heaters and blankets
Rear seat entertainment systems
Towing mirrors
Trailer hitches, wiring harnesses and accessories
Peace of mind
Airbag anti-theft locks
First aid and safety kits
Full vehicle covers
Locking gas cap
Navigation systems
Remote start
Vehicle security systems
2004 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Accessories
230

I
Ignition ...............................115, 225
Infant seats
(see Safety seats) .............106–107
Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing ........................................210
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................183
cluster ........................................10
lighting up panel and
interior .......................................35
J
Jack ............................................158
positioning ...............................158
storage .....................................158
Jump-starting your vehicle ......164
K
Keys
positions of the ignition .........115
L
Lamps
autolamp system .......................34
bulb replacement
specifications chart ..................39
cargo lamps ...............................35
daytime running light ...............34
fog lamps ...................................34
headlamps .................................34
headlamps, flash to pass ..........35
instrument panel, dimming .....35
interior lamps .....................37–39
replacing bulbs ...................39–43Lane change indicator
(see Turn signal) ........................37
Liftgate ........................................55
Lights, warning and indicator ....10
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..........119
Load limits .................................141
GAWR ......................................141
GVWR ......................................141
trailer towing ..........................141
Loading instructions .................143
Locks
childproof ..................................66
Lubricant specifications ...223, 225
M
Manual transaxle .......................127
fluid, checking and adding ....213
reverse .....................................128
Manual transmission
fluid capacities ........................220
lubricant specifications ..........225
Mirrors .........................................48
automatic dimming rearview
mirror ........................................48
fold away ...................................51
heated ........................................51
side view mirrors (power) .......50
Moon roof ....................................54
Motorcraft parts ................205, 220
O
Octane rating ............................204
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................190
Overdrive ...................................123
2004 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Index
234

T
Temperature control
(see Climate control) .................31
Tilt steering wheel ......................46
Tires ...........................158, 215–217
changing ..................158–159, 163
checking the pressure ............217
replacing ..................................218
rotating ....................................218
snow tires and chains ............219
spare tire .................................158
tire grades ...............................217
treadwear ................................216
Towing .......................................143
recreational towing .................148
trailer towing ..........................143
wrecker ....................................169
Transaxle
fluid, checking and adding
(manual) .................................213
manual operation ....................127
Transmission .............................121
brake-shift interlock (BSI) ....121
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................211fluid, refill capacities ..............220
lubricant specifications ..223, 225
Turn signal ..................................37
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................225
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................228
Vehicle loading ..........................141
Ventilating your vehicle ...........119
W
Warning lights (see Lights) .......10
Washer fluid ..............................190
Water, Driving through .............141
Windows
power .........................................49
rear wiper/washer .....................45
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers
checking and adding fluid .....190
liftgate reservoir .....................190
operation ...................................44
replacing wiper blades .............45
Wrecker towing .........................169
2004 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Index
236