2005 FORD ESCAPE wheel

Remove the lug wrench from the
jack in order to remove the spare
tire from under the vehicle. To
remove jack from vehicle release the
thumbscrew on the bracket, release
the retention clip on the upper part
of the jack bracket, dislodge the
jack from the bracket and carefully
guide jack down and out through trim opening, upper end out first.
Removing the spare tire or spare tire and tether (if equipped)
1. Insert the lug wrench through the
access hole in the rear bumper.
2. Turn the handle counterclockwise
and lower the spare tire until it can
be slid rearward and the cable is
slack.
3. Slide the retainer through the
center of the wheel.
If equipped with a tether, perform the following additional steps:
4. Lift the spare tire on end to
access tether attachment (1).
2005 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Roadside Emergencies
181

5. Use the lug wrench to remove the
lug nut from the spare tire tether.
6. If not replacing the spare or flat
tire, raise winch up into the
installed position.
7. Use the attached Velcro strap (2)
to tie the tether end to the winch
actuator shaft (if equipped).
Changing the flat tire
8. Loosen each wheel lug nut
one-half turn counterclockwise but
do not remove them until the wheel
is raised off the ground.
Before placing the jack under the vehicle, NOTE the jack locations:
2005 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Roadside Emergencies
182

Never use the differentials as a
jacking point.
To lessen the risk of
personal injury, do not put
any part of your body under the
vehicle while changing a tire. Do
not start the engine when your
vehicle is on the jack. The jack is
only meant for changing the tire.
10. Remove the lug nuts with the lug nut wrench.
11. Replace the flat tire with the spare tire, making sure the valve stem
is facing outward. Reinstall lug nuts until the wheel is snug against the
hub. Do not fully tighten the lug nuts until the wheel has been lowered.
12. Lower the wheel by turning the jack handle counterclockwise.
13. Remove the jack and fully
tighten the lug nuts in the order
shown.
14. Reinstall the jack and tools in
the cargo area. To replace jack in
vehicle, guide the jack bottom first
in trim opening and position in
bracket, secure retention clip on
upper part of jack and close
thumbscrew. Make sure the jack is
fastened so it does not rattle when
you drive.
1
4 3
2 5
2005 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Roadside Emergencies
184

Stowing the flat/spare tire
Note:Failure to follow spare tire stowage instructions may result in
failure of cable or loss of spare tire.
If you are stowing a tire that requires reattaching it to the
vehicle with a tether, perform these steps first, then proceed with
the steps following.
1. Place tire on end with valve stem
facing rearward, away from vehicle.
2. Place tether into bolt holes in
wheel and attach lug nut using lug
wrench.
1. Lay the tire on the ground with the valve stem facing down. If your
vehicle is equipped with aluminum wheels, remove the wheel ornament.
2. Slide the wheel partially under the vehicle and install the retainer
through the center of the wheel.
3. Turn the jack handle clockwise until the tire is raised to its original
position underneath the vehicle. The effort to turn the jack handle
increases significantly as the tire contacts the frame. The spare tire
carrier will ratchet when the tire is in the fully stowed position. The
spare tire carrier has a built-in ratchet feature that will not allow you to
overtighten. If the spare tire carrier ratchets with very little effort, take
the vehicle to your dealer for assistance at your earliest convenience.
4. Check that the tire lies flat against the frame assembly. Push against
the tire to make sure it is tightly seated under the vehicle. Loosen and
2005 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Roadside Emergencies
185

retighten, if necessary. Failure to properly stow the spare tire may result
in failure of the winch cable and loss of the spare tire.
5. Repeat this tightness check procedure when servicing the spare tire
pressure (every six months, per Scheduled Maintenance Guide), or at
any time that the spare tire is disturbed through service of other
components.
Wheel lug nut torque specifications
Retighten the lug nuts to the specified torque at 800 km (500 miles)
after any wheel disturbance (tire rotation, changing a flat tire, wheel
removal, etc.).
Bolt size Wheel lug nut torque*
N•m lb-ft
M12 x 1.5 136 100
* Torque specifications are for nut and bolt threads free of dirt and
rust. Use only Ford recommended replacement fasteners.
When a wheel is installed, always remove any corrosion, dirt or
foreign materials present on the mounting surfaces of the wheel
or the surface of the front disc brake hub and rotor that contacts the
wheel. Installing wheels without correct metal-to-metal contact at the
wheel mounting surfaces can cause the wheel nuts to loosen and the
wheel to come off while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in loss of
control.
JUMP STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
The gases around the battery can explode if exposed to flames,
sparks, or lit cigarettes. An explosion could result in injury or
vehicle damage.
Batteries contain sulfuric acid which can burn skin, eyes and
clothing, if contacted.
Do not attempt to push-start your vehicle. Automatic
transmissions do not have push-start capability; doing so may
damage the catalytic converter.
2005 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Roadside Emergencies
186

WRECKER TOWING
If you need to have your vehicle towed, contact a professional towing
service or, if you are a member of a roadside assistance program, your
roadside assistance service provider.
It is recommended that your vehicle be towed with a wheel lift and
dollies 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, it
is recommended that the front wheels (drive wheels) be placed on a
dolly to prevent damage to the transaxle.
On 4x4 vehicles, it isrequiredthat your vehicle be towed with a wheel
lift and dollies or flatbed equipment with all the wheels off the ground to
prevent damage to the transaxle, 4x4 system or vehicle.
If the vehicle is towed by other means or incorrectly, vehicle
damage may occur.
2005 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Roadside Emergencies
192

In case of a roadside emergency with a disabled vehicle (without access
to wheel dollies, car hauling trailer, or flatbed transport vehicle) your
vehicle (regardless of transmission powertrain configuration) can be flat
towed (all wheels on the ground) under the following conditions:
•Place the transmission in N (Neutral).
•Maximum speed is not to exceed 56 km/h (35 mph).
•Maximum distance is 80 km (50 miles).
Ford Motor Company produces 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.
2005 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Roadside Emergencies
193

•Remove particles such as bird droppings, tree sap, insect deposits, tar
spots, road salt and industrial fallout before repairing paint chips.
•Always read the instructions before using the products.
ALUMINUM WHEELS AND WHEEL COVERS
Aluminum wheels and wheel covers are coated with a clearcoat paint
finish. In order to maintain their shine:
•Clean weekly with Motorcraft Wheel and Tire Cleaner (ZC-37–A),
which is available from your dealer. Heavy dirt and brake dust
accumulation may require agitation with a sponge. Rinse thoroughly
with a strong stream of water.
•Never apply any cleaning chemical to hot or warm wheel rims or
covers.
•Some automatic car washes may cause damage to the finish on your
wheel rims or covers. Chemical-strength cleaners, or cleaning
chemicals, in combination with brush agitation to remove brake dust
and dirt, could wear away the clearcoat finish over time.
•Do not use hydrofluoric acid-based or high caustic-based wheel
cleaners, steel wool, fuels or strong household detergent.
•To remove tar and grease, use Motorcraft Bug and Tar Remover
(ZC-42), available from your dealer.
ENGINE
Engines are more efficient when they are clean because grease and dirt
buildup keep the engine warmer than normal. When washing:
•Take care when using a power washer to clean the engine. The
high-pressure fluid could penetrate the sealed parts and cause
damage.
•Do not spray a hot engine with cold water to avoid cracking the
engine block or other engine components.
•Spray Motorcraft Engine Shampoo and Degreaser (ZC-20) on all parts
that require cleaning and pressure rinse clean.
•Cover the highlighted areas to prevent water damage when cleaning
the engine.
2005 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Cleaning
204