2006 FORD ESCAPE check engine light

If you must replace the fuel filler cap, replace it with a fuel filler
cap that is designed for your vehicle. The customer warranty may
be void for any damage to the fuel tank or fuel system if the
correct genuine Ford or Motorcraft fuel filler cap is not used.
The fuel system may be under pressure. Remove fuel filler cap
slowly. Otherwise, fuel may spray out and injure you or others.
If you do not use the proper fuel filler cap, excessive vacuum in
the fuel tank may damage the fuel system or cause the fuel cap
to disengage in a collision, which may result in possible personal injury.
Choosing the right fuel
Use only UNLEADED FUEL. The use of leaded fuel is prohibited by law
and could damage your vehicle.
Your vehicle was not designed to use fuel or fuel additives with metallic
compounds, including manganese-based additives. Studies indicate that
these additives can cause your vehicle’s emission control system to
deteriorate more rapidly. In Canada, premium grade fuel generally
contains more metallic additives than regular fuel. We recommend using
regular grade fuel. In Canada, many fuels contain metallic additives, but
fuels free of such additives may be available; check with your local fuel
dealer.
Do not use fuel containing methanol. It can damage critical fuel system
components.
Repairs to correct the effects of using a fuel for which your vehicle was
not designed may not be covered by your warranty.
Octane recommendations
Your vehicle is designed to use
“Regular” unleaded gasoline with
pump (R+M)/2 octane rating of 87.
We do not recommend the use of
gasolines labeled as “Regular” that
are sold with octane ratings of 86 or lower in high altitude areas.
Do not be concerned if your engine sometimes knocks lightly. However, if
it knocks heavily under most driving conditions while you are using fuel
with the recommended octane rating, see your dealer or a qualified
service technician to prevent any engine damage.
87(R+M)/2 METHOD
2006 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
257

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 inscheduled maintenance information.
Conditions
•Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
•Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
1 mpg [0.4 km/L] is lost for every 400 lb [180 kg] 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
8–10 miles (12–16 km) of driving.
•Driving on flat terrain offers improved fuel economy as compared to
driving on hilly terrain.
•Transmissions give their best fuel economy when operated in the top
cruise gear and with steady pressure on the gas pedal.
•Close windows for high speed driving.
EPA window sticker
Every new vehicle should have the EPA window sticker. Contact your
dealer if the window sticker is not supplied with your vehicle. The EPA
window sticker should be your guide for the fuel economy comparisons
with other vehicles.
It is important to note the box in the lower left corner of the window
sticker. These numbers represent the Range of MPG (L/100 km)
expected on the vehicle under optimum conditions. Your fuel economy
may vary depending upon the method of operation and conditions.
2006 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
261

Please consult yourWarranty Guidefor complete emission warranty
information.
On board diagnostics (OBD-II)
Your vehicle is equipped with a computer that monitors the engine’s
emission control system. This system is commonly known as the On
Board Diagnostics System (OBD-II). This OBD-II system protects the
environment by ensuring that your vehicle continues to meet
government emission standards. The OBD-II system also assists the
service technician in properly servicing your vehicle. When theCheck
engine/Service engine soonlight illuminates, the OBD-II system has
detected a malfunction. Temporary malfunctions may cause yourCheck
engine/Service engine soonlight to illuminate. Examples are:
1. The vehicle has run out of fuel. (The engine may misfire or run poorly.)
2. Poor fuel quality or water in the fuel.
3. The fuel cap may not have been securely tightened. SeeFuel filler
capin this chapter.
These temporary malfunctions can be corrected by filling the fuel tank
with good quality fuel and/or properly tightening the fuel cap. After three
driving cycles without these or any other temporary malfunctions
present, theCheck engine/Service engine soonlight should turn off. (A
driving cycle consists of a cold engine startup followed by mixed
city/highway driving.) No additional vehicle service is required.
If theCheck engine/Service engine soonlight remains on, have your
vehicle serviced at the first available opportunity.
Readiness for Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) testing
In some localities, it may be a legal requirement to pass an I/M test of
the on-board diagnostics system. If your
indicator is on, refer to
the description in theWarning lights and chimessection of the
Instrument Clusterchapter. Your vehicle may not pass the I/M test with
the
indicator on.
If the vehicle’s powertrain system or its battery has just been serviced,
the on-board diagnostics system is reset to a “not ready for I/M test”
condition. To ready the on-board diagnostics system for I/M testing, a
minimum of 30 minutes of city and highway driving is necessary as
described below:
•First, at least 10 minutes of driving on an expressway or highway.
2006 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
263

A
Accessory delay ..........................58
Air cleaner filter ...............267, 269
Airbag supplemental restraint
system ........................114, 121, 124
and child safety seats ............116
description ..............114, 121, 124
disposal ....................................127
driver airbag ............116, 122, 125
indicator light .........120, 123, 126
operation .................116, 122, 125
passenger airbag .....116, 122, 125
side airbag ...............................121
All Wheel Drive (AWD),
driving off road .........................186
Ambulance packages ....................8
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................248
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ..............................173
Anti-theft system ........................90
arming the system ....................90
disarming a triggered system ..91
Audio system
(see Radio) ......................19, 27, 31
Automatic transaxle
fluid, adding ............................265
fluid, checking ........................265
Automatic transmission ............176
driving an automatic
overdrive .................................178
fluid, refill capacities ..............270
fluid, specification ..................274
Auxiliary power point .................55
Axle
lubricant specifications ..272, 274
refill capacities ........................270B
Battery .......................................246
acid, treating emergencies .....246
jumping a disabled battery ....214
maintenance-free ....................246
replacement, specifications ...269
servicing ..................................246
BeltMinder .................................109
Brakes ................................172–173
anti-lock ...................................173
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................173
fluid, checking and adding ....265
fluid, refill capacities ..............270
fluid, specifications .........272, 274
lubricant specifications ..272, 274
parking ....................................174
shift interlock ..........................176
Bulbs ............................................47
C
Calculating load ........................163
Capacities for refilling fluids ....270
Cargo area shade ........................70
Cargo cover .................................71
Cassette tape player ...................19
Cell phone use ..............................8
Child safety restraints ..............128
child safety belts ....................128
Child safety seats ......................130
attaching with tether straps ..134
in front seat ............................132
in rear seat ..............................132
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............232
instrument panel ....................234
2006 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
282

Engine block heater .................172
Engine oil ..................................242
checking and adding ..............242
dipstick ....................................242
filter, specifications ........245, 269
recommendations ...................245
refill capacities ........................270
specifications ..................272, 274
Exhaust fumes ..........................172
F
Fail safe cooling ........................252
Fluid capacities .........................270
Foglamps .....................................44
Four-Wheel Drive vehicles
driving off road .......................187
indicator light .........................186
preparing to drive your
vehicle .....................................175
Fuel ............................................254
calculating fuel
economy ............................63, 258
cap ...........................................256
capacity ...................................270
choosing the right fuel ...........257
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................261
detergent in fuel .....................258
filling your vehicle with
fuel ...........................254, 256, 259
filter, specifications ........254, 269
fuel pump shut-off switch .....196
improving fuel economy ........258
octane rating ...................257, 274
quality ......................................258
running out of fuel .................258
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................254
Fuses ..................................196, 198G
Garage door opener ....................54
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............256
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................258
Gauges .........................................16
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight
Rating)
calculating ...............................163
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating)
calculating ...............................163
H
Hazard flashers .........................195
Head restraints .....................93, 95
Headlamps ...................................41
aiming ........................................44
autolamp system .......................41
bulb specifications ....................48
daytime running lights .............43
flash to pass ..............................43
high beam .................................42
replacing bulbs .........................48
turning on and off ....................41
Heating
heater only system ...................38
Hood ..........................................238
I
Ignition ...............................169, 274
Infant seats
(see Safety seats) .....................130
Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing ........................................263
2006 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
284

Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................234
cluster ........................................12
lighting up panel and
interior .......................................44
J
Jump-starting your vehicle ......214
K
Keyless entry system
autolock .....................................81
Keys
positions of the ignition .........169
L
Lamps
autolamp system .......................41
bulb replacement
specifications chart ..................48
daytime running light ...............43
fog lamps ...................................44
headlamps .................................41
headlamps, flash to pass ..........43
instrument panel, dimming .....44
interior lamps .....................46–48
replacing bulbs ....... 47–48, 50–51
Lane change indicator
(see Turn signal) ........................46
Liftgate ........................................70
Lights, warning and indicator ....12
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..........173
Load limits .................................156
Loading instructions .................163
Locks
autolock .....................................81
childproof ..................................83Lubricant specifications ...272, 274
Lug nuts ....................................214
Luggage rack ...............................71
M
Manual transaxle .......................181
fluid, checking and adding ....267
reverse .....................................182
Manual transmission
fluid capacities ........................270
lubricant specifications ..........274
Message center .....................62–63
english/metric button ...............64
system check button ................65
warning messages .....................66
Mirrors .........................................55
automatic dimming rearview
mirror ........................................58
fold away ...................................59
heated ........................................59
side view mirrors (power) .......58
Moon roof ....................................62
Motorcraft parts ........236, 254, 269
O
Octane rating ............................257
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................242
Overdrive ...................................177
P
Parking .......................................183
Parking brake ............................174
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....269
Passenger Occupant
Classification Sensor .................101
2006 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
285