
3. While holding the shoulder and
lap belt portions together, route the
tongue through the child seat
according to the child seat
manufacturer’s instructions. Be sure
the belt webbing is not twisted.
4. Insert the belt tongue into the
proper buckle (the buckle closest to
the direction the tongue is coming
from) for that seating position until
you hear a snap and feel the latch
engage. Make sure the tongue is
latched securely by pulling on it.
5. To put the retractor in the
automatic locking mode, grasp the
shoulder portion of the belt and pull
downward until all of the belt is
extracted and a click is heard.
6. Allow the belt to retract. The belt will click as it retracts to indicate it
is in the automatic locking mode.
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Seating and Safety Restraints
133

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 tilt 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 and back. 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 2
through 9.
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 seating positions of your vehicle are equipped with built-in
tether strap anchors located behind the seats on the roof panel in the
cargo area.
2006 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
134

Refueling
Fuel vapor burns violently and a fuel fire can cause severe
injuries. To help avoid injuries to you and others:
•Read and follow all the instructions on the pump island;
•Turn off your engine when you are refueling;
•Do not smoke if you are near fuel or refueling your vehicle;
•Keep sparks, flames and smoking materials away from fuel;
•Stay outside your vehicle and do not leave the fuel pump unattended
when refueling your vehicle — this is against the law in some places;
•Keep children away from the fuel pump; never let children pump fuel
Use the following guidelines to avoid static build-up when filling an
ungrounded fuel container:
•Place approved fuel container on the ground.
•DO NOT fill a fuel container while it is in the vehicle (including the
cargo area).
•
Keep the fuel pump nozzle in contact with the fuel container while filling.
•DO NOT use a device that would hold the fuel pump handle in the fill
position.
Fuel Filler Cap
Your fuel tank filler cap has an indexed design with a 1/4 turn on/off feature.
When fueling your vehicle:
1. Turn the engine off.
2. Carefully turn the filler cap counterclockwise 1/4 of a turn to unscrew
the cap.
3. Pull to remove the cap from the fuel filler pipe.
4. Reinstall the cap on the filler pipe and turn it clockwise until at least
one click is heard.
After refueling, if the “CHECK FUEL CAP” indicator comes on and stays
on when you start the engine, the fuel filler cap may not be properly
installed. Turn off the engine, remove the fuel filler cap, align the cap
properly and reinstall it securely. The “CHECK FUEL CAP” indicator
should turn off after three driving cycles with the fuel filler cap properly
installed. A driving cycle consists of a cold engine start-up followed by
mixed city/highway driving.
2006 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
256

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

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

Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ...............................201
Power mirrors .............................58
Power point .................................55
Power steering ..........................174
fluid, checking and adding ....264
fluid, refill capacity ................270
fluid, specifications .........272, 274
Power Windows ...........................57
Preparing to drive your
vehicle ........................................175
R
Radio ................................19, 27, 31
Rear window defroster ...............40
Relays ........................................196
Remote entry system
illuminated entry ..........47, 87–88
Reverse sensing system ...........184
Roadside assistance ..................194
Roof rack .....................................71
S
Safety Belt Maintenance ..........108
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ..................100, 104–107
Safety Canopy ...................122, 124
Safety defects, reporting ..........230
Safety restraints ........100, 104–108
belt minder .............................109
extension assembly ................108
for adults .........................105–107
for children .....................127–128
Occupant Classification
Sensor ......................................101safety belt maintenance .........108
warning light and chime ........109
Safety seats for children ..........130
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................276
Seat belts
(see Safety restraints) .............100
Seats ............................................93
child safety seats ....................130
heated ........................................95
Servicing your vehicle ..............237
Setting the clock
AM/FM/In-dash 6 CD ..........20, 25
AM/FM/Tape/CD .......................32
Snowplowing .................................8
Spark plugs, specifications ......269,
274
Special notice
ambulance conversions ..............8
utility-type vehicles ....................8
Specification chart,
lubricants ...........................272, 274
Speed control ..............................59
Starting your vehicle ........169–171
jump starting ..........................214
Steering wheel
tilting .........................................53
T
Temperature control
(see Climate control) .................38
Tilt steering wheel ......................53
Tires ...................................141–143
alignment ................................153
care ..........................................152
changing ..................................205
2006 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
286