
Working with the engine on
•Automatic transmission:
1. Set the parking brake and shift to P (Park).
2. Block the wheels.
•Manual transmission:
1. Set the parking brake, depress the clutch and place the gearshift in N
(Neutral).
2. Block the wheels.
To reduce the risk of vehicle damage and/or personal burn
injuries do not start your engine with the air cleaner removed
and do not remove it while the engine is running.
OPENING THE HOOD
1. Inside the vehicle, pull the hood
release handle located under the
bottom of the instrument panel.
2. At the front of the vehicle, lift up
on the auxiliary latch handle located
in the center between the hood and
the grille.
3. Lift the hood open and secure it
with the prop rod.
2008 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
250

IDENTIFYING YOUR VEHICLE
Safety Compliance Certification Label
The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration Regulations require
that a Safety Compliance
Certification Label be affixed to a
vehicle and prescribe where the
Safety Compliance Certification
Label may be located. The Safety
Compliance Certification Label is
located on the structure (B-Pillar)
by the trailing edge of the driver’s
door or the edge of the driver’s
door.
Vehicle identification number (VIN)
The vehicle identification number is
located on the driver side
instrument panel.
Please note that in the graphic,
XXXX is representative of your
vehicle identification number.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
2008 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
287

Child safety seats - booster
seats ...........................................132
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............243
instrument panel ....................246
interior .....................................246
plastic parts ............................245
washing ....................................242
waxing .....................................243
wheels ......................................243
wiper blades ............................245
Climate control (see Air
conditioning or Heating) ......34, 37
Clutch
fluid ..........................................278
operation while driving ..........195
recommended shift speeds ....196
Compass, electronic ....................58
calibration .................................60
set zone adjustment .................59
Console ........................................54
overhead ....................................54
Controls
power seat .................................96
steering column ........................64
Coolant
checking and adding ..............261
refill capacities ................265, 283
specifications ..........................283
Cruise control
(see Speed control) ....................61
Customer Assistance ................206
Ford Extended Service
Plan ..........................................238
Getting assistance outside the
U.S. and Canada .....................239
Getting roadside assistance ...206
Getting the service you
need .........................................234Ordering additional owner’s
literature .................................240
Utilizing the
Mediation/Arbitration
Program ...................................238
D
Daytime running lamps
(see Lamps) ................................43
Dipstick
automatic transmission
fluid ..........................................278
engine oil .................................255
Driving under special
conditions ..................194, 200, 203
sand .........................................201
snow and ice ...........................204
through water .................202, 205
E
Electronic message center .........66
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................227
Emergency Flashers .................208
Emission control system ..........275
Engine ........................................286
cleaning ...................................243
coolant .....................................261
fail-safe cooling .......................266
idle speed control ...................259
lubrication specifications .......283
refill capacities ........................283
service points ..................251–252
starting after a collision .........208
Engine block heater .................181
Engine oil ..................................255
checking and adding ..............255
dipstick ....................................255
2008 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
292

filter, specifications ........258, 282
recommendations ...................258
refill capacities ........................283
specifications ..........................283
Exhaust fumes ..........................181
F
Fail safe cooling ........................266
Fluid capacities .........................283
Foglamps .....................................42
Four-Wheel Drive vehicles
driving off road .......................199
preparing to drive your
vehicle .....................................189
Fuel ............................................267
calculating fuel
economy ............................67, 272
cap ...........................................269
capacity ...................................283
choosing the right fuel ...........270
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................275
detergent in fuel .....................271
filling your vehicle with
fuel ...........................267, 269, 272
filter, specifications ........267, 282
fuel pump shut-off switch .....208
improving fuel economy ........272
octane rating ...................271, 286
quality ......................................271
running out of fuel .................271
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................267
Fuses ..................................209–210
G
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............269Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................272
Gauges .........................................17
H
Hazard flashers .........................208
Head restraints .....................95, 98
Headlamps ...................................41
aiming ........................................44
bulb specifications ....................47
daytime running lights .............43
flash to pass ..............................43
high beam .................................43
replacing bulbs .........................48
turning on and off ....................41
Heating
heating and air conditioning
system .......................................37
manual heating and air
conditioning system .................34
Hood ..........................................250
I
Ignition ...............................178, 286
Illuminated visor mirror .............54
Infant seats
(see Safety seats) .....................135
Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing ........................................277
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................246
cluster ........................................12
lighting up panel and
interior .......................................44
J
Jump-starting your vehicle ......227
2008 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
293

K
Keyless entry system .................89
autolock ...............................80, 82
keypad .......................................90
locking and unlocking doors ....91
programming entry code .........90
Keys .......................................78, 92
positions of the ignition .........178
L
Lamps
bulb replacement
specifications chart ..................47
daytime running light ...............43
fog lamps ...................................42
headlamps .................................41
headlamps, flash to pass ..........43
instrument panel, dimming .....44
interior lamps .....................45–47
replacing bulbs .........................48
Lane change indicator
(see Turn signal) ........................45
Liftgate ..................................73, 86
Lights, warning and indicator ....12
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..........183
Load limits .................................166
Loading instructions .................172
Locks
autolock ...............................80, 82
childproof ..................................84
doors ..........................................80
Lubricant specifications ...........283
Lug nuts ....................................226
Luggage rack ...............................75M
Manual transaxle
fluid, checking and adding ....280
Manual transmission .................195
fluid capacities ........................283
lubricant specifications ..........283
reverse .....................................196
Message center ...........................66
english/metric button ...............69
system check button ................68
warning messages .....................71
Mirrors ...................................57, 60
automatic dimming rearview
mirror ........................................58
fold away ...................................61
heated ........................................61
side view mirrors (power) .......60
Moon roof ....................................65
Motorcraft parts ........247, 267, 282
N
Navigation system .......................33
O
Octane rating ............................271
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................255
Overdrive ...................................191
P
Parking brake ............................183
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....282
Passenger Occupant
Classification Sensor .................105
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ...............................213
2008 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
294