Page 226 of 296

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.
3. Lay the tire on the ground with the valve stem facing down. If your
vehicle is equipped with aluminum wheels, remove the wheel ornament.
4. Slide the wheel partially under the vehicle and install the retainer
through the center of the wheel.
5. 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 authorized dealer for assistance at your earliest
convenience.If your vehicle is equipped with a trailer hitch, guide
the tire with one hand; keep the rear of the tire tilted down until
the tire clears the bumper.
6. 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
retighten, if necessary. Failure to properly stow the spare tire may result
in failure of the winch cable and loss of the spare tire.(Make sure that
the tire does not contact the bumper.)
7. Repeat this tightness check procedure (every six months, per
scheduled maintenance information),when servicing the spare tire
pressure 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 500 miles (800 km)
after any wheel disturbance (tire rotation, changing a flat tire, wheel
removal, etc.).
2008 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Roadside Emergencies
226
Page 295 of 296

Power door locks ........................80
Power mirrors .............................60
Power point .................................55
Power steering ..........................188
fluid, refill capacity ................283
fluid, specifications .................283
Power Windows ...........................56
Preparing to drive your
vehicle ........................................189
R
Radio ............................................20
Relays ........................................209
Remote entry system ...........84–85
illuminated entry ................88–89
locking/unlocking doors .....85–86
opening the trunk .....................86
panic alarm ...............................86
replacement/additional
transmitters ...............................87
replacing the batteries .............86
Reverse sensing system ...........196
Roadside assistance ..................206
Roof rack .....................................75
S
Safety Belt Maintenance ..........111
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ..................103, 107–110
Safety Canopy ...........125–126, 128
Safety defects, reporting ..........241
Safety restraints ........103, 107–110
Belt-Minder...........................112
extension assembly ................111
for adults .........................108–110for children .............................131
Occupant Classification
Sensor ......................................105
safety belt maintenance .........111
warning light and chime ........112
Safety seats for children ..........135
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................287
Satellite Radio Information ........30
Seats ............................................95
child safety seats ....................135
heated ........................................98
SecuriLock passive anti-theft
system ..........................................91
Servicing your vehicle ..............249
Snowplowing .................................8
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................282, 286
Special notice
ambulance conversions ..............8
utility-type vehicles ....................8
Specification chart,
lubricants ...................................283
Speed control ..............................61
Starting your
vehicle ........................178–179, 181
jump starting ..........................227
Steering wheel
controls ......................................64
tilting .........................................53
T
Tilt steering wheel ......................53
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS)
Tires, Wheels and Loading ....161
2008 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
295
Page 296 of 296

Tires ...................................146–147
alignment ................................154
care ..........................................150
changing ..........................219, 221
checking the pressure ............150
inflating ...................................148
label .........................................161
replacing ..................................152
rotating ....................................154
safety practices .......................153
sidewall information ...............156
snow tires and chains ............166
spare tire .........................217, 219
terminology .............................147
tire grades ...............................147
treadwear ........................146, 151
Towing .......................................172
recreational towing .................177
trailer towing ..........................172
wrecker ....................................232
Transaxle
fluid, checking and adding
(manual) .................................280
Transmission
automatic operation ...............190
brake-shift interlock (BSI) ....190
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................278fluid, refill capacities ..............283
lubricant specifications ..........283
manual operation ....................195
Trunk ...........................................86
Turn signal ..................................45
V
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................287
Vehicle loading ..........................166
Ventilating your vehicle ...........181
W
Warning lights (see Lights) .......12
Washer fluid ..............................253
Water, Driving through .............205
Windows
power .........................................56
rear wiper/washer .....................53
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers ..........................................52
checking and adding fluid .....253
liftgate reservoir .....................253
replacing wiper blades ...........254
Wrecker towing .........................232
2008 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
296