2008 FORD ESCAPE hood open

PANEL DIMMER CONTROL
Use to adjust the brightness of the
instrument panel and all applicable
switches in the vehicle during
headlamp and parklamp operation.
Move the control to the full upright
position, past detent, to turn on the
interior lamps.
Rotate to full down position (past
detent) to prevent interior lamps
from illuminating when the doors
are opened.
AIMING THE HEADLAMPS
The headlamps on your vehicle are properly aimed at the assembly plant.
If your vehicle has been in an accident the alignment of your headlamps
should be checked by your authorized dealer.
Vertical aim adjustment
1. Park the vehicle directly in front of a wall or screen on a level surface,
approximately 25 feet (7.6 meters) away.
•(1) 8 feet (2.4 meters)
•(2) Center height of lamp to
ground
•(3) 25 feet (7.6 meters)
•(4) Horizontal reference line
2. Measure the height from the
center of your headlamp to the
ground and mark an 8 foot
(2.4 meter) horizontal reference line
on the vertical wall or screen at this
height (a piece of masking tape works well). The center of the lamp is
marked by a 3.0 mm circle on the headlamp lens.
3. Turn on the low beam headlamps to illuminate the wall or screen and
open the hood. Cover the left-hand headlamp with an opaque cloth.
2008 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Lights
44

Replacing headlamp bulbs
1. Make sure that the headlamp control is in the OFF position.
2. Open the hood.
3. Reach over the front bolster.
4. Remove the bulb by turning it
counterclockwise and then pulling it
straight out.
5. Disconnect the electrical
connector from the bulb.
Handle a halogen headlamp
bulb carefully and keep out
of children’s reach. Grasp the bulb
only by its plastic base and do not
touch the glass. The oil from your
hand could cause the bulb to
break the next time the
headlamps are operated.
6. Connect the electrical connector on the new bulb.
7. Insert the glass end of the new bulb into the headlamp assembly.
When the grooves in the plastic base are aligned, turn the new bulb
clockwise to install.
Replacing front parking lamp/turn signal bulbs
1. Make sure that the headlamp control is in the OFF position.
2. Open the hood.
3. Reach over the front bolster.
4. Rotate the bulb socket
counterclockwise and remove from
the lamp assembly.
2008 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Lights
48

Switching from two step to one step door unlocking
Unlocking can be switched between two step and one step door
unlocking by pressing and holding both
andbuttons
simultaneously on the remote entry transmitter for approximately 4
seconds. The turn signal will flash twice to indicate that the vehicle has
switched to one step unlocking. Repeat the procedure to switch back to
two step unlocking.
Locking the doors
1. Pressand release to lock all the doors. Assuming all vehicle doors
and the liftgate are properly closed, the park/turn lamps will flash once.
2. Press
and release again within three seconds to confirm that all the
doors and liftgate are closed and locked.Note:The doors will lock again
and the horn will chirp once.
If any of the doors or the hood are not properly closed, the horn will
chirp twice and park/turn lamps will not flash when the
control is
pressed.
Opening the liftgate (if equipped)
Presstwice within 3 seconds to open the liftgate glass.
Car finder
Press
twice within 3 seconds. The horn will chirp and the turn lamps
will flash. It is recommended that this method be used to locate your
vehicle, rather than using the panic alarm.
Sounding a panic alarm
Press and hold
for 1.5 seconds to activate the alarm. To deactivate
the feature, press the control again, turn the ignition to the 3 (RUN) or 4
(START) position, or wait for the alarm to time out in approximately 3
minutes.
Note:The panic alarm will only operate when the ignition is in the 1
(LOCK) position.
Replacing the battery
The Integrated Keyhead Transmitter uses one coin type three-volt
lithium battery CR2032 or equivalent.
2008 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Locks and Security
86

How does the Safety Canopysystem work?
The design and development of the
Safety Canopysystem included
recommended testing procedures
that were developed by a group of
automotive safety experts known as
the Side Airbag Technical Working
Group. These recommended testing
procedures help reduce the risk of
injuries related to the deployment of
side airbags (including the Safety
Canopy).
The Safety Canopysystem
consists of the following:
•An inflatable nylon curtain with a
gas generator concealed behind
the headliner and above the doors
(one on each side of vehicle).
•A headliner designed to flex open
above the side doors to allow Safety Canopydeployment.
•The same warning light, electronic control and diagnostic unit as used
for the front airbags.
•Two crash sensors mounted at lower B-Pillar (one on each side).
•Two crash sensors located at the c-pillar behind the rear doors (one
on each side).
•Rollover sensor in the restraints control module (RCM).
The Safety Canopysystem, in combination with safety belts, can help
reduce the risk of severe injuries in the event of a significant side impact
collision or rollover event.
Children 12 years old and under should always be properly restrained in
the second or third row seats. The Safety Canopywill not interfere
with children restrained using a properly installed child or booster seat
because it is designed to inflate downward from the headliner above the
doors along the side window opening.
The Safety Canopysystem is designed to active when the vehicle
sustains lateral deceleration sufficient to cause the RCM to initiate Safety
Canopyinflation or when a certain likelihood of a rollover event is
detected by the rollover sensor.
2008 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
129

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

To replace the wiper blade:
1. Grab the wiper arm just below
the blade attachment and pull it as
far away from the glass as possible.
Do not use excessive force because
it can break the wiper arm at the
heel. Hold it there until the next
step.
2. Grab the wiper blade with your
other hand and use your fingers to
push the wiper arm tip through the
wiper blade center to separate the
blade from the arm.
3. Attach the new wiper to the
wiper arm and press it into place
until a click is heard.
If you find this procedure too
difficult, please see your dealer.
ENGINE OIL
Checking the engine oil
Refer toscheduled maintenance informationfor the appropriate
intervals for checking the engine oil.
1. Make sure the vehicle is on level ground.
2. Turn the engine off and wait a few minutes for the oil to drain into the
oil pan.
3. Set the parking brake and ensure the gearshift is securely latched in P
(Park) (automatic transmissions) or 1 (First) (manual transmissions).
4. Open the hood. Protect yourself from engine heat.
5. Locate and carefully remove the engine oil level indicator (dipstick).
2008 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
255