2013 FORD ESCAPE engine overheat

Odometer
Located in the bottom of the information
display Registers the accumulated
distance your vehicle has traveled.
Outside Air Temperature
Shows the outside air temperature.
Trip Computer
See Trip Computer (page 86).
Vehicle Settings and Personalization
See General Information (page 84).
Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge
WARNING
Never remove the coolant reservoir
cap while the engine is running or hot.
At normal operating temperature, the
needle will remain in the center section.
Note:Do not restart the engine until the
cause of overheating has been resolved.
If the needle enters the red section, the
engine is overheating. Stop the engine,
switch the ignition off and determine the
cause once the engine has cooled down.
See Engine Coolant Check (page 222). Fuel Gauge
Switch the ignition on. The fuel gauge will
indicate approximately how much fuel is
left in the fuel tank. The fuel gauge may
vary slightly when your vehicle is moving
or on a gradient. The arrow adjacent to the
fuel pump symbol indicates on which side
of the vehicle the fuel filler door is located.
WARNING LAMPS AND
INDICATORS
The following warning lamps and
indicators will alert you to a vehicle
condition that may become serious. Some
lamps will illuminate when you start your
vehicle to make sure they work. If any
lamps remain on after starting your vehicle,
refer to the respective system warning
lamp for further information.
Note:
Some warning indicators appear in
the information display and function the
same as a warning lamp but do not display
when you start your vehicle.
Airbag - Front
If it fails to illuminate when you
start your vehicle, continues to
flash or remains on, it indicates
a malfunction. Have the system checked
by your authorized dealer.
Anti-Lock Braking System
If it illuminates when you are
driving, this indicates a
malfunction. You will continue
to have the normal braking system
(without ABS) unless the brake system
warning lamp is also illuminated. Have the
system checked by your authorized dealer.
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Instrument Cluster
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HEATED SEATS (IF EQUIPPED)
WARNING
People who are unable to feel pain
to their skin because of advanced
age, chronic illness, diabetes, spinal
cord injury, medication, alcohol use,
exhaustion or other physical conditions,
must exercise care when using the heated
seat. The heated seat may cause burns
even at low temperatures, especially if
used for long periods of time. Do not place
anything on the seat that insulates against
heat, such as a blanket or cushion. This
may cause the heated seat to overheat.
Do not puncture the seat with pins, needles
or other pointed objects. This may damage
the heating element which may cause the
heated seat to overheat. An overheated
seat may cause serious personal injury.
Do not do the following:
• Place heavy objects on the seat.
• Operate the heated seat if water or any
other liquid is spilled on the seat. Allow
the seat to dry thoroughly.
• Operate the heated seats unless the
engine is running. Doing so could drain
your vehicle battery.
Adjust the control to the desired heat
setting. REAR SEAT ARMREST (IF
EQUIPPED)
Fold the armrest down to use the armrest
and cupholder.
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Seats
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3. Locate the white lever located on theleft side of the shifter.
4. Using the tool move the white lever towards the rear of the shifter.
5. While holding the white lever in the rear
position, move the shifter from the park
position.
6. Press the shifter bezel back into the top
finish panel until it snaps back into
position.
7. Apply the brake pedal, start the vehicle
and release the parking brake.
Note: See your authorized dealer as soon
as possible if this procedure is used.
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck In Mud
or Snow
Note: Do not rock the vehicle if the engine
is not at normal operating temperature or
damage to the transmission may occur.
Note: Do not rock the vehicle for more than
a minute or damage to the transmission and
tires may occur, or the engine may overheat.
If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow,
it may be rocked out by shifting between
forward and reverse gears, stopping
between shifts in a steady pattern. Press
lightly on the accelerator in each gear.
HILL START ASSIST
WARNINGS
The hill start assist feature does not
replace the parking brake. When you
leave the vehicle, always apply the
parking brake and shift the transmission
into P (Park).
You must remain in the vehicle once
you have activated the hill start
assist feature.
WARNINGS
During all times, you are responsible
for controlling the vehicle,
supervising the hill start assist
system and intervening, if required.
If the engine is revved excessively, or
if a malfunction is detected when the
hill start assist feature is active, the
hill start assist feature will be deactivated.
This feature makes it easier to pull away
when the vehicle is on a slope without the
need to use the parking brake.
When this feature is active, the vehicle will
remain stationary on the slope for two to
three seconds after you release the brake
pedal. This allows you time to move your
foot from the brake to the accelerator
pedal. The brakes are released
automatically once the engine has
developed sufficient drive to prevent the
vehicle from rolling down the slope. This
is an advantage when pulling away on a
slope, (for example from a car park ramp,
traffic lights or when reversing uphill into
a parking space).
This feature is activated automatically on
any slope that can result in significant
vehicle rollback. This feature will not
operate if the parking brake is activated.
Using Hill Start Assist
1. Press the brake pedal to bring the vehicle to a complete standstill. Keep
the brake pedal pressed.
2. If the sensors detect that the vehicle is
on a slope, the hill start assist feature
will be activated automatically.
3. When you remove your foot from the brake pedal, the vehicle will remain on
the slope without rolling away for
approximately two or three seconds.
This hold time will automatically be
extended if you are in the process of
driving off.
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Transmission

USING FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE
Note:The 4WD temporarily disabled
message will be displayed if the 4WD
system has overheated and defaulted to
front-wheel drive. This condition may occur
if the vehicle is operated in extreme high
load conditions or with excessive wheel slip,
such as deep sand. To resume normal 4WD
function as soon as possible, stop the
vehicle in a safe location and turn off the
engine. The 4WD restored message will be
displayed for approximately five seconds
after the system cools and normal 4WD
function returns.
Note: The Intelligent 4WD system gives
your vehicle some limited off-road
capabilities. Operating your vehicle in
conditions other than moderate sand, snow,
mud or rough roads could subject it to
excessive stress which might result in
damage. This damage is not covered under
your warranty.
Note: When a 4WD system fault is present,
the warning 4WD malfunction Service
required will display in the information
display. The 4WD system is not functioning
correctly and defaulted to front-wheel drive.
When this warning is displayed, have your
vehicle serviced at an authorized dealer.
You will be able to see the power
distribution between the front and rear
wheels represented by an icon in your
information display. More power to either
front or rear wheels will be displayed by
more area filled in. Your vehicle may be equipped with a
full-time four-wheel drive (4WD) system.
The 4WD system is a proactive system,
meaning it not only responds to wheel slip
between the front and rear wheels but also
has the ability to anticipate wheel slip and
transfer torque to the rear wheels before
slip occurs. Even when no wheel slip is
present, the Intelligent 4WD system is
continuously making adjustments to the
torque distribution, in an attempt to
improve the vehicle
’s straight line and
cornering behavior, both on and off road.
The system is active all the time and
requires no input from the operator.
All components of the Intelligent 4WD
system are sealed for life and require no
maintenance.
If your vehicle is equipped with Intelligent
4WD, a spare tire of a different size other
than the tire provided should never be
used. If the spare tire is installed, the 4WD
system may disable automatically and
enter front-wheel drive only mode to
protect driveline components. This
condition may be indicated by a 4WD Off
message in the Information displays
chapter. See Information displays in the
Instrument Cluster chapter for more
information. If there is a 4WD Off message
in the information display from using the
spare tire, this indicator should turn off
after reinstalling the repaired or replaced
normal road tire and driving a short
distance. It is recommended to reinstall
the repaired or replaced road tire as soon
as possible. Major dissimilar tire sizes
between the front and rear axles could
cause the 4WD system to stop functioning
and default to front-wheel drive or damage
the 4WD system.
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Four-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)
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Driving in Special Conditions With
Four-Wheel Drive
4WD vehicles are equipped for driving on
sand, snow, mud and rough roads and have
operating characteristics that are
somewhat different from conventional
vehicles, both on and off the highway.
When driving at slow speeds off-highway
under high outside temperatures, use a low
gear when possible. Low gear operation
will maximize the engine and transmission
cooling capability.
Under severe operating conditions, the A/C
may cycle on and off to protect
overheating of the engine.
Basic operating principles
•Drive slower in strong crosswinds which
can affect the normal steering
characteristics of your vehicle.
• Be extremely careful when driving on
pavement made slippery by loose sand,
water, gravel, snow or ice. If your vehicle goes off the edge of the
pavement
•
If your vehicle goes off the edge of the
pavement, slow down, but avoid severe
brake application, ease the vehicle
back onto the pavement only after
reducing your speed. Do not turn the
steering wheel too sharply while
returning to the road surface.
• It may be safer to stay on the apron or
shoulder of the road and slow down
gradually before returning to the
pavement. You may lose control if you
do not slow down or if you turn the
steering wheel too sharply or abruptly.
• It often may be less risky to strike small
objects, such as highway reflectors,
with minor damage to your vehicle
rather than attempt a sudden return to
the pavement which could cause the
vehicle to slide sideways out of control
or rollover. Remember, your safety and
the safety of others should be your
primary concern.
Emergency maneuvers
• In an unavoidable emergency situation
where a sudden sharp turn must be
made, remember to avoid
“over-driving” your vehicle (for
example; turn the steering wheel only
as rapidly and as far as required to
avoid the emergency). Excessive
steering will result in less vehicle
control, not more. Additionally, smooth
variations of the accelerator and/or
brake pedal pressure should be utilized
if changes in vehicle speed are called
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Four-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)

for. Avoid abrupt steering, acceleration
or braking which could result in an
increased risk of loss of vehicle control,
vehicle rollover and/or personal injury.
Use all available road surface to return
the vehicle to a safe direction of travel.
• In the event of an emergency stop,
avoid skidding the tires and do not
attempt any sharp steering wheel
movements.
• If the vehicle goes from one type of
surface to another (i.e., from concrete
to gravel) there will be a change in the
way the vehicle responds to a
maneuver (steering, acceleration or
braking). Again, avoid these abrupt
inputs.
Sand
When driving over sand, try to keep all four
wheels on the most solid area of the trail.
Avoid reducing the tire pressures but shift
to a lower gear and drive steadily through
the terrain. Apply the accelerator slowly
and avoid spinning the wheels.
Do not drive your 4WD vehicle in deep sand
for an extended period of time. This will
cause the 4WD system to overheat. The
instrument cluster will display the message
4WD temporarily disabled. To resume
normal 4WD operation, turn off the vehicle
and allow the 4WD system to cool down
for a minimum of 15 minutes. After the
system has cooled down, normal 4WD
function will return and the instrument
cluster will briefly display 4WD restored.
When driving at slow speeds in deep sand
under high outside temperatures, use a low
gear when possible. Low gear operation
will maximize the engine and transmission
cooling capability. Avoid excessive speed because vehicle
momentum can work against you and
cause the vehicle to become stuck to the
point that assistance may be required from
another vehicle. Remember, you may be
able to back out the way you came if you
proceed with caution.
Mud and water
If you must drive through high water, drive
slowly. Traction or brake capability may
be limited.
When driving through water, determine the
depth; avoid water higher than the bottom
of the wheel rims (for cars) or the bottom
of the hubs (for trucks) (if possible) and
proceed slowly. If the ignition system gets
wet, the vehicle may stall.
Once through water, always try the brakes.
Wet brakes do not stop the vehicle as
effectively as dry brakes. Drying can be
improved by moving your vehicle slowly
while applying light pressure on the brake
pedal.
Be cautious of sudden changes in vehicle
speed or direction when you are driving in
mud. Even 4WD vehicles can lose traction
in slick mud. If the vehicle does slide, steer
in the direction of the slide until you regain
control of the vehicle.
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Four-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)
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After driving through mud, clean off residue
stuck to rotating driveshafts and tires.
Excess mud stuck on tires and rotating
driveshafts causes an imbalance that
could damage drive components.
Note:Driving through deep water may
damage the transmission. If the front or rear
axle is submerged in water, the axle
lubricant and power transfer unit lubricant
should be checked and changed if
necessary.
“Tread Lightly ” is an educational program
designed to increase public awareness of
land-use regulations and responsibilities
in our nations wilderness areas. Ford Motor
Company joins the U.S. Forest Service and
the Bureau of Land Management in
encouraging you to help preserve our
national forest and other public and private
lands by “treading lightly ”.
Driving on hilly or sloping terrain
Although natural obstacles may make it
necessary to travel diagonally up or down
a hill or steep incline, you should always
try to drive straight up or straight down.
Note: Note: Avoid driving crosswise or
turning on steep slopes or hills. A danger lies
in losing traction, slipping sideways and
possibly rolling over. Whenever driving on a
hill, determine beforehand the route you will
use. Do not drive over the crest of a hill
without seeing what conditions are on the
other side. Do not drive in reverse over a hill
without the aid of an observer.
When climbing a steep slope or hill, start
in a lower gear rather than downshifting to
a lower gear from a higher gear once the
ascent has started. This reduces strain on
the engine and the possibility of stalling. If you do stall out, do not try to turnaround
because you might roll over. It is better to
back down to a safe location.
Apply just enough power to the wheels to
climb the hill. Too much power will cause
the tires to slip, spin or lose traction,
resulting in loss of vehicle control.
Descend a hill in the same gear you would
use to climb up the hill to avoid excessive
brake application and brake overheating.
Do not descend in neutral; instead,
disengage overdrive or manually shift to a
lower gear. When descending a steep hill,
avoid sudden hard braking as you could
lose control. The front wheels have to be
turning in order to steer the vehicle.
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, therefore
apply the brakes steadily. Do not
“pump”
the brakes.
Driving on snow and ice
WARNING
If you are driving in slippery
conditions that require tire chains or
cables, then it is critical that you drive
cautiously. Keep speeds down, allow for
longer stopping distances and avoid
aggressive steering to reduce the chances
of a loss of vehicle control which can lead
to serious injury or death. If the rear end of
the vehicle slides while cornering, steer in
the direction of the slide until you regain
control of the vehicle.
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Four-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)
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STEERING
Electric Power Steering
WARNINGS
The electric power steering system
has diagnostic checks that
continuously monitor the system to
ensure proper operation. When a system
error is detected a steering message will
appear in the information display.
The electric power steering system
has diagnostic checks that
continuously monitor the system to
ensure proper operation of the electronic
system. When an electronic error is
detected, a message will be displayed in
the information display. If this happens,
stop the vehicle in a safe place, and turn
off the engine. After at least 10 seconds,
reset the system by restarting the engine,
and watch the information display for a
steering message. If a steering message
returns, or returns while driving, take the
vehicle to your dealer to have it checked.
Obtain immediate service if a system
error is detected. You may not notice
any difference in the feel of your
steering, but a serious condition may exist.
Failure to do so may result in loss of
steering control.
Your vehicle is equipped with an electric
power-assisted steering system. There is
no fluid reservoir to check or fill. If your vehicle loses electrical power while
you are driving (or if the ignition is turned
off), you can steer the vehicle manually,
but it takes more effort. Extreme
continuous steering may increase the effort
it takes for you to steer. This occurs to
prevent internal overheating and
permanent damage to your steering
system. If this should occur, you will neither
lose the ability to steer the vehicle
manually nor will it cause permanent
damage. Typical steering and driving
maneuvers will allow the system to cool
and steering assist will return to normal.
Steering Tips
If the steering wanders or pulls, check for:
•
an improperly inflated tire
• uneven tire wear
• loose or worn suspension components
• loose or worn steering components
• improper vehicle alignment
A high crown in the road or high crosswinds
may also make the steering seem to
wander or pull.
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Driving Aids