2013 FORD ESCAPE warning

WARNINGS
Do not try to pry open or push open
the capless fuel system with foreign
objects. This could damage the fuel
system and its seal and cause injury to you
or others.
Note: Do not use aftermarket funnels; they
will not work with the capless fuel system
and can damage it. The included funnel has
been specially designed to work safely with
your vehicle.
When filling the vehicle ’s fuel tank from a
portable fuel container, use the funnel
included with the vehicle.
1. Locate the white plastic funnel in the spare tire compartment.
2. Slowly insert the funnel into the capless fuel system.
3. Fill the vehicle with fuel from the portable fuel container.
4. When done, clean the funnel or properly dispose of it. Extra funnels can
be purchased from your authorized
dealer if you choose to dispose of the
funnel. REFUELING
WARNINGS
Fuel vapor burns violently and a fuel
fire can cause severe injuries.
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.
Do not use personal electronic
devices while refueling.
Use the following guidelines to avoid
electrostatic charge 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.
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Easy Fuel® No Cap Fuel System
WARNING
The fuel system may be under
pressure. If you hear a hissing sound
near the fuel filler door, do not refuel
until the sound stops. Otherwise, fuel may
spray out, which could cause serious
personal injury.
When fueling your vehicle:
1. Turn the engine off.
2. Open the fuel filler door.
3. Slowly insert the fuel filler nozzle fully into the fuel system, and leave the
nozzle fully inserted until you are done
pumping.
4. After you are done pumping fuel, slowly
remove the fuel filler nozzle. Allow
about ten seconds after pumping fuel
before removing the fuel filler nozzle.
This allows residual fuel to drain back
into the fuel tank and not spill onto the
vehicle.
Note: A fuel spillage concern may occur if
overfilling the fuel tank. Do not overfill the
tank to the point that the fuel is able to
bypass the fuel filler nozzle. The overfilled
fuel may run down the drain located below
and in front of the fuel filler door.
If the fuel fill inlet was not properly closed,
a Check fuel fill inlet message may appear
on the instrument cluster. See Warning
Lamps and Indicators (page 80).
At the next opportunity, do the following:
1. Safely pull off the road.
2. Turn off the engine.
3. Open the fuel filler door and remove any visible debris from the fuel fill
opening. 4. Insert either the fuel fill nozzle or the
fuel fill funnel provided with the vehicle
several times to dislodge any debris
and allow the inlet to close properly.
If this action corrects the problem, the
message may not reset immediately. It
may take several driving cycles for the
message to turn off. A driving cycle
consists of an engine start-up (after four
or more hours with the engine off) followed
by city or highway driving. Continuing to
drive with the message on may cause the
service engine soon lamp to turn on as
well.
EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM
WARNINGS
Do not park, idle, or drive your vehicle
in dry grass or other dry ground cover.
The emission system heats up the
engine compartment and exhaust system,
which can start a fire.
Exhaust leaks may result in entry of
harmful and potentially lethal fumes
into the passenger compartment. If
you smell exhaust fumes inside your
vehicle, have your dealer inspect your
vehicle immediately. Do not drive if you
smell exhaust fumes.
Your vehicle is equipped with various
emission control components and a
catalytic converter which will enable your
vehicle to comply with applicable exhaust
emission standards. To make sure that the
catalytic converter and other emission
control components continue to work
properly:
To make sure that the catalytic converter
and other emission control components
continue to work properly:
• Use only the specified fuel listed.
• Avoid running out of fuel.
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Fuel and Refueling

•Do not turn off the ignition while your
vehicle is moving, especially at high
speeds.
• Have the items listed in scheduled
maintenance information performed
according to the specified schedule.
The scheduled maintenance items listed
in scheduled maintenance information are
essential to the life and performance of
your vehicle and to its emissions system
If other than Ford, Motorcraft or
Ford-authorized parts are used for
maintenance replacements or for service
of components affecting emission control,
such non-Ford parts should be equivalent
to genuine Ford Motor Company parts in
performance and durability.
Illumination of the service engine soon
indicator, charging system warning light or
the temperature warning light, fluid leaks,
strange odors, smoke or loss of engine
power could indicate that the emission
control system is not working properly.
An improperly operating or damaged
exhaust system may allow exhaust to
enter the vehicle. Have a damaged or
improperly operating exhaust system
inspected and repaired immediately.
Do not make any unauthorized changes to
your vehicle or engine. By law, vehicle
owners and anyone who manufactures,
repairs, services, sells, leases, trades
vehicles, or supervises a fleet of vehicles
are not permitted to intentionally remove
an emission control device or prevent it
from working. Information about your
vehicle ’s emission system is on the Vehicle
Emission Control Information Decal
located on or near the engine. This decal
also lists engine displacement
Please consult your Warranty Guide for
complete emission warranty information On-Board Diagnostics (OBD-II)
Your vehicle is equipped with a computer
that monitors the engine
’s emission control
system. This system is commonly known
as the on-board diagnostics system
(OBD-II). The OBD-II system protects the
environment by ensuring that your vehicle
continues to meet government emission
standards. The OBD-II system also assists
your authorized dealer in properly servicing
your vehicle.
When the service engine soon
indicator illuminates, the OBD-II
system has detected a
malfunction. Temporary malfunctions may
cause the service engine soon indicator to
illuminate. Examples are:
1. The vehicle has run out of fuel —the
engine may misfire or run poorly.
2. Poor fuel quality or water in the fuel —the engine may misfire or run
poorly.
3. The fuel fill inlet may not have been properly closed. See Refueling (page
142).
4. Driving through deep water —the
electrical system may be wet.
These temporary malfunctions can be
corrected by filling the fuel tank with good
quality fuel, properly closing the fuel fill
inlet or letting the electrical system dry out.
After three driving cycles without these or
any other temporary malfunctions present,
the service engine soon indicator should
stay off the next time the engine is started.
A driving cycle consists of a cold engine
startup followed by mixed city/highway
driving. No additional vehicle service is
required.
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Fuel and Refueling

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WARNINGS
Always set the parking brake fully
and make sure the gearshift is
latched in P (Park). Turn the ignition
to the off position and remove the key
whenever you leave your vehicle.
Do not apply the brake pedal and
accelerator pedal simultaneously.
Applying both pedals simultaneously
for more than three seconds will limit
engine rpm, which may result in difficulty
maintaining speed in traffic and could lead
to serious injury.
Understanding the Positions of
Your Automatic Transmission
Putting your vehicle in gear:
1. Fully press down the brake pedal.
2. Press and hold the button on the front
of the gearshift lever.
3. Move the gearshift lever into the desired gear.
4. Release the button and your transmission will remain in the selected
gear.
P (Park)
This position locks the transmission and
prevents the front wheels from turning.
Come to a complete stop before putting
your vehicle into and out of P (Park)
R (Reverse)
With the gearshift lever in R (Reverse), the
vehicle will move backward. Always come
to a complete stop before shifting into and
out of R (Reverse).
N (Neutral)
With the gearshift lever in N (Neutral), the
vehicle can be started and is free to roll.
Hold the brake pedal down while in this
position.
D (Drive)
The normal driving position for the best
fuel economy. Transmission operates in
gears one through six.
S (Sport)
Moving the gearshift lever to S (Sport):
•Provides additional grade (engine)
braking and extends lower gear
operation to enhance performance for
uphill climbs, hilly terrain or
mountainous areas. This will increase
engine RPM during engine braking.
• Provides additional lower gear
operation through the automatic
transmission shift strategy.
• Gears are selected more quickly and
at higher engine speeds.
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Transmission
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SelectShift Automatic®
Transmission (If Equipped)
Your SelectShift automatic transmission
gives you the ability to manually change
gears if you'd like. To use SelectShift, move
the gearshift lever into S (Sport). Now you
can use the +/- buttons on the side of your
gearshift lever to select gears.
When using the toggle for manual shifting:
•Press the (+) button to upshift.
• Press the (-) button to downshift.
Note: After you have assumed manual
control with SelectShift your vehicle will
remain in this mode until you return the
gearshift lever from (S) Sport, back to (D)
Drive.
Upshift to the recommended shift speeds
according to the following chart:
Upshifts when accelerating (recom- mended for best fuel economy)
Shift from:15 mph (24 km/h)
1 - 2
25 mph (40 km/h)
2 - 3
40 mph (64 km/h)
3 - 4
45 mph (72 km/h)
4 - 5
50 mph (80 km/h)
5 - 6
The instrument cluster will display the
selected gear that you are currently in.
SelectShift will automatically make some
shifts for you in the event that your engine
speed is running at too high, or to low an
RPM.
Note: Engine damage may occur if
excessive engine revving is held without
shifting. Brake-Shift Interlock
WARNINGS
Do not drive your vehicle until you
verify that the brake lamps are
working.
When doing this procedure, you will
be taking the vehicle out of park
which means the vehicle can roll
freely. To avoid unwanted vehicle
movement, always fully set the parking
brake prior to doing this procedure. Use
wheel chocks if appropriate.
If the parking brake is fully released,
but the brake warning lamp remains
illuminated, the brakes may not be
working properly. See your authorized
dealer.
Use the brake shift interlock lever to move
the gearshift lever from the park position
in the event of an electrical malfunction or
if your vehicle has a dead battery.
Apply the parking brake and turn the
ignition off before performing this
procedure.
1. Insert a screwdriver (or similar tool) between the shifter bezel and the top
finish panel.
2. Use the tool to unsnap the shifter bezel
from the finish panel.
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Transmission
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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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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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