2013 FORD ESCAPE four wheel drive

When Towing a Trailer
•Do not drive faster than 70 mph (113
km/h) during the first 500 miles (800
kilometers) and do not make
full-throttle starts.
• Check your hitch, electrical connections
and trailer wheel lug nuts thoroughly
after you have traveled 50 miles (80
km).
• Place the gearshift lever in position P
to aid in engine and transmission
cooling and A/C efficiency during hot
weather while stopped in traffic.
• Turn off the speed control. The speed
control may turn off automatically
when you are towing on long, steep
grades.
• Shift to a lower gear when driving down
a long or steep hill. Do not apply the
brakes continuously, as they may
overheat and become less effective.
• If your transmission is equipped with
the grade assist feature, use this
feature when towing. This provides
engine braking and helps eliminate
excessive transmission shifting for
optimum fuel economy and
transmission cooling.
• Allow more distance for stopping with
a trailer attached; anticipate stops and
brake gradually.
• Avoid parking on a grade. However, if
you must park on a grade, place wheel
chocks under the trailer's wheels.
TOWING POINTS (IF EQUIPPED)
Towing Eye Location
The screw-in towing eye is located in the
spare wheel well.
The towing eye must always be carried in
the vehicle. Installing the Towing Eye
The screw-in towing eye has a left-hand
thread. Turn it counterclockwise to install
it. Make sure that the towing eye is fully
tightened.
Insert a suitable object to pry open the
cover (1). Use recessed/notched portion
of the cover. Screw in the towing eye (2).
Towing the Vehicle on Four Wheels
Switch the ignition to the on position.
Failure to do so results in steering lock and
non-function of indicator and brake lamps.
Braking and steering efforts are high if the
engine is not running. Maintain increased
stopping distances.
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TRANSPORTING THE VEHICLE
If you need to have your vehicle towed,
contact a professional towing service or,
if you are a member of a roadside
assistance program, your roadside
assistance service provider.
It is recommended that your vehicle be
towed with a wheel lift and dollies or
flatbed equipment. Do not tow with a
slingbelt. Ford Motor Company has not
approved a slingbelt towing procedure.
Ford Motor Company produces a towing
manual for all authorized tow truck
operators. Have your tow truck operator
refer to this manual for proper hook-up
and towing procedures for your vehicle.Front-wheel drive (FWD) vehicles can be
towed from the front if proper wheel lift
equipment is used to raise the front wheels
off the ground. The rear wheels can be left
on the ground when towed in this fashion.
FWD vehicles can also be towed from the
rear using wheel lift equipment; however,
it is required that the front wheels be
placed on a dolly to prevent damage to
the transmission.
Four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicles must be
towed with a wheel lift and dollies or
flatbed equipment, with all the wheels off
the ground, to prevent damage to the
transmission, 4WD system or vehicle. If the
vehicle is towed by other means or
incorrectly, vehicle damage may occur.
TOWING THE VEHICLE ON
FOUR WHEELS
Emergency Towing
In the event your vehicle becomes disabled
(without access to wheel dollies,
car-hauling trailer, or flatbed transport
vehicle), it can be flat-towed (all wheels
on the ground, regardless of the
powertrain/transmission configuration)
under the following conditions:
•
The vehicle is facing forward so that it
is towed in a forward direction.
• The transmission gear shift lever is
placed in position N. If The
transmission is gear shift lever cannot
be moved to position N, it may need to
be overridden. See Transmission
(page 147).
• Maximum speed is 35 mph (56 km/h).
• Maximum distance is 50 miles (80
kilometers).
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Recreational Towing
Follow these guidelines if you have a need
for recreational (RV) towing. An example
of recreational towing would be towing
your vehicle behind a motorhome. These
guidelines are designed to ensure that your
transmission is not damaged.
Front-wheel drive (FWD) vehicles can be
towed with the front wheels off the ground
by using a tow dolly. If you are using a tow
dolly follow the instructions specified by
the equipment provider.
Four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicles cannot
be towed with any wheels on the ground,
as vehicle or transmission damage may
occur. It is recommended to tow your
vehicle with all four (4) wheels off the
ground such as when using a car-hauling
trailer. Otherwise, no recreational towing
is permitted.193
Towing

GENERAL INFORMATION
Notice to utility vehicle and truck
owners
WARNINGS
Utility vehicles have a significantly
higher rollover rate than other types
of vehicles. To reduce the risk of
serious injury or death from a rollover or
other crash you must avoid sharp turns and
abrupt maneuvers, drive at safe speeds for
the conditions, keep tires properly inflated,
never overload or improperly load your
vehicle, and make sure every passenger is
properly restrained.
In a rollover crash, an unbelted
person is significantly more likely to
die than a person wearing a seat belt.
All occupants must wear seat belts and
children/infants must use appropriate
restraints to minimize the risk of injury or
ejection.
Do not become overconfident in the
ability of four-wheel drive vehicles.
Although a four-wheel drive vehicle
may accelerate better than a two-wheel
drive vehicle in low traction situations, it
won't stop any faster than two-wheel drive
vehicles. Always drive at a safe speed.
Utility vehicles and trucks handle
differently than passenger cars in the
various driving conditions that are
encountered on streets, highways and
off-road. Utility vehicles and trucks are not
designed for cornering at speeds as high
as passenger cars any more than low-slung
sports cars are designed to perform
satisfactorily under off-road conditions.
Study your owner's manual and any
supplements for specific information about
equipment features, instructions for safe
driving and additional precautions to
reduce the risk of an accident or serious
injury.
Four-wheel drive system (if
equipped)
WARNING
Do not become overconfident in the
ability of four-wheel drive vehicles.
Although a four-wheel drive vehicle
may accelerate better than a two-wheel
drive vehicle in low traction situations, it
won't stop any faster than two-wheel drive
vehicles. Always drive at a safe speed.
A vehicle equipped with four-wheel drive
(when selected) has the ability to use all
four wheels to power itself. This increases
traction which may enable you to safely
drive over terrain and road conditions that
a conventional two-wheel drive vehicle
cannot.
For four-wheel drive vehicles, a spare tire
of a different size other than the tire
provided should never be used. A dissimilar
spare tire size (other than the spare tire
provided) or major dissimilar tire sized
between the front and rear axles could
cause the four-wheel drive system to stop
functioning and default to front-wheel
drive.
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Speed rating - mph (km/h)
Letter rating
168 mph (270 km/h)
W
186 mph (299 km/h)
Y
Note: For tires with a maximum speed
capability over 149 mph (240 km/h), tire
manufacturers sometimes use the letters
ZR. For those with a maximum speed
capability over 186 mph (299 km/h), tire
manufacturers always use the letters ZR.
H. U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number
(TIN): This begins with the letters DOT
and indicates that the tire meets all federal
standards. The next two numbers or letters
are the plant code designating where it
was manufactured, the next two are the
tire size code and the last four numbers
represent the week and year the tire was
built. For example, the numbers 317 mean
the 31st week of 1997. After 2000 the
numbers go to four digits. For example,
2501 means the 25th week of 2001. The
numbers in between are identification
codes used for traceability. This
information is used to contact customers
if a tire defect requires a recall.
I. M+S or M/S: Mud and Snow, or
AT: All Terrain, or
AS: All Season.
J. Tire Ply Composition and Material
Used: Indicates the number of plies or the
number of layers of rubber-coated fabric
in the tire tread and sidewall. Tire
manufacturers also must indicate the ply
materials in the tire and the sidewall, which
include steel, nylon, polyester, and others. K.
Maximum Load: Indicates the
maximum load in kilograms and pounds
that can be carried by the tire. Refer to the
Safety Compliance Certification Label
(affixed to either the door hinge pillar,
door-latch post, or the door edge that
meets the door-latch post, next to the
driver's seating position), for the correct
tire pressure for your vehicle.
L. Treadwear, Traction and
Temperature Grades:
• Treadwear The treadwear grade is a
comparative rating based on the wear
rate of the tire when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified
government test course. For example,
a tire graded 150 would wear one and
one-half times as well on the
government course as a tire graded
100.
• Traction: The traction grades, from
highest to lowest are AA, A, B, and C.
The grades represent the tire's ability
to stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on
specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance.
• Temperature: The temperature
grades are A (the highest), B and C,
representing the tire's resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to
dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified
indoor laboratory test wheel.
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M.Maximum Permissible Inflation
Pressure: Indicates the tire
manufacturers' maximum permissible
pressure or the pressure at which the
maximum load can be carried by the tire.
This pressure is normally higher than the
manufacturer's recommended cold
inflation pressure which can be found on
the Safety Compliance Certification Label
(affixed to either the door hinge pillar,
door-latch post, or the door edge that
meets the door-latch post, next to the
driver's seating position), or Tire Label
which is located on the B-Pillar or the edge
of the driver ’s door. The cold inflation
pressure should never be set lower than
the recommended pressure on the vehicle
label.
The tire suppliers may have additional
markings, notes or warnings such as
standard load, radial tubeless, etc.
Additional Information Contained on
the Tire Sidewall for LT Type Tires
Note: Tire Quality Grades do not apply to
this type of tire.LT type tires have some additional
information beyond those of P type tires;
these differences are described below.
A. LT: Indicates a tire, designated by the
Tire and Rim Association (T&RA), that is
intended for service on light trucks.
B. Load Range and Load Inflation
Limits: Indicates the tire's load-carrying
capabilities and its inflation limits.
C. Maximum Load Dual lb (kg) at psi
(kPa) cold: Indicates the maximum load
and tire pressure when the tire is used as
a dual; defined as four tires on the rear axle
(a total of six or more tires on the vehicle).
D. Maximum Load Single lb (kg) at psi
(kPa) cold: Indicates the maximum load
and tire pressure when the tire is used as
a single; defined as two tires (total) on the
rear axle.
Information on T Type Tires
T145/80D16 is an example of a tire size.
Note: The temporary tire size for your
vehicle may be different from this example.
Tire Quality Grades do not apply to this type
of tire.
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Wheels and Tires
A
BC
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When the tread is worn down to one
sixteenth of an inch (2 mm), tires must be
replaced to help prevent your vehicle from
skidding and hydroplaning. Built-in
treadwear indicators, or wear bars, which
look like narrow strips of smooth rubber
across the tread will appear on the tire
when the tread is worn down to one
sixteenth of an inch (2 mm)
When the tire tread wears down to the
same height as these wear bars, the tire is
worn out and must be replaced.
Damage
Periodically inspect the tire treads and
sidewalls for damage (such as bulges in
the tread or sidewalls, cracks in the tread
groove and separation in the tread or
sidewall). If damage is observed or
suspected have the tire inspected by a tire
professional. Tires can be damaged during
off-road use, so inspection after off-road
use is also recommended.
Age
WARNING
Tires degrade over time depending
on many factors such as weather,
storage conditions, and conditions
of use (load, speed, inflation pressure, etc.)
the tires experience throughout their lives.
In general, tires should be replaced after
six years regardless of tread wear.
However, heat caused by hot climates or
frequent high loading conditions can
accelerate the aging process and may
require tires to be replaced more
frequently.
You should replace your spare tire when
you replace the road tires or after six years
due to aging even if it has not been used.
U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number
(TIN)
Both U.S. and Canada Federal regulations
require tire manufacturers to place
standardized information on the sidewall
of all tires. This information identifies and
describes the fundamental characteristics
of the tire and also provides a U.S. DOT
Tire Identification Number for safety
standard certification and in case of a
recall.
This begins with the letters DOT and
indicates that the tire meets all federal
standards. The next two numbers or letters
are the plant code designating where it
was manufactured, the next two are the
tire size code and the last four numbers
represent the week and year the tire was
built. For example, the numbers 317 mean
the 31st week of 1997. After 2000 the
numbers go to four digits. For example,
2501 means the 25th week of 2001. The
numbers in between are identification
codes used for traceability. This
information is used to contact customers
if a tire defect requires a recall.
Tire Replacement Requirements
Your vehicle is equipped with tires
designed to provide a safe ride and
handling capability.
WARNINGS
Only use replacement tires and
wheels that are the same size, load
index, speed rating and type (such
as P-metric versus LT-metric or all-season
versus all-terrain) as those originally
provided by Ford. The recommended tire
and wheel size may be found on either the
Safety Compliance Certification Label
(affixed to either the door hinge pillar,
door-latch post, or the door edge that
meets the door-latch post, next to the
driver's seating position), or the Tire Label
which is located on the B-Pillar or edge of
the driver ’s door. If this information is not
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•Avoid potholes and objects on the road
• Do not run over curbs or hit the tire
against a curb when parking
Highway Hazards
No matter how carefully you drive there ’s
always the possibility that you may
eventually have a flat tire on the highway.
Drive slowly to the closest safe area out of
traffic. This may further damage the flat
tire, but your safety is more important.
If you feel a sudden vibration or ride
disturbance while driving, or you suspect
your tire or vehicle has been damaged,
immediately reduce your speed. Drive with
caution until you can safely pull off the
road. Stop and inspect the tires for
damage. If a tire is under-inflated or
damaged, deflate it, remove wheel and
replace it with your spare tire and wheel.
If you cannot detect a cause, have the
vehicle towed to the nearest repair facility
or tire dealer to have the vehicle inspected.
Tire and Wheel Alignment
A bad jolt from hitting a curb or pothole
can cause the front end of your vehicle to
become misaligned or cause damage to
your tires. If your vehicle seems to pull to
one side when you’re driving, the wheels
may be out of alignment. Have an
authorized dealer check the wheel
alignment periodically.
Wheel misalignment in the front or the rear
can cause uneven and rapid treadwear of
your tires and should be corrected by an
authorized dealer. Front-wheel drive
vehicles and those with an independent
rear suspension (if equipped) may require
alignment of all four wheels.
The tires should also be balanced
periodically. An unbalanced tire and wheel
assembly may result in irregular tire wear. Tire Rotation
Note:
If your tires show uneven wear ask
an authorized dealer to check for and correct
any wheel misalignment, tire imbalance or
mechanical problem involved before tire
rotation.
Note: Your vehicle may be equipped with
a dissimilar spare wheel and tire assembly.
A dissimilar spare wheel and tire assembly
is defined as a spare wheel and tire
assembly that is different in brand, size or
appearance from the road tires and wheels.
If you have a dissimilar spare wheel and tire
assembly it is intended for temporary use
only and should not be used in a tire
rotation.
Note: After having your tires rotated,
inflation pressure must be checked and
adjusted to the vehicle requirements.
Rotating your tires at the recommended
interval (as indicated in the Scheduled
Maintenance chapter) will help your tires
wear more evenly, providing better tire
performance and longer tire life.
Front-wheel drive vehicles (front tires on
the left side of the diagram)
Four-wheel drive vehicles (front tires on
the left side of the diagram)
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