2013 FORD ESCAPE steering wheel

Power Steering
Action
Message
Indicator
Message
The power steering system is not working. Stopthe vehicle a safe place. Contact your author- ized dealer.
Red
Steering loss Stop safely
The power steering system is not working. Stopthe vehicle a safe place. Contact your author- ized dealer.
Amber
Steering assist fault
Service required
The power steering system has detected a
condition within the power steering system or passive entry or passive start system requires service. Contact your authorized dealer.
Amber
Steering fault Service
now
Starting System
Action
Message
Indicator
Message
Displays when starting the vehicle as a reminderto apply the brake.
-
Press brake to start
Displays when the vehicle fails to start.
-
Cranking time exceeded
Transmission and Four-Wheel Drive
Action
Message
Indicator
Message
See your authorized dealer.
-
Transmission fault
Service now
The transmission is overheating and needs tocool. Stop in a safe place as soon as it’ s
possible.
Amber
Transmission overtem-
perature Stop safely
See your authorized dealer.
Amber
Transmission Service
required
Transmission is getting hot. Stop to let it coolor speed up.
-
Transmission Hot Stop
or Speed Up
94
Information Displays

You cannot adjust the system during
remote start operation. Turn the ignition
on to return the system to its previous
settings. You can now make adjustments.
You will need to turn certain
vehicle-dependent features back on, such
as:
•heated seats
• cooled seats
• heated steering wheel
• heated mirrors
• heated rear window.
You can adjust the settings using the
information display controls. See
Information Displays (page 84).
Automatic Settings
You can set the climate control to operate
in AUTO mode through the information
display setting: Remote Start > Climate
Control > Heater-A/C > Auto. The climate
control system automatically sets the
interior temperature to 72°F (22°C).
In hot weather, the system is set to 72°F
(22°C). Cooled seats are set to high (if
available, and selected to AUTO in the
information display).
In moderate weather, the system either
heats or cools (based on previous
settings). The rear defroster, heated
mirrors and heated/cooled seats are not
automatically turned on.
In cold weather, the system is set to 72°F
(22°C). The heated seats and heated
steering wheel are set to high (if available,
and selected to AUTO in the information
display). The rear defroster and heated
mirrors are automatically turned on. Last Settings
You can set the climate control to operate
using the last climate control settings
through the information display setting:
Remote Start > Climate Control >
Heater
–A/C > Last Settings. The climate
control system automatically uses the
settings last selected before the vehicle
was turned off.
Heated and Cooled Devices
The climate control system controls other
heated and cooled devices inside the
vehicle. These devices (if available, and
selected to AUTO in the information
displays) may also be switched on during
remote start. Heated devices are typically
switched on during cold weather, and
cooled devices during hot weather.
120
Climate Control

SITTING IN THE CORRECT
POSITION
WARNINGS
Sitting improperly, out of position or
with the seatback reclined too far
can take weight off the seat cushion
and affect the decision of the passenger
sensing system, resulting in serious injury
or death in the event of a collision. Always
sit upright against your seatback, with your
feet on the floor.
Do not recline the seatback as this
can cause the occupant to slide
under the safety belt, resulting in
serious injury in the event of a collision.
Do not place objects higher than the
seatback to reduce the risk of serious
injury in the event of a collision or
during heavy braking.
When you use them properly, the seat,
head restraint, safety belt and air bags will
provide optimum protection in the event
of a collision. We recommend that you follow these
guidelines:
•
Sit in an upright position with the base
of your spine as far back as possible.
• Do not recline the seatback more than
30 degrees.
• Adjust the head restraint so that the
top of it is level with the top of your
head and as far forward as possible.
Make sure that you remain
comfortable.
• Keep sufficient distance between
yourself and the steering wheel. We
recommend a minimum of 10 inches
(25 centimeters) between your
breastbone and the air bag cover.
• Hold the steering wheel with your arms
slightly bent.
• Bend your legs slightly so that you can
press the pedals fully.
• Position the shoulder strap of the
safety belt over the center of your
shoulder and position the lap strap
tightly across your hips.
Make sure that your driving position is
comfortable and that you can maintain full
control of your vehicle.
HEAD RESTRAINTS
WARNINGS
Fully adjust the head restraint before
you sit in or operate your vehicle. This
will help minimize the risk of neck
injury in the event of a collision. Do not
adjust the head restraint when your vehicle
is moving.
The head restraint is a safety device.
Whenever possible it should be
installed and properly adjusted when
the seat is occupied.
121
Seats
E68595

WARNINGS
Always check that the steering wheel
lock is deactivated before
attempting to move your vehicle.
Note:A valid key must be located inside
your vehicle to switch the ignition on and
start the engine.
Switching the Ignition On (Accessory
Mode)
Press the START button once without your
foot on the brake pedal. The button is
located on the instrument panel near the
steering wheel. All electrical circuits and
accessories are operational and the
warning lamps and indicators illuminate.
Press the START button again without your
foot on the brake pedal to turn the vehicle
off completely.
Starting Your Vehicle
Carry out the following steps to start your
vehicle:
1. Move the transmission selector lever to position P.
2. Fully press the brake pedal.
3. Press the START button.
The system does not function if:
• The key frequencies are jammed.
• The key battery has no charge.
If you are unable to start your vehicle, do
the following. 5-button remote
3-button remote
1.
Hold the key next to the symbol on the
steering column.
2. With the key in this position, you can use the start button to switch the
ignition on and start your vehicle.
Stopping the Engine When Your
Vehicle is Stationary
1. Move the transmission selector lever to position P.
2. Press the START button.
Note: The ignition, all electrical circuits
warning lamps and indicators will be
switched off.
136
Starting and Stopping the Engine
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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
152
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.
153
Four-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)
E142667

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.
154
Four-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)
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E143949

Note:Excessive tire slippage can cause
transmission damage.
4WD vehicles have advantages over 2WD
vehicles in snow and ice but can skid like
any other vehicle. Should you start to slide
while driving on snowy or icy roads, turn
the steering wheel in the direction of the
slide until you regain control.
Avoid sudden applications of power and
quick changes of direction on snow and
ice. Apply the accelerator slowly and
steadily when starting from a full stop.
Avoid sudden braking as well. Although an
4WD vehicle may accelerate better than
a two-wheel drive vehicle in snow and ice,
it won't stop any faster, because as in other
vehicles, braking occurs at all four wheels.
Do not become overconfident as to road
conditions.
Make sure you allow sufficient distance
between you and other vehicles for
stopping. Drive slower than usual and
consider using one of the lower gears. In
emergency stopping situations, apply the
brake steadily. Since your vehicle is
equipped with a four wheel anti-lock brake
system (ABS), do not “pump” the brakes.
Refer to the Brakes section of this chapter
for additional information on the operation
of the anti-lock brake system.
Maintenance and modifications
The suspension and steering systems on
your vehicle have been designed and
tested to provide predictable performance
whether loaded or empty and durable load
carrying capability. For this reason, Ford
Motor Company strongly recommends that
you do not make modifications such as
adding or removing parts (such as lift kits
or stabilizer bars) or by using replacement
parts not equivalent to the original factory
equipment. Any modifications to a vehicle that raise
the center of gravity can make it more likely
the vehicle will rollover as a result of a loss
of control. Ford Motor Company
recommends that caution be used with
any vehicle equipped with a high load or
device (such as ladder or luggage racks).
Failure to maintain your vehicle properly
may void the warranty, increase your repair
cost, reduce vehicle performance and
operational capabilities and adversely
affect driver and passenger safety.
Frequent inspection of vehicle chassis
components is recommended if the vehicle
is subjected to off-highway usage.
155
Four-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)