2013 FORD ESCAPE Owners Manual

You have limited engine power when in the
fail-safe mode, so drive the vehicle with
caution. The vehicle will not be able to
maintain high-speed operation and the
engine will run rough. Remember that the
engine is capable of completely shutting
down automatically to prevent engine
damage, therefore:
1. Pull off the road as soon as safelypossible and turn off the engine.
2. Arrange for the vehicle to be taken to an authorized dealer.
3. If this is not possible, wait a short period for the engine to cool.
4. Check the coolant level and replenish if low.
5. Re-start the engine and take your vehicle to an authorized dealer.
Note: Driving the vehicle without repairing
the engine problem increases the chance of
engine damage. Take your vehicle to an
authorized dealer as soon as possible.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FLUID CHECK
Note: Transmission fluid should be checked
by an authorized dealer. If required, fluid
should be added by an authorized dealer.
The automatic transmission does not have
a transmission fluid dipstick.
Have an authorized dealer check and
change the transmission fluid and filter at
the correct service interval. See
Scheduled Maintenance (page 396). Your
transmission does not consume fluid.
However, the fluid level should be checked
if the transmission is not working properly,
(i.e., if the transmission slips or shifts
slowly) or if you notice some sign of fluid
leakage. Do not use supplemental transmission
fluid additives, treatments or cleaning
agents. The use of these materials may
affect transmission operation and result
in damage to internal transmission
components.
BRAKE FLUID CHECK
Fluid levels between the MIN and MAX
lines are within the normal operating range;
there is no need to add fluid. If the fluid
levels are outside of the normal operating
range, the performance of the system
could be compromised; seek service from
your authorized dealer immediately.
POWER STEERING FLUID
CHECK
Your vehicle is equipped with an electric
power steering (EPS) system. There is no
fluid reservoir to check or fill.
FUEL FILTER
Your vehicle is equipped with a lifetime
fuel filter that is integrated with the fuel
tank. Regular maintenance or replacement
is not needed.
WASHER FLUID CHECK
WARNING
If you operate your vehicle in
temperatures below 40°F (5°C), use
washer fluid with antifreeze
protection. Failure to use washer fluid with
antifreeze protection in cold weather could
result in impaired windshield vision and
increase the risk of injury or accident.
Note: The front and rear washer systems
are supplied from the same reservoir.
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Maintenance

Add fluid to fill the reservoir if the level is
low. Only use a washer fluid that meets
Ford specifications. See Capacities and
Specifications (page 267).
State or local regulations on volatile
organic compounds may restrict the use
of methanol, a common windshield washer
antifreeze additive. Washer fluids
containing non-methanol antifreeze
agents should be used only if they provide
cold weather protection without damaging
the vehicle’s paint finish, wiper blades or
washer system.
CHANGING THE VEHICLE
BATTERY
WARNINGS
Batteries normally produce explosive
gases which can cause personal
injury. Therefore, do not allow
flames, sparks or lighted substances to
come near the battery. When working near
the battery, always shield your face and
protect your eyes. Always provide proper
ventilation.
When lifting a plastic-cased battery,
excessive pressure on the end walls
could cause acid to flow through the
vent caps, resulting in personal injury
and/or damage to the vehicle or battery.
Lift the battery with a battery carrier or
with your hands on opposite corners.
Keep batteries out of reach of
children. Batteries contain sulfuric
acid. Avoid contact with skin, eyes or
clothing. Shield your eyes when working
near the battery to protect against possible
splashing of acid solution. In case of acid
contact with skin or eyes, flush
immediately with water for a minimum of
15 minutes and get prompt medical
attention. If acid is swallowed, call a
physician immediately.
WARNINGS
Battery posts, terminals and related
accessories contain lead and lead
compounds. Wash hands after
handling.
Your vehicle is equipped with a
Motorcraft® maintenance-free battery
which normally does not require additional
water during its life of service.
Note: If your battery has a cover/shield,
make sure it is reinstalled after the battery
has been cleaned or replaced.
For longer, trouble-free operation, keep the
top of the battery clean and dry. Also,
make certain the battery cables are always
tightly fastened to the battery terminals.
If you see any corrosion on the battery or
terminals, remove the cables from the
terminals and clean with a wire brush. You
can neutralize the acid with a solution of
baking soda and water.
It is recommended that the negative
battery cable terminal be disconnected
from the battery if you plan to store your
vehicle for an extended period of time.
To ensure proper operation of the battery
management system (BMS), any electrical
devices that are added to the vehicle
should not have their ground connection
made directly at the negative battery post.
A connection at the negative battery post
can cause inaccurate measurements of
the battery condition and potential
incorrect system operation.
Note: Electrical or electronic accessories
or components added to the vehicle by the
dealer or the owner may adversely affect
battery performance and durability and may
also affect the performance of other
electrical systems in the vehicle.
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Maintenance

When a battery replacement is required,
the battery should only be replaced with
a Ford recommended replacement battery
that matches the electrical requirements
of the vehicle.
When the battery is disconnected or a new
battery installed, the automatic
transmission must relearn its adaptive
strategy. As a result of this, the
transmission may shift firmly when first
driven. This operation is considered normal
and will fully update transmission
operation to its optimum shift feel.
If the battery has been disconnected or a
new battery has been installed, the clock
and the preset radio stations must be reset
once the battery is reconnected.
Note:Always dispose of automotive
batteries in a responsible manner. Follow
your local authorized standards for disposal.
Call your local authorized recycling center
to find out more about recycling automotive
batteries.
CHECKING THE WIPER
BLADES
Run the tip of your fingers over the edge of
the blade to check for roughness.
Clean the wiper blades with washer fluid
or water applied with a soft sponge or
cloth. CHANGING THE WIPER
BLADES
The wiper arms can be manually moved
when the ignition is off. This allows for ease
of blade replacement and cleaning under
the blades.
1. Pull the wiper blade and arm away
from the glass.
2. Press the locking buttons together.
3. Rotate and remove the wiper blade.
4. Install in the reverse order.
Note: Make sure that the wiper blade locks
into place. Lower the wiper arm and blade
back to the windshield. The wiper arms will
automatically return to their normal position
when the ignition is turned on.
To change the rear blades, do the
following:
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Maintenance
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1. Lift the wiper arm.
2.Slightly rotate the wiper blade from the
wiper arm.
3. Disengage the wiper blade from the wiper arm.
4. Remove the wiper blade.
5. Install in the reverse order.
Note: Make sure that the wiper blade locks
into place.
Replace wiper blades at least once per
year for optimum performance.
Poor wiper quality can be improved by
cleaning the wiper blades and the
windshield.
CHANGING THE ENGINE AIR
FILTER
WARNING
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.
When changing the air filter element, use
only the air filter element listed. See
Capacities and Specifications (page
267).
For EcoBoost® equipped vehicles: When
servicing the air cleaner, it is important that
no foreign material enter the air induction
system. The engine and turbocharger are
susceptible to damage from even small
particles.
Change the air filter element at the proper
interval. See Scheduled Maintenance
(page 396).
Note: Failure to use the correct air filter
element may result in severe engine
damage. The customer warranty may be
void for any damage to the engine if the
correct air filter element is not used.
1.6L and 2.0L EcoBoost® Engines
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2.5L Engine
1. Loosen the screws on the air tubeclamp that fasten it to the air filter
assembly tray.
2. Separate the clean air tube from the air cleaner.
3. Remove the air cleaner from the vehicle.
4. Loosen the screws that secure the air filter housing cover.
5. Carefully separate the two halves of the air filter housing.
6. Remove the air filter element from the
air filter housing.
7. Wipe the air filter housing and cover clean to remove any dirt or debris and
to ensure good sealing.
8. Slide the open end of the air filter element in first, below the tab. Then
push the closed end cap into the
bottom of the tray. The closed end cap
should fit inside the groove in the tray.
The tab at the end of the closed end
cap should be oriented down and fit
between the forks on the tray.
9. Replace the air filter housing cover and
secure the screws.
10. Reinstall the air cleaner assembly into the vehicle. 11. Reinstall the clean air tube assembly
into the air cleaner assembly.
12. Tighten the air tube fastening screws.
ADJUSTING THE HEADLAMPS
Vertical Aim Adjustment
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.
8 feet (2.4 meters)
A
Center height of lamp to ground
B
25 feet (7.6 meters)
C
Horizontal reference line
D
Vehicles With Halogen Headlamps
1. Park the vehicle directly in front of a wall or screen on a level surface,
approximately 25 feet (7.6 meters)
away.
2. Measure the height of the headlamp bulb center from the ground and mark
an 8 foot (2.4 meter) horizontal
reference line on the vertical wall or
screen at this height.
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Note:To see a clearer light pattern for
adjusting, you may want to block the light
from one headlamp while adjusting the
other.
3. Turn on the low beam headlamps to illuminate the wall or screen and open
the hood.
4. On the wall or screen you will observea flat zone of high intensity light
located at the top of the right hand
portion of the beam pattern. If the top
edge of the high intensity light zone is
not at the horizontal reference line, the
headlamp will need to be adjusted.
5. Locate the vertical adjuster on eachheadlamp. Using a Phillips #2
screwdriver, turn the adjuster either
clockwise or counterclockwise in order
to aim the headlamp. The horizontal
edge of the brighter light should touch
the horizontal reference line. 6.
Close the hood and turn off the lamps.
Vehicles With High Intensity Discharge
Headlamps
1. Park the vehicle directly in front of a wall or screen on a level surface,
approximately 25 feet (7.6 meters)
away.
2. Measure the height of the headlamp bulb center from the ground and mark
an 8 foot (2.4 meter) horizontal
reference line on the vertical wall or
screen at this height.
Note: To see a clearer light pattern for
adjusting, you may want to block the light
from one headlamp while adjusting the
other.
3. Turn on the low beam headlamps to illuminate the wall or screen and open
the hood.
4.There is a distinct cut-off (change from
light to dark) in the left portion of the
beam pattern. The top edge of this
cut-off should be positioned two
inches (5 centimeters) below the
horizontal reference line.
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Maintenance
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5. Locate the vertical adjuster on eachheadlamp. Using a Phillips #2
screwdriver, turn the adjuster either
clockwise or counterclockwise in order
to aim the headlamp.
6. Close the hood and turn off the lamps.
Horizontal Aim Adjustment
Horizontal aim is not required for this
vehicle and is non-adjustable.
REMOVING A HEADLAMP
1. Make sure the headlamp control is in the off position and open the hood.
2. Remove the two screws from the headlamp assembly. 3. Carefully pull the headlamp assembly
as far as possible towards the front of
the vehicle to disengage it from the
lower fixing point.
4. Carefully lift the outer side of the headlamp and remove it.
5. Disconnect the electrical connector.
CHANGING A BULB
Lamp Assembly Condensation
Exterior lamps are vented to
accommodate normal changes in pressure.
Condensation can be a natural by-product
of this design. When moist air enters the
lamp assembly through the vents, there is
a possibility that condensation can occur
when the temperature is cold. When
normal condensation occurs, a thin film of
mist can form on the interior of the lens.
The thin mist eventually clears and exits
through the vents during normal operation.
Clearing time may take as long as 48 hours
under dry weather conditions.
Examples of acceptable condensation are:
• Presence of thin mist (no streaks, drip
marks or droplets).
• Fine mist covers less than 50% of the
lens.
Examples of unacceptable moisture
(usually caused by a lamp water leak) are:
• Water puddle inside the lamp.
• Large water droplets, drip marks or
streaks present on the interior of the
lens.
Take your vehicle to a dealer for service if
any of the above conditions of
unacceptable moisture are present.
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Replacing Headlamp Bulbs
WARNING
Handle a halogen headlamp bulb
carefully and keep out of children’s
reach. Grasp the bulb by only 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.
Note: If the bulb is accidentally touched, it
should be cleaned with rubbing alcohol
before being used.
Headlamp:
Side marker
A
Low beam headlamp
B
High beam headlamp
C
High beam headlamp:
1. Remove the headlamp.
2. Remove service cap.
3. Disconnect the electrical connector.
4. Remove bulb from the headlamp assembly by turning it
counterclockwise, then pull it straight
out.
Low beam headlamp:
1. Remove the headlamp.
2. Remove service cap.
3. Disconnect the electrical connector.
4. Remove bulb from the headlamp assembly by turning it
counterclockwise, then pull it straight
out.
Install the new bulbs in reverse order from
the steps above. Be sure that the spring
clip is not damaged or detached from the
headlamp assembly during the
replacement procedure.
Replacing HID Headlamp Bulbs (If
Equipped)
The low beam headlamps on your vehicle
use a high intensity discharge source.
These lamps operate at a high voltage.
When the bulb is burned out, the bulb and
starter capsule assembly must be replaced
by your authorized dealer.
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