2013 FORD ESCAPE trailer

Starting and Stopping theEngine
General Information....................................135
Ignition Switch...............................................135
Keyless Starting.............................................135
Starting a Gasoline Engine........................137
Engine Block Heater....................................138
Fuel and Refueling
Safety Precautions......................................140
Fuel Quality......................................................141
Running Out of Fuel......................................141
Refueling..........................................................142
Emission Control System..........................143
Fuel Consumption........................................145
Transmission
Automatic Transmission............................147
Hill Start Assist..............................................149
Four-Wheel Drive
Using Four-Wheel Drive..............................151
Brakes
General Information....................................156
Hints on Driving With Anti-Lock Brakes...........................................................156
Parking Brake..................................................157
Traction Control
Principle of Operation.................................158
Using Traction Control................................158
Stability Control
Principle of Operation.................................159
Using Stability Control...............................160
Parking Aids
Parking Aid.......................................................161 Active Park Assist.........................................163
Rear View Camera........................................167
Cruise Control
Principle of Operation.................................170
Using Cruise Control....................................170
Driving Aids
Blind Spot Monitor........................................171
Eco Mode.........................................................175
Steering............................................................176
Load Carrying
Rear Under Floor Storage...........................177
Luggage Covers..............................................177
Roof Racks and Load Carriers..................178
Load Limit........................................................179
Towing
Towing a Trailer.............................................188
Trailer Sway Control....................................188
Recommended Towing Weights............188
Essential Towing Checks..........................190
Towing Points.................................................191
Transporting the Vehicle............................192
Towing the Vehicle on Four Wheels......192
Driving Hints
Breaking-In.....................................................194
Economical Driving......................................194
Driving Through Water...............................194
Floor Mats.......................................................195
Roadside Emergencies
Roadside Assistance...................................197
Hazard Warning Flashers..........................198
Fuel Cut-Off Switch....................................198
Jump-Starting the Vehicle........................198
3
Table of Contents

Alarm
Action
Message
Indicator
Message
Displays when the alarm has been triggereddue to unauthorized entry. See Anti-Theft Alarm (page 63).
Amber
Alarm activated Check
Vehicle
Displays when the system requires service dueto a malfunction. Contact your authorized dealer.
-
Alarm fault Service
required
Battery and Charging System
Action
Message
Indicator
Message
Stop your vehicle as soon as it is safe to do soand switch off the ignition. Contact your authorized dealer.
Red
Electrical system over-
voltage Stop safely
Displays to warn of a low battery condition.
Turn off all unneeded electrical accessories. Contact your authorized dealer.
Amber
Battery low See manual
Blind Spot Information and Cross Traffic Alert System
Action
Message
Indicator
Message
Displayed when the blind spot information
system and cross traffic alert system sensors are blocked. See Blind Spot Monitor (page 171).
Amber
BLIS Low visibility See
manual
Displayed when a fault with the system has
occurred. Contact your authorized dealer as soon as possible.
Amber
BLIS: X sensor fault
Service required
Displayed when the system is not available dueto trailer use. See Blind Spot Monitor (page 171).
Amber
BLIS not available Trailer
attached
Displayed when the system detects a vehicle.See Blind Spot Monitor (page 171).
Amber
Cross Traffic Vehicle
coming from X
88
Information Displays

Action
Message
Indicator
Message
Displayed when the blind spot information
system and cross traffic alert system sensors are blocked. See Blind Spot Monitor (page 171).
Amber
Cross Traffic Sensor
blocked See manual
Displays when the system requires service dueto a malfunction. Contact your authorized dealer.
Amber
Cross Traffic fault
Service required
Displayed when the system is not available dueto trailer use. See Blind Spot Monitor (page 171).
-
Cross Traffic disabled
Trailer attached
Doors
Action
Message
Indicator
Message
Displays when the door(s) listed is not
completely closed and the vehicle is moving.
Red
X door open
Displays when the door(s) listed is notcompletely closed.
-
Displays when the luggage compartment is notcompletely closed and the vehicle is moving.
Red
trunk ajar
Displays when the luggage compartment is notcompletely closed.
-
Displays when the hood is not completelyclosed and the vehicle is moving.
Red
Hood open
Displays when the hood is not completelyclosed.
-
89
Information Displays

FUEL QUALITY
Note:We recommend that you use only
high quality fuel without additives or other
engine treatments.
Do not use leaded gasoline or gasoline with
additives containing other metallic
compounds (e.g. manganese-based). They
could damage the emission system.
Choosing the Right Fuel
Note: Use of any fuel other than those
recommended may cause powertrain
damage, a loss of vehicle performance and
repairs may not be covered under warranty.
If your vehicle is not a flexible fuel vehicle,
then only use unleaded fuel or unleaded
fuel blended with a maximum of 15%
ethanol. Do not use fuel ethanol (E85),
diesel fuel, fuel methanol, leaded fuel or
any other fuel because it could damage or
impair the emission control system.
The use of leaded fuel is prohibited by law.
Your vehicle was not designed to use fuel
or fuel additives with metallic compounds,
including manganese-based additives.
Octane Recommendations
Regular unleaded gasoline with a pump
(R+M)/2 octane rating of 87 is
recommended. Some fuel stations offer
fuels posted as regular with an octane
rating below 87, particularly in high altitude
areas. Fuels with octane levels below 87
are not recommended.
Note: Premium fuel will provide improved
performance for vehicles with EcoBoost®
engines and is recommended for severe duty
use such as trailer tow. Do not be concerned if your engine
sometimes knocks lightly. However, if it
knocks heavily while you are using fuel with
the recommended octane rating, see your
authorized dealer to prevent any engine
damage.
RUNNING OUT OF FUEL
Avoid running out of fuel because this
situation may have an adverse effect on
powertrain components.
If you have run out of fuel:
•
You may need to cycle the ignition from
off to on several times after refueling
to allow the fuel system to pump the
fuel from the tank to the engine. On
restarting, cranking time will take a few
seconds longer than normal. With
keyless ignition, just start the engine.
Crank time will be longer than usual.
• Normally, adding 1 gallon (3.8 liters) of
fuel is enough to restart the engine. If
the vehicle is out of fuel and on a steep
grade, more than 1 gallon (3.8 liters)
may be required.
• The service engine soon indicator may
come on. For more information on the
service engine soon indicator, See
Warning Lamps and Indicators
(page 80).
Refilling With a Portable Fuel
Container
WARNINGS
Do not insert the nozzle of portable
fuel containers or aftermarket
funnels into the capless fuel system.
This could damage the fuel system and its
seal, and may cause fuel to run onto the
ground instead of filling the tank, which
could result in serious personal injury.
141
Fuel and Refueling

PARKING AID (IF EQUIPPED)
WARNINGS
To help avoid personal injury, please
read and understand the limitations
of the system as contained in this
section. Sensing is only an aid for some
(generally large and fixed) objects when
moving in reverse on a flat surface at
parking speeds. Traffic control systems,
inclement weather, air brakes, and external
motors and fans may also affect the
function of the sensing system; this may
include reduced performance or a false
activation.
To help avoid personal injury, always
use caution when in R (Reverse) and
when using the sensing system.
This system is not designed to
prevent contact with small or moving
objects. The system is designed to
provide a warning to assist the driver in
detecting large stationary objects to avoid
damaging the vehicle. The system may not
detect smaller objects, particularly those
close to the ground.
Certain add-on devices such as large
trailer hitches, bike or surfboard racks
and any device that may block the
normal detection zone of the system, may
create false beeps.
Note: Keep the sensors, located on the
bumper or fascia, free from snow, ice and
large accumulations of dirt. If the sensors
are covered, the system ’s accuracy can be
affected. Do not clean the sensors with
sharp objects.
Note: If your vehicle sustains damage to
the bumper or fascia, leaving it misaligned
or bent, the sensing zone may be altered
causing inaccurate measurement of
obstacles or false alarms. Note:
If your vehicle is equipped with
MyKey®, it is possible to prevent turning the
sensing system off. See MyKey® (page 49).
The sensing system warns the driver of
obstacles within a certain range of the
bumper area. The system turns on
automatically whenever the ignition is
switched on.
When receiving a detection warning, the
radio volume is reduced to a
predetermined level. After the warning
goes away, the radio volume returns to the
previous level.
Rear Sensing System
The rear sensors are only active when the
transmission is in R (Reverse). As the
vehicle moves closer to the obstacle, the
rate of the audible warning increases.
When the obstacle is fewer than 10 inches
(25 centimeters) away, the warning
sounds continuously. If a stationary or
receding object is detected farther than 10
inches (25 centimeters) from the side of
the vehicle, the tone sounds for only three
seconds. Once the system detects an
object approaching, the warning sounds
again.
Coverage area of up to 6 feet (2
meters) from the rear bumper.
There is decreased coverage
area at the outer corners of the
bumper.
A
161
Parking Aids
E130178
A

For specific information on the reverse
sensing portion of the system, refer to that
section.
Press the button to switch the system off.
It will remain off for the entire ignition
cycle.
ACTIVE PARK ASSIST (IF
EQUIPPED)
WARNING
This system is designed to be a
supplementary park aid. It may not
work in all conditions and is not
intended to replace the driver ’s attention
and judgment. The driver is responsible for
avoiding hazards and maintaining a safe
distance and speed, even when the system
is in use.
Note: The driver is always responsible for
controlling the vehicle, supervising the
system and intervening if required.
The system detects an available parallel
parking space and automatically steers
the vehicle into the space (hands-free)
while you control the accelerator, gearshift
and brakes. The system visually and
audibly instructs you to park the vehicle. The system may not function correctly if
something passes between the front
bumper and the parking space (i.e. a
pedestrian or cyclist) or if the edge of the
neighboring parked vehicle is high from the
ground (i.e. a bus, tow truck or flatbed
truck).
Note:
The sensors may not detect objects
in heavy rain or other conditions that cause
disruptive reflections.
Note: The sensors may not detect objects
with surfaces that absorb ultrasonic waves.
The system should not be used if:
• a foreign object (i.e. bike rack or trailer)
is attached to the front or rear of the
vehicle or at another location close to
the sensors.
• an overhanging object (i.e. surfboard)
is attached to the roof.
• the front bumper or side sensors are
damaged (i.e. in a collision) or
obstructed by a foreign object (i.e. front
bumper cover).
• a mini-spare tire is in use.
Using Active Park Assist
Press the button. The touch screen
displays a message and a corresponding
graphic to indicate it's searching for a
parking space. Use the turn signal to
indicate which side of the vehicle you want
the system to search on.
163
Parking Aids
E142434
E142733

The system uses three types of guides to
help you see what is behind your vehicle:
•Active guidelines: Show the intended
path of your vehicle when reversing.
• Fixed guidelines: Show the actual path
your vehicle is moving in while reversing
in a straight line. This can be helpful
when backing into a parking space or
aligning your vehicle with another
object behind you.
• Centerline: Helps align the center of
your vehicle with an object (i.e. a
trailer).
Note: If the transmission is in R (Reverse)
and the luggage compartment is ajar, no
rear view camera features are displayed.
Note: If the image comes on while the
transmission is not in R (Reverse), have the
system inspected by your authorized dealer.
Note: When towing, the camera only sees
what is being towed behind your vehicle.
This might not provide adequate coverage
as it usually provides in normal operation
and some objects might not be seen. In
some vehicles, the guidelines may disappear
once the trailer tow connector is engaged.
Note: The camera may not operate
correctly under the following conditions:
• Nighttime or dark areas if one or both
reverse lamps are not operating.
• The camera's view is obstructed by
mud, water or debris. Clean the lens
with a soft, lint-free cloth and
non-abrasive cleaner.
• The rear of the vehicle is hit or
damaged, causing the camera to
become misaligned.
To access any of the rear view camera
system settings, make the following
selections in the touch screen when the
transmission is not in R (Reverse):
• Menu > Vehicle > Rear View Camera After changing a system setting, the touch
screen shows a preview of the selected
features.
Guidelines and the Centerline
Note:
Active guidelines and fixed guidelines
are only available when the transmission is
in R (Reverse).
Note: The centerline is only available if
Active or Fixed guidelines are on.
Active guidelines
A
Centerline
B
Fixed guideline: Green zone
C
Fixed guideline: Yellow zone
D
Fixed guideline: Red zone
E
Rear bumper
F
168
Parking Aids
ABCD
F
E
E142436

Reasons for messages being displayedClean the fascia area in
front of the radar or remove the obstruction.
The radar
surface is dirty or
obstructed
Drive normally in traffic for
a few minutes to allow the radar to detect passing
vehicles so it can clear the blocked state.
The radar
surface is
not dirty or
obstructed
No action required. Thesystem automatically
resets to an unblocked
state once the rainfall or
snowfall rate decreases or stops. Do not use BLIS or
cross traffic alert in these conditions.
Heavy rain-
fall/snow- fall inter-
feres with the radar signals
System Limitations
The BLIS and cross traffic alert systems
do have their limitations; situations such
as severe weather conditions or debris
build-up on the sensor area may limit
vehicle detection.
The following are other situations that may
limit the BLIS:
• Certain maneuvering of vehicles
entering and exiting the blind zone.
• Vehicles passing through the blind zone
at very fast rates.
• When several vehicles forming a
convoy pass through the blind zone.
The following are other situations that may
limit the cross traffic alert system:
• Adjacently parked vehicles or objects
obstructing the sensors.
• Approaching vehicles passing at
speeds greater than 15 mph (24 km/h). •
Driving in reverse faster than 3 mph (5
km/h).
• Backing out of an angled parking spot.
False Alerts
Note: If the vehicle has a factory equipped
tow bar, and it is towing a trailer, the sensors
will detect the trailer and turn the BLIS off
to avoid false alerts. For non-factory
equipped tow bars you may want to turn
the BLIS off manually.
There may be certain instances when
either the BLIS or cross traffic alert
systems illuminate the alert indicator with
no vehicle in the coverage zone; this is
known as a false alert. Some amount of
false alerts are normal; they are temporary
and self-correct.
System Errors
If either system senses a problem with the
left or right sensor, the BLIS telltale
illuminates and remains on and the
following will appear in the information
display:
• BLIS: X sensor fault Service req’ d or
• Cross Traffic malfunction Service req’ d
When problems that may cause the left or
right indicator not to illuminate, only the
information display faults appear.
Switching the Systems Off and On
One or both systems can be switched off
temporarily by using the information
display control. See General Information
(page 84). When the BLIS is switched off,
you will not receive alerts and a telltale
illuminates in the information display. The
system switches back on whenever the
ignition is switched on.
174
Driving Aids