2020 FORD ESCAPE brake

should occur, you will neither lose the
ability to steer the vehicle manually nor
will it cause permanent damage. Typical
steering and driving maneuvers will allow
the system to cool down and steering
assist will return to normal.
Steering Tips
If the steering wanders or pulls, check for:
•
An improperly inflated tire.
• Uneven tire wear.
• Loose or worn suspension
components.
• Loose or worn steering components.
• Improper vehicle alignment.
A high crown in the road or high crosswinds
may also make the steering seem to
wander or pull.
PRE-COLLISION ASSIST WARNING: You are responsible for
controlling your vehicle at all times. The
system is designed to be an aid and does
not relieve you of your responsibility to
drive with due care and attention. Failure
to follow this instruction could result in
the loss of control of your vehicle,
personal injury or death. WARNING: The system does not
detect vehicles that are driving in a
different direction, cyclists or animals.
Apply the brakes when necessary. Failure
to follow this instruction could result in
the loss of control of your vehicle,
personal injury or death. WARNING:
The system does not
operate during hard acceleration or
steering. Failure to take care may lead
to a crash or personal injury. WARNING: The system may fail or
operate with reduced function during
cold and severe weather conditions.
Snow, ice, rain, spray and fog can
adversely affect the system. Keep the
front camera and radar free of snow and
ice. Failure to take care may result in the
loss of control of your vehicle, serious
personal injury or death. WARNING:
Some situations and
objects prevent hazard detection. For
example low or direct sunlight, inclement
weather, unconventional vehicle types,
and pedestrians. Apply the brakes when
necessary. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in the loss of
control of your vehicle, personal injury or
death. WARNING:
The system cannot
help prevent all crashes. Do not rely on
this system to replace driver judgment
and the need to maintain a safe distance
and speed.
Using the Pre-Collision Assist
System
The system is active at speeds above
approximately
3 mph (5 km/h) and
pedestrian detection is active at speeds
up to
50 mph (80 km/h). If your vehicle is rapidly approaching
another stationary vehicle, a vehicle
traveling in the same direction as yours, or
a pedestrian within your driving path, the
system is designed to provide three levels
of functionality:
1. Alert
2. Brake Support
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3. Active Braking
Alert: When active, a flashing visual
warning appears and an audible warning
tone sounds.
Brake support
: The system is designed
to help reduce the impact speed by
preparing the brakes for rapid braking.
Brake support does not automatically
apply the brakes. If you press the brake
pedal, the system could apply additional
braking up to maximum braking force, even
if you lightly press the brake pedal.
Active braking
: Active braking may
activate if the system determines that a
collision is imminent. The system may help
the driver reduce impact damage or avoid
the crash completely.
Note: Brake support and active braking are
active at speeds up to
75 mph (120 km/h).
If the vehicle is equipped with a radar
sensor, included with adaptive cruise
control, then brake support and active
braking are active up to the maximum speed
of the vehicle.
Note: If you perceive pre-collision assist
alerts as being too frequent or disturbing,
then you can reduce the alert sensitivity,
though the manufacturer recommends
using the highest sensitivity setting where
possible. Setting lower sensitivity would
lead to fewer and later system warnings. Note:
The system turns off when you select
the deep snow/sand drive mode.
Distance Indication and Alert
(If
Equipped)
This feature provides the driver with a
graphical indication of the time gap to
other preceding vehicles traveling in the
same direction. The information display
screen shows one of the graphics that
follow. Note:
Distance indication and alert
deactivates and the graphics do not display
when adaptive cruise control is active.
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The total load on each axle must
never exceed its Gross Axle
Weight Rating.
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating)
GVWR is the maximum allowable
weight of the fully loaded vehicle.
This includes all options,
equipment, passengers and cargo.
It appears on the Safety
Compliance Certification label.
The label is located on the door
hinge pillar, door-latch post, or the
door edge that meets the
door-latch post, next to the driver
seating position.
The gross vehicle weight must
never exceed the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating.
Safety Compliance Certification Label
Example:
WARNING: Exceeding the
Safety Compliance Certification
label vehicle weight limits can
adversely affect the
performance and handling of
your vehicle, cause vehicle
damage and can result in the
loss of control of your vehicle,
serious personal injury or death.
Maximum Loaded Trailer
Weight
Maximum loaded trailer weight is
the highest possible weight of a
fully loaded trailer the vehicle can
tow. Consult an authorized dealer
(or the RV and Trailer Towing
Guide available at an authorized
dealer) for more detailed
information.
GCWR (Gross Combined
Weight Rating)
GCWR is the maximum allowable
weight of the vehicle and the
loaded trailer, including all cargo
and passengers, that the vehicle
can handle without risking
damage. (Important: The towing
vehicle ’s braking system is rated
for operation at Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating, not at Gross
Combined Weight Rating.)
Separate functional brakes should
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TOWING A TRAILER
WARNING: Towing trailers
beyond the maximum
recommended gross trailer
weight exceeds the limit of your
vehicle and could result in engine
damage, transmission damage,
structural damage, loss of
vehicle control, vehicle rollover
and personal injury. WARNING:
Do not exceed
the GVWR or the GAWR
specified on the certification
label.
Note: See
Recommended
Towing Weights (page 277).
Your vehicle may have electrical
items, such as fuses or relays,
related to towing. See
Fuses
(page 304).
Your vehicle's load capacity
designation is by weight, not by
volume, so you cannot necessarily
use all available space when
loading a vehicle or trailer.
Towing a trailer places an extra
load on your vehicle's engine,
transmission, axle, brakes, tires
and suspension. Inspect these
components periodically during,
and after, any towing operation. Load Placement
To help minimize how trailer
movement affects your vehicle
when driving:
•
Load the heaviest items closest
to the trailer floor.
• Load the heaviest items
centered between the left and
right side trailer tires.
• Load the heaviest items above
the trailer axles or just slightly
forward toward the trailer
tongue. Do not allow the final
trailer tongue weight to go
above or below 10-15% of the
loaded trailer weight.
• Select a ball mount with the
correct rise or drop and load
capacity. When both the
loaded vehicle and trailer are
connected, the trailer frame
should be level, or slightly
angled down toward your
vehicle, when viewed from the
side.
When driving with a trailer or
payload, a slight takeoff vibration
or shudder may be present due to
the increased payload weight.
Additional information regarding
proper trailer loading and setting
your vehicle up for towing is
located in another chapter of this
manual. See
Load Limit (page
270).
You can also find information in
the
RV & Trailer Towing Guide
available at your authorized
dealer, or online.
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RV & Trailer Towing Guide Online
http://www.fleet.ford.com/towing-guides/
Website
TRAILER SWAY CONTROL (IF
EQUIPPED) WARNING: Turning off trailer sway
control increases the risk of loss of
vehicle control, serious injury or death.
Ford does not recommend disabling this
feature except in situations where speed
reduction may be detrimental (such as
hill climbing), the driver has significant
trailer towing experience, and can control
trailer sway and maintain safe operation.
Note: This feature does not prevent trailer
sway, but reduces it when it begins.
Note: This feature cannot stop all trailers
from swaying.
Note: In some cases, if your vehicle speed
is too high, the system may turn on multiple
times, gradually reducing your vehicle speed.
The system applies the brakes to the
individual wheels and reduces engine
torque to aid vehicle stability. If the trailer
begins to sway, the stability control
warning lamp flashes and a message
appears in the information display. See
Information Messages
(page 117). Slow
your vehicle down, pull safely to the side
of the road and check for correct load
distribution. See
Load Carrying (page
268).
You can switch this feature off in the
information display. When you switch the
ignition on, the system automatically turns
on. RECOMMENDED TOWING
WEIGHTS WARNING:
Towing trailers
beyond the maximum
recommended gross trailer
weight exceeds the limit of your
vehicle and could result in engine
damage, transmission damage,
structural damage, loss of
vehicle control, vehicle rollover
and personal injury.
Note: Do not exceed the trailer
weight for your vehicle
configuration listed in the following
chart.
Note: Do not exceed the trailer
frontal area for your vehicle
configuration listed in the following
chart.
Note: For high altitude operation,
reduce the gross combined weight
by 2% per
1,000 ft (300 m)
starting at the 1,000 ft (300 m)
elevation point.
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Note:
Certain states require
electric trailer brakes for trailers
over a specified weight. Be sure to
check state regulations for this
specified weight. The maximum
trailer weights listed may be limited
to this specified weight, as the
vehicle ’s electrical system may not
include the wiring connector
needed to activate electric trailer
brakes. Your vehicle may tow a trailer
provided the maximum trailer
weight is less than or equal to the
maximum trailer weight listed for
your vehicle configuration on the
following chart. Maximum Trailer
Frontal Area
Maximum
Trailer
Weight 1
Maximum
GCWR
Powertrain
20 ft² (1.86 m²)
2,000 lb
(907 kg)
5,639 lb
(2,558 kg)
1.5L GTDI FWD
20 ft² (1.86 m²)
2,000 lb
(907 kg)
5,810 lb
(2,636 kg)
1.5L GTDI AWD
30 ft² (2.79 m²)
3,500 lb
(1,588 kg)
7,251 lb
(3,289 kg)
2.0L GTDI FWD
30 ft² (2.79 m²)
3,500 lb
(1,588 kg)
7,403 lb
(3,358 kg)
2.0L GTDI
AWD
20 ft² (1.86 m²)
1,500 lb
(681 kg)
5,705 lb
(2,588 kg)
2.5L PHEV
FWD
20 ft² (1.86 m²)
1,500 lb
(681 kg)
5,375 lb
(2,437 kg)
2.5L FHEV
FWD
20 ft² (1.86 m²)
1,500 lb
(681 kg)
5,505 lb
(2,498 kg)
2.5L FHEV
AWD
1 Calculated with SAE J2807 method.
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Trailer Brakes
WARNING: Do not connect a
trailer's hydraulic brake system directly
to your vehicle's brake system. Your
vehicle may not have enough braking
power and your chances of having a
collision greatly increase. WARNING:
Do not tow a trailer
fitted with electric trailer brakes unless
your vehicle is fitted with a compatible
aftermarket electronic trailer brake
controller. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in the loss of
control of your vehicle, personal injury or
death. For additional information and
assistance, we recommend that you
contact an authorized dealer.
Electric brakes and manual, automatic or
surge-type trailer brakes are safe if you
install them properly and adjust them to
the manufacturer's specifications. The
trailer brakes must meet local and federal
regulations.
The rating for the tow vehicle's braking
system operation is at the gross vehicle
weight rating, not the gross combined
weight rating.
Separate functioning brake systems
are required for safe control of towed
vehicles and trailers weighing more
than 1500 lb (680 kg) when loaded. Trailer Lamps WARNING:
Never connect any
trailer lamp wiring to the vehicle's tail
lamp wiring; this may damage the
electrical system resulting in fire. Contact
your authorized dealer as soon as
possible for assistance in proper trailer
tow wiring installation. Additional
electrical equipment may be required.
Trailer lamps are required on most towed
vehicles. Make sure all running lights, brake
lights, turn signals and hazard lights are
working.
Before Towing a Trailer
Practice turning, stopping and backing up
to get the feel of your vehicle-trailer
combination before starting on a trip.
When turning, make wider turns so the
trailer wheels clear curbs and other
obstacles.
When Towing a Trailer
• Do not drive faster than
70 mph
(113 km/h) during the first 500 mi
(800 km).
• Do not make full-throttle starts.
• Check your hitch, electrical connections
and trailer wheel lug nuts thoroughly
after you have traveled 50 mi (80 km).
• When stopped in congested or heavy
traffic during hot weather, place the
transmission in park (P) to aid engine
and transmission cooling and to help
A/C performance.
• Turn off the speed control with heavy
loads or in hilly terrain. The speed
control may turn off automatically
when you are towing on long, steep
grades.
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•
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 a
Grade Assist or Tow/Haul 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:
1. Turn the steering wheel to point your vehicle tires away from traffic flow.
2. Set your vehicle parking brake.
3. Place the automatic transmission in park (P).
4. Place wheel chocks in front and back of the trailer wheels. Chocks are not
included with your vehicle.
Launching or Retrieving a Boat or
Personal Watercraft (PWC)
Note: Disconnect the wiring to the trailer
before backing the trailer into the water.
Note: Reconnect the wiring to the trailer
after
removing the trailer from the water.
When backing down a ramp during boat
launching or retrieval:
• Do not allow the static water level to
rise above the bottom edge of the rear
bumper.
• Do not allow waves to break higher
than
6 in (15 cm) above the bottom
edge of the rear bumper. Exceeding these limits may allow water to
enter vehicle components:
•
Causing internal damage to the
components.
• Affecting driveability, emissions, and
reliability.
Replace the rear axle lubricant anytime
the rear axle has been submerged in water.
Water may have contaminated the rear
axle lubricant, which is not normally
checked or changed unless a leak is
suspected or other axle repair is required.
TOWING THE VEHICLE ON
FOUR WHEELS - 8-SPEED
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
– 8F24
Emergency Towing
If you need to tow your vehicle, contact a
professional towing service or, if you are a
member of a roadside assistance program,
your roadside assistance service provider.
Recreational Towing
You cannot recreational tow your vehicle
with all wheels on the ground because
vehicle or transmission damage may occur.
You must place the front wheels on a
two-wheel tow dolly. If you are using a tow
dolly, follow the instructions specified by
the equipment provider.
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