2021 FORD ESCAPE brake

Auto-Start-Stop – Frequently
Asked Questions
Why does the engine not always
stop when I expect it to?
The system is designed to work in a way
that complements other vehicle systems,
allowing them to operate at optimum
performance.
The system does not stop the engine if:
•
The driver door is open.
• Your vehicle is at high altitude.
• The heated windshield is on.
• The engine is warming up.
• The outside temperature is too low or
too high.
• The battery charge is low.
• The battery temperature is outside the
optimal operating range.
• The engine is required to run to
maintain interior climate and reduce
fogging.
Why does the engine sometimes
restart when I do not expect it to?
The system is designed to work in a way
that complements other vehicle systems,
allowing them to operate at optimum
performance.
The system restarts the engine if:
• You switch the heated windshield on.
• You switch maximum defrost on.
• Your vehicle starts to roll downhill in
neutral.
• The engine is required to run to
maintain adequate brake system
assistance.
• The engine is required to run to
maintain interior climate and reduce
fogging. Can I permanently switch the
system off?
No. The system plays an important role in
reducing the fuel consumption and the CO
2
emissions.
Will the frequent engine starts
cause parts to wear out?
Your vehicle has an enhanced battery and
starter motor that are designed for the
increased number of engine starts.
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Escape (CTC) Canada/United States of America, Vehicles Built From: 02-11-2020, enUSA, Edition date: 202011, First-Printing Auto-Start-Stop

WHAT IS THE HIGH VOLTAGE
BATTERY
The high voltage battery is a highly
sophisticated lithium ion battery system,
used to store electrified energy to power
the vehicle.
HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY
PRECAUTIONS
WARNING: This battery pack
should only be serviced by an authorized
electric vehicle technician. Improper
handling can result in personal injury or
death. WARNING:
Keep your hands and
clothing clear of the cooling fan. WARNING:
Apply the parking
brake, shift into park (P), switch the
ignition off and remove the key before
you open the hood or have any service
or repair work completed. If you do not
switch the ignition off, the engine could
restart at any time. Failure to follow this
instruction could result in personal injury
or death. WARNING:
Do not touch the
electronic ignition system parts after you
have switched the ignition on or when
the engine is running. The system
operates at high voltage. Failure to
adhere to this warning could result in
serious personal injury or death.
Your vehicle consists of various
high-voltage components and wiring. All
of the high-voltage power flows through
specific wiring assemblies labeled as such
or covered with a solid orange convolute,
or orange striped tape, or both. Do not
come in contact with these components.
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Escape (CTC) Canada/United States of America, Vehicles Built From: 02-11-2020, enUSA, Edition date: 202011, First-Printing High Voltage Battery
(If Equipped)

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
PRECAUTIONS
WARNING: When your vehicle is
stationary, keep the brake pedal fully
pressed when shifting gears. Failure to
follow this instruction could result in
personal injury, death or property
damage. WARNING:
Do not apply the brake
pedal and accelerator pedal
simultaneously. Applying both pedals
simultaneously for more than a few
seconds will limit power, which may
result in difficulty maintaining speed in
traffic and could lead to serious injury.
Note: You may not be able to shift out of
park (P) unless the intelligent access key is
inside your vehicle.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
POSITIONS
Park (P)
This position locks the driveline and
prevents the wheels from turning.
The engine can start with the shifter in this
position.
The electric parking brake could apply if:
• You shift to park (P) on a slope.
• You shift to park (P) without the brake
pedal fully pressed.
Note: A warning tone sounds if you open
the driver door and you have not shifted the
transmission selector to park (P). Reverse (R)
This position allows your vehicle to move
backward. Come to a complete stop
before shifting into and out of reverse (R).
Neutral (N) WARNING:
In neutral (N) your
vehicle has the ability to roll freely. If you
intend to leave your vehicle, make sure
you apply the parking brake.
This position allows your vehicle to roll
freely. Hold the brake pedal down when in
this position.
The engine can start with the shifter in this
position.
Drive (D)
This position, drive (D), is the normal
driving position, and allows your vehicle to
move forward.
Low (L)
This mode is for driving on steep slopes.
The transmission will hold low gear for
maximum torque driving uphill and
maximum engine braking driving downhill.
You can enter this mode at any vehicle
speed.
Note: Prolonged use of this mode could
lower fuel economy. With your vehicle in
drive (D), press the L button to enter this
mode.
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Escape (CTC) Canada/United States of America, Vehicles Built From: 02-11-2020, enUSA, Edition date: 202011, First-Printing Automatic Transmission

SHIFTING YOUR VEHICLE INTO
GEAR
Your vehicle has an electronic transmission
selector. The transmission selector is on
the center console. The gears are selected
by rotating the transmission selector to
PRNDL.
• Park (P)
• Reverse (R)
• Neutral (N)
• Drive (D)
• Low (L)
Putting your vehicle in gear:
1. Fully press down the brake pedal.
2. Rotate the transmission selector to the
position you want and release.
3. The transmission position you select illuminates.
4. Release the brake pedal and your transmission remains in the selected
gear.
Note: If you attempt to leave your vehicle
when it is in gear, your vehicle automatically
shifts into park (P).
See How Does
Automatic Return to Park (P) Work (page
212
). AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
POSITION INDICATORS
The instrument cluster displays the current
position.
Note:
The position could illuminate on the
transmission selector.
TEMPORARY NEUTRAL MODE
What Is Temporary Neutral Mode
This mode keeps your vehicle in neutral
(N) when you switch your vehicle off. Use
this mode if you exit your vehicle or switch
your vehicle off at an automatic car wash.
Note: Do not tow your vehicle in this mode.
Note: Automatic return to park (P) is
delayed when your vehicle is in this mode.
See
What Is Automatic Return to Park
(P) (page 212).
Temporary Neutral Mode
Limitations
Your vehicle could shift to park (P) after
30 minutes, or when the vehicle battery
charge level is low. Prolonged use of this
mode can cause the vehicle battery to run
out of charge.
Do not tow your vehicle in this mode.
Failure to follow these instructions could
result in vehicle damage not covered by
the vehicle warranty.
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Escape (CTC) Canada/United States of America, Vehicles Built From: 02-11-2020, enUSA, Edition date: 202011, First-Printing Automatic TransmissionE224178 E341619

Entering Temporary Neutral Mode
1. Power your vehicle on.
2. Bring your vehicle to a complete stop.
3. Press and hold the brake pedal.
4. Shift into neutral (N).
Note:
An instructional message appears.
5. Press the low (L) button.
Note: A confirmation message appears
when your vehicle enters the mode.
6. Release the brake pedal.
Note: Your vehicle is free to roll.
7. Switch your vehicle off.
Note: Do not tow your vehicle in this mode.
Note: The neutral (N) indicator on the
transmission selector may flash in this
mode.
Exiting Temporary Neutral Mode
1. Press the brake pedal.
2. Shift into park (P), or power your vehicle on and shift into drive (D) or
reverse (R).
AUTOMATIC RETURN TO
PARK (P)
What Is Automatic Return to Park
(P)
Your vehicle shifts into park (P) if you
attempt to exit your vehicle without the
transmission in park (P). How Does Automatic Return to
Park (P) Work
Your vehicle shifts into park (P) when your
vehicle is stationary and any of the
following occur:
•
You switch the vehicle off.
• You open the driver door with your
seatbelt unlatched.
• You unlatch the driver seatbelt when
the driver door is open.
Note: Do not use automatic return to park
(P) when your vehicle is moving, except in
an emergency. See Stopping the Engine
When Your Vehicle is Moving (page 176).
Automatic Return to Park (P)
Limitations
Automatic return to park may not work if
the door ajar switch is malfunctioning.
See an authorized dealer if any of the
following occur:
• Door ajar indicator does not illuminate
with the driver door open.
• Door ajar indicator illuminates with the
driver door closed.
• Transmission not in park message
appears with the driver door closed,
after you shift out of park (P).
GRADE ASSIST - HYBRID
ELECTRIC VEHICLE (HEV)
What Is Grade Assist
Provides additional grade braking with a
combination of engine motoring and
high-voltage battery charging to help
maintain vehicle speed when descending
a grade.
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Escape (CTC) Canada/United States of America, Vehicles Built From: 02-11-2020, enUSA, Edition date: 202011, First-Printing Automatic Transmission

Switching Grade Assist On and Off
Press the grade assist button to activate
grade assist. The grade assist lamp
appears in the instrument cluster. Press
the button again to switch it off.
Your vehicle determines the amount of
engine motoring and high-voltage battery
charging. You could notice the engine
speed increasing and decreasing to help
maintain your vehicle speed when
descending a slope.
Grade Assist Indicators
MANUAL PARK RELEASE -
GASOLINE
What Is Manual Park Release
Manual park release is used to move your
transmission from the park (P) position in
the event of an electrical malfunction or
emergency.
Manual Park Release Precautions WARNING: When doing this
procedure, you need to take the
transmission out of park (P) which
means your vehicle can roll freely. To
avoid unwanted vehicle movement,
always fully apply the parking brake prior
to doing this procedure. Use wheels
chocks if appropriate. WARNING:
If the parking brake is
fully released, but the brake warning
lamp remains illuminated, the brakes
may not be working properly. Have your
vehicle checked as soon as possible. WARNING:
Do not drive your
vehicle until you verify that the
stoplamps are working.
Using Manual Park Release
Activating the Manual Park Release
Cable
1. Apply the parking brake. See What Is
the Electric Parking Brake (page 224).
Note: If the vehicle battery is dead, for
example, no electrical power is available,
you could use an external power source to
apply the parking brake. 213
Escape (CTC) Canada/United States of America, Vehicles Built From: 02-11-2020, enUSA, Edition date: 202011, First-Printing Automatic TransmissionE345122 E307867

2. Locate the manual park release cable
access cover on the lower instrument
panel dash to the bottom left hand
side of the steering column.
3. Using a tool, carefully open the access
cover.
Note: Do not pull the tether until you are in
the driver seat.
4. Switch the ignition on, but do not start
your vehicle.
5. Once in the driver seat, fully press the brake pedal and hold. Do not release.
Pull the orange tether towards the
driver seat until the tether gets locked
in the override position. Then leave the
tether.
6. If done correctly a message should display on the instrument cluster
screen.
Note: Your vehicle is now out of the park
(P) position and is free to roll.
7. With your foot still fully applied on the
brake pedal, disengage the parking
brake. See What Is the Electric
Parking Brake (page 224).
8. Your vehicle remains in neutral (N) for emergency towing purposes.
9. Switch off the ignition.
10. Once safe to do so, and there is no risk that your vehicle will roll,
disconnect the negative (black)
battery cable from the battery.
Note: If the vehicle detects wheel
movement before the battery is
disconnected, the electric parking brake
could apply. Returning Your Vehicle to Normal
Mode
1. Once it is safe to do so, reconnect the
negative (black) battery cable to the
battery.
2. Apply the parking brake. See What Is
the Electric Parking Brake (page 224).
Note: If the vehicle battery is dead, for
example, no electrical power is available,
you could use an external power source to
apply the parking brake.
3. Fully apply the brake pedal and hold. Do not release. Pull the orange tether
outward towards the driver seat to
release it from the override position.
4. The cable will release and retract back
to its original rest position.
5. Stow the manual park release cable tether back inside the instrument panel
dash hole, install the access cover by
pressing it back in position.
6. With your foot fully applied on the brake pedal, start your vehicle. Confirm
that your vehicle is in the park (P)
position and that the instrument
cluster indicates park (P).
7. If the instrument cluster is not displaying the park (P) position or a
message displays on the instrument
cluster screen, make sure you apply the
parking brake before exiting your
vehicle. Contact an authorized dealer
for service.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUDIBLE WARNINGS
Transmission Not In Park (P)
Audible Warning
Sounds if you open the driver door before
shifting into park (P).
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Escape (CTC) Canada/United States of America, Vehicles Built From: 02-11-2020, enUSA, Edition date: 202011, First-Printing Automatic Transmission

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION – TROUBLESHOOTING
Automatic Transmission – Information Messages - Hybrid Electric Vehicle
(HEV)/Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
Action
Description
The electric parking brake is not fullyapplied.
Park Brake Not Applied
A reminder to shift into park. In addition,
this message is typical after reconnecting
or recharging the battery until you cycle the ignition to the on mode.
Transmission Not in Park
Displays when there is a system fault andthe park brake needs to be depressed
before exiting the vehicle. See your author- ized dealer.
SHIFT SYS FAULT Apply Park Brake Before
Exiting the Vehicle
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Escape (CTC) Canada/United States of America, Vehicles Built From: 02-11-2020, enUSA, Edition date: 202011, First-Printing Automatic Transmission