User manual FORD ESCORT-1997

[. . . ] Contents BEFORE DRIVING Introduction Instrumentation Controls and Features Seating and Safety restraints STARTING AND DRIVING Starting Driving Roadside Emergencies SERVICING Maintenance and Care Capacities and Specifications Reporting Safety Defects Index 124 179 186 187 85 93 107 2 4 15 53 1 Introduction ICONS The following icons appear in this Owner Guide: indicates a warning. Read the following section on Warnings for a full explanation of warnings. indicates that vehicle information related to recycling and other environmental concerns will follow. Warnings Warnings remind you to be especially careful in those areas where carelessness can cause damage to your vehicle or personal injury to yourself, your passengers, or others. [. . . ] Remember to figure in the tongue load of your loaded trailer when figuring the total weight. Towing trailers beyond the maximum recommended gross trailer weight exceeds the limits of the vehicle and could result in engine damage, transaxle/axle damage, structural damage, loss of control, and personal injury. Preparing to tow Use the proper equipment for towing a trailer and make sure it is properly attached to your vehicle. See your dealer or a reliable trailer dealer if you require assistance. Auxiliary coolers are recommended for the power steering system and automatic transaxle system (if equipped ) if you are planning on: · traveling farther than 80 km (50 miles). Using a hitch Do not use hitches that clamp onto the vehicle bumper. Distribute the load so that only 10 to 15% of the total weight of the trailer is on the tongue. Tie down the load so that it does not shift 103 Driving and change the weight on the hitch. Using trailer brakes Use electric brakes or manual, automatic, or surge-type hydraulic brakes that meet federal and local regulations. Install and adjust the brakes according to the manufacturer's instructions. 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. Using safety chains Always connect the trailer's safety chains to the vehicle. To connect the chains, cross the chains under the trailer tongue and attach to the vehicle frame or hook retainers (not the bumper). Make sure there is enough slack to allow the vehicle to turn corners. Using trailer lamps See your local trailer dealer or rental agency for the proper instructions and equipment for hooking up trailer lamps. Do not hook the trailer lights directly into the vehicle's lighting system wiring. If the trailer lamps are not installed properly, the warning lights in the instrument cluster may not work properly. 104 Driving Driving while towing a trailer Do not drive faster than 88 km/h (55 mph) while towing a 454 kg (1000 lb) trailer. Do not drive faster than 72 km/h (45 mph) with any weight trailer while towing in hilly country or on hot days. Speed control (if equipped) may not work properly while towing on very long, steep grades. If driving with an automatic transaxle: · use D or L rather than D while towing up or down steep hills. · anticipate stops and brake gradually. If driving with a manual transaxle: · select a gear that avoids jerking or excessive engine speed. · avoid driving excessively in first or second gear. In first or second gear the trailer may be too big or too heavily loaded for the vehicle drivetrain. · shift to a lower gear while towing up or down steep hills. [. . . ] · In order to avoid cracking the engine block or fuel injection pump, do not spray these components with cold water. · The alternator and air intake must be covered to prevent water damage when cleaning the engine. · Never wash or rinse the engine while it is running; water in a running engine may cause internal damage. 177 Maintenance and care Cleaning the wiper blades If the blades do not wipe properly, clean both the windshield and the wiper blades using undiluted windshield washer solution or a mild detergent. [. . . ]