Driving
Vehicleswithahighercenterofgravitysuchasutilityand
four-wheeldrivevehicleshandledifferentlythanvehicleswitha
lowercenterofgravity.Utilityandfour-wheeldrivevehiclesarenot
designedforcorneringatspeedsashighaspassengercarsanymore
thanlow-slungsportscarsaredesignedtoperformsatisfactorilyunder
off-roadconditions.Avoidsharpturns,excessivespeedandabrupt
maneuversinthesevehicles.Failuretodrivecautiouslycouldresultin
anincreasedriskoflossofvehiclecontrol,vehiclerollover,personal
injuryanddeath.
•
Ifthevehiclegoesfromonetypeofsurfacetoanother(i.e.,from
concretetogravel)therewillbeachangeinthewaythevehicle
respondstoamaneuver(steering,accelerationorbraking).Again,
avoidtheseabruptinputs.
Sand
Whendrivingoversand,trytokeepallfourwheelsonthemostsolid
areaofthetrail.Avoidreducingthetirepressuresbutshifttoalower
gearanddrivesteadilythroughtheterrain.Applytheacceleratorslowly
andavoidspinningthewheels.
Ifyoumustreducethetirepressureforwhateverreasoninsand,make
sureyoure-inflatethetiresassoonaspossible.
Avoidexcessivespeedbecausevehiclemomentumcanworkagainstyou
andcausethevehicletobecomestucktothepointthatassistancemay
berequiredfromanothervehicle.Remember,youmaybeabletoback
outthewayyoucameifyouproceedwithcaution.
Mudandwater
Ifyoumustdrivethroughhigh
water,driveslowly.Tractionor
brakecapabilitymaybelimited.
Whendrivingthroughwater,
determinethedepth;avoidwater
higherthanthebottomofthehubs
(ifpossible)andproceedslowly.If
theignitionsystemgetswet,thevehiclemaystall.
Oncethroughwater,alwaystrythebrakes.Wetbrakesdonotstopthe
vehicleaseffectivelyasdrybrakes.Dryingcanbeimprovedbymoving
yourvehicleslowlywhileapplyinglightpressureonthebrakepedal.
Becautiousofsuddenchangesinvehiclespeedordirectionwhenyou
aredrivinginmud.Even4x4vehiclescanlosetractioninslickmud.As
135
2004
Escape(204)
OwnersGuide(post-2002-fmt)
USAEnglish(fus)
Product Specification
Categories | Ford Escape Manuals, Ford Manuals |
---|---|
Model Year | 2004 |
Download File |
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Document File Type | |
Copyright | Attribution Non-commercial |