Ford Escort (2003 year). Manual — part 20

Attaching safety seats with LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children) attachments

Some child safety seats have two rigid or webbing mounted attachments
that connect to two anchors at certain seating positions in your vehicle.
This type of child seat eliminates the need to use seat belts to attach the
child seat. For forward-facing child seats, the tether strap must also be
attached to the proper tether anchor. See Attaching safety seats with
tether straps in this chapter.

Your vehicle has LATCH anchors for child seat installation at the seating
positions marked with the child seat symbol.

Never attach two LATCH
child safety seats to the

same anchor. In a crash, one
anchor may not be strong enough
to hold two child safety seat
attachments and may break,
causing serious injury or death.

The lower anchors for child seat
installation are located at the rear
section of the rear seat between the
cushion and seat back.

Follow the child seat manufacturer’s instructions to properly install a
child seat with LATCH attachments. Two plastic LATCH guides can be
obtained at no charge fromany Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer. They
snap onto the LATCH lower anchors in the seat to help attach a child
seat with rigid attachments. The guides hold the seat trim away to
expose the anchor and make it easier to attach some child seats.

Attach LATCH lower attachments of the child seat only to the
anchors shown.

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82

If you install a child seat with rigid LATCH attachments, do not tighten
the tether strap enough to lift the child seat off the vehicle seat cushion
when the child is seated in it. Keep the tether strap just snug without
lifting the front of the child seat. Keeping the child seat just touching the
vehicle seat gives the best protection in a severe crash.

Each time you use the safety seat, check that the seat is properly
attached to the lower anchors and tether anchor. Try to tilt the child
seat fromside to side. Also try to tug the seat forward. Check to see if
the anchors hold the seat in place.

If the safety seat is not anchored properly, the risk of a child
being injured in a crash greatly increases.

Seating and Safety Restraints

83

STARTING

Positions of the ignition

1. LOCK, locks the steering wheel,
gearshift lever (automatic transaxle
only) and allows key removal. On
vehicles with a manual transaxle
push the key in while turning to
lock.

2. ACCESSORY, allows the electrical
accessories such as the radio to
operate while the engine is not
running.
3. ON, all electrical circuits operational. Warning lights illuminated. Key
position when driving.
4. START, cranks the engine. Release the key as soon as the engine
starts.
Preparing to start your vehicle
Engine starting is controlled by the powertrain control system. This
system meets all Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment standard
requirements regulating the impulse electrical field strength of radio
noise.
When starting a fuel-injected engine, avoid pressing the accelerator
before or during starting. Only use the accelerator when you have
difficulty starting the engine. For more information on starting the
vehicle, refer to Starting the engine in this chapter.

Extended idling at high engine speeds can produce very high
temperatures in the engine and exhaust system, creating the risk

of fire or other damage.

Do not park, idle, or drive your vehicle in dry grass or other dry
ground cover. The emission system heats up the engine

compartment and exhaust system, which can start a fire.

Do not start your vehicle in a closed garage or in other enclosed
areas. Exhaust fumes can be toxic. Always open the garage door

before you start the engine. See Guarding against exhaust fumes in
this chapter for more instructions.

LO

C

K

A

C

C

ON

S

TA

R

T

0

I

II

III

4

3

2

1

Driving

84

If you smell exhaust fumes inside your vehicle, have your dealer
inspect your vehicle immediately. Do not drive if you smell

exhaust fumes.

Make sure the corresponding lights illuminate or illuminate briefly. If a
light fails to illuminate, have the vehicle serviced.

• If the driver’s safety belt is fastened, the

light may not illuminate.

Important safety precautions

When the engine starts, the idle RPM runs faster to warmthe engine. If
the engine idle speed does not slow down automatically, have the vehicle
checked.

Before starting the vehicle:

1. Make sure all occupants buckle their safety belts. For more
information on safety belts and their proper usage, refer to the Seating
and safety restraints chapter.

2. Make sure the headlamps and electrical accessories are off.

If starting a vehicle with an automatic transaxle:
• Make sure the parking brake is

set.

Driving

85