Ford Excursion (2000 year). Manual — part 27

5. Refer to the Installing child safety seats in combination lap and
shoulder belt seating positions section of this chapter for further
instructions to secure the child safety seat.

6. Tighten the child safety seat tether strap according to the
manufacturer’s instructions.

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

Seating and safety restraints

107

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.

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

exhaust fumes.

Important safety precautions

A computer system controls the engine’s idle revolutions per minute
(RPM). When the engine starts, the idle RPM runs faster to warm the
engine. If the engine idle speed does not slow down automatically, have
the vehicle checked. Do not allow the vehicle to idle for more than 10
minutes at high engine RPM.

Before starting the vehicle:

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

Starting

108

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

3. Make sure the parking brake is
set.

4. Make sure the gearshift is in P
(Park).

3. Turn the key to 4 (ON) without
turning the key to 5 (START).

If there is difficulty in turning the
key, firmly rotate the steering wheel
left and right until the key turns
freely. This condition may occur
when:
• front wheels are turned
• front wheel is against the curb
• steering wheel is turned when getting in or out of the vehicle

Make sure the corresponding lights 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.

1

2

3

4

5

0

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0

MPH

20

km/h

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

LOW
FUEL

CRUISE

ABS

+ -

L

E

F

H

RPM 1000

X

0

1

2

3

5

6

4

P R N

2 1

8

C

18

H

D

FUEL FILL

DOOR
AJAR

LOW

RANGE

4 X 4

BRAKE

!

SERVICE

ENGINE

SOON

THEFT

Starting

109

STARTING THE ENGINE

1. Turn the key to 5 (START)
without pressing the accelerator
pedal and release as soon as the
engine starts. The key will return to
4 (ON).

2. If the temperature is above –12°C
(10°F) and the engine does not
start within five seconds on the first
try, turn the key to OFF, wait 10
seconds and try again.

3. If the temperature is below -12° C (10° F) and the engine does not start
in 15 seconds on the first try, turn the key OFF and wait 10 seconds and try
again. If the engine does not start in two attempts, press the accelerator
pedal all the way to floor and hold. Turn the key to START position.

4. When the engine starts, release the key, then release the accelerator
pedal gradually as the engine speeds up.

5. After idling for a few seconds, apply the brake and release the parking
brake.

Using the engine block heater (if equipped)

An engine block heater warms the
engine coolant, which improves
starting, warms up the engine faster
and allows the heater-defroster
system to respond quickly. Use of an
engine block heater is strongly
recommended if you live in a region
where temperatures reach -23°C
(-10°F) or below.

For best results, plug the heater in
at least three hours before starting
the vehicle. Using the heater for
longer than three hours will not harm the engine, so the heater can be
plugged in the night before starting the vehicle.

To prevent electrical shock, do not use your heater with
ungrounded electrical systems or two-pronged (cheater) adapters.

3

2

1

5

4

Starting

110