Since about the 2000 model year, Ford has incorporated a handy feature into most of their vehicles, including the Escape. It is a digital self-diagnostics mode that uses the odometer display & instrument cluster to show vehicle information.
Included in the list are battery voltage, engine RPMs & coolant temperature.
If you chose to access the diagnostics mode without starting the engine, you can go ahead & start the car at any time and continue to cycle thru the various display modes: this would be handy for checking the battery (Engine-OFF/Engine-ON) & to verify that the alternator is charging it. Something you could try is to turn on all of the electrical accessories to see how well the alternator keeps up (hi-beams, wipers, rear wiper, A/C, etc.) Also, if the car seems to have an erratic idle, you can see the actual rpms displayed; go ahead & rev the engine to see a higher rpm. You could also check the engine/coolant temperature - engine OFF or engine ON. Just some neat stuff to goof around with that may provide some useful info.
Unfortunately, I don't have a list for what the various outputs mean.
One of the items is the cluster diagnostic trouble codes(dtc): these aren't OBDII codes - you'll have to contact Ford to see what they mean. Although I'm not sure, I don't believe the cluster test displays error codes that are usually accessed via a diagnostic scanning tool when troubleshooting engine problems or when the check engine light comes on.
Here's a link w pics: Mustand World - HEC Instrument Cluster Diagnostics (1999/2000)
The Escape display is different than the Mustang's.
Gotta go. I'll try to update this later.
JMK.
- Insert the key into the ignition switch but don't turn it (just slide it in).
- Press & hold the odometer trip/reset button.
- Turn the key to the accessory position while continuing to press the button, but don't start the car. (alternatively, you can go ahead & start the car while pressing the button. I do it w the car off first, then w the car on).
- The odometer display will change to something that looks like tESt in an LCD font.
- Release the button when tESt appears.
- When you release the button, the display changes to GAGE & the gauges will sweep to their maximum positions, then return to their starting points.
- Push & release the button to cycle thru the 50 or so different display modes.
Included in the list are battery voltage, engine RPMs & coolant temperature.
If you chose to access the diagnostics mode without starting the engine, you can go ahead & start the car at any time and continue to cycle thru the various display modes: this would be handy for checking the battery (Engine-OFF/Engine-ON) & to verify that the alternator is charging it. Something you could try is to turn on all of the electrical accessories to see how well the alternator keeps up (hi-beams, wipers, rear wiper, A/C, etc.) Also, if the car seems to have an erratic idle, you can see the actual rpms displayed; go ahead & rev the engine to see a higher rpm. You could also check the engine/coolant temperature - engine OFF or engine ON. Just some neat stuff to goof around with that may provide some useful info.
Unfortunately, I don't have a list for what the various outputs mean.
One of the items is the cluster diagnostic trouble codes(dtc): these aren't OBDII codes - you'll have to contact Ford to see what they mean. Although I'm not sure, I don't believe the cluster test displays error codes that are usually accessed via a diagnostic scanning tool when troubleshooting engine problems or when the check engine light comes on.
Here's a link w pics: Mustand World - HEC Instrument Cluster Diagnostics (1999/2000)
The Escape display is different than the Mustang's.
Gotta go. I'll try to update this later.
JMK.