1997 Ford Escort Service and Repair Manual

This factory service and repair manual for the 1997 Ford Escort covers a single engine, the 2.0-liter naturally aspirated SOHC inline-four, in a range of eight trims: Base, Aust, Deportivo, Deportivo Equi, Equi, LX, Mid and Sport. The bodies are the four-door wagon and the four-door sedan. One powertrain across the whole range lets the manual spend its length on the rest of the car, with procedures, specifications, torque values, wiring diagrams and diagnostics for the transaxle, brakes, suspension, restraints, climate control and body electrics.

Engines covered

• 2.0L inline-four (121 cu in) — SOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline

Body styles covered

• 4-door wagon
• 4-door sedan

Trims covered

• Base
• Aust
• Deportivo
• Deportivo Equi
• Equi
• LX
• Mid
• Sport

Known issues on the 1997 Escort. Two recalls are logged on the federal record for this year. The more serious involves the integrated air bag monitor, which could be contaminated with water and short internally, enough to light the air bag readiness lamp and, in rare cases, deploy a bag, melt wiring or start a fire. The second covers replacement driver's side seat belts supplied for these cars that did not meet the required strength. Owners have filed 610 complaints with NHTSA, and air bags and the electrical system between them account for most of the total. Restraint diagnostics and wiring diagrams are the sections that matter here.