NOTE: To receive maximum benefit, the inspection should occur
during daylight
hours.
Take delivery of the new vehicle after it passes the following inspections:
Paperwork
check: IMPORTANT - verify before you fall in love with the
Escape!! |
OK? |
INSPECT:
|
|
Vehicle Identification - Check VIN on dashboard and
door plate against title |
|
Option Verification - Check Sticker to verify all codes |
|
Owners manual, vehicle warranty, Ford contact pamphlet,
tire warranty, These items can be very difficult to obtain after the dealership has your
money. |
|
Floor mats |
Ford Escape/Mazda Tribut specific checks |
OK? |
Inspect: |
|
Check roof for rubber strips and tie
down grommets. {four}, most only receive 2 |
|
Check inside of doors and rear hatch
and rear window to make sure all rubber inserts are there. |
|
Check to make sure all four wheel
hubs are a matched set. |
|
Make sure the wheel lip moldings
with the 16' wheel pack |
|
Check roof racks for backward mount
mounting |
|
Check for gap between driver's side
door panel and door. |
|
Do the vents through a fuel
smell during a warm start? If so, check the intake manifold
for loose bolts. |
|
Check that the door
inserts above the armrests match your chosen interior. (i.e.
Leather or Cloth) |
|
Check for vanity mirrors
on visors (driver and passenger side) |
|
Check for inserts
(holes) in rear seat to hold headrests when seats are folded down |
Exterior
Appearance Inspection: (walk around inspection of the exterior ) NOTE: While inspecting exterior, look for paint
problems such as Bubbles in clear coat, Excessive orange peel, Industrial fallout on paint
finish, Scratches, Dents, etc. |
OK? |
INSPECT:
|
Front End &
Cab |
Nose / Fender / Hood Area |
|
Bumpers (not even a hint of rust) |
|
Fender fit and finish |
|
Hood fit and finish |
|
Grille fit and finish |
Cab Area |
|
Door fit and finish |
|
Door Jamb Area |
|
Hinges |
|
Locks |
|
Molding |
|
Rubber gaskets |
|
Outside decorative Trim |
|
Window operation |
|
Check for windshield cracks |
|
Mirrors |
|
Roof |
|
Check seams for separation |
|
Radio antenna |
Bed
& Rear End |
Rear End |
|
Bumpers - watch for dents, rust, loose
mounting bolts |
|
Tail gate - check latch function, cables |
|
Receiver - installed, bolts tight, trailer
plug cover opens without interference |
Under
body inspection |
|
Check for coffee cups and trash stuffed in
chassis rails |
|
Check for proper amount of grease in grease
fittings |
|
Check for loose steering box |
|
Shake intermediate steering shaft - feel for
any loose parts/joints |
|
Check shocks for for looseness |
|
Check brake line routing (no kinks, no
rubbing) |
|
Check routing of emergency brake cable |
Jack,
Lug Nut, and Tire Checks |
OK? |
INSPECT:
|
Wheels & Tires |
|
Check door plate against tire size for match |
|
Right Front Tire - proper size, tread pattern,
inflation pressure |
|
Left Front Tire - proper size, tread pattern,
inflation pressure |
|
Right Rear Tire - proper size, tread pattern,
inflation pressure |
|
Left Rear Tire - proper size, tread pattern,
inflation pressure |
|
Spare - installed, proper size and tread |
Jack and wheel changing accessories |
|
Retrieve jack and tire tools - inspect for
completeness |
|
Check jack function - it will be stiff, but
should crank up and down |
|
Using the lug wrench, verify that all lugs are
not cross threaded and tight |
|
Check spare tire carrier - Check all
functionality |
|
Return jack and accessories |
Under hood
Inspection |
OK? |
INSPECT:
|
|
Check function of secondary hood latch |
|
Check for smooth hinge operation with no
binding |
|
Check grill for loose fasteners |
|
Identify all components |
|
Check brake fluid |
|
Check Power steering fluid |
|
Check PS tubing and hoses for rubbing |
|
Check Oil level |
|
Check washer fluid |
|
Check transmission fluid |
|
Check for coolant leak, heater hose |
|
Check Battery cables - tight? |
|
Check A/C hose routing for rubbing |
|
Test coolant additive level (FW-16) |
Check Air Cleaner |
|
Installed? |
|
Check housing for obstructions (coffee cups,
trash) |
|
Check filter seal - Smear Vaseline
on filter
gasket, close cleaner, open again. check for 100% positive mating mark,
Vaseline should be
displaced (plastic air cleaners housings can warp, allowing unfiltered air to pass) |
|
Check firewall noise deadening insulation.
Compare against Excursion. |
|
Check on injector additive. |
Take
a break, go wash your hands |
Interior
Inspection - look inside for appearance problems |
OK? |
INSPECT:
|
Front Seats |
|
Appearance of upholstery and hardware |
|
6-way power seat test. |
|
Recline Function |
|
Front to rear adjustment |
|
Folding Function |
|
Center Console Latch works. |
Rear Seat |
|
Appearance of upholstery and hardware |
|
Function |
|
Fold |
Carpet |
|
Check for window or door seal leaks. |
|
Check for stains and tears |
General Interior Fit and Finish |
|
Dash & Steering wheel |
|
Shifter & Pedals |
|
Headliner & Door Panels |
|
Check for grill/vent on doors |
Operation
Verification |
OK? |
INSPECT:
|
Set parking brake
Put manual transmission in neutral, Automatic in Park
Turn key to run position ( DO NOT START )
Put manual transmission in neutral, Automatic in Park
Turn key to run position ( DO NOT START )
|
|
Warning lights should illuminate and then go out (engine
warning should stay lit ) |
|
Oil pressure reads 0 |
|
Water Temperature steady |
|
Fuel Gauge steady |
|
Tachometer reads 0 |
|
Warning Buzzer should sound if door is opened |
|
Warning Buzzer should sound if headlights are turned on |
Start Engine |
|
Firm brake pedal (not mush, does not slowly sink to floor) |
|
Oil Pressure - normal and steady |
|
Water temperature - steady |
|
Voltmeter - should read 13.5 to 14.5 volts - may jump up
and down on a cold diesel as heater grids cycle on and off |
|
Fuel Gauge - steady |
|
Tachometer - steady at a reasonable idle speed |
|
No Warning Lights or Buzzers |
|
Shift between forward and reverse gears listening for
abnormal sounds and clunks |
Test
Lights |
Turn on Lights and check bulbs
|
|
Check Instrument Panel Light dimmer |
|
High beam |
|
Low Beam |
|
Tail Lights |
|
License plate lights |
|
Side marker lights |
|
Running lights |
Turn lights off
|
|
Brake lights |
|
flashers |
|
Turn signals |
|
Dome lights on when doors open |
|
Dome lights on when doors closed and switch on |
|
Check Map light switches |
|
Bed (cargo) light - Turn on and off with switch |
|
Temporarily Engage Transmission reverse gear and check
backup lights |
Radio & speaker test - Turn Radio on Turn Radio on |
|
Tune an station AM |
|
balance speakers |
|
seek new station |
|
Tune an station FM |
|
balance speakers |
|
seek new station |
|
Play a tape |
|
Play a CD |
Mirror Tests |
|
Vanity Mirror Left, Right |
|
Rearview Mirror - adjust, flip day/night |
|
Outside Mirror - Adjust Left, Right, Up Down, Check
heating functionality |
|
Look for Mirror Vibration at idle |
Steering Wheel |
|
Blow Horn (should require an easy push, not a great deal
of force) |
|
Turn wheel to lock in both directions - should not bind |
|
Adjust tilt to fit |
Overhead
Console (if applicable) |
|
Check Map Lights - make sure all display segments light
properly |
Power options |
|
Lock and Unlock Doors |
|
Raise and lower windows |
|
Keyless entry functions. |
Windshield
Wipers |
|
Wash & Wipe |
|
Check All Speeds |
Heat
and Air Conditioner system |
|
Check for blower motor squeak |
|
cycle through all heat positions - vents should change as
expected |
|
Check Fan on all speeds |
|
AC runs in Defrost positions |
|
Temperature knob turns smoothly - note: cold engine may
not produce heat |
Road Test - Ready
for a drive?? Check Seat and Mirror Adjustments |
OK? |
INSPECT:
|
|
Test reverse gear |
|
Parking Brake should hold in 1st gear |
|
Release parking brake and run through the gears - listen
for noise |
|
Feel for scratchy synchronizers (manual) |
|
Torque Converter Lockup should stay locked, not hunting
(auto) |
|
Firm shifts |
|
Listen for noises while running straight, turning, and
when stopping |
|
Can you hear the turn signals? |
|
Listen for valve tappet noises |
|
Feel for a Steering wheel clunk over bumps or when
stopping |
|
Push/pull top of steering wheel to check for play |
|
Check alignment - no pulling left or right |
|
Braking - no pulling left or right |
|
Cruise Control - check function of Set, Coast,
Accelerate, Resume, Cancel |
|
Check mirrors for vibration at speed |
If
vehicle is still OK at this point, it can be accepted. |
OK? |
Complete:
|
|
Finalize the paperwork and leave the dealer |
|
Fill up the fuel tank if the dealer did not do it. |
|
Drive the truck on expressway |
|
Test speedometer accuracy with stopwatch & mile
markers |
|
Retest cruise control functions |
|
Listen for noises |
|
Feel for vibrations |
|
Watch for steering problems |
|
Note all the people staring at your sweet ride! |
This inspection list was
originally compiled by Tim Butterfield
starting with an inspection list written by Bob Brand.
Revision is constantly in
progress.
Updated on Feb.
3, 2001 for 2001 Ford Escape by John H Downs
|