FORD 2006 Escape Hybrid v.1 - Manual (Page 8)

• You may hear a slight whine or whistle when operating your vehicle.
This noise could occur at idle, and during cruising and accelerating; it
is caused by the normal operation of electrical generator in the hybrid
system.
• The Escape Hybrid’s hydraulic brake system used for regenerative
braking is different from other vehicles. The noise from the ABS pump
motor and the brake pedal pulsation are much less than on vehicles
with conventional ABS. Noise and pedal pulsation during ABS may not
be noticed. For more information about braking, refer to Braking in
the Driving chapter.
• The engine speed in an Escape Hybrid is not directly tied to the
vehicle speed. Under certain conditions, the engine speed may appear
much higher than that of a conventional automobile. This is a normal
condition and is caused by engine speed optimization to maximize fuel
economy.
• During certain events (such as vehicle servicing) your low voltage
(underhood) battery may become disconnected or disabled. When this
occurs, and after reconnecting the low voltage (underhood) battery
and driving the vehicle, the engine may continue to operate for 3-5
seconds after the key is turned to the 1 (LOCK) position. This is a
normal condition, as the vehicle’s computers are relearning the
operating characteristics of your particular engine in order to operate
it at maximum efficiency.
• The high voltage battery may go through a self-reconditioning process
from time to time; these events optimize high voltage battery
performance. You may notice slight changes to driveability during the
reconditioning process. This is a normal condition.
• If the vehicle is left inoperative for over 31 days, it may be necessary
to jumpstart the vehicle. For more information, refer to Jump
starting your vehicle (Low voltage [underhood] battery only) in
the Roadside Emergencies chapter.
DRIVING TO OPTIMIZE FUEL ECONOMY
Fuel economy can be significantly impacted by your driving habits and
accessory usage. To optimize the fuel economy in your vehicle, please be
aware of the following vehicle functions which affect fuel economy:
A/C operation
• With the climate control system set to MAX A/C, defrost, or
defrost/floor mode (the orange graphics on your climate control), the
engine will typically run continuously, reducing fuel economy. Setting
2006 Escape Hybrid (hev)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus)
Introduction
8