Ford Escape Quiz
Maintenance

12V Battery Replacement

In this manual: Maintenance
Introduction — 1Symbol Glossary — 1Data Privacy — 7At a Glance — 1Child Safety — 11Seat Belts — 9Personal Safety System™ — 1Airbags — 8Pedestrian Warning System. 911 Assist — 1Keys and Remote Controls — 8MyKey™ — 5Doors & Locks — 5Keyless Entry — 6Easy Entry and Exit — 1Liftgate - Vehicles With: Manual Liftgate — 3Liftgate - Vehicles With: Power Liftgate — 6Safety — 4Steering Wheel — 1Wipers and Washers — 7Exterior Lighting — 8Interior Lighting — 4Windows — 3Interior Mirror — 1Exterior Mirrors — 1Sunroof (if equipped) — 4Instrument Cluster — 16Instrument Cluster Display — 14Trip Computer — 3Head-Up Display (If Equipped) — 1Remote Start — 5Climate Control — 7Cabin Air Quality — 1Front Seats — 5Rear Seats — 1Rear Seat Reminder — 1Memory Function — 1Garage Door Opener — 7USB Ports — 3Power Point - Vehicles With: 12V Outlet — 1Wireless Accessory Charger — 1Storage — 1Starting and Stopping the Engine — 9Hybrid Electric Vehicle Information — 6Auto Start-Stop — 1Fuel and Refueling — 10Catalytic Converter — 1High-Voltage Battery — 1Charging Your Vehicle – Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) — 7Automatic Transmission — 8All-Wheel Drive — 1Brakes — 4Electric parking brake — 1Hill Start Assist — 1Auto Hold — 1Traction Control — 1Stability Control — 1Steering — 1Park Aid — 7Rearview Camera — 1Active Park Assist — 5Cruise Control — 1Adaptive Cruise Control — 10Drive Mode Control — 5Lane Keeping System — 6Blind Spot Information System — 5Cross-Traffic Alert — 5Pre-Collision Assist — 9Driver Alert — 4Traffic Sign Recognition — 4Loading — 6Cargo Area — 1Trailer Hitch Connection — 3Towing a Trailer — 4Trailer Sway Control — 1Driving Tips — 4Breakdown and Emergency Information — 7Towing Your Vehicle — 4Fuses — 4Maintenance — 14Vehicle Care — 5Body Styling Kits — 1Storing Your Vehicle — 1Wheels and Tires Information — 6Tire Care — 4Tire Sealant and Inflator Kit — 8Tire Pressure Monitoring System — 4Road Wheel Replacement — 1Capacities and Specifications — 16Vehicle Identification — 1Connected Vehicle — 4Vehicle Wi-Fi Hotspot — 3Audio System — 8SYNC™ (if equipped) — 9SYNC™ 3 (if equipped) — 41Accessories — 1Ford Protect — 1Scheduled Maintenance — 4Customer Information — 23Appendices — 3
9steps
~54min
3/5difficulty
Done 0 of 9

The battery is located in the engine compartment.

Your vehicle has a maintenance-free battery. It does not require adding water during service.

For longer trouble-free operation, keep the top of the battery clean and dry, and the battery cables tightly secured to the battery terminals. If there is corrosion on the battery or terminals, disconnect the cables from the terminals and clean with a wire brush. You can neutralize acid with a solution of baking soda and water.

We recommend disconnecting the negative battery cable from the battery if you plan to store your vehicle for an extended period.

To maintain proper operation of the battery management system, if you add any electrical devices to your vehicle, do not connect a ground directly to the negative battery terminal. Connecting to the negative battery terminal may result in inaccurate battery state measurements and potentially incorrect system operation.

If you replace the battery, make sure that it meets the electrical requirements of your vehicle.

If you disconnect or replace the battery in your vehicle with an automatic transmission, it must relearn its adaptive strategy. Because of this, the transmission may shift abruptly during the first few drives. This is normal. The transmission will fully update its operation to the optimal shift feel during this time.

Remove and Reinstall the Battery

To disconnect or remove the battery, do the following:

  1. Apply the parking brake and turn the ignition off.
  2. Turn off all electrical equipment, such as the headlamps and radio.
  3. Wait at least two minutes before disconnecting the battery.
  4. Note: The powertrain control module has a power hold feature and remains powered for some time after the ignition is turned off. This is necessary for diagnostic and adaptive learning tables to be stored. Disconnecting the battery without waiting may cause damage not covered by the vehicle warranty.
  5. Disconnect the negative battery cable terminal.
  6. Disconnect the positive battery cable terminal.
  7. Remove the battery retainer.
  8. Remove the battery.
  9. To install, perform the removal procedure in reverse.

If you disconnect or replace the vehicle battery, you must reset the following features:

  • Power windows, return to normal operation.
  • Clock settings.
  • Preset radio stations.
  • Steering wheel angle sensor.

Battery Management System

The Battery Management System monitors the battery condition and takes measures to extend battery life. If excessive battery drain is detected, the system temporarily disables some of the following features:

  • Rear window defroster.
  • Heated seats.
  • Climate control.
  • Heated steering wheel.
  • Audio unit.
  • Navigation system.

A message may appear in the information display to warn you that battery saver functions are active.

After replacing the battery, or in some cases after charging the battery with an external charger, the Battery Management System requires eight hours of vehicle sleep time to relearn the battery state of charge. During this time, your vehicle must remain completely closed with the ignition off.

Battery Disposal

Ford Escape. Changing the 12V BatteryMake sure you dispose of old batteries in an environmentally friendly manner. Consult your local authority for advice on recycling old batteries.

Test yourself

A quick Ford Escape quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.