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Ford Escape Mazda Tribute Accessories

235 messages,  Last post on Mar 31, 2013 at 7:52 PM

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What is this discussion about? Mazda Tribute, Ford Escape, SUV

    

Messages Page 20 of 25

#183 of 235 Re: trailer hitch installation for a 2004 ford escape [slypars2] by ddmayer86

Sep 16, 2006 (8:11 pm)

Replying to: slypars2 (Aug 27, 2006 2:04 pm)
I just added a hitch (from U-Haul) to my FEH this week. The "access hole" I used was just the end of the frame tube. Here's what worked for me:
 
1. Fit the hitch up to the frame to identify the 4 holes you will be using.
 
2. For each hole you will be using - fish a wire through the hole next to that hole, the one closer to the front of the vehical. The wire should exit through the rear of the frame tube.
 
3. Tie a wire to the heavy steel rectangular "washers" provided with the hitch. Pull the washer into the frame tube until the hole in the washer lines up with the hole you will be using. Using the hole behind the hole you will be suing to fish the wire through allows you to line up the holes.
 
4. Fish another wire through the hole you will be using and the washer until it comes out the end of the frame tube. U-Haul provided a special wire you could thread the bolt onto.
 
5. Now pull the bolt through the frame and the "washer". Cut the wire from the washer and unthread the special fish wire from the bolt. How simple and easy! 1 down, 3 to go.
 
Sounds like a pain - and it is, but it should take less than an hour. No need to drill or remove the bumper cover - at least with the hitch I got. Good luck!

#184 of 235 Re: NEED HELP WITH OEM STEREO [bortz62] by peterlt

Sep 26, 2006 (4:21 pm)

Replying to: bortz62 (Jun 05, 2002 10:17 pm)
I removed my stock CD/Casetter/Radio that came with my Tribute. (Same as Ford) Replace the entire system with top of the line Pioneer CD/AM/FM head unit, replaced four door speakers with 3 way Pioneer, replaced tweeters, and after a huge amount of work, replace the Sub woofer with a new unit and amplifier. Lots of money, lots of work, but it sure sounds great.
 
I might be interested in parting with the old unit.

#185 of 235 mud flaps, 06 escape hybrid by newbrid

Sep 26, 2006 (5:41 pm)

Anyone have any good recommendations for an aftermarket mudflap(06 escape hyrbrid). Hybrid has painted lower panels that are going to get tortured on sandy/salty winter roads.
 
anyone?

#186 of 235 Re: trailer hitch installation for a 2004 ford escape [ddmayer86] by mecheng1

Sep 27, 2006 (12:35 pm)

Replying to: ddmayer86 (Sep 16, 2006 8:11 pm)
Just added my "Hidden Hitch" last weekend and can confirm that what the instructions mean by "access hole" is actually the far aft end of the "U" shaped beam (tube) -- the same beam that the hitch is attaching to.
I attached to six holes by threading the empty fish wires (provided) "backwards" through the desired mounting holes back to the beam opening. Then, after placing the rect steel "washers" and the bolts onto the wire, I pulled both through to the desired hole and with a little jiggling got them into place. It helped to pull through the two vertical bolts - one on each side - and then loosely install the hitch, before pulling the 4 horizontal bolts - two on each side - through to the holes with the hitch already in place.
 
This was my first experience with a hitch. Looks like this is all "business as usual" for those who have installed more than one hitch.
 
The Hidden Hitch looks good and is out of the way when not in use. A good design that takes into account the modification needed to avoid the HV battery Air/Conditioning refrigerant lines unique to the FEH.
 
 

#187 of 235 Head lights modifications by skywalker3

Nov 20, 2006 (9:16 am)

I like to know if its possible to upgrade my 2002 escape head lights with the new 2006 headlights. Any advice or instruction???

#188 of 235 Tire Size by chimpsnest

Nov 21, 2006 (12:16 pm)

Hello
 
After 86K miles on my OEM tires (p235/70R/16) I replaced them w/P245/70R/16 Michelin Cross Terrain SUV.
 
2 Q's - it seems my gas mileage has been affected (from avg of 20-21 down to 18 mpg) - would it affect it THAT much?
 
and - 2, what about my odometer/spedometer, should I look to have those calibrated to the new tire size (is that even possible?).
 
I'm am coming up on my 90K tune up, so I am also thinking that a new fuel filter, etc., may also help bring my mileage back up ??
 
Thanks. I'm just not sure if I did a VERY bad thing by putting those tires on my car.

#189 of 235 Re: Tire Size [chimpsnest] by tveilleux

Nov 22, 2006 (8:52 am)

Replying to: chimpsnest (Nov 21, 2006 12:16 pm)
The size increase does 2 things. One is to increase the diameter by about 4%. This would impact your speedometer reading by 4%. 4% of 20 mpg is 0.8 mpg. Thus you should expect to see a 0.8 mpg decrease in mileage if you use the odemeter to calculate you gas mileage. The other impact the increased size has is to perhaps increase the rolling resistance since the tire is wider and offers more rubber to the road. The difference is also about 4%. I am not going to say that the rolling resistance is directly proportional to the width, but there is a relationship that causes a measurable increase. Additionally, the Michelins have a good traction rating according to TireRack.com that could result in more rolling resistance than the OEM tires.

#190 of 235 Re: Tire Size [chimpsnest] by mecheng1

Nov 22, 2006 (8:52 am)

Replying to: chimpsnest (Nov 21, 2006 12:16 pm)
The OEM Continential ContraTrac EcoPlus are formulated with a stiff rubber compound so they can be designated as Low Rolling Resistance (LRR) tires...and the CrossTerrains are not. Many FEH owners run 40psi or more in the EcoPlus for improved FE. The EcoPlus are not widely available (just try to get one from someone besides the Ford dealer)
 
From what I have read from others on these FEH forums, I would say it is possible that you see a 10% FE hit from the new tires (2% for the circumference change alone.) Did you happen to switch tires just as the weather changed? - in the past did you notice a dip in FE during colder months?
 
There should be an adjustment procedure for tire circumference changes for the trip and FE computers (in the owners manual?) - but from my experience the speedometer is so inaccurate, I wouldn't bother with a formal recalibration. (just my griping about the poor quality Ford put into the gauges)
 
 

#191 of 235 Re: Tire Size [tveilleux] by mschmal

Nov 22, 2006 (9:05 am)

Replying to: tveilleux (Nov 22, 2006 8:52 am)
This post is wrong.
 
when you went to 245/70 from 235/70 you didn't change the diameter of your tire at all. The first number is the width of the tire in mm. not the diamter. the second number is the diameter number and is a ratio.
 
Mark.

#192 of 235 Re: Tire Size [mschmal] by steve_ HOST

Nov 22, 2006 (9:11 am)

Replying to: mschmal (Nov 22, 2006 9:05 am)
When I went to one of the tire calculator sites, it showed a 1.9% difference in speedo reading between the 235/70/16 and 245/70/16 sizes (the 245/70 one is 1.9% slow).
 
Here's a couple of calculators:
 
Miata.net
 
1010tires
 
I keep hitting the wrong buttons trying to compare the two sizes, but I think the ~4% difference is between a 16 and 17" tire.

Messages Page 20 of 25

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