Changing the battery in a 2013 ford escape

The procedure for changing this battery should be the same for this entire generation of Ford escapes (2013-2019)

A bad battery could be the source of a no start. most auto parts stores will test your battery for free and should your battery fail follow this procedure

Tools required:

-10mm ratcheting wrench or 10mm socket and ratchet

-8mm socket with extensions

-trim clip removal tool

-memory saver (not necessary)

Step 1.

Open the hood with the release located in the drivers foot well on the door sides and plug the memory saver into the OBD2 port if you have one

Step 2.

Remove the battery cover panel by pulling up and sliding away from the firewall

Step 3.

Remove the four 8mm bolts holding the air filter box together. While this step is not strictly necessary I find it makes pulling and reinstalling the air box much easier

Step 4.

Pull this tab and peel that rubber boot over to the side

Then push this rubber tab underneath to the left until it has released the plastic tab as shown below

Step 5.

Remove the air box assembly, the tube circled in green will pull out if you grab it and just pull straight up. Then remove the two screws highlighted in red (8mm) and the box containing the air filter will pull out. Try to remember how you got the air box out as it will make reinstallation easier.

Step 6.

After pulling the air box remove the trim clips holding the wire highlighted in red into the battery box using a trim clip tool. Once again this is not strictly necessary but I find it makes things go much more smoothly.

Step 7.

Remove the positive battery terminal by loosening the 10mm nut on top and pulling off. I know removing the negative first is the preferred method but it's not very possible on this battery configuration unfortunately. Just be careful and try not to ground the terminal to the body anywhere, one easy trick is as soon as you have the terminal off wrap it in a rag to be sure it can't ground out.

Step 8.

With the terminal removed you can now pull the front of the battery box off by pulling up on the front face of the box (red) while simultaneously pushing out on the sides of the box (green). Pull up on the front until you feel it stop and then push the sides out and the front face should come free and flop forwards and look something like this.

Step 9.

Remove the battery hold down bar by taking these two 10mm nuts all the way off and lifting the bar out. Take note of the way the bar comes out as it only fits properly one way

Step 10.

Pull the negative terminal wires over this cutout and the battery should have enough slack to be free to pull forwards and out of the battery box as such

Step 11.

Remove the negative battery terminal on the back of the battery again a 10mm. Unfortunately I didn't seem to get a good picture of this however it should be fairly obvious

Step 12. install the new battery

Do the reverse of the removal procedure

Be sure to put the negative battery terminal wires back into the cutout or the battery cover will not go back properly