Australian ZC Escape - Weekend Hacks ;)

Im in QLD. The answer to Why oh Why is : Because something had to be done.

The BA/ZA/ZB escapes had green backlighting, consistently through the car.

The ZC has Green on the doors, fog switch, 4x4 switch, a little amber on the dash and shifter, and blue most other places.

And that blue - is iridescent. Its really hard to deal with after 500km at night. So Id love to tone it down.

I think I have an answer for the dash... but that may actually be a complete new print on film which the guys on Fordmods here in Aus have been doing for quite some time for the E-Series Falcons. Then I can have almost any colour I want.

Do any US escapes have any other colour other than green for the Cluster LCD? - Green sucks!.

I may even look at adapting a Mazda CX7 or 3 or 6 LCD as they are LED backlit for colour

Cheers

Nigel

Well, I gave up waiting, and ripped the dash out again.

Im leaving the dials Blue (yeah, you US folk should all be jealous....) but Ive changed the ODO illumination to Amber. Turned out really well.

Youve all seen how to remove the dash, so I wont cover that. The 06 Escape here has the same dash layout as the 01-04 model in the US.

To change the LCD Illumination Colour, you'll need to remove the Circuit Board from the back of the cluster. That was 5 screws on the back, and then very gentle manipulation to remove the board from the 4 Gauges on the front.

Next I needed to remove the black clip at the top of the LCD. My Apologies for not taking pics - I was without batterys at this point. The Clip undoes using a small screwdriver - a "clip" on each of the bottom (lower) corners (put the small/jewelers driver down where there is a small "hole", and manipulate the white plastic carefully so that the black cover/clip is released). There is also two "retainers" on the Top (Upper) side, about 10mm in. Gently pry the black plastic away from the lcd to release, making sure you dont put pressure on the LCD and damage it.

At this point, the black Clip should come off, and you will have access to the LCD. At the very bottom of the LCD is the Green Opaque Light Disperser/ Filter. Its glued on around the edges - very, very gently use something to pull the Filter away from the LCD (I used a jewelers screwdriver) and then when all 4 sides have been released, gently pull it out.

I replaced the Filter with a combination of Amber Paper, and some White Photographic Paper (like a photo) which helps to disperse the light. The Amber paper is to the bottom, the Photo Paper, then the LCD. Very carefully cut to size (use the original filter as a guide) and then place under the LCD. You can now replace the black clip you removed, and put the rest of the cluster back together carefully.

Results... Below, As well as other shots of the Climate and Stereo on the Escape.

I also modded the 4x4 switch to Amber (Green has no place in this car) as well as the Fog Light Switch (Amber backlight with Amber on indicator)

Cluster after Mod


Stereo and Climate on 06 Aus Escape. Id like to change both of these to Amber. I think I have that figured out just waiting to purchase the 1206 SMD LED's for the change


Shifter - Note the Blue. I think this will change to Amber


Climate Unit out of Car.




Stereo Face Plate Dissasembly..

Poor, Poor car!.

One of the biggest deficiencies in the ZC escape here is that the Low Beams switch off when the Highs go on. They in fact use pre-05 wiring (Switched Ground).

So - did the adjustment so they stay on.

(Pics to come). Wired the Low Beams switched wire to ground so that they are always on.

I also ran a pair of wires from the Two original wires to the globe, to a Relay. The Relay doesnt switch anything - it just presents a load. This at least lets the dash light illuminate. Its quick, and it works.

Later on I'll investigate doing a "nicer" hack inside the car so that the globe has full brightness.

Pics will come later - but then youve all seen an 05 or later with all the lights on.

Nigel

Well, got bored on the weekend and finished the job.
First Pic is Original, Second is how its finished up. Clickable links of course
Very happy. I did neglect to take pics of the process though - sorry!





Only the shifter left and Ive ridded myself of the blue. And the one green light left for key illumination.

Nigel

I dont think the 5.4 will fit - its too wide. (thats the thought) - and I am well versed with the 5.0 (I have an XF with an EFi 5.0 and an EL with the 185... which used to be a 6.
So I'll stick with the 5.0, EFI, 4 speed Auto, and RWD. For someone else Im sure that using a Territory 4 speed auto Extension housing, and perhaps an exploder front diff might give more options but I never use 4x4 anyway - its just a great driving position car.

Im still considering the swap, however I may have to go back to a BA Escape to do it (01 model) so that I can use the 01 or 02 engine from an AU Falcon (or an EF or EL...)

I can still retro-fit the ZC interior to a BA - the wiring is 99% identical anyway so just need to wait until their price drops. For now, just get the 5.0 running eh?
Wont be for a little while yet. Have to get it into my head to sell the XF, find the right BA, then find an AU Body to cut the trans tunnel out of so I can mount the engine high enough to get over the rack. Then should be easy enough.

In the meantime... my wife wont let me touch the ZC