Five Escort new owner questions

Hey Folks,

We have just acquired a nice little 1997 Ford Escort LX wagon. White, 150k miles, in very good shape. We have a couple questions about it we're looking for help with.

1. Is there a way to know if our escort has ABS brakes? The manual makes it sound like it was an option.

2. Our wagon did not come with a rear hatch shade. Would anyone know if a shade from a 1991 - 1996 (older style) will fit on our 1997 oval style wagon?

3. We have a dead panel in our dash where a power mirror controller can go (just left of the steering wheel). Would anyone know, are Escorts pre-wired for power mirrors? I once had a 1993 Ford Festiva. All the wiring was there already on the base model (L) and all I had to do was plug in the mirrors and switch I received from a junk yard.

I'd love to have power mirrors if they are that simple to add.

4. Would anyone know what make/model year seats might be able to swap out with 1997 wagon? Older escorts? Mazda Protégé's perhaps?

5. Would anyone have an oval radio faceplate for a cd player cut out to sell? They are frickin $69 online!!

Any ideas, comments or suggestions would be helpful.

cant help with most your questions but I have bought the radio faceplate at best buy and have seen on amazon, ebay for 50.00 and cheeper. See my radio how too at the end of this reply.

Quesiton #1 . If you have abs brakes the rear will disc brakes instead of drum.
Q#2. Yes it should.
Q#3. It should be wired. You may have to look for the connection and will need the harness from the body to the door for the mirror.
Q#4. Old style escort seats should bolt in. The floor pan is still the same. Would have to be a wagon for the rear seats. Front are the same for all bodies.
Q#5. Can't help you.

well there are a couple of ways to find out if you have ABS. Find an empty road some where and get going to about 60 k and slam on the brakes. If your not up for that kind of adventure then take a look at the dash when you start the car and ABS light will some on. it will look like this-> (ABS) then it will shut off when the car has started. If the light stays on then you have a problem.

Not sure about the shade. Probally better to tint the windows. I did and I love it, they can get hot in the summer.

They are prewired for every thing.

Proto 3 has nice seats, buckets leather if you can find them too. I have a set there nice to have.

For the face plate look on eBay