1996 Mercury Cougar Owner's Manual - Page 166

Your vehicle is equipped with a Brake Shift Interlock safety feature. This feature prevents the gearshift from being moved from the P (Park) position until the brake pedal is depressed. This feature is active when the ignition is in the ON position. If the gearshift lever CANNOT be moved from P (Park) with the brake pedal depressed: 1. 2. 3. 4. Turn the engine off and remove the ignition key. Apply parking brake. Reinsert the ignition key and turn clockwise to the first position (OFF). Depress the brake pedal, move the gearshift lever to N (Neutral) and start the engine. RWARNING DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE UNTIL YOU VERIFY THAT THE BRAKELAMPS ARE WORKING. If you need to shift out of P (Park) by using the alternate procedure described above, it is possible that a fuse has blown and that your brakelamps may also not be functional. Please refer to the chapter titled Servicing Your Cougar in this Owner Guide for instructions on checking and replacing fuses. The console-mounted gearshift will lock in P (Park) when you turn the key to the LOCK position. When the gearshift is in any position except P (Park), the ignition key cannot be turned to LOCK or removed from the steering column. TO REMOVE THE KEY, the gearshift lever must be in P (Park). 166