1997 Ford Mustang Owner Guide 1st Printing - Page 166

WARNING Always set the parking brake fully and make sure the gearshift is latched in P (Park). Turn off the ignition whenever you leave your vehicle. WARNING Never leave your vehicle unattended while it is running. You can tell a console-mounted gearshift is securely latched in P (Park) if the lever is adjacent to the P (Park) and you cannot move it without pushing in the thumb button. Driving with a Manual Transmission Using the Clutch After starting the engine with the clutch pedal pushed to the floor, allow it to idle for a few seconds. Then, hold your right foot on the brake pedal. Release the hand brake. Move the gearshift into 1 (First) or R (Reverse) gear. To move the vehicle, pull your right foot off the brake pedal and then slowly release the clutch pedal. (You may need to press down slowly on the accelerator at the same time that you release the clutch pedal.) Do not drive with your foot resting on the clutch pedal and do not use the clutch to hold your vehicle at a standstill while waiting on a hill. These actions will seriously reduce clutch life. Driving with your foot resting on the clutch may cause the vehicle to jerk sharply when pressing or removing your other foot from the accelerator. 167