1997 Ford Probe Owner Guide 1st Printing - Page 140

R WARNING To prevent personal injury, do not release the parking brake while outside the vehicle. R WARNING Always set the parking brake fully and make sure that the gearshift is securely latched in P (Park) (automatic transaxle) or in 1 (First) (manual transaxle). Always check the Brake Warning Light each time you start your engine. Driving with the parking brake on will cause the brakes to wear out quickly and will reduce the fuel economy. R WARNING If the parking brake is fully released, but the Brake System light remains on, have the brakes checked immediately. They may not be working properly. The parking brake is not designed to stop a moving vehicle, but you can use the parking brake to stop your vehicle in an emergency if the normal brakes fail. However, since the parking brake applies only the rear brakes, the stopping distance will increase greatly and the handling of your vehicle will be adversely affected. Steering Your Vehicle Your vehicle is equipped with power steering. Power steering uses energy from the engine to help steer your vehicle. If the amount of effort needed to steer your vehicle changes at a constant vehicle speed, have the power steering system checked. If the power 137