1997 Lincoln Town Car Owner's Manual - Page 172

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. WARNING To prevent personal injury, do not release the parking brake while outside the vehicle. Your vehicle has an automatic parking brake release. As you move the gearshift selector to any forward gear with the engine running, the parking brake automatically releases. Your parking brake will not release automatically when you shift into R (Reverse). To release the parking brake manually, pull the brake release handle [marked (P)] located on the lower left corner of the instrument panel. The pedal is now released and will reset the next time you press the pedal. The Brake System Warning Light will glow if the parking brake is not fully released when the engine is running. 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. 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. 169