1996 Mercury Mystique Owner's Manual - Page 145

Downshifting When you slow down or climb a steep hill, always downshift before the engine starts to lose power. Downshifting reduces the chance of stalling and gives your vehicle better acceleration to increase speed again. When you drive down steep hills, downshifting helps you keep a safe speed and helps prevent unnecessary wear on the brakes. When you come to a stop, do not downshift through each gear. Disengage the clutch and use the brake as necessary. Downshifting through the gears decreases your vehicle's fuel economy. Do not attempt to shift into 1 (First) gear with the clutch pedal depressed at speeds higher than 20 mph (30 km/h). If you do, it could cause a complete clutch failure, making your vehicle inoperative. Traction Control (If equipped) The traction control system prevents the wheels from spinning on slippery roads. Working with the anti-lock brake system, the traction control system monitors the speed of the wheels as they roll over the road surface. When a wheel starts to spin because of slippery conditions, the traction control system slows the engine by closing the throttle. At speeds below 35 mph (55 km/h) the traction control system also applies the brake to the spinning wheel. When the traction control system becomes active, the driver may notice a very slight kick and then a hard resistance in the accelerator pedal, and a mechanical noise. The traction control system light on the instrument panel comes on or flashes on and off during activation. 146