1996 Mercury Tracer Owner's Manual - Page 198

You can tell the gearshift is securely latched when the thumb button has popped out. In this position the gearshift selector lever cannot be moved unless the button is pushed in. RWARNING Hold the brake pedal down while you move the gearshift lever from position to position. If you do not hold the brake pedal down, your vehicle may move unexpectedly and injure someone. Driving with a Manual Transaxle Using the Clutch In order to start the vehicle, the clutch pedal must be fully depressed to the floor. Before starting the engine, make sure the vehicle is in Neutral and the parking brake is set. 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. Shifting the Gears The gearshift for a manual transaxle is mounted on the floor. The gearshift can be in one of seven possible positions, as shown. The positions of the floor-mounted gearshift 198