1997 Mercury Cougar Owner's Manual - Page 158

Never hold the steering wheel to the extreme right or left for more than five seconds if the engine is running. This can damage the power steering pump. Speed Sensitive Power Steering (If equipped) The steering system in 4.6L engine vehicles is speed sensitive. This means that the steering effort is light for parking and heavier for highway driving. However, if you have to swerve around an object or another vehicle, your steering will have full power assist. Driving with an Automatic Overdrive Transmission The gearshift lever is floor mounted. The automatic overdrive transmission operates very much like a regular automatic transmission, except it offers the extra overdrive feature. Putting Your Vehicle in Gear 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. To move the shifter out of P (Park), the ignition key must be turned to the ON position and the shift lever thumb button must be pushed in. To operate: 1. 2. 3. Start the engine. Depress and hold the brake pedal. Move the gearshift lever out of P (Park). 157