FORD PROBE 1997 2.G Owners Manual

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Shifting the Gears
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The gearshift for a manual transaxle is mounted
on the floor. The gearshift can be in one of
seven possible positions, as shown.
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half page art:0030258-C
Shift pattern
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Always push the clutch pedal all the way in
when you shift. You should upshift according to
the speeds given in the chart later in this
chapter.
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Sometimes, you will upshift at higher speeds.
For example, you may want to stay in a lower
gear to gain more power for passing or for
climbing a hill. However, you must stay within
the range when you upshift or downshift.
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149 %
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Backing up
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To shift into R (Reverse):
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1. Bring your vehicle to acompletestop.
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2. Push the clutch pedal in all the way to the
floor and hold it. If you do not hold the
clutch pedal in all the way, you may hear a
grinding noise when you shift.
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3. Put the gearshift in Neutral and wait at least
3 seconds before shifting into R (Reverse) to
prevent a grinding noise. Do not release the
clutch.
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4. Then push the gearshift all the way to the
right and pull it down into R (Reverse).
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When in 5 (Fifth) gear, you can engage R
(Reverse) only by moving the gearshift to
Neutral before you shift into R (Reverse).
This is a special lockout feature that protects
you from accidentally shifting into R
(Reverse) when you downshift from 5 (Fifth)
gear.
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5. Once R (Reverse) is engaged, slowly release
the clutch pedal from the floor.
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If R (Reverse) is not engaged, continue to push
the clutch pedal in while you put the gearshift
back into Neutral. Then, release the clutch pedal
for a moment and repeat steps 2 through 5.
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150
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Upshifting
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For normal acceleration, you should upshift at
the following speeds:
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eight pica chart:0032089-A[GF10700(ALL)01/96]
For cruising, you should upshift at the following
speeds.
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eight pica chart:0032090-A%*
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Downshifting
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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.
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When you drive down steep hills, downshifting
helps you keep a safe speed and helps prevent
unnecessary wear on the brakes.
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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.
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151
WARNING
Do no tpar kyou rvehicl ein Neutral ,it
WARNING
D o no texcee dtheGVW Ror th eGAWR

152 %
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Limiting Your Vehicle's Load
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The load you add to your vehicle must not
exceed the maximum load stated on the tire
information decal.
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To figure the weight of your vehicle's load, add
the weights of:
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q
the driver and passengers
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q
luggage and any other items that you put in
your vehicle
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q
the weight of any equipment that has been
added to your vehicle since it was delivered
to your dealer
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If you do not know the actual weights of these
items, use the following procedure to figure the
weight of a load:
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1. Weigh your vehicle without the driver,
passengers and luggage. You might take
your vehicle to a shipping company or an
inspection station for trucks.
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2. Then weigh your vehicle with the driver,
passengers and luggage.
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3. Subtract the first reading from the second to
figure the total weight of the load.
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Update:Fri Jan 3 09:33:04 1997

153
WARNING
Improperdistributio nof you rvehicle's

154
WARNING
Neverus ea tow bartha tattache sto the

155
Roadside Emergencies
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Hazard Flasher
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To alert other drivers to hazardous situations,
press the hazard flasher switch on the top of the
steering column. All the turn signals will flash
on and off at the same time. The flashers will
also operate while the brake pedal is applied. To
turn the flashers off, press the switch again.
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The flashers work whether your vehicle is
running or not. The flashers will work for up to
two hours when the battery is fully charged and
in good condition. They will not drain the
battery excessively unless they are left on for an
extended period of time.
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If the flashers run for longer than 2 hours while
your engine is not running, or if your battery is
not fully charged, your battery could be drained.
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Update:Thu Jun 13 09:57:39 1996

156 [ER00700(ALL)01/96]
half page art:0032030-AHazard warning flasher switch
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If the Engine Cranks but Does
Not Start or Starting After a
Collision
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The Fuel Pump Shut-off Switch
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If the engine cranks but does not start or if you
have had a collision, the fuel pump shut-off
switch may have been triggered. The shut-off
switch is a device that stops the fuel pump
when your vehicle has been involved in a
substantial jolt.
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Once the shut-off switch is activated, you must
reset the switch by hand before you can start
your vehicle.
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Update:Thu Jun 13 09:57:39 1996

157
*RWARNING
If yo useeor smel lfuel ,do no trese tthe