Mercury 1996 Sable Manual page 236

By moving the vehicle backward and forward,
you may gain enough momentum to move out
of the spot. Do not rock the vehicle for more
than a few minutes. This may overheat the
engine, damage the transaxle, or damage the
tires. If you are still stuck after a minute or two
of rocking, call for a tow truck.
High water
Do not drive through flooded areas unless you
are sure that the water is below the bottom of
the wheel rims.
If you must drive through high water, drive
slowly. You may have limited traction or wet
brakes, so allow extra stopping distance because
your vehicle will not stop as quickly as usual.
After you drive through the standing water,
apply your brakes gently several times as your
vehicle moves slowly. This helps to dry the
brakes.
Driving With a Heavy Load
There are limits to the amount of weight your
vehicle can carry or tow. The total weight of
your vehicle, plus the weight of the passengers
and cargo, should never be more than the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). Also, the weight
that your vehicle carries over the front axle and
rear axle should never be more than the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for the respective
axle.
You can find your vehicle's GVWR and GAWR
on the Safety Compliance Certification Label on
the left front door lock facing or on the door
latch post pillar.
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