Amber Arrow

I just picked up this 99 Escort SE with 5 speed stick, not a bad little car at all. There is an amber arrow (arrow points to front end of car) in the lower left section of instrument cluster that illuminates intermittently. It's kind of funny, but what is it for? Just curious to know.

That is the "Shift Indicator". It tells you when you should shift gears for maximum economy.

If you drive standard at all before you got the car, completly ignore it. It will tell you to shift at stupid times. Like going up hill, 'just' holding speed, it will tell you to shift to 5th. I don't know if it goes off of RPM, or what, but I think it is BS (unless mine is screwed up somehow).

Common misunderstanding about the light.... it is not supposed to tell you when to shift. All it does is tell you that if you shift when it comes on that you will maximize fuel economy. It doesn't know if you are going up hills or if you are doing 50 in 2nd gear... it just goes by the info it receives.
You will forget it is there after awhile.

Thanks for the replies. I thought it might be related to transmission shifts, I've ignored it anyway.