Hill and Mountain Roads

Driving on steep hills or through mountains is different than driving on flat or rolling terrain. Tips for driving in these conditions include:

• Keep the vehicle serviced and in good shape.

• Check all fluid levels and brakes, tires, cooling system, and transmission.

• Shift to a lower gear when going down steep or long hills.

WARNING!
If you do not shift down, the brakes could get so hot that they would not work well. You would then have poor braking or even none going down a hill. You could crash. Shift down to let the engine assist the brakes on a steep downhill slope.

WARNING!
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral) or with the ignition off is dangerous. The brakes will have to do all the work of slowing down and they could get so hot that they would not work well. You would then have poor braking or even none going down a hill. You could crash. Always have the engine running and the vehicle in gear when going downhill.

• Stay in your own lane. Do not swing wide or cut across the center of the road. Drive at speeds that let you stay in your own lane.

• Be alert on top of hills, something could be in your lane (stalled car, accident).

• Pay attention to special road signs (falling rocks area, winding roads, long grades, passing or no-passing zones) and take appropriate action.

    See also:

    Automatic Transmission
    The automatic transmission has a shift lever located on the console between the seats. The mode or selected gear is shown in the instrument cluster P (Park): This position locks the drive wheels ...

    Cruise Control Light
    The cruise control light is white whenever the cruise control is set, and turns green when the cruise control is active. The light turns off when the cruise control is turned off. See Cruise Contro ...

    Charging System Light
    The charging system light comes on briefly when the ignition is turned on, but the engine is not running, as a check to show the light is working. The light turns off when the engine is sta ...