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.

• Going down steep or long hills, shift to a lower gear.

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.

• Top of hills: Be alert — 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:

    Programming with a Recognized Transmitter (Keyless Access Vehicles Only)
    A new transmitter can be programmed to the vehicle when there is one recognized transmitter. To program, the vehicle must be off and all of the transmitters, both currently recognized and new ...

    When It Is Time for New Tires
    Factors such as maintenance, temperatures, driving speeds, vehicle loading, and road conditions affect the wear rate of the tires. Treadwear indicators are one way to tell when it is time f ...

    Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol)
    The 8th digit of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) shows the code letter or number that identifies the vehicle’s engine. The VIN is at the top left of the instrument panel. See Vehicle I ...