Driving on Grades

Notice: Do not tow on steep continuous grades exceeding 6 miles (9.6 km). Extended, higher than normal engine and transmission temperatures may result and damage the vehicle. Frequent stops are very important to allow the engine and transmission to cool.

Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before starting down a long or steep downgrade. If the transmission is not shifted down, the brakes might have to be used so much that they would get hot and no longer work well.

On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce the vehicle’s speed to around 45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the possibility of the engine and the transmission overheating. If the engine does overheat, see Engine Overheating.

    See also:

    Ignition Positions
    Use the key to turn the ignition switch to four different positions. A (LOCK): This position locks the ignition and transmission. It is a theft-deterrent feature. You will only be able to remo ...

    Power Door Locks
    The power door lock switches are located on the driver’s and front passenger’s door armrests. Press the lock symbol to lock all of the doors. To unlock the doors, press the other side of ...

    Tire Rotation
    Tires should be rotated every 12 000 km (7,500 mi). See Scheduled Maintenance . Tires are rotated to achieve a uniform wear for all tires. The first rotation is the most important. Any time unusua ...