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:

    Engine Cooling System Messages
    A/C OFF DUE TO HIGH ENGINE TEMP This message displays when the engine coolant becomes hotter than the normal operating temperature. To avoid added strain on a hot engine, the air conditioning com ...

    Using the Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit without Sealant to Inflate a Tire (Not Punctured)
    To use the air compressor to inflate a tire with air only and not sealant: If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on the hazard wa ...

    Securing the Child Within the ChildRestraint
    There are several systems for securing the child within the child restraint. One system, the three-point harness, has straps that come down over each of the infant’s shoulders and buckle togethe ...