Driving on Grades

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.

The vehicle can tow in D (Drive). Use a lower gear if the transmission shifts too often.

When towing at high altitude on steep uphill grades, engine coolant will boil at a lower temperature than at normal altitudes. If the engine is turned off immediately after towing at high altitude on steep uphill grades, the vehicle may show signs similar to engine overheating. To avoid this, let the engine run while parked, preferably on level ground, with the transmission in P (Park) for a few minutes before turning the engine off. If the overheat warning comes on, see Engine Overheating on page 10‑20.

    See also:

    Engine Overheating
    The vehicle has several indicators to warn of engine overheating. There is an engine coolant temperature gauge on the instrument panel cluster. See Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge on page 5‑1 ...

    Brakes
    Brakes stop the vehicle and are crucial to safe driving. • Signs of brake wear may include chirping, grinding, or squealing noises, or difficulty stopping. • Trained dealer technicians have acce ...

    Highway Hypnosis
    Always be alert and pay attention to your surroundings while driving. If you become tired or sleepy, find a safe place to park the vehicle and rest. Other driving tips include: • Keep the vehicle ...