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 get hot and no longer work well.

Vehicles can tow in D (Drive). Shift the transmission to a lower gear if the transmission shifts too often under heavy loads and/or hilly conditions.

The Tow/Haul Mode may be used if the transmission shifts too often.

See Tow/Haul Mode on page 9‑42.

When towing at high altitude on steep uphill grades, consider the following: 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 automatic transmission in P (Park) for a few minutes before turning the engine off. If the overheat warning comes on, see Engine Overheating on page 10‑23.

    See also:

    Transmission Messages
    ALL WHEEL DRIVE OFF If your vehicle has the All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system, this message displays when there is a compact spare tire on the vehicle, when the Antilock Brake System (ABS) warning light c ...

    Weight of the Trailer
    How heavy can a trailer safely be? It depends on how the rig is used. Speed, altitude, road grades, outside temperature, and how much the vehicle is used to pull a trailer are all important. It can ...

    Exterior
    The 2003 Savana’s front end displays a new grille, bumper, fascia, hood and fenders. GM’s designers sought to create a stronger family resemblance to other members of the company’s truck fam ...