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.
• Shift to a lower gear when going down steep or long hills.

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.
• Be alert on top of hills;
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:

    Wiper Blade Replacement
    Windshield wiper blades should be inspected for wear or cracking. See Maintenance Schedule on page 11‑3 for more information. Replacement blades come in different types and are removed in diff ...

    Exiting the Feature Settings Menu
    The feature settings menu will be exited when any of the following occurs: • The vehicle is no longer in ON/RUN. • The trip/fuel or vehicle information DIC buttons are pressed. • The end of t ...

    Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow, or Ice
    Use a low gear when driving in mud – the deeper the mud, the lower the gear. Keep the vehicle moving to avoid getting stuck. Traction changes when driving on sand. On loose sand, such as on beach ...