1993 Chevrolet Cavalier Owner's Manual - Page 156

Your Driving and the Road "- . r Hill and Mountain Roads Driving on steep hills or mountains is different fromdriving in flat or rolling terrain. If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you're planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make your trips safer and more enjoyable. Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid levels and the also brakes, tires, cooling system and transaxle. These parts can work hard on mountain roads. Know how to go down hills. The most important thing to know this: let is your engine do some of the slowing down. Don't make your brakes do it all. Shift to a lowergear when you go down a steepor long hill. That way, you will slow down without excessive use of your brakes. ' II 54 If you don't shift down, your brakes could getso hot that they wouldn't work well. You would then havepoor braking or even none going down a hill. You could crash. Shift down to let your engine assist your brakes on a steep downhill slope. Coasting downhill in N (Neutral) or with the ignition off is dangerous. Your l brakes willhave to do a l the work of slowing down. They could get so hot that they wouldn't work well. You could crash. Always have your engine running and your vehicle in gear when you go downhill. ~ Know how to go uphill. Youmay want to shift down to a lower gear. The lower gears help cool your engine and transaxle, and you can climb the hill better. Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane roadsin hills or mountains. Don't swing wide or cut across the center of the road. Drive at speeds that let you stay in your own lane. That way, you won't be surprised by a vehicle coming towardyou in the same lane. It takes longer to passanother vehicle when you're going uphill.You'll want to leave extra room to pass. a If vehicle is passing you and doesn't have enough room, slow down to make it easier for the other vehicle to get by. m m m