1997 Chevrolet S10 Pickup Owner's Manual - Page 175

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-andmore enjoyable. (See "Off-Road Driving" in the Index for information ab.out driving off-road.) Keep your vehicle in goodshape; Check all fluid levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system and transmission. These pqrts @a work hard on mountain roads. Know how to go down hills. The most important thing to 'know is this:let:your engine do.some of the slowing.down. Shift -toa lower gear when you go down a steep or long hill. I Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or WILII the ignition off is dangerous.Your brakes w have to i l do all the work of slowing down. Theycould get so hot that they wouldn't work wen. You would then have poor braking even none going or down a hill. You could crash. Always have youre n b e running and your vehiclei gear when you go downhill. n Know how to go uphill. You may want to-shift down to a lower gear. The lower gears help cool your engine and transmission, andyou can climb the better. hill Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane roads in hills-or mountains. Don't swing wide or cut across the center-of road, Drive at speeds that let the -youstay in your own lane. I If you .don't shift down, yourbrakes could get so hot that,they wouldn't work well. You would then have po.orbraking or even none going down a hill. You could crash. Shift down to let your engine assist your brakes .ona steep downhill slope. As YOU go over the topof--a be alert. Therecould be hill, something in your lane, likea stalled car or an accident. YQU may see highway signs an mountains that warn of special problems. Examples arelong grades, passing or no-passing zones, a falling rocks area or winding roads. Be alert to these and take appropriate action. 4-38