2003 Chevrolet Astro Owner's Manual - Page 198

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 also the brakes, tires, cooling system and transmission. These parts can work hard on mountain roads. 0 Know how to go down hills. The most important thing to know is this: let your engine do some of the slowing down. Shiftto a lower gear when you go down a steep or long hill. Coasting downh.-. .rlEUTL _L(N) or wit ignition off is dangerous. Your brakes have will to do all the work of slowing down. Theycould get so hot that they wouldn't work well. You would then havepoor braking or even none going down ahill. You could crash. Always have your engine running and yourvehicle in gear when you go downhill... 0 If you don't shift down, y--. -.-.ces coul, Jet so hot that they wouldn't work well. You would then have poor braking or even none going down a hill. You could crash. Shift down to let your engine assist your brakeson a steep downhill slope. e e I I e Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift down to a lower gear. The lower gearshelp cool your engine and transmission, and you can climb the hill better. Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane swing wide or cut roads in hills or mountains. Don't across the center of the road. Drive at speeds that let you stay in your own lane. As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There could be something in your lane, a stalled car or an like accident. You maysee highway signs on 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. 4-23