2003 Chevrolet Blazer Owner's Manual - Page 238

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. See Off-Road Driving with Your Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicle on page 4-15 for information about driving off-road. 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. Know how to go down hills. The most important thing to know is this: let your engine do some of the slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when you go down a steep or L.,, +ill...9 NEI,L (N) or wi 2 Coasting downhill in ignition off is dangerous. Your brakes will have to do all the work slowing down. They could of get so hot that they wouldn't work well. You would then have poor braking or even none going down a hill. You could crash. Always have your engine running and your vehicle in gear when you go downhill. Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift down to a lower gear. The lower gears help cool your engine and transmission, and you can climb the hill better. 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 the road. Drive at speeds that let you stay in your own lane. 0 If you don't shift down, your brakes could get so hot that they wouldn't workwell. You would then have poor braking 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 top of a hill, be alert. There could be something in your lane, like a stalled car or an accident. 4-37