2002 Ford Explorer Owner's Manual - Page 102

Driving When climbing a steep slope or hill, start in a lower gear rather than downshifting to a lower gear from a higher gear once the ascent has started. This reduces the possibility of the vehicle stalling. If your vehicle does stall, do not try to turn around because your vehicle may roll over. Apply just enough power to the wheels to climb the hill. Too much power will cause the tires to slip or spin, resulting in loss of vehicle control. When descending a hill, use the same gear you would use to climb up the hill and do not descend the hill with the transmission in neutral. Disengage overdrive or manually shift to a lower gear. When descending a steep hill, avoid sudden hard braking as you could lose control. When you brake hard, the front wheels can't turn. Rapid pumping of the brake pedal will help you slow the vehicle and still maintain steering control. If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, apply the brakes steadily. Do not "pump" the brakes. Driving on snow and ice 4WD vehicles can skid like any other vehicle. If you start to skid while driving on a snowy or icy road, turn the steering wheel in the direction of the slide until you regain control. Although a 4WD vehicle may accelerate better than a two-wheel drive vehicle in snow and ice, it won't stop any faster. Don't press hard on the accelerator or brake pedal or make quick steering changes while on snow or ice. Apply the accelerator slowly and steadily when starting from a full stop. If your vehicle is equipped with ABS, apply the brake steadily. Do not "pump" the brakes. Refer to the Brakes section of this chapter for additional information on the operation of the anti-lock brake system. If your vehicle is not equipped with ABS, use a "squeeze" braking technique. Push on the brake pedal with a steadily increasing force which allows the wheels to brake yet 102