1998 GMC Sonoma Owner's Manual - Page 192

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" in the Index for information about driving off-road.) 0 A CAUTION: Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with the ignition off is dangerous, Your brakes will have to do all the work of slowing down. They could get so hot thatthey wouldn't work well. You would then il have poor braking oreven none going down a hl. You could crash, Always have your engine running and your vehicle in gear when you go downhill. 0 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 long hill. 0 1 0 Know how to go uphill. You may want to shrft 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. As you go over the top a hill, be alert. There could of be something in your lane, like a stalled or an accident. car I If you don't shift down, your brakes could well. You get so hot that they wouldn't work would then have poor braking even none going or down a hill. You could crash. Shift down to let your engine assist your brakes a steep on downhill slope. 0 0 You may see highway signs on mountains that warn of special problems. Examples are long grades, passing or no-passing zones, a falling rocks area or winding roads. Be alert to these and take appropriate action. 4-36