1997 Pontiac Sunfire Owner's Manual - Page 189

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 enj'oyable. 0 Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system and transaxle. 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. I ' 0 Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL or with (N) the ignition off is dangerous. Your brakes will have to do all the work of slowing down. They wouldn't work well. could get so hot that they You would then have poor braking or none even 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 transaxle, and you can climb thel better. hl i 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 be of something in your lane, like a stalled or an accident. car You may see highway signs on mountains t h t w m of special problems. Examplesare long grades, passing or no-passing zones, a falling rocks area or winding roads. Be alert to these and take appropriate action. CAUTION: If you don't shift down,your brakes could get so hot thatthey 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. 0 0 0 0 4-25