1997 Chevrolet Cavalier Owner's Manual - Page 187

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. 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. 0 Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL(N) or with the ignition off is dangerous.Your brakes will have to do all the workof slowing down. They could get so hot that they wouldn't work well. You would then have poor braking even none going down or a hill. You could crash.Always have your engine running and your vehicle ingear when you go downhill. If you don't shift down, your brakes could get so hot that they wouldn't work well. You would then have poor brakingor even none going down a hill. You could crash. Shift down let to your engine assist your brakes onsteep a downhill slope. 0 0 0 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 the better. hill Stay in your ownlane when driving on two-lane roads in hills or mountains. Don't swing wideor cut across the center of the road. Drive at speeds that let you stay in your own lane. As you go over the of a hill, be alert. There could b top something in your lane, like stalled car or an accident. a You may see highway signs on mountains that warn of special problems. Examples are long grades, passing o no-passing zones, a falling rocks areaor winding roads. Be alert to these and take appropriate action.