1997 Chevrolet Malibu Owner's Manual - Page 170

If you drive regularly in steep country, if you're or planning to visit there, here are some tips that make can your tripssafer and more enjoyable. 0 I A CAUTION: - 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: your enginedo some of the let slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when go you 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 al the work of slowing down. They could get l so hot that they wouldn't work well. You would then a il have poor braking or even none going down hl. You could crash. Always have your engine running and yourvehicle in gear when you go downhill. 0 Know how to go uphill. Drive the highest in gear possible. Stay in your own lanewhen driving on two-lane roads in hillsor mountains. Don't swing wide or cut across the center the road. Drive at speeds that let of 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 If you don't shift down, your brakes could get so hot thatthey wouldn't workwell. You would then have poor braking even none going or down a hill, You could crash.Shift down to let your engineassist your brakeson a steep downhill slope. 0 0 0 an You may see highway signs on mountains thatw r of special problems. Examples are long grades, passing or no-passing zones, a falling rocks area windmg or roads. Be alert to these and take appropriate action. 4-23