2009 Dodge Nitro Owner Manual - Page 283

STARTING AND OPERATING 281 Traction Downhill Shift the transmission into a low gear and the transfer case to 4L or 4LO range. Let the vehicle go slowly down the hill with all four wheels turning against engine compression drag. This will permit you to control the vehicle speed and direction. When descending mountains or hills, repeated braking can cause brake fade with loss of braking control. Avoid repeated heavy braking by downshifting the transmission whenever possible. After Driving Off-Road Off-road operation puts more stress on your vehicle than most on-road driving. After going off-road, it is always a good idea to check for damage. That way you can get any problems taken care of right away and have your vehicle ready when you need it. • Completely inspect the underbody of your vehicle. Check tires, body structure, steering, suspension, and exhaust system for damage. • Check threaded fasteners for looseness, particularly on the chassis, drivetrain components, steering, and suspension. Retighten them if required and torque to the values specified in the Service Manual. • Check for accumulations of plants or brush. These things could be a fire hazard. They might hide damage to fuel lines, brake hoses, axle pinion seals, and propeller shafts. • After extended operation in mud, sand, water, or similar dirty conditions, have brake rotors, wheels, brake linings, and axle yokes inspected and cleaned as soon as possible. 5