1996 Pontiac Grand Prix Owner's Manual - Page 178

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. 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. 0 A CAUTION: Coasting downhillin NEUTRAL (N) or with. the ignition off is dangerous. Your brakes whave to l i do a l the work of slowing down. They could get l so hot that they wouldn't work well.You would then have poor braking even none going down hl. or a il You could crash. Always have your engine running and your vehiclein gear when yougo 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 climbthe 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 of a hill, be alert. There could be something in your lane, like a stalled car or an accident. You may see highway signs onmountains that warn of special problems. Examplesare long grades, passingor no-passing zones, a falling rocks areaor winding roads. Be alert to these and take appropriate action. 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. L If you don't shift down, your brakes could get so hot that they wouldn't work well. You would then have poor braking or even nonegoing down a hill. You could crash. Shift down to let your engine assistyour brakes on a steep downhill slope. 0 0 4-23