1996 Pontiac Sunfire Owner's Manual - Page 172

If you drive regularly in steepcountry, or if you're planning to visit there,here are some tips that canmake your trips safer and more enjoyable. a Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid I A CAUTION: ~~ 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. 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 oreven none going down a hill. You could crash. Always have your engine running and your vehicle in gear when you go downhill. a Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift down A CAUTION: 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 none going to down a hill. You could crash. Shift down let your engine assist your brakes a steep on downhill slope. to a lower gear. The lower gears help cool your engine and transaxle, and you can climb thel better. hl i stay in ymr w - nlam when dzivi-ng $wc?-l-ane 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. a 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. a You may see highway signs on mountains that warn 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. 4-23