1997 Pontiac Firebird Owner's Manual - Page 189

If you drive regularlyin steep country, or if you're planning to visit there, here are some tips that make can your trips saferand more enjoyable. Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system and transmission. Theseparts can work hard on mountain roads. Know how to go down hills. Themost important thing to knowis this: letyour engine do some o f the slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when you go down a steep or longkill. Coasting downhill!in NEUTRAL (N) or with the ignition off is dangerous. Your brakes will have to do all the work of slowing down. They could getso hot that they wouldn't work well. You would then have poor braking or even none going down a hill. You c'ouldcrash. Always have your engine running and your vehicle ingear when you! go downhill. then have poor braking or even none going down a hill. You could crash. Shift down to let your engine assistyour brakes on a steep 4-24