2005 Saturn VUE Owner's Manual - Page 205
2005 Saturn VUE Manual
Page 205 highlights
If you decide you can go down a hill safely, then try to keep your vehicle headed straight down, and use a low gear. This way, engine drag can help your brakes and they will not have to do all the work. Descend slowly, keeping your vehicle under control at all times. Q: Are there some things I should not do when driving down a hill? A: Yes! These are important because if you ignore them you could lose control and have a serious accident. {CAUTION: Heavy braking when going down a hill can cause your brakes to overheat and fade. This could cause loss of control and a serious accident. Apply the brakes lightly when descending a hill and use a low gear to keep vehicle speed under control. • When driving downhill, avoid turns that take you across the incline of the hill. A hill that is not too steep to drive down may be too steep to drive across. You could roll over if you do not drive straight down. • Never go downhill with the transaxle in NEUTRAL (N). This is called "free wheeling." Your brakes will have to do all the work and could overheat and fade. • Unless you have anti-lock brakes, avoid braking so hard that you lock the wheels when going downhill. If your wheels are locked, you cannot steer your vehicle. If your wheels lock up during downhill braking, you may feel the vehicle starting to slide sideways. To regain your direction, just ease off the brakes and steer to keep the front of the vehicle pointing straight downhill. 4-25