2012 Toyota Matrix Owners Manual - Page 156

2-5. Driving information ● Avoid jerky starts or sudden acceleration. ● Avoid jerky steering and sharp turns, and slow down before making a turn. ● Note that when making a turn, the trailer wheels will be closer than the vehicle wheels to the inside of the turn. Compensate by making a wider than normal turning radius. ● Slow down before making a turn, in cross winds, on wet or slippery surfaces, etc. Increasing vehicle speed can destabilize the trailer. ● Take care when passing other vehicles. Passing requires considerable distance. After passing a vehicle, do not forget the length of your trailer, and be sure you have plenty of room before changing lanes. ● Automatic transmission: To maintain engine braking efficiency and charging system performance when using engine braking, do not put the transmission in "D". If in the S mode, the transmission shift gear position must be in 4 or lower. ● Manual transmission: To maintain engine braking efficiency and charging system performance when using engine braking, do not use fifth gear. ● Instability happens more frequently when descending steep or long downhill grades. Before descending, slow down and downshift. Do not make sudden downshifts while descending steep or long downhill grades. ● Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long or applying the brakes too frequently. This could cause the brakes to overheat and result in reduced braking efficiency. 174