Driving on hilly or sloping terrain
Although natural obstacles may make it necessary to travel diagonally up or down a hill or steep incline, you should always try to drive straight up or straight down. Avoid driving crosswise or turning on steep slopes or hills. A danger lies in losing traction, slipping sideways and possibly rolling over. Whenever driving on a hill, determine beforehand the route you will use. Do not drive over the crest of a hill without seeing what conditions are on the other side. Do not drive in reverse over a hill without the aid of an observer.
When climbing a steep slope or hill, start in a lower gear rather than downshifting to a lower gear from a higher gear once the ascent has started. This reduces strain on the engine and the possibility of stalling.
If you do stall out, do not try to turnaround because you might roll over.
It is better to back down to a safe location.
Apply just enough power to the wheels to climb the hill. Too much power will cause the tires to slip, spin or lose traction, resulting in loss of vehicle control.
Descend a hill in the same gear you would use to climb up the hill to avoid excessive brake application and brake overheating. Do not descend in neutral; instead, disengage overdrive or manually shift to a lower gear. When descending a steep hill, avoid sudden hard braking as you could lose control. The front wheels have to be turning in order to steer the vehicle.
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, therefore apply the brakes steadily. Do not “pump” the brakes.
See also:
Determining if the system is operational
The SRS uses a readiness light in the instrument cluster or a tone to
indicate the condition of the system. Refer to Warning lights and
chimes in the Instrument Cluster chapter. Routine maintenanc ...
Cargo net
The cargo net secures lightweight
objects in the cargo area. Attach the
net to the loops and anchors
provided.
WARNING: This net is not
designed to restrain objects
during a collision. ...
Warning lights and chimes
Standard instrument cluster shown; metric cluster similar
Warning lights and gauges can alert you to a vehicle condition that may
become serious enough to cause extensive repairs. A warning lig ...