Hill And Mountain Roads - Buick 2004 Rainier Owner's Manual

Hill and Mountain Roads

Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from
driving in flat or rolling terrain.
4-38
If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you are
planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable. See Operating
Your All-Wheel-Drive Vehicle Off Paved Roads on
page 4-16 for information about driving off-road.
•
Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid
levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system
and transmission. 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.
CAUTION:
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If you do not shift down, your brakes could get
so hot that they would not work well. You would
then have poor braking or even none going
down a hill. You could crash. Shift down to let
your engine assist your brakes on a steep
downhill slope.