Hill And Mountain Roads - Buick Enclave Owner's Manual

9-8 Driving and Operating

Hill and Mountain Roads

Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving
on flat or rolling terrain. Tips for
driving in these conditions include:
Keep the vehicle serviced and in
good shape.
Check all fluid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
transmission.
Shift to a lower gear when going
down steep or long hills.
WARNING
If you do not shift down, the
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 the engine
assist the brakes on a steep
downhill slope.
WARNING
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the ignition off is
dangerous. The brakes will have
to do all the work of slowing
down and they could get so hot
(Continued)
I n f o r ma t i o n P r o v i d e d b y :
WARNING (Continued)
that they would not work well.
You would then have poor braking
or even none going down a hill.
You could crash. Always have the
engine running and the vehicle in
gear when going downhill.
Stay in your own lane. Do not
swing wide or cut across the
center of the road. Drive at
speeds that let you stay in
your own lane.
Be alert on top of hills,
something could be in your
lane (stalled car, accident).
Pay attention to special road
signs (falling rocks area, winding
roads, long grades, passing or
no-passing zones) and take
appropriate action.