210 DRIVING AND OPERATING
.
Have good tires with proper tread
depth. See Tires 0 313.
.
Turn off cruise control.
.
Activate All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
mode. See Driver Mode Control
0 232.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving on
flat or rolling terrain. Tips 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
Using the brakes to slow the vehicle
on a long downhill slope can cause
brake overheating, can reduce brake
performance, and could result in a
loss of braking. Shift the
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
transmission to a lower gear 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.
This can cause overheating of the
brakes and loss of steering assist.
Always have the engine running
and the vehicle in gear.
.
Drive at speeds that keep the
vehicle in its own lane. Do not
swing wide or cross the center line.
.
Be alert on top of hills; something
could be in your lane (e.g., stalled
car, crash).
.
Pay attention to special road signs
(e.g., falling rocks area, winding
roads, long grades, passing or
no-passing zones) and take
appropriate action.
.
Select All-Wheel Drive (AWD) Mode.
See Driver Mode Control 0 232 and
All-Wheel Drive 0 227.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires and the
road creates less traction or grip, so
drive carefully. Wet ice can occur at
about 0 °C (32 °F) when freezing rain
begins to fall. Avoid driving on wet ice
or in freezing rain until roads can be
treated.
For Slippery Road Driving:
.
Accelerate gently. Accelerating too
quickly causes the wheels to spin
and makes the surface under the
tires slick.
.
Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0 230.
.
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
improves vehicle stability during
hard stops, but the brakes should be
applied sooner than when on dry
pavement. See Antilock Brake System
(ABS) 0 228.
.
Allow greater following distance and
watch for slippery spots. Icy patches
can occur on other wise clear roads
in shaded areas. The sur face of a
curve or an overpass can remain icy