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.
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.
Driving on Snow and Ice
WARNING
If you are driving in slippery
conditions that require tire chains or
cables, then it is critical that you drive
cautiously. Keep speeds down, allow for
longer stopping distances and avoid
aggressive steering to reduce the chances
of a loss of vehicle control which can lead
to serious injury or death. If the rear end
of the vehicle slides while cornering, steer
in the direction of the slide until you regain
control of the vehicle.
Note: Excessive tire slippage can cause
driveline damage.
AWD vehicles have advantages over 2WD
vehicles in snow and ice but can skid like
any other vehicle.
Should you start to slide while driving on
snowy or icy roads, turn the steering wheel
in the direction of the slide until you regain
control.
Avoid sudden applications of power and
quick changes of direction on snow and
ice. Apply the accelerator slowly and
steadily when starting from a full stop.
Avoid sudden braking as well. Although
an AWD vehicle may accelerate better
than a two-wheel drive vehicle in snow
and ice, it won’t stop any faster, because
as in other vehicles, braking occurs at all
four wheels. Do not become overconfident
as to road conditions.
163
MKZ (CC9) , enUSA
All-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)
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