Driving on Grades

Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before starting down a long or steep downgrade. If the transmission is not shifted down, the brakes might have to be used so much that they would get hot and no longer work well.

The vehicle can tow in D (Drive).

Use a lower gear if the transmission shifts too often.

When towing at high altitude on steep uphill grades, engine coolant boils at a lower temperature than at normal altitudes. If the engine is turned off immediately after towing at high altitude on steep uphill grades, the vehicle could show signs similar to engine overheating.

To avoid this, let the engine run while parked, preferably on level ground, with the transmission in P (Park) for a few minutes before turning the engine off. If the overheat warning comes on, see Engine Overheating.

    See also:

    Automatic Transmission
    The shift lever is located on the center console between the front seats. There are several different positions for the shift lever. P (Park): This position locks the rear wheels. Use this ...

    Engine Coolant Heater
    Vehicles with the engine coolant heater can use this option in cold weather conditions at or below −18°C (0°F) for easier starting and better fuel economy during engine warm-up. Plug i ...

    Up-Shift Light
    Vehicles with a manual transmission have an up–shift light on the instrument panel. This light shows when to shift to the next higher gear for the best fuel economy. When this light comes o ...