7-12 Starting and driving
1 Uphill roads
When driving the vehicle using the manual shift
mode, downshift early if the vehicle speed begins to
drop to minimize the load on the engine.
2 Downhill roads
•
If you are going to drive down a steep road or a
road with a long downhill grade, test the service
brakes and exhaust brake <option> in advance
to make sure that they are functioning well.
• Place the vehicle in the gear used when driving
uphill and use engine braking and exhaust
brake to help slow the vehicle. Never drive
downhill at high speeds.
• On slippery roads, avoid sudden engine braking
since this could cause a skid.
NOTE:
• “Vapor lock” refers to the condition in which the
brake system overheats, causing the brake fluid
to boil and form bubbles that weaken hydraulic
pressure, resulting in poor braking.
• “Fading” refers to the condition in which the
brake pads overheat to the point where friction
is significantly reduced. This also results in poor
braking.
On uphill and downhill roads
WARNING
• Never coast downhill with the gearshift
lever in the “N” position. Doing so makes
both engine braking and exhaust brake
<option> inoperative, which in turn exces-
sively burdens the service brakes. This
also causes the brakes to overheat and the
brake pads to wear out prematurely.
This can also cause damage to the trans-
mission.
• Avoid overusing the service brakes as the
resultant overheating could cause unde-
sirable vapor lock and fading, both of
which contribute to poor braking.
WARNING
Except in an emergency, never apply the
parking brake while the vehicle is moving
since the vehicle could spin and/or overturn.
FE_FG.book Page 12 Tuesday, February 8, 2011 4:00 PM
To Next Page
Loading...
Need help?
General
