Driving Your Vehicle
6-36
NOTICE
To prevent engine and/or transmission
overheating:
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When towing a trailer on steep grades
(in excess of 6%) pay close attention
to the engine coolant temperature
gauge to make sure the engine does
not overheat. If the needle of the
coolant temperature gauge moves
toward “H” (HOT), pull over and stop
as soon as it is safe to do so, and allow
the engine to idle until it cools down.
You may proceed once the engine has
cooled sufficiently.
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If you tow a trailer with the maximum
gross vehicle weight and maximum
trailer weight, it may cause the engine
or transmission to overheat. When
driving in such conditions, allow the
engine to idle until it cools down.
You may proceed once the engine or
transmission has cooled sufficiently.
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When towing a trailer, your vehicle
speed may be much slower than the
general flow of traffic, especially when
climbing an uphill grade. Use the right
hand lane when towing a trailer on
an uphill grade. Choose your vehicle
speed according to the maximum
posted speed limit for vehicles with
trailers, the steepness of the grade,
and your trailer weight.
Parking on hills
Generally, if you have a trailer attached
to your vehicle, do not park your vehicle
on a hill.
If you ever have to park your trailer on a
hill:
1. Pull the vehicle into the parking
space. Turn the steering wheel in the
direction of the curb (right if headed
down hill or left if headed up hill).
2. Shift the gear to P (Park).
3. Apply the parking brake and shut off
the vehicle.
4. Place wheel chocks under the trailer
wheels on the down hill side of the
wheels.
5. Start the vehicle, hold the brakes, shift
to neutral, release the parking brake,
and slowly release the brakes until the
trailer chocks absorb the load.
6. Reapply the brakes and the parking
brake.
7. Shift the gear to P (Park) when the
vehicle is parked on an uphill grade
and in R (Reverse) on a downhill.
8. Shut off the vehicle and release the
vehicle brakes but apply the parking
brake.
WARNING
To prevent serious injury or death:
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Do not get out of the vehicle without
applying the parking brake firmly.
If you have left the engine running,
the vehicle may move suddenly. You
and others may be seriously or fatally
injured.
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Do not apply the accelerator pedal to
hold the vehicle on an uphill.