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 get hot and no longer work well.

Vehicles can tow in D (Drive). Shift the transmission to a lower gear if the transmission shifts too often under heavy loads and/or hilly conditions.

The tow/haul mode may be used if the transmission shifts too often. See Tow/Haul Mode  .

When towing at high altitude on steep uphill grades, consider the following: Engine coolant will boil 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 may show signs similar to engine overheating. To avoid this, let the engine run while parked, preferably on level ground, with the automatic transmission in P (Park) for a few minutes before turning the engine off. If the overheat warning comes on, see Engine Overheating  .

    See also:

    Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
    If the cruise control system is already activated, . Press and hold the +RES button on the steering wheel until the desired speed is reached, then release it. . To increase vehicle speed in small ...

    Leaving the Vehicle with the Engine Running
    WARNING It can be dangerous to leave the vehicle with the engine running. The vehicle could move suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in P (Park) with the parking brake firmly set. And, ...

    Remote Vehicle Start
    This vehicle may have a remote starting feature that allows you to start the engine from outside the vehicle. (Remote Vehicle Start): This button will be on the RKE transmitter if you have ...