Before Climbing A Steep Hill

As you approach a hill, consider its grade or steepness.

Determine if it is too steep. Look to see what the traction is on the hill side trail. Is the trail straight up and down?

What is on top and the other side? Are there ruts, rocks, branches or other obstacles on the path? Can you safely recover the vehicle if something goes wrong? If everything looks good and you feel confident, shift the transmission into a lower gear with 4L (Low) engaged, and proceed with caution, maintaining your momentum as you climb the hill.

    See also:

    HSA Activation Criteria
    The following criteria must be met in order for HSA to activate: • Vehicle must be stopped • Vehicle must be on an 8% or greater incline (3% for manual transmission equipped vehicles) • Gea ...

    Downshifting
    Moving from a high gear down to a lower gear is recommended to preserve brakes when driving down steep hills. In addition, downshifting at the right time provides better acceleration when you desi ...

    Jump-Starting
    If your vehicle has a discharged battery it can be jumpstarted using a set of jumper cables and a battery in another vehicle or by using a portable battery booster pack. Jump-starting can be dan ...