Chevrolet Spark Owners Manual: Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through mountains is different than driving on flat or rolling terrain. Tips for driving in these conditions include:
- Keep the vehicle serviced and in good shape.
- Check all fluid levels and brakes, tires, cooling system, and transmission.
- Shift to a lower gear when going down steep or long hills.
Warning
Using the brakes to slow the vehicle on a long downhill slope can cause brake overheating, can reduce brake performance, and could result in a loss of braking.
Shift the transmission to a lower gear to let the engine assist the brakes on a steep downhill slope.
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral) or with the ignition off is dangerous. This can cause overheating of the brakes and loss of steering. Always have the engine running and the vehicle in gear.
- Stay in your own lane. Do not swing wide or cut across the center of the road. Drive at speeds that let you stay in your own lane.
- Be alert on top of hills; something could be in your lane (stalled car, accident).
- Pay attention to special road signs (falling rocks area, winding roads, long grades, passing or no-passing zones) and take appropriate action.
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce vehicle traction and affect your ability to stop
and accelerate.
Always drive slower in these types of driving conditions and avoid driving through
large puddles and ...
Winter Driving
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Other materials:
Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission)
If you are parking on a hill and you do not shift the transmission into P (Park)
properly, the weight of the vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in
the transmission. You may find it difficult to pull the shift lever out of P (Park).
This is called “torque lock.” To prevent torque ...
Automatic Door Locks
If equipped, the vehicle is programmed so that when the doors are closed, the
ignition is on, and the shift lever is moved out of P (Park) for automatic transmissions,
or the vehicle speed is above 13 km/h (8 mph) for manual transmissions, the doors
and the liftgate will lock.
To unlock the d ...
Driver Assistance Systems
Rear Vision Camera (RVC)
If equipped, the RVC system can assist the driver when backing up by displaying
a view of the area behind the vehicle.
Warning
The camera(s) do not display children, pedestrians, bicyclists,
crossing traffic, animals, or any other object outside of the cameras’ field ...
