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
...
Other materials:
Tire Pressure Light
For vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this light comes on briefly when the engine is started. It
provides information about tire pressures and the TPMS.
When the Light Is On Steady
This indicates that one or more of the tires are significantly underinflated.
Stop as soon ...
When Should an Airbag Inflate?
This vehicle is equipped with airbags. See Airbag System on page 3-19. Airbags
are designed to inflate if the impact exceeds the specific airbag system's deployment
threshold. Deployment thresholds are used to predict how severe a crash is likely
to be in time for the airbags to inflate an ...
Loss of Control
Skidding
There are three types of skids that correspond to the vehicle's three control
systems:
Braking Skid - wheels are not rolling.
Steering or Cornering Skid - too much speed or steering in a curve causes
tires to slip and lose cornering force.
Acceleration Skid - too much thro ...
