2009 Saturn VUE Owner's Manual - Page 222

4-18 Driving Your Vehicle • Ease up on the speed as you approach the top of the hill. If the vehicle stalls, or is about to stall, and you cannot make it up the hill: Driving Uphill Once you decide it is safe to drive up the hill: • Attach a flag to the vehicle to be more visible to approaching traffic on trails or hills. • Use a low gear and get a firm grip on the steering wheel. • Push the brake pedal to stop the vehicle and keep it from rolling backwards and apply the parking brake. • Get a smooth start up the hill and try to maintain speed. Not using more power than needed can avoid spinning the wheels or sliding. • Sound the horn as you approach the top of the hill to let opposing traffic know you are there. • If the engine is still running, shift the transmission to R (Reverse), release the parking brake, and slowly back down the hill in R (Reverse). • Use headlamps even during the day to make the vehicle more visible to oncoming traffic. { CAUTION Turning or driving across steep hills can be dangerous. You could lose traction, slide sideways, and possibly roll over. You could be seriously injured or killed. When driving up hills, always try to go straight up. { CAUTION Driving to the top (crest) of a hill at full speed can cause an accident. There could be a drop-off, embankment, cliff, or even another vehicle. You could be seriously injured or killed. As you near the top of a hill, slow down and stay alert. • If the engine has stopped running, you need to restart it. With the brake pedal pressed and the parking brake still applied, shift the transmission to P (Park) and restart the engine. Then, shift to R (Reverse), release the parking brake, and slowly back down the hill as straight as possible in R (Reverse). • Try to drive straight up the hill if at all possible. If the path twists and turns, you might want to find another route.