Q: What should I do if my vehicle stalls, or isabout to stall, and I cannot make it upthe hill?A: If this happens, there are some things you shoulddo, and there are some things you must not do?First, here is what you should do:• Push the brake pedal to stop the vehicle and keepit from rolling backwards. Also, apply theparking brake.• If your engine is still running, shift the transmissionto REVERSE (R), release the parking brake, andslowly back down the hill in REVERSE (R).• If your engine has stopped running, you will need torestart it. With the brake pedal pressed and theparking brake still applied, shift the transmission toPARK (P) and restart the engine. Then shift toREVERSE (R), release the parking brake,and slowly back down the hill as straight as possiblein REVERSE (R).• As you are backing down the hill, put your left handon the steering wheel at the 12 o’clock position.This way you will be able to tell if your wheels arestraight and maneuver as you back down. It isbest that you back down the hill with your wheelsstraight rather than in the left or right direction.Turning the wheel too far to the left or rightwill increase the possibility of a rollover.Here are some things you must not do if you stall, orare about to stall, when going up a hill.• Never attempt to prevent a stall by shifting intoNEUTRAL (N) to rev-up the engine and regainforward momentum. This will not work. Your vehiclewill roll backwards very quickly and you could goout of control.Instead, apply the regular brake to stop the vehicle.Then apply the parking brake. Shift toREVERSE (R), release the parking brake, andslowly back straight down.• Never attempt to turn around if you are about tostall when going up a hill. If the hill is steepenough to stall your vehicle, it is steep enough tocause you to roll over if you turn around. If youcannot make it up the hill you must back straightdown the hill.Q: Suppose, after stalling, I try to back down thehill and decide I just cannot do it. Whatshould I do?A: Set the parking brake, put your transmission inPARK (P) and turn off the engine. Leave thevehicle and go get some help. Exit on the uphillside and stay clear of the path the vehicle wouldtake if it rolled downhill.4-25
