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226 STARTING AND OPERATING
NOTE:
Remember, never drive diagonally across a hill
- drive straight up or down.
If the wheels start to slip as you approach the
crest of a hill, ease off the accelerator and
maintain headway by turning the front wheels
slowly left and right. This may provide a fresh
“bite” into the surface and may provide traction
to complete the climb.
Traction Downhill
Shift the transmission into a low gear and the
4WD System to 4WD LOW range or select Hill
Descent Control if equipped (refer to "Safety
Features" in the “Safety” section for further
information). Let the vehicle go slowly down the
hill with all four wheels turning against engine
compression drag. This will permit you to control
the vehicle speed and direction.
When descending mountains or hills, repeated
braking can cause brake fade with loss of
braking control. Avoid repeated heavy braking
by downshifting the transmission whenever
possible.
After Driving Off-Road
Off-road operation puts more stress on your
vehicle than does most on-road driving. After
going off-road, it is always a good idea to check
for damage.
Completely inspect the underbody of your
vehicle. Check tires, body structure, steering,
suspension, and exhaust system for damage.
Inspect the radiator for mud and debris and
clean as required.
Check threaded fasteners for looseness,
particularly on the chassis, drivetrain compo-
nents, steering, and suspension. Retighten
them, if required, and torque to the values
specified in the Service Manual.
Check for accumulations of plants or brush.
These things could be a fire hazard. They
might hide damage to fuel lines, brake hoses,
axle pinion seals, and propeller shafts.
After extended operation in mud, sand,
water, or similar dirty conditions, have the
radiator, fan, brake rotors, wheels, brake
linings, and axle yokes inspected and
cleaned as soon as possible.
Impacted material can cause wheel imbal-
ance. Freeing the wheels of impacted mate-
rial will likely rectify imbalance condition.
WARNING!
If the engine stalls or you lose headway or
cannot make it to the top of a steep hill or
grade, never attempt to turn around. To do so
may result in tipping and rolling the vehicle.
Always back straight down a hill in REVERSE
gear carefully. Never back down a hill in
NEUTRAL using only the brake.
WARNING!
Abrasive material in any part of the braking
system may cause excessive wear or
unpredictable braking performance. Full
braking power may not be available to prevent
a collision. If you have been operating your
vehicle in dirty conditions, inspect and clean
the braking components as soon as possible.
20_MP_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 226
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