Protecting Your Mazda; Trailer Towing; Driving on Hills- Page 116

Protecting Your Mazda

4-18

J

Driving on Hills

When driving on a hill, avoid driving
crosswise or turning on steep slopes.
You could lose traction and slip side-
ways. Drive straight up, straight down or
avoid the hill completely.

Know the conditions on the other side of
a hill before driving over the crest.

When climbing a steep hill, start in a
lower gear, rather than downshifting to a
lower gear after the ascent has started.
This reduces strain on the engine and the
possibility of stalling.

When descending a steep hill avoid
sudden braking. Rapid pumping of the
brake pedal will help slow the vehicle
and still maintain steering control.

If cruise control cancels after climbing
the hill, reset speed by pressing and hold-
ing the SET ACCEL button to resume
speeds over 50 km/h (30 mph).

Automatic transmissions may shift fre-
quently while driving up steep grades.
Eliminate frequent shifting by shifting
out of 

f

D  (Overdrive) into D (Drive).

J

Trailer Towing

Your Mazda was designed and built pri-
marily to carry passengers and cargo.

If you must tow a trailer, read the follow-
ing instructions and any trailer manufac-
turer instructions because driver and
passenger safety depends on proper
equipment and safe driving habits. Tow-
ing a trailer will affect handling, braking,
durability, performance, and economy.

Never overload vehicle or trailer. Con-
sult an Authorized Mazda Dealer if you
need further details.