After driving through mud, clean off residue stuck to rotating
driveshafts, halfshafts and tires. Excess mud stuck on tires and
rotating driveshafts causes an imbalance that could damage drive
components.
NOTE:
If the transaxle Power Take Off unit or rear axle are submerged
in water, their fluids should be checked and changed, if necessary.
Water intrusion into the transaxle may damage the transaxle.
NOTE:
If the rear axle is submerged in water, the rear axle lubricant
should be checked and changed, if necessary. The rear axle is filled with
a lubricant that does not normally require a lubricant change for the life
of the vehicle. Rear axle lubricant quantities should not need to be
checked unless a leak is suspected.
Driving on hilly or sloping terrain
When driving on a hill, avoid driving crosswise or turning on
steep slopes. You could lose traction and slip sideways. 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 from a higher gear once the ascent has started. This
reduces strain on the engine and the possibility of stalling.
When descending a steep hill, avoid sudden braking. Shift to a
lower gear when added engine braking is desired.
When speed control is on and you are driving uphill, your vehicle speed
may drop considerably, especially if you are carrying a heavy load.
If vehicle speed drops more than 16 km/h (10 mph), the speed control
will cancel automatically. Resume speed with accelerator pedal.
If speed control cancels after climbing the hill, reset speed by pressing
and holding the SET ACCEL button (to resume speeds over 50 km/h
[30 mph]).
Automatic transaxles may shift frequently while driving up steep grades.
Eliminate frequent shifting by shifting out of
(Overdrive) into D
(Drive).
Driving
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