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Convex Outside Mirror
A convex mirror's surface is curved so you can see more
from the driver's seat.
CAUTION:
A convex mirror can make things (like other
vehicles) look farther away than they really are.
If you cut too sharply into the right or left lane,
you could hit a vehicle. Check your inside
mirror or glance over your shoulder before
changing lanes.
Heated Outside Rearview Mirrors
When you operate the rear window defogger, a defogger
also warms the heated driver's and passenger's outside
rearview mirrors to help clear them of ice, snow and
condensation. See ªRear Window Defoggerº in the
Index for more information.
Electrochromic Rearview Outside Mirror
with Curb View Assist (If Equipped)
If your vehicle has this feature, the driver's outside
mirror will adjust for the glare of the headlamps behind
you. See ªElectrochromic Day/Night Rearview Mirror
with Compass and OnStar
º earlier in this section.
If your vehicle is equipped with memory mirrors, it will
also be capable of performing the curb view assist
mirror function. This feature will cause the passenger's
and/or driver's mirror to tilt to a preselected position
when the vehicle is in REVERSE (R). This feature may
be useful in allowing you to view the curb when you are
parallel parking.
When the vehicle is shifted out of REVERSE (R) and a
short delay has occurred, the passenger's and/or driver's
mirror will return to its original position.
To change the preselected tilt position, adjust the mirrors
to the desired position while the vehicle is in
REVERSE (R). When the vehicle is shifted out of
REVERSE (R), this new position is saved in memory as
the tilt position.
This feature can be enabled/disabled through the Driver
Information Center. See ªPersonalization Featuresº in
the Index for more information.
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If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you're
planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable. See ªOff
-Road
Drivingº in the Index for information about
driving off
-road.
Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid
levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system and
transmission. These parts can work hard on
mountain roads.
Know how to go down hills. The most important
thing to know is this: let your engine do some of the
slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when you go
down a steep or long hill.
CAUTION:
If you don't shift down, your brakes could get so
hot that they wouldn't work well. You would then
have poor braking or even none going down a hill.
You could crash. Shift down to let your engine
assist your brakes on a steep downhill slope.
CAUTION:
Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with the
ignition off is dangerous. Your brakes will have to
do all the work of slowing down. They could get so
hot that they wouldn't work well. You would then
have poor braking or even none going down a hill.
You could crash. Always have your engine running
and your vehicle in gear when you go downhill.
Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift down to
a lower gear. The lower gears help cool your engine and
transmission, and you can climb the hill better.
Stay in your own lane when driving on two
-lane roads
in hills or mountains. Don't swing wide or cut across
the center of the road. Drive at speeds that let you stay
in your own lane.
As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There could be
something in your lane, like a stalled car or an accident.
You may see highway signs on mountains that warn of
special problems. Examples are long grades, passing or
no
-passing zones, a falling rocks area or winding roads.
Be alert to these and take appropriate action.
