Freeing A Stuck Vehicle
If your vehicle becomes stuck in mud, sand or snow, it can often be moved by a rocking motion. Turn your steering wheel right and left to clear the area around the front wheels. Then shift back and forth between DRIVE and REVERSE (with automatic transmission) or 1st gear and REVERSE (with manual transmission). Using minimal accelerator pedal pressure to maintain the rocking motion, without spinning the wheels, is most effective.
CAUTION!
Racing the engine or spinning the wheels may lead to transmission overheating and
failure. Allow the engine to idle with the shift lever in NEUTRAL for at least one
minute after every five rocking-motion cycles. This will minimize overheating and
reduce the risk of transmission failure during prolonged efforts to free a stuck
vehicle.
NOTE: If your vehicle is equipped with Traction Control or Electronic Stability Control (ESC), turn the system OFF before attempting to “rock” the vehicle.
CAUTION!
• When “rocking” a stuck vehicle by moving between DRIVE and REVERSE (with automatic
transmission) or 1st gear and REVERSE (with manual transmission), do not spin the
wheels faster than 15 mph (24 km/h), or drivetrain damage may result.
• Revving the engine or spinning the wheels too fast may lead to transmission overheating and failure.
It can also damage the tires. Do not spin the wheels above 30 mph (48 km/h) while in gear (no transmission shifting occurring).
WARNING!
Fast spinning tires can be dangerous. Forces generated by excessive wheel speeds
may cause damage, or even failure, of the axle and tires. A tire could explode and
injure someone. Do not spin your vehicle’s wheels faster than 30 mph (48 km/h) or
for longer than 30 seconds continuously without stopping when you are stuck and
do not let anyone near a spinning wheel, no matter what the speed.
See also:
Trailer Towing
In this section you will find safety tips and information
on limits to the type of towing you can reasonably do
with your vehicle. Before towing a trailer, carefully
review this information to t ...
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Jacking Instructions
WARNING!
Carefully follow these tire changing warnings to
help prevent personal injury or damage to your
vehicle:
• Always park on a firm, level surface as far from
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