EMERGENCY VEHICLE RELEASE

If your vehicle becomes stuck in mud, sand, or snow, it can often be moved by rocking it. Turn the steering wheel right and left to clear the space around the front wheels. For vehicles with an automatic transmission, press and hold the lock button on the shift lever, then alternate between DRIVE and REVERSE (with automatic transmission) or FIRST gear and REVERSE gear (with manual transmission), while gently pressing the accelerator pedal. Use the least accelerator pedal pressure that will maintain the rocking motion without spinning the wheels or racing the engine.

NOTE:

For vehicles with an automatic transmission: Shifts between DRIVE and REVERSE can only be made at wheel speeds of 8 km/h or less. Whenever the transmission remains in NEUTRAL for more than two seconds, you must press the brake pedal to engage DRIVE or REVERSE.

Press the ESC OFF switch to turn on the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system to Partial Off mode before rocking the vehicle. Refer to page 203. After the vehicle has been freed, press the ESC OFF switch again to restore ESC On mode.

• Racing the engine or spinning the wheels can cause the transmission to overheat and fail. Let the engine idle with the transmission in NEUTRAL for at least one minute after every five rocking cycles. This minimizes overheating and reduces the risk of transmission failure during extended attempts to free a stuck vehicle.
• When rocking a stuck vehicle by shifting between DRIVE and REVERSE, do not spin the wheels faster than 15 mph (24 km/h), otherwise the transmission may be damaged.
• Increasing engine speed or spinning the wheels too fast can cause the transmission to overheat and fail. This may also damage the tires. Do not spin the wheels above 30 mph (48 km/h) with a gear engaged (no gear shifting occurs).