Dodge 2011 Nitro - User Guide - Manual (Page 62)

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 REVERSE and DRIVE. Using
minimal accelerator pedal pressure to maintain the rocking motion, without
spinning the wheels, is most effective.
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!
• 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.
• When “rocking” a stuck vehicle by moving between REVERSE and DRIVE, 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.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
60