2022 Jeep Wrangler Freeing a Stuck Vehicle
FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE
If your vehicle becomes stuck in mud, sand or snow, it can often be moved using a rocking motion. Turn the steering wheel right and left to clear the area around the front wheels. For vehicles with automatic transmission, push and hold the lock button on the gear selector. Then, shift back and forth between DRIVE (D) and REVERSE (R) (with automatic transmission) or SECOND (2) gear and REVERSE (R) (with manual transmission), while gently pressing the accelerator. Use the least amount of accelerator pedal pressure that will maintain the rocking motion, without spinning the wheels or racing the engine.
NOTE
- For vehicles with automatic transmission: Shifts between DRIVE (D) and REVERSE (R) can only be achieved at wheel speeds of 5 mph (8 km/h) or less. Whenever the transmission remains in NEUTRAL (N) for more than two seconds, you must press the brake pedal to engage DRIVE (D) or REVERSE (R).
- Push the ESC OFF button to place the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system in “Partial OFF” mode, before rocking the vehicle Ú page 277. Once the vehicle has been freed, push the ESC OFF button again to restore “ESC On” mode.
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.
CAUTION
- Racing the engine or spinning the wheels may lead to transmission overheating and failure. Allow the engine to idle with the transmission in NEUTRAL for at least one minute after every five rocking-motion cycles. This will minimize overheating and reduce the risk of clutch or transmission failure during prolonged efforts to free a stuck vehicle.
- When “rocking” a stuck vehicle by shifting between DRIVE/SECOND gear and REVERSE, 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).
Tips
If your car gets stuck in the mud or snow, there are a few things you can do to try to get it unstuck. First, try rocking the car back and forth by shifting from forward to reverse and vice versa. If that doesn‘t work, try using a tow strap or chain to attach the stuck car to another vehicle and pull it out. You can also try using a shovel to dig around the wheels and tires to give them some traction. Lastly, if you have tire chains, put them on to help get some traction.