2003 Cadillac Escalade Owner's Manual - Page 287

If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow In order to free your vehiclewhen it is stuck, you willneed to spin the wheels, but you don't wantto spin your wheels too fast. The method known as "rocking" can help you get out when you're stuck, butyou must use caution. Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will clear the area around your front wheels. If your vehicle has the StabilitrakO System, turn the system off by pressing the Stabilitrak@ buttonso that the STABILITY SYS DISABLED message and the traction off light are illuminated on the instrument panel cluster. Then shift back and forth between REVERSE (R) and a forward gear, spinning the wheels as little as possible. Release the accelerator pedal while you shift, and press lightly on the accelerator pedal when the transmission is in gear. By slowly spinning your wheels in the forward and reverse directions, you will cause a rocking motion that may free your vehicle. If that doesn't get you out after a few tries, you may need to be towed out. Or, you can use your recovery hooks if your vehicle has them. If you do need to be towed out, see Towing Your Vehicle on page 4-47. -- _. you let your tires spin at I - h speed, they can explode, and you or others could be injured. And, the transmission or other partsof the vehicle can overheat. That could cause an engine compartment fire or otherdamage. When you're stuck, spin the wheels as little as possible. Don't spin the wheels above 35 mph (55 km/h) as shown on the speedometer. Notice: Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of your vehicle as well as the tires. If you spin the wheels too fast while shifting your transmission back and forth, you can destroy your transmission. For information about using tire chains on your vehicle, see Tire Chains on page 5-73. 4-44