2007 Chevrolet Malibu Owner's Manual - Page 321

Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out {CAUTION: If you let your vehicle's tires spin at high speed, they can explode, and you or others could be injured. And, the transaxle or other parts of the vehicle can overheat. That could cause an engine compartment fire or other damage. When you are stuck, spin the wheels as little as possible. Do not spin the wheels above 35 mph (55 km/h) as shown on the speedometer. Notice: Spinning the wheels can destroy parts of your vehicle as well as the tires. If you spin the wheels too fast while shifting the transaxle back and forth, you can destroy the transaxle. See Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out on page 321. For information about using tire chains on your vehicle, see Tire Chains on page 417. First, turn the steering wheel left and right. That will clear the area around the front wheels. If your vehicle has a traction system, you should turn the traction system off. See Traction Control System (TCS) on page 296 or Enhanced Traction System (ETS) on page 297. 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 transaxle is in gear. By slowly spinning the wheels in the forward and reverse directions, you will cause a rocking motion that may free your vehicle. If that does not get your vehicle out after a few tries, it may need to be towed out. If your vehicle does need to be towed out, see Towing Your Vehicle on page 328. 321