Freeing A Stuck Vehicle - Fiat ABARTH 500 2017 User Manual

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

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. Then shift back and forth between DRIVE and REVERSE (with auto-
matic transmission) or SECOND GEAR and REVERSE (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.
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.
NOTE:
Push the "ESC Off" switch, to place the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system in "Par-
tial Off" mode, before rocking the vehicle. Refer to "Electronic Brake Control" in "Starting
And Operating" in the Owner's Manual at www.fiatusa.com/en/owners/manuals for fur-
ther information. Once the vehicle has been freed, push the "ESC Off" switch again to
restore "ESC On" mode.
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.
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CAUTION!
WARNING!