Driving Your Mazda- Page 165

Driving Your Mazda

5-29

If the vehicle is stuck it may be rocked
out by shifting from forward and reverse
gears, stopping between shifts, in a
steady pattern. Press lightly on the accel-
erator in each gear.

NOTE

Do not rock the vehicle for more
than a few minutes. The transmis-
sion and tires may be damaged or the
engine can overheat.

Transmission upshift in 4x4 with trans-
fer case in 4L may be quite firm due to
large total gear reduction. This condition
is normal.

t

Sand

When driving over sand, try to keep all
four wheels of the vehicle on the most
solid area of the trail. Avoid reducing the
tire pressure. Instead, shift to a lower
gear and drive steadily through the ter-
rain. Apply accelerator slowly and avoid
spinning the wheels.

If you must reduce the tire pressure for
whatever reason in sand, make sure you
re-inflate the tires as soon as possible.

Avoid excessive speed because vehicle
momentum can work against you and
cause the vehicle to become stuck to the
point that assistance may be required
from another vehicle. Remember, you
may be able to back out the way you
came if you proceed with caution.

t

Water

Before driving through water, determine
the depth. Avoid water higher than the
bottom of the hubs. Proceed slowly to
avoid splashing, if the ignition system
gets wet, the vehicle may stall.

Once through water, always try the
brakes. Wet brakes do not stop the vehicle
as effectively as dry brakes. You can dry
the brakes faster by driving the vehicle
slowly while applying light pressure on
the brake pedal.