
Starting Your Gasoline  Engine 
If  you have a diesel  engine,  see  “Starting Your Diesel 
Engine” 
in the Diesel  Engine  Supplement. 
Automatic  Transmission 
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or  NEUTRAL (N). 
Your  engine  won’t start in any other  position -- that’s a 
safety  feature.  To restart  when  you’re already  moving, 
use  NEUTRAL 
(N) only. 
Manual  Transmission 
The gear  selector  should be in  NEUTRAL (N). Hold the 
clutch  pedal to the floor  and start  the engine.  Your 
vehicle  won’t  start 
if the clutch  pedal is not  all the way 
down -- that’s  a safety  feature. 
1. Without  pushing  the  accelerator pedal,  turn  your 
ignition  key  to  START.  When  the  engine starts, let 
go  of the  key.  The  idle  speed  will  go down  as  your 
engine gets  warm. 
NOTICE: 
NOTICE: 
I I I I 
Don’t try to  shift  to PARK (P) if your  vehicle 
is  moving. 
If you  do,  you  could  damage  the  Holding  your  key  in  START 
for longer  than 
damage  your  starter motor. 
vehicle  is  stopped.  drained 
much  sooner.  And  the excessive  heat  can 
transmission.  Shift 
to PARK 
(P) only  when  your 
15 seconds  at a  time  will cause  your  battery  to  be 
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Manual  Transmission  Operation 
5-Speed (MW3 Transmission with Low 
Gear) (If Equipped) 
Here’s  how to operate 
your  transmission: 
FIRST 
(1) is  intended only  for heavy  loads and  is  not 
recommended  for normal  driving. 
During  the first 
500 miles (805 km)  of vehicle  use,  start 
your  vehicle  moving 
in FIRST (1). This allows clutch 
components  to  break-in  properly. 
FIRST (1): Press the clutch  pedal  and shift into 
FIRST 
(1). Then,  slowly  let up  on  the clutch  pedal  as 
you  press  the  accelerator pedal. Shift into FIRST 
(1) 
only  when the vehicle  speed  is  below 5 mph (8 km/h). 
If  you  try  to shift down into FIRST (1) at excessive 
vehicle  speeds, the shift lever  will  not  move into 
the 
FIRST (1) position  until  vehicle  speed is reduced. 
SECOND (2): Press the clutch  pedal  and  shift  into 
SECOND 
(2). Then,  slowly  let  up on the  clutch  pedal as 
you press  the accelerator  pedal. 
You  can  shift  into  SECOND  (2)  when  you’re  going  less 
than 20  mph  (32  km/h).  If  you’ve  come  to  a complete  stop 
and  it’s  hard 
to shift  into  SECOND  (2),  put  the  shift  lever 
in  NEUTRAL  (N)  and  let  up  on  the  clutch.  Press  the 
clutch  pedal  back  down.  Then 
shift into  SECOND (2). 
If  you try to  downshift  into  SECOND  (2)  at  excessive 
vehicle  speeds,  the  shift  lever  will  not  move  into  the 
SECOND  (2)  position 
until vehicle  speed  is  reduced. 
THIRD (3): Press  the  clutch pedal  as  you  let  up on 
the accelerator  pedal  and shift into THIRD (3). Then, 
slowly  let  up  on 
the clutch  pedal as you press  the 
accelerator  pedal. 
FOURTH (4) and FIFTH (5): Shift into the  higher 
forward  gears the same  way  you do for  THIRD (3). 
Slowly  let  up  on  the  clutch pedal  as  you  press  the 
accelerator  pedal. 
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To stop, let  up on the accelerator  pedal and press the 
brake  pedal. Just before the vehicle stops,  press  the 
clutch  pedal  and  the  brake  pedal,  and  shift 
to 
NEUTRAL (N). 
NEUTRAL  (N): Use  this position  when  you start or 
idle your  engine. 
REVERSE  (R): To back  up,  first press down the clutch 
pedal.  Wait about 
five seconds  for the  internal  parts to 
stop  spinning  and  then  shift  into REVERSE 
(R). 
Let up  on  the  clutch pedal  slowly  while  pressing  the 
accelerator  pedal. 
NOTICE: 
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after  your  vehicle is 
stopped. Shifting to REVERSE (R)  while  your 
vehicle 
is moving could  damage  your  transmission. 
Also,  use  REVERSE (R), along  with  the  parking  brake, 
when  turning  off  your  engine and parking  your  vehicle. 
5-Speed (MG5M50 Transmissions  Without 
Low Gear) (If Equipped) 
Here’s  how  to  operate your  transmission: 
FIRST (1): Press  the  clutch  pedal  and  shift  into 
FIRST (1). Then, slowly  let up on  the  clutch  pedal  as 
you  press 
the accelerator  pedal. 
You  can 
shift into FIRST (1) when  you’re  going  less 
than 
20 mph (32 km/h). If you’ve  come  to a complete 
stop  and  it’s  hard  to  shift  into FIRST 
(I), put  the  shift 
lever 
in NEUTRAL (N) and  let  up  on  the  clutch.  Press 
the clutch  pedal  back  down.  Then  shift  into  FIRST (1). 
SECOND (2): Press  the  clutch pedal  as you let up  on 
the  accelerator  pedal  and  shift  into 
SECOND (2). Then, 
slowly  let  up  on  the  clutch  pedal  as  you  press  the 
accelerator  pedal. 
THIRD (3), FOURTH (4) and  FIFTH (5): Shift  into 
THIRD 
(3), FOURTH (4) and FIFTH (5) the  same  way 
you  do for 
SECOND (2). Slowly  let  up on the clutch 
pedal  as  you  press  the  accelerator pedal. 
To stop, let  up  on  the  accelerator pedal  and  press  the 
brake  pedal.  Just before  the  vehicle  stops, press  the 
clutch  pedal  and  the  brake  pedal,  and  shift  to  NEUTRAL 
(N). 
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NEUTRAL (N): Use this position  when  you  start or 
idle your  engine. 
Shift Speeds 
REVERSE  (R): To back up, first press  down  the  clutch 
pedal.  Wait  about  five seconds  for the  internal  parts 
to 
stop  spinning  and  then,  shift into REVERSE (R). 
Let up on the clutch  pedal  slowly  while  pressing  the 
accelerator  pedal. 
)NOTICE: 
Shift  to  REVERSE (R) only after  your  vehicle  is 
stopped.  Shifting  to  REVERSE 
(R) while  your 
vehicle  is  moving  could  damage  your  transmission. 
Also, use REVERSE (R), along  with  the parking  brake, 
when  turning  off  your  engine and  parking  your  vehicle. 
A CAUTION: 
If you skip more  than  one  gear  when  you 
downshift,  you  could 
lose control of your  vehicle. 
And  you  could  injure  yourself  or  others.  Don’t  shift  down  more  than  one  gear  when  you  downshift. 
~~  ~ 
If your  speed  drops  below 20 mph (32 kmh), or if the 
engine is not  running  smoothly,  you  should  downshift to 
the  next  lower  gear. 
You may  have  to downshift  two or 
more gears  to  keep  the  engine running  smoothly or for 
good  performance. 
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$-Wheel  High  (4H): This  setting  engages  your front 
axle 
to help  drive  your  vehicle.  Use  4H  when you need 
extra  traction,  such  as on  wet  or icy  roads,  or  in  most 
off-road  situations. 
Neutral (N): Shift  to this  setting  only  when  your  vehicle 
needs  to be  towed  or when  using  a  power  take-off. 
4-Wheel Low (4L): This setting  also  engages  your front 
axle  to  give  you  extra  power  and also gives  you a  higher 
driveline  ratio.  It  should 
be used  only  for  off-road  driving. 
You can  shift  from  2-WHEEL  HIGH  (2H)  to 4-WHEEL 
HIGH  (4H)  or from  4-WHEEL  HIGH 
(4H) to 
2-WHEEL  HIGH  (2H)  while  the  vehicle  is  moving. 
Your  front  axle  will  engage faster if 
you take  your foot 
off  of  the  accelerator  for a  few  seconds  after  you  shift. 
In  extremely  cold  weather,  it may  be necessary 
to stop 
or  slow  the  vehicle 
to shift  into 4-WHEEL  HIGH  (4H).  To 
shift  into  or  out  of  4-WHEEL  LOW  (4L)  or 
NEUTRAL 
(N): 
1. Slow  the  vehicle to a  roll,  about 1 to 3 mph (2 to 
5 kmh)  and  shift  an  automatic  transmission  into 
NEUTRAL  (N),  or with  a  manual  transmission, 
press  the  clutch  pedal. 
2.  Shift  the  transfer  case  shift  lever  in  one  continuous  motion. 
Don’t  pause  in  NEUTRAL 
(N) as  you  shift  the  transfer 
case  into 4-WHEEL  LOW  (4L),  or your  gears 
could  clash. 
Remember  that  driving  in  4-WHEEL  HIGH  (4H)  or 
4-WHEEL  LOW  (4L)  may  reduce  fuel  economy. 
Also, 
driving  in four-wheel  drive  on dry  pavement  could 
cause  your  tires  to wear  faster  and  make  your  transfer 
case  harder  to shift  and  run  noisier. 
When  your  headlamps  or parking  lamps  are on, 
rotate  the  thumb  wheel  next  to the  headlamp  switch 
up  to brighten  or  down 
to dim  your  transfer  case 
indicator  light. 
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0 As you are backing  down the hill, put  your left hand 
on the steering  wheel at the 12 o’clock  position. This 
way,  you’ll  be able  to 
tell if your  wheels  are straight 
and  maneuver  as  you back  down.  It’s  best  that you 
back  down  the 
hill with  your  wheels  straight rather 
than 
in the left  or right  direction.  Turning  the  wheel 
too  far to  the  left  or right  will increase  the possibility 
of  a rollover. 
Here  are  some things  you 
must not do if you stall,  or  are 
about  to stall,  when  going  up  a hill. 
0 Never  attempt  to  prevent  a stall  by shifting into 
NEUTRAL 
(N) (or  depressing the clutch, if you 
have  a manual  transmission)  to “rev-up” the engine 
and  regain  forward momentum.  This won’t  work. 
Your  vehicle  will  roll  backwards very  quickly  and 
you  could 
go out  of control. 
Instead,  apply the regular  brake to stop  the 
vehicle. Then apply 
the parking  brake.  Shift to 
REVERSE (R), release the  parking  brake, and 
slowly  back straight down. 
0 Never attempt to  turn  around if you  are about to stall 
when  going  up a hill.  If the  hill  is  steep enough 
to 
stall your  vehicle,  it’s steep  enough  to  cause you to 
roll  over  if  you  turn  around. 
If you  can’t  make it up 
the hill,  you  must  back  straight down  the  hill. 
@ Suppose,  after  stalling, I try to  back down the hill 
and  decide 
I just  can’t  do  it. What  should I do? 
A: Set  the  parking  brake,  put  your  transmission  in 
PARK (P) (or  the  manual  transmission  in  FIRST (1)) 
and turn off the engine.  Leave  the  vehicle  and  go  get 
some  help.  Exit  on  the  uphill  side  and  stay  clear 
of 
the  path  the  vehicle  would  take if it rolled  downhill. 
Do not  shift  the  transfer  case to NEUTRAL (N) 
when you leave  the  vehicle.  Leave it in I ne  gel 
Shifting  the  transfer  case  to  NEUTR 
I (N) can 
cause  your  vehicle to  roll  even  if the  transmission 
is in  PARK (P) (or,  if you  have  the  manual 
transmission,  even if you’re  in  gear).  This  is 
because  the 
NEUTRAL (N) position  on  the 
transfer  case  overrides  the  transmission. 
If you 
are  going  to leave  your vehicle,  set  the  parking 
brake  and  shift  the  transmission  to 
PARK (P) 
(or,  put  your  manual  transmission  in  FIRST (1)). 
But do not  shift  the  transfer  case to  the 
NEUTRAL 
(N) position.  Leave  the  transfer  case 
in  the 
2 Wheel, 4 High  or 4 Low position. 
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Driving Downhill 
When  off-roading  takes you downhill, you 11 want to 
consider 
a number of things: 
How  steep  is  the  downhill?  Will I be  able to maintain 
What’s  the  surface  like? Smooth? Rough?  Slippery? 
Are  there  hidden  surface  obstacles?  Ruts? Logs? 
What’s  at  the  bottom  of  the  hill? Is there a  hidden 
vehicle  control? 
Hard-packed  dirt? Gravel? 
Boulders? 
creek  bank  or even  a  river  bottom  with  large  rocks? 
If you  decide you can go  down  a  hill  safely,  then try to 
keep  your  vehicle  headed  straight down,  and  use  a low 
gear.  This  way,  engine  drag  can  help  your  brakes  and 
they won’t  have  to do  all  the  work.  Descend  slowly, 
keeping  your  vehicle  under  control  at  all times. 
I a CAUTIO, .: 
0 
0 
Heavy  braking  when  going  down  a  hill  can  cause 
your  brakes  to  overheat  and  fade.  This  could 
cause  loss  of  control  and 
a serious  accident. 
Apply  the  brakes  lightly  when  descending  a 
hill  and  use  a  low  gear  to  keep  vehicle  speed 
under  control. 
&: Are  there  some  things I should  not  do  when 
A: Yes!  These  are  important  because if you  ignore  them 
driving  down a hill? 
you could  lose  control  and  have  a  serious  accident. 
When  driving  downhill,  avoid  turns  that  take  you 
across  the  incline 
of the hill. A hill  that’s  not too 
steep  to drive  down  may  be  too  steep to drive  across. 
You could  roll  over  if you don’t  drive  straight  down. 
Never 
go downhill  with  the  transmission  in 
NEUTRAL 
(N), or  with  the  clutch  pedal  depressed 
in a  manual  shift.  This is called  “free-wheeling.” 
Your  brakes  will  have  to do all  the  work  and  could 
overheat  and  fade. 
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Power  Winches 
If  you  wish to use  a  power  winch on your  vehicle, only 
use  it when  your  vehicle  is stationary  or  anchored. 
I NOTICE: 
Using a power winch  with  the  transmission  in 
gear  may damage  the  transmission.  When 
operating  a  power  winch,  always  leave  the 
transmission  in  NEUTRAL 
(N). 
Use  the regular  brakes,  set the  parking  brake, or block 
the  wheels 
to keep  your  vehicle from rolling. 
Power Take-Off (PTO) (Manual Tkansmission) 
NOTICE: 
If you  have  a PTO that  will exceed 35 hp  installed 
on  your  vehicle, it  could  damage  the  transfer  case 
or  transmission.  When  having 
a PTO installed 
on 
your vehicle,  make  sure  that it will not exceed 
35 hp.  Before  using 
a PTO, refer to the  manufacturer’s 
or 
installer’s  instructions. 
I NOTICE: 
Using  a PTO while operating  in  one  place  before 
the  vehicle  has  reached  normal  operating 
temperature  can  damage  the  transfer  case  or 
transmission.  If  you  will be  using the 
PTO while 
operating  in  one  place, drive  and  warm  up  the 
vehicle  before  using  the 
PTO. 
To engage a PTO: 
1. Hold the  clutch  pedal  down. 
2. Set  the  parking  brake. 
3. Shift the  transmission  into NEUTRAL (N). 
4. Engage  the PTO. 
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