(8) Stop driving the vehicle if you think the
performance is noticeably low, or that
there is unnecessary engine rotation, or
any other engine trouble, such as with
the ignition, etc.
If it is impractical to stop driving imme-
diately, reduce the speed and drive for
only a short time. Have an inspection
made by your nearest authorized
MITSUBISHI dealer as soon as pos-
sible.
(9) In unusual situations involving grossly
malfunctioning engine operation, a
burnt smell may indicate severe and
abnormal catalyst overheating.
If this occurs, the vehicle should be
stopped in a safe place, the engine
switched off and the vehicle allowed to
cool. Once the engine is cool, a ser-
vice, including a tune-up to manufac-
turer’s specifications, should be
obtained immediately.
Economical driving
EC19AAX
For economical driving, there are some
technical requirements that have to be met.
The prerequisite for low fuel consumption
is a properly adjusted engine. In order to
achieve longer life of the vehicle and the
most economical operation, have the
vehicle serviced by an authorized
MITSUBISHI dealer at regular intervals in
accordance with the service standards.
Fuel economy and generation of exhaust
gas and noise are highly influenced by per-
sonal driving habits as well as the particu-
lar operating conditions. The following
points should be observed in order to mini-
mize wear of brakes, tyres and engine as
well as to reduce environmental pollu-
tion.
(1)Starting
Avoid rapid acceleration and sudden
starts; such operation will result in
higher fuel consumption.
(2)Shifting
Shift only at an appropriate speed and
engine speed. Always use the high-
est gear possible.
The transfer shift lever should be set to
“2H”when driving on normal roads and
express ways to obtain best possible
fuel economy.(3)City traffic
Frequent starting and stopping
increases the average fuel consump-
tion. Use roads with smooth traffic flow
whenever possible. When driving on
congested roads, avoid use of a low
gear at high engine speeds.
(4)Idling
The vehicle consumes fuel even dur-
ing idling. Avoid extended idling when-
ever possible.
(5)Speed
The higher the vehicle speed, the more
fuel consumed. Avoid driving at full
speed. Even a slight release of the
accelerator pedal will save a signifi-
cant amount of fuel.
(6)Tyre inflation pressure
Check the tyre inflation pressures at
regular intervals. Low tyre inflation
pressure increases road resistance and
fuel consumption. In addition, low tyre
pressures adversely affect tyre wear
and driving stability.
Starting and driving
5-7
Div:
Out put date:
Normal conditions
The starting procedure is as follows:
1. Insert the ignition key and fasten the
seat belt.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Depress and hold the brake pedal.
4. Place the gearshift lever (manual
transmission) in the“N”(Neutral) or the
selector lever (automatic transmission)
in the“P”(PARK) position.
5. Fully depress the clutch pedal (manual
transmission).
6. After turning the ignition key to the“ON”
position, make certain that all warning
lamps are functioning properly before
starting the engine.
7. Turn the ignition key to the“START”
position without depressing the accel-
erator pedal, and release it when the
engine starts.NOTE
A ticking noise may be heard after start-
ing the engine. This is not an abnormal
condition. The noise will disappear after a
short time of engine running.
If the ticking noise continues after the
engine is warmed up, have your vehicle
checked at an authorized MITSUBISHI
dealer.
Flooded engine
If the engine was flooded during starting,
first operate the starter for 5 to 6 seconds
while fully depressing the accelerator pedal,
then start the engine without depressing the
accelerator pedal.
At extreme cold ambient temperature
If the engine won’t start, depress the accel-
erator pedal about halfway while crank-
ing the engine. Once the engine starts,
release the accelerator pedal.
CAUTION
When starting the engine, make sure
that you press on the brake pedal. At
extreme cold ambient temperature
move your foot to the brake pedal
immediately after the engine has
started.
I27A072A
M/T A/TStarting the engine (diesel-powered
vehicles)
EI02BAI
1. Insert the ignition key and fasten the
seat belt.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Depress and hold the brake pedal.
4. On vehicles with a manual transmis-
sion, place the gearshift lever in the“N”
(Neutral) position and depress the clutch
pedal all the way.
On vehicles with an automatic trans-
mission, place the selector lever in the
“P”(PARK) position.
5. Turn the ignition key to the“ON”posi-
tion.
The diesel preheat warning lamp will first
illuminate, and then after a short time go
out, indicating that preheating is com-
pleted.
Starting and driving
5-14Div:
Out put date:
NOTE
(1)
The 2WD/4WD operation indication lamp
blinks while the selection is in process.
Take the following precautions when the
lamp is blinking.
•Keep the steering wheel in the straight
ahead position while making range
selections. If you attempt to drive for-
ward with the steering wheel turned,
gear rattling may occur and the desired
range may not actually be selected.
•If the front wheel and/or centre differ-
ential lock lamps continue flashing after
a“2H”↔“4H”↔“4HLc”selection has
been made with the vehicle moving,
hold the steering wheel in the straight
ahead position and slowly depress the
accelerator pedal several times.
•If, after a“4HLc”↔“4LLc”selection has
been made, the front and rear wheel
lamps continue flashing and the desired
range is not actually selected, return the
transfer shift lever to its previous posi-
tion, place the steering wheel in the
straight ahead position, drive the vehicle
forward, and release the accelerator
pedal. Next, hold down the clutch pedal
(in a manual transmission vehicle) or
place the selector lever in the“N”
(NEUTRAL) position (in an automatic
transmission vehicle) and make the
range selection again.
I30B012A
NOTE
(2)
If the front and rear wheel lamps flash
rapidly (twice per second) when you
attempt to make a“4HLc”↔“4LLc”
selection cannot be made. Stop the
vehicle and release the accelerator pedal.
Next, hold down the clutch pedal (in a
manual transmission vehicle) or place the
selector lever in the“N”(NEUTRAL) posi-
tion (in an automatic transmission vehicle)
and make the range selection again.
I30B013A
CAUTION
If a problem is detected in the trans-
fer system and safety device oper-
ates, the front and rear wheel lamps
will go off, the centre differential lock
lamp will blink (once per second),
and the transfer shifting becomes
impossible.
In this case, park your vehicle in a
safe place and follow these
procedures:
Turn off the engine. Restart the
engine and check to see if the lamp
returns to the previous condition,
there is no problem.
However, if the lamp blinks again,
have the vehicle checked by an
authorized MITSUBISHI dealer as
soon as possible.
Starting and driving
5-33
Div:
Out put date:
Correct 4-wheel drive
operation
EI32ABCa
By shifting lock to 4-wheel drive, both axles
of the vehicle are rigidly connected with
each other. This improves the traction char-
acteristics. When turning sharp corners or
moving forward and backward repeat-
edly, however, the drive line is stressed,
which is felt as a braking effect. A 4-wheel
drive vehicle can accelerate more quickly
and smoothly.
However, note that the braking distance is
not shorter than that of a rear-wheel drive
vehicle.
When using 4-wheel drive on rough roads
(snow, mud, sand, etc.), it is important to
operate the vehicle correctly.
NOTE
(1) The driving posture should be more
upright and closer to the wheel than
usual; adjust the seat to a good posi-
tion for easy steering and pedal opera-
tion. Be sure to wear the seat belt.
(2) After driving on rough roads, check
each part of the vehicle and wash it
thoroughly with water. Refer to the sec-
tions“Vehicle care”and“Inspection and
maintenance following rough road
operation”.
Driving on dry paved road and high-
waySelect“2H”(part time 4WD),“2H”or“4H”
(super select 4WD II) to drive on a dry
paved road. Especially on dry highway,
never select the“4H”or“4L”(part time
4WD),“4HLc”or“4LLc”(super select 4WD
II).
CAUTION
Selecting“4H”or“4L”(part time
4WD),“4HLc”or“4LLc”(super select
4WD II), to drive on dry paved road
will increase the fuel consumption
with possible noise generation and
early tyre wear.
It may also increase the differential
oil temperature, resulting in pos-
sible damage to the driving system.
Further, the drive train will be sub-
jected to excessive loading, possi-
bly leading to oil leakage, component
seizure, or other serious faults.Driving on snowy or icy roadsSet the transfer shift lever to“4H”or“4L”
(part time 4WD),“4H”or“4HLc”(super
select 4WD II) in accordance with the road
conditions, and then gradually depress the
accelerator pedal for a smooth start.NOTE
(1) The use of snow tyres and/or tyre
chains is recommended.
(2) In order to ensure that the anti-lock
brake system (ABS) will operate cor-
rectly in situations where tyre chains
have been fitted, drive in“4H”or“4L”
for part time 4WD, or in“4H”,“4HLc”or
“4LLc”for super select 4WD II.
(3) Maintain a safe distance between
vehicles, avoid sudden braking, and
use engine braking (downshifting).
CAUTION
Avoid sudden braking, sudden accel-
eration, and sharp turning; such
operations could cause skidding and
spinouts.Driving on sandy or muddy roadsSet the transfer shift lever to“4H”or“4L”
(part time 4WD),“4HLc”or“4LLc”(super
select 4WD II), and then gradually depress
the accelerator pedal for a smooth start.
Keep the pressure on the accelerator pedal
as constant as possible, and drive at low
speed.
Starting and driving
5-38Div:
Out put date:
CAUTION
(1) Do not force the vehicle or drive
recklessly on sandy surfaces. In
comparison with normal road
surfaces, the engine and other
drive-system components are
put under excessive strain when
driving on such a surface, and
this could lead to accidents.
(2) If any of following conditions
occur while the vehicle is being
driven, immediately park your
vehicle in a safe place and fol-
low these procedures:
•The needle in the tempera-
ture gauge approaches the
overheating zone.
Refer to the“Engine
overheating”on page 8-21.
•A/T fluid temperature warning
lamp illuminates.
Refer to the“A/T fluid tempera-
ture warning lamp”on page
4-11.
WARNING
When attempting to rock your vehicle
out of a stuck position, be sure that
the area around the vehicle is clear of
people and physical objects. The
rocking motion may cause the
vehicle to suddenly launch forward
or backward, causing injury or dam-
age to nearby people or objects.
NOTE
(1) Avoid sudden braking, acceleration, and
turning; such operations could result in
the vehicle becoming stuck.
(2) If the vehicle becomes stuck in sandy
or muddy roads, it can often be moved
a rocking motion. Move the selector
lever rhythmically between the“D”
(DRIVE) and“R”(REVERSE) posi-
tion (with manual transmission,
between 1st and Reverse), while apply-
ing slight pressure to the accelerator
pedal.
(3) It is recommended to start the vehicle
with parking brake partially, but not
completely, applied by slightly pulling
the parking brake lever.
After the vehicle has become free, do
not forget to release the parking brake.NOTE
(4) If it is necessary to drive in extremely
muddy conditions, the use of tyre
chains is recommended. Because the
extent of muddy conditions is difficult to
judge and the vehicle could become
bogged down very deeply, operation
should be at a low speed. If possible,
get out of the vehicle and check the
conditions ahead before proceeding.
(5) Driving over roads in coastal areas or
roads on which anti-skid preparations
have been spread can cause rust on
the vehicle; wash the vehicle thor-
oughly as soon as possible after such
use.
Climbing sharp gradesSet the transfer shift lever to“4L”(part time
4WD) or“4LLc”(super select 4WD II) to
maximize the engine torque.
WARNING
(1) Go straight up. Do not try to
traverse across a steep slope.
(2) If you begin to lose traction, ease
off the accelerator pedal and
gently turn the steering wheel
alternatively left and right to
regain adequate traction again.
Starting and driving
5-39
Div:
Out put date:
Crossing a stream4-wheel drive vehicles are not necessar-
ily waterproof. If the electrical circuits
become wet, further operation of the
vehicle will be impossible; therefore, avoid
crossing streams unless absolutely nec-
essary. If crossing a stream is unavoid-
able, use the following procedure:
(1) Check depths of the stream and geo-
graphical features before attempting to
cross a stream and ford the stream
where the water is as shallow as prac-
ticable.
(2) Cross at a place where the water is less
than 6 cm deep.
(3) Set the transfer shift lever to“4L”(part
time 4WD) or“4LLc”(super select 4WD
II).
(4) Drive slowly at a speed of approxi-
mately 5 km/h (3 mph) to avoid splash-
ing too much water.
CAUTION
Do not attempt to cross a stream at
a place where the water is more than
60 cm deep.
Frequent crossing of streams can
adversely affect the life span of the
vehicle; consult an authorized
MITSUBISHI dealer and take the nec-
essary measures to prepare, inspect,
and repair the vehicle.
After crossing a stream, apply the brakes
to be sure they are functioning properly. If
the brakes are wet and not functioning
properly, dry them out by driving slowly
while lightly depressing the brake pedal.
Inspect each part of the vehicle carefully.
Inspection and maintenance follow-
ing rough road operationAfter operating the vehicle in rough road
conditions, be sure to perform the follow-
ing inspection and maintenance proce-
dures :
(1) Check that the vehicle has not been
damaged by rocks, gravel, etc.
(2) Carefully wash the vehicle with water.
Drive the vehicle slowly while lightly
depressing the brake pedal in order to
dry out the brakes. If the brakes still do
not function properly, contact an autho-
rized MITSUBISHI dealer as soon as
possible to have the brakes checked.
(3) Remove insects, dried grass, etc. clog-
ging the radiator core.
(4) If a stream has been crossed, check
the engine, transmission, and differen-
tial oil. If the oil or grease is milky or
cloudy because of water contamina-
tion, it must be replaced with new oil.
(5) Check the inside of the vehicle. If
ingress of water is found, dry the car-
pet etc.
(6) Inspect the headlamps. If the head-
lamp bulb is flooded with water, have
the bulb drained off at an authorized
MITSUBISHI dealer.
(7) Have an authorized MITSUBISHI
dealer replace grease in the wheel
bearings.
Starting and driving
5-41
Div:
Out put date:
Cautions on handling of 4WD
vehicles
EI49A-Xa
Tyre and disc wheelsSince the driving torque can be applied to
the 4 wheels, the performance of the
vehicle when operating in 4WD is greatly
affected by the condition of the tyres.
Pay close attention to the tyres.
•Install specified tyres on all wheels. Refer
to“Tyre and wheels”on page 10-10.
•Be sure to equip the car with all four tyres
and wheels of the same size and type.
When replacement of any of the tyres or
wheels is necessary, replace all of them.
•All tyres should be rotated whenever the
wear difference between front and rear
tyres is recognizable.
Good vehicle performance cannot be
expected if there is a difference in wear
between tyres. Refer to the“Tyre rotation”
on page 9-15.
•Check the tyre inflation pressure regu-
larly.
CAUTION
Always use tyres of the same size,
same type, and same brand, which
have no wear differences.
Using the tyres of differ in size, type,
brand or a different degree of wear
will cause excessive loading, result-
ing in possible damage to the drive
system.Jacking up a 4-wheel drive vehicles
WARNING
Do not crank the engine while jack-
ing up the vehicle.
The tyre on the ground may turn and
the vehicle may roll off the jack.Operate clutch pedal slowly and
positivelyQuick or slight clutch engagement made
while the engine is running at high speed
will cause damage to the clutch and trans-
mission because the tractive force is very
great.
Operate the pedal slowly and positively.
I07A002A
1
Parking brake
EI07AAEd
To park the vehicle, first bring it to a com-
plete stop, fully engage the parking brake,
and then move the gearshift lever to 1st (on
an uphill) or Reverse (on a downhill) posi-
tion, for vehicles with a manual transmis-
sion or set the selector lever to“P”(PARK)
position on automatic transmission
vehicles.To apply1- Pull the lever up without pushing the
button at the end of the hand grip.
Starting and driving
5-42Div:
Out put date:
Braking
EI23AAGa
All the parts of the brake system are criti-
cal to safety. Have the vehicle serviced by an
authorized MITSUBISHI dealer at regular
intervals according to the service booklet.Brake system(1) The service brake is divided into two
brake circuits so that when one brake
circuit fails, the other is available to stop
the vehicle. If this occurs, however, the
brake pedal must be depressed fur-
ther than usual; stop driving as soon as
possible and have the brake system
repaired at the nearest authorized
MITSUBISHI dealer.
(2) The brake boosting force is lost after
the brake pedal is depressed once or
twice while the engine is off. If this
occurs, the brake will require greater
force than usual. This is especially
important when the vehicle is being
towed.
Vehicles equipped with anti-lock brake
system
The brake system uses brake fluid pres-
surized by the pump to power-assist the
brake. If the brake system fails during driv-
ing, the brake warning lamp comes on and
buzzer sounds continuously. In this case,
the brake may not work properly.If this buzzer should continue to sound,
park your vehicle in a safe place and con-
tact your nearest authorized MITSUB-
ISHI dealer.
Please refer to“Brake warning lamp”on
page 4-7.
CAUTION
Bring the vehicle to halt in a safe
location by applying the brakes gen-
tly. Applying the brakes rapidly or
driving at high speed may make the
vehicle unstable.
NOTE
(1) Depressing the brake pedal repeat-
edly may turn on the brake warning
lamp, ABS warning lamp and brake
warning buzzer. It is normal if the lamp
goes out and the buzzer stops sound-
ing after a few seconds.
(2) In certain cases immediately after the
engine has been started or when the
brake pedal is depressed repeatedly, a
noise generated by operation of brake
devices may be heard coming from the
engine compartment. This type of noise
is normal and is no need for concern.
In fact, it indicates that the correspond-
ing devices are operating normal.
Warning lampThe brake warning lamp lets you know if
your brake system is working properly.
Read“Brake warning lamp”on page 4-7.When brakes are wetCheck the brake system while driving at a
low speed immediately after starting, espe-
cially when the brakes are wet, to con-
firm they work normally.
A film of water can form on the brake discs
and prevent normal functioning after driv-
ing in heavy rain or through large puddles,
or after the vehicle is washed. If this occurs,
dry the brakes out by driving slowly while
lightly depressing the brake pedal.When driving downhillIt is important to take advantage of the
engine braking by shifting to a lower gear
while driving on steep downhill roads in
order to prevent the brakes from overheat-
ing.
Starting and driving
5-44Div:
Out put date: