WARNING
(4) Seat belts should always be
worn by every adult who drives
or rides in this vehicle, and by all
children who are large enough
to wear seat belts properly.
(5) Remove any twists when using
the belt.
(6) No modifications or additions
should be made by the user
which will either prevent the seat
belt adjusting devices from oper-
ating to remove slack, or pre-
vent the seat belt assembly from
being adjusted to remove slack.
(7) To reduce risk of serious or fatal
injury in an accident, including
from a deploying driver air bag,
the driver should adjust the driv-
er’s seat to the most rear posi-
tion that still allows good
visibility and good control of the
steering wheel, the brake and
accelerator, and vehicle con-
trols.
G28A089A
WARNING
(8) Never hold a child in your arms
or on your lap when riding in
this vehicle even if you are wear-
ing your seat belt. To do so risks
severe or fatal injury to the child
in a collision or sudden stop.
(9) Always adjust the belt to a snug
fit.3-point type seat belt (with emer-
gency locking mechanism)This type of belt requires no length adjust-
ment. Once worn, the belt adjusts itself to
the movement of the wearer, but in the
event of a sudden or strong shock, the belt
automatically locks to hold the wearer’s
body.
G28A050A
To fasten
Pull the seat belt out slowly while holding
the latch plate.
NOTE
When the seat belts cannot be pulled out
in a locked condition, pull the belts once
forcefully and then return them. After that,
pull the belts out slowly once again.
Insert the latch plate into the buckle until a
“click”is heard.
CAUTION
(1) Never wear the lap portion of the
belt across your abdomen. Dur-
ing accidents it can press
sharply against your abdomen
and increase the risk of injury.
(2) The seat belts must not be
twisted when worn.
Pull the belt slightly to adjust looseness as
desired.
Seat and seat belts
3-31
Div:
Out put date:
Turn-signal indication lamps - green
ED52A-BB
These indication lamps blink on and off when a
turn-signal lamp is operating.NOTE
If the blinking is too fast, the cause may be a faulty
turn-signal connection or a blown lamp bulb.Hazard warning indication lamps - green
ED30A-A
When the hazard warning lamp switch is pressed,
all turn-signal lamps will flash on and off continu-
ously.Engine oil level warning lamp-amber
ED26A-D
This lamp illuminates when the ignition switch is
turned to the “ON” position, and goes off after theengine has started. If it lights up while the engine is
running, the oil level is too low.
If the warning lamp lights while the engine is run-
ning, stop the engine and add engine oil to speci-
fied level. (Refer to “Engine oil” on page 9-2.)
Low fuel indication lamp - amber
ED63ABD
The indication lamp comes on when the fuel tank is
getting low. Refuel as soon as possible.
CAUTION
On petrol-powered vehicles, do not drive with
an extremely low fuel level; running out of fuel
could cause damage to the catalytic con-
verter.
NOTE
On inclines or curves, due to the movement of fuel
in the tank, the low fuel indication lamp may come
on earlier than usual.
Instruments and controls
4-9
Div:
Out put date:
(3) For vehicles equipped with the Day-
time Running Lamp, when the igni-
tion switch is“ON”, the headlamp low
beams etc. are turned on.
Refer to“Headlamps”.
(4) As your vehicle is equipped with an
electronic immobilizer, to start the
engine, the ID code which the tran-
sponder inside the key sends must
match the one registered to the immo-
bilizer computer. (Refer to page 2-2).
CAUTION
(1) Do not remove the ignition key
from the ignition switch while
driving. The steering wheel will
be locked, causing loss of con-
trol.
(2) If the engine is stopped while
driving, the brake servomecha-
nism will cease to function and
braking efficiency will deterio-
rate. Also, power steering sys-
tem will not function and it will
require greater manual effort to
operate the steering.
(3) Do not leave the key in the“ON”
position for a long time when the
engine is not running; doing so
will cause the battery to be dis-
charged.
(4) Do not turn the key to the
“START”position when the
engine is running; doing so
could damage the starter motor.
I01B016A
How to lock and unlock the steer-
ing wheel
EI01B-K
To lock
Remove the key at the“LOCK”position.
Turn the steering wheel until it is locked.
To unlock
Turn the key to the“ACC”position while
moving the steering wheel slightly.
CAUTION
Remove the key when leaving the
vehicle.
NOTE
If the front wheels are turned, the anti-theft
lock may sometimes make it difficult to turn
the key from“LOCK”to“ACC”. Firmly turn
the steering wheel to the left or to the right
as you turn the key.
Starting
EI02FOH
Tips for starting(1) Do not operate the starter motor con-
tinuously for anything longer than 10
seconds; doing so could run down the
battery. If the engine does not start, turn
the ignition switch back to“LOCK”, wait
a few seconds, and then try again.
Trying repeatedly with the starter motor
still turning will damage the starter
mechanism.
(2) If the engine cannot be started because
the battery is weak or dead, refer to the
“Emergency starting”section for
instructions on starting the engine.
(3) The engine is well warmed up if the
coolant temperature gauge needle
starts to move (the engine speed
decreases). Extended warming-up
operation will result in excessive fuel
consumption.
WARNING
Never run the engine in a closed or
poorly ventilated area any longer
than is needed to move your vehicle
in or out the area. Carbon monox-
ide gases are odorless and can be
fatal.
Starting and driving
5-12Div:
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:
NOTE
(1) Choose a slope as smooth as pos-
sible with few stones or other
obstacles.
(2) Before attempting to drive up the slope,
walk it up to confirm that the vehicle
can handle the grade.Descending sharp gradesSet the transfer shift lever to“4L”(part time
4WD) or“4LLc”(super select 4WD II), use
the engine brake (downshifting) and
descend slowly.
WARNING
Avoid snaking down a sharp grade.
Descend the grade as straight as
possible.NOTE
(1) When descending a sharp grade, if the
brakes are applied suddenly because
of an obstacle encountered, control of
the vehicle could be lost. Before
descending the slope, walk it down and
confirm the path.
(2) Before descending a grade, it is nec-
essary to choose the appropriate gear.
Avoid changing gears or depressing
the clutch while descending the grade.
(3) MITSUBISHI is not responsible to the
operator for any damage or injury
caused or liability incurred by the
improper and negligent operation of a
vehicle. All techniques of vehicle opera-
tion described herein depend on the
skill and experience of the operator and
other participating parties and any
deviation from the recommended
operation instructions above is at their
own risk.
Turning sharp cornersWhen turning a sharp corner in“4H”or“4L”
position (part time 4WD), or“4HLc”or
“4LLc”position (super select 4WD II) at low
speed, a slight difference in steering may
be experienced similar to as if the brakes
were applied. This is called tight corner
braking and results from each of the four
tyres being at a different distance from the
corner.
The phenomenon is peculiar to 4-wheel
drive vehicles. If this occurs, either
straighten the steering wheel, or change to
rear-wheel drive.
Starting and driving
5-40Div:
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:
I07A049A
To release
1- Pull the lever up slightly.
2- Push the button at the end of the hand
grip.
3- Push the lever downward.
When parking on a hill, apply the parking
brake and turn the front wheels towards the
kerb on a downhill grade, away from the
kerb on an uphill grade.
CAUTION
Before driving, be sure that the park-
ing brake is fully released and the
brake warning lamp is off.
If a vehicle is driven without releas-
ing the parking brake, the brake will
be overheated, resulting in ineffec-
tive braking and possible brake fail-
ure.
Parking
EI22A-He
Parking on a slopeFully engage the parking brake, and then
move the gearshift lever to 1st (on an
uphill) or reverse (on a downhill) position on
manual transmission vehicle.
On automatic transmission vehicle, move
the selector lever to“P”(PARK) position.
When parking on a hill, apply chocks to
wheels for greater safety.Parking with the engine runningDo not keep the engine running in a closed
or poorly ventilated place. Carbon monox-
ide gas is odourless and extremely poison-
ous and dangerous.Where you parkDo not park in a place where there are
inflammable objects such as dry grass,
leaves, etc. because the exhaust system
produces very high temperatures. This may
cause a fire.When leaving the vehicleAlways remove the key from the ignition
switch and lock all doors when leaving the
vehicle unattended.
Always try to park your vehicle in a well lit
area.
Starting and driving
5-43
Div:
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: