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:
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:
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:
Brake pads(1) With new brake pads, avoid where pos-
sible sudden full application of the
brakes for the first 200 km (125 miles)
of driving.
(2) The disc brakes are provided with a
warning device which emits a shriek-
ing metallic sound while braking if the
brake pads have reached their limit.
If you hear this sound, have the brake
pads replaced by your MITSUBISHI
dealer.
CAUTION
(1) Do not leave any objects or place
a thick floor mat around the
brake pedal; doing so could pre-
vent the full pedal stroke that
would be necessary in an emer-
gency. Make sure that the pedal
can be operated freely at all
times.
(2) Avoid driving habits that cause
heavy braking and never“ride”
the brakes by resting your foot
on the brake pedal while driv-
ing.
It causes brake overheating and
fade.
Anti - lock brake system (ABS)*
EI24ABCb
Environmental conditions can have an
effect on braking. During sudden braking
when there is snow, ice, oil, water etc. on
the road surface, a skid may occur. In this
situation, steering control and braking effec-
tiveness are reduced and the stopping dis-
tance is increased. The vehicle may also
go into an uncontrolled spin.
The ABS helps prevent the wheels from
locking during braking, thus maintaining
directional stability, ensuring controlabil-
ity and providing optimum braking force.Driving hints(1) With ABS fitted, steering during sud-
den braking (when the ABS functions)
differs slightly from when the brakes
are not being applied.
Steer the vehicle carefully in these con-
ditions.(2) Always maintain the same distance
from the vehicle in front of you as you
would for a vehicle not equipped with
ABS.
Compared with vehicles not fitted with
ABS, your vehicle may require a longer
stopping distance in the following
cases:
•Driving on gravel or snow-covered
roads.
•Driving with tyre chains installed.
•Driving on roads where the road sur-
face is pitted or has other differ-
ences in surface height.
•Driving on bumpy roads or other poor
driving surfaces.
(3) 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.
(4) Operation of ABS is not restricted to
situations where brakes are applied
suddenly. This system may also oper-
ate to prevent wheel lock when you are
driving over manholes, steel road-work
plates, or the vehicle is driven over
steps or level differences in the road,
road markings, or other surfaces which
are difficult for the wheels to grip.
Starting and driving
5-45
Div:
Out put date:
CAUTION
(1) This vehicle must not be towedby a tow truck using sling lift
type equipment (Type A) as illus-
trated. Using a sling lift will dam-
age the bumper and front end.
(2) In case the vehicle with an auto- matic transmission must be
towe d farthe r tha n 50k m (3 1
miles) ,transpor tth evehicl ewith
all wheels off the ground (Type B
or C) or with rear wheels off the
ground (Type E) as illustrated.
(3) If the transmission is dam- aged, transport the vehicle with
all wheels off the ground (Type B
or C) as illustrated.
(4) Be sure to shift the transfer shift lever to “2H ”position. Never try
to tow with the transfer shift
lever in “4H ”or “4L ”positions
(part time 4WD models), “4H ”,
“ 4HLc ”,or “4LLc ”positions
(super select 4WD II models) and
with any of the wheels on the
ground (Type D or E). This could
result in damage to the vehi-
cle ’s driving system, or the
vehicle could become sepa-
rated from the tow truck and
unexpected accident might
result. Towing with front wheels off the ground
(Type D)
Place the gear shift lever (manual
transmission) or the selector lever
(automatic transmission) in the
“Neutral ”or
“N” (NEUTRAL) position. Release the park-
ing brake.
Towing with rear wheels off the ground
(Type E)
Turn the ignition switch to the “ACC ”posi-
tion and secure the steering wheel in a
straight-ahead position with a rope or
tie-down strap.
Never place the ignition switch in the
“ LOCK ”position. It is dangerous as the
steering wheel may lock.
CAUTION
[Fo rvehicles equippe dwit hthe
MITSUBISH Iactiv estabilit y &trac-
tio ncontro lsyste m(M-ASTC)]
I f th evehicl eis towe dwit hth eigni-
tion switch in to the “ON ”position
and only the front wheels or only the
rear wheels raised off the ground, the
activ etractio ncontro lsyste mmay
operate, resulting in a an accident.
N25A335A
FrontEmergency towingIf towing is necessary, we recommend you
to have it done by your MITSUBISHI dealer
or a commercial tow truck service.
If towing service is not available in an emer-
gency, your vehicle may be temporarily
towed by a cable or chain secured to one
of the following parts:
A- Front towing hook
B- Rear towing hook
NOTE
(1) Use care that the towing rope is kept as horizontal as possible. An angled tow-
ing rope can damage the vehicle body.
(2) Never attempt to tow out a ditched vehicle, because the towing rope can-
not be kept horizontal.
For emergencies
8-18Div:
Out put date:
N25A336A
RearIf your vehicle is to be towed, pay care-
ful attention to the following points:
(1) For vehicles with an automatic trans-
mission, check the automatic transmis-
sion fluid level. (Refer to“Automatic
transmission fluid”on page 9-4)
If the fluid level is low, transport the
vehicle with all wheels off the ground.
CAUTION
If the vehicle is out of automatic
transmission fluid, the transmis-
sion could be damaged.
(2) Move the gear shift lever (manual
transmission) or the selector lever
(automatic transmission) to the
“Neutral”or“N”(NEUTRAL).(3) Move the transfer shift lever to“2H”
position.
CAUTION
If the vehicle is towed with the trans-
fer shift lever in“4H”or“4L”posi-
tion (part time 4WD models)“4H”,
“4HLc”or“4LLc”position (super
select 4WD II models) the drive
mechanism may be dameged.
(4) Be sure the towing speed is within the
legal limit. In addition, if the vehicle is
equipped with an automatic transmis-
sion, make sure that the towing speed
and distance given below are never
exceeded.
Towing speed: 50 km/h (31 mph)
Towing distance: 50 km (31 miles)
(5) If the transmission is malfunctioning or
damaged, or if the vehicle is equipped
with an automatic transmission and
must be towed farther than 50km (31
miles), tow the vehicle by a tow truck.
(6) Turn the ignition switch to the“ACC”or
“ON”position to unlock the steering
wheel.
CAUTION
(1) As the engine is not running, the
brake booster and power steer-
ing pump do not operate. This
means higher brake depres-
sion force and higher steering
effort are required. Therefore,
vehicle operation is more diffi-
cult than usual.
(2) Do not leave the key in the
“LOCK”position. If the key is
removed while driving, the steer-
ing will be locked causing loss
of control.
For emergencies
8-19
Div:
Out put date: