2004 MITSUBISHI L200 light

STARTING AND DRIVING
5-28 Climbing sharp grades
Set the transfer shift lever to “4L” to max-
imize 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 alternately left and right to
regain adequate traction again.
NOTE
(1) Choose as smooth a slope as possi-
ble with few stones or other obsta-
cles.
(2) The climbing ability is approximate
35° grade on dry pavement.
(3) Before attempting to drive up the
slope, walk up it to confirm that the
vehicle can handle the gradient.
Descending sharp grades
Set the transfer shift lever to “4L”, use the
engine brake (downshifting) and descend
slowly.
WARNINGAvoid snaking down a sharp gra-
dient. 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 de-
scending the slope, walk down it and
confirm the path.
(2) Before descending a grade, it is neces-
sary 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 im-
proper and negligent operation of a ve-
hicle. 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 oper-
ating instructions above is at their own
risk.
Turning sharp corners
When turning a sharp corner in “4H” or
“4L” position at low speed, a slight differ-
ence 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.
Crossing a stream (fording)
4-wheel drive vehicles are not necessarily
waterproof. If the electrical circuits be-
come wet, further operation of the vehicle
will be impossible; therefore, avoid cross-
ing streams unless absolutely necessary.
If crossing a stream is unavoidable, use
the following procedure:
(1) Check depths of a 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) Set the transfer shift lever to “4L”.
(3) Drive slowly at a speed of approxi-
mately 5 km/h (3 mph) to avoid
splashing too much water.
05engL2_240082_4 22-01-2004 13:05 Page 5-28

STARTING AND DRIVING
5-29
CAUTIONNever cross a stream where the
water is deep.
Do not change gears while crossing
the stream.
Frequent crossing of streams can
adversely affect the life span of the
vehicle; consult an authorized
MITSUBISHI dealer and take the ne-
cessary measures to prepare, in-
spect, 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.
Refer to the “Inspection and maintenance
following rough road operation” section.
Cautions on handling of
4WD vehicles
EI49A-Ce
Tyres and wheels
Since the driving torque can be applied to
the 4 wheels, the performance of the vehi-
cle 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. Re-
fer to the “Tyres and wheels” on page
10-8, 10-14, 10-22.
• 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 rota-
tion” on page 9-11.
• Check the tyre inflation pressure regu-
larly.
Inspection and maintenance
following rough road operation
After operating the vehicle in rough road
conditions, be sure to perform the following
inspection and maintenance procedures:
(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
authorized MITSUBISHI dealer as
soon as possible to have the brakes
checked.
(3) Remove the insects, dried grass, etc.
clogging the radiator core.
(4) If a stream has been crossed, check
the engine, transmission, and differ-
ential oil and propeller shaft grease. If
the oil or grease is milky or cloudy
because of water contamination, 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 headlamp drained off at an autho-
rized MITSUBISHI dealer.
(7) Have an authorized MITSUBISHI
dealer replace grease in the wheel
bearing.
05engL2_240082_4 22-01-2004 13:05 Page 5-29

STARTING AND DRIVING
5-30
CAUTIONAlways use tyres of the same size,
same type, and same brand, and
which have no wear differences. Us-
ing tyres which differ in size, type,
brand or the degree of wear will in-
crease the differential oil tempera-
ture, resulting in possible damage to
the driving system.
Further, the drive train will be sub-
jected to excessive loading, possi-
bly leading to oil leakage, compo-
nent seizure, or other serious faults.
Jacking up vehicle on 4-wheel
drive vehicles
CAUTIONDo 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
positively
Quick 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.
Parking brakeEI07A-Tb
To park the vehicle, first bring it to a com-
plete stop, fully engage the parking brake,
and then move the gearshift level to 1st
(on an uphill) or Reverse (on a downhill)
position for vehicles with a manual trans-
mission or set the selector lever to the “P”
(PARK) position on automatic transmis-
sion vehicles.
Type 1
To apply
1 - Pull the lever up without pushing the
button at the end of the hand grip.
I07A008
1
Type 1
05engL2_240082_4 22-01-2004 13:05 Page 5-30

STARTING AND DRIVING
5-31
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 toward the
kerb on a downhill grade; away from the
kerb on an uphill grade.
CAUTIONBefore 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.
Type 2
To apply
1 - Pull the lever out without pushing the
button at the end of the lever.
To release
2 - Push the button at the end of the
lever, and turn it to the right and then
push it in.
I07A036
1
2
3
I07A028
1
2
Type 2
05engL2_240082_4 22-01-2004 13:05 Page 5-31

STARTING AND DRIVING
5-32
ParkingEI22A-Ak
Parking on a slope
Fully engage the parking brake, and then
move the gearshift lever to 1st (on an up-
hill) 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 running
Do not keep the engine running in a
closed or poorly ventilated place. Carbon
monoxide gas is odourless and extremely
poisonous and dangerous.
Where you park
Do not park in a place where there are in-
flammable objects such as dry grass,
leaves, etc. because the exhaust system
with catalyst produces very high tempera-
tures. This may cause a fire.
When leaving the vehicle
Always 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.
BrakingEI23A-Me
All the parts of the brake system are cri-
tical 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, how-
ever, the brake pedal must be de-
pressed further than usual; stop driv-
ing 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 oc-
curs, the brake will require greater force
than usual. This is especially important
when the vehicle is being towed.
(3) On diesel-powered vehicles, the
brake booster will no longer function if
the V-belt is broken, and the brake
failure warning lamp will illuminate to
inform the driver. If this happens, use
engine braking (down-shifting) to re-
duce the speed of the vehicle and
then depress the brake pedal withmore force than usual to stop the
vehicle in a safe place, and have the
brake system serviced at the nearest
authorized MITSUBISHI dealer.
Warning lamp
The brake warning lamp lets you know if
your brake system is working properly.
Read “Brake warning lamp” on page 4-9.
When brakes are wet
Check the brake system while driving at a
low speed immediately after starting, es-
pecially when the brakes are wet, to con-
firm they work normally.
A film of water can form on the brake discs
or brake drums and prevent normal func-
tioning after driving 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 depress-
ing the brake pedal.
When driving downhill
It is important to take advantage of the en-
gine braking by shifting to a lower gear
while driving on steep downhill roads in
order to prevent the brakes from overheat-
ing.
05engL2_240082_4 22-01-2004 13:05 Page 5-32

STARTING AND DRIVING
5-33 Brake pads and linings
(1) With new brake pads or linings, avoid
where possible sudden full applica-
tion 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
prevent 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 may
lead to sudden braking and
never “ride” the brakes by rest-
ing your foot on the brake pedal
while driving.
It causes brake overheating and
fade.
• Driving on gravel or snow-covered
roads.
• Driving with tyre chains installed.
• Driving on roads where the road
surface is pitted or has other differ-
ences in surface height.
• Driving on bumpy roads or other
poor driving surfaces.
(3) Operation of the 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 sur-
faces which are difficult for the wheels
to grip.
(4) When the ABS is activated, you may
feel the brake pedal pulsating and
hear a characteristic noise. Also at
this time, it may feel as if the pedal at-
tempts to resist being depressed.
In this situation, to let the ABS
work for you, just hold the brake
pedal down more firmly. Do not
pump the brake. This will result in
reduced braking performance.Anti-lock brake system
(ABS)*
EI24APD
Environmental conditions can have an ef-
fect 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 ef-
fectiveness is reduced and the stopping
distance 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 controllabi-
lity, 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
conditions.
(2) Always maintain the same distance
from the vehicle in front of you as you
would for a vehicle not equipped with
an ABS.
Compared with vehicles not fitted
with ABS, your vehicle may require a
longer stopping distance in the follow-
ing cases:
05engL2_240082_4 22-01-2004 13:05 Page 5-33

STARTING AND DRIVING
5-35 If the lamp illuminates while
driving
(1) Since there will always be a possibility
of the vehicle becoming unstable
when brakes are applied rapidly, en-
sure that brakes are applied gently
and that high-speed driving is not at-
tempted. Furthermore, bring the vehi-
cle to halt in a safe location.
Restart the engine and check to see
whether the lamp goes out after a few
minutes driving. If it then remains off
during driving, there is no problem.
However, if the lamp does not go out
or if it lights up again when the vehicle
is driven, have the vehicle checked by
an authorized MITSUBISHI dealer as
soon as possible.
(2) After starting the engine using jumper
cables, if you attempt to start the vehi-
cle before the battery is sufficiently
charged, the engine will run irregu-
larly and the ABS warning lamp will il-
luminate indicating that the vehicle
should not be driven.
This situation, however, is caused
merely by insufficient battery voltage
and is not an abnormal situation.
If such a situation occurs, run the en-
gine at idle for some time to charge
the battery.
Limited-slip differential*
EC17A-Ha
A limited-slip differential is applied for the
rear wheel differential only. The features
of this limited-slip differential are de-
scribed below:
Just as with a conventional differential, the
wheel on one side is allowed to turn at a
different speed from the wheel on the
other side when the vehicle is cornering.
The difference between the limited-slip dif-
ferential and a conventional differential is
that if the wheel on one side of the vehicle
loses traction, a greater amount of torque
is applied to the rear wheel on the other
side to improve traction.
NOTE
Even if there is a difference in the amount
of traction the wheels can get, if both of
them are spinning, the limited-slip differ-
ential will not be effective. NOTE
(1) Immediately after the vehicle starts
moving after engine start up, a whin-
ing sound of a motor will be heard
from the engine compartment, and if
the brake pedal is depressed at that
moment, a pulsating is felt. These
sound and shock are due to the self-
diagnosis operation of the ABS and
does not indicate a malfunction.
(2) After driving on snowy roads, remove
any snow and ice which may have be-
come adhered to the wheel areas.
When doing this, be careful not to
damage the wheel speed sensors
and cables located at each wheel on
vehicles equipped with an ABS.
(3) The ABS becomes operative after the
vehicle has accelerated to a speed in
excess of approximately 10 km/h. It
stops operating when the vehicle de-
celerates to a speed below approxi-
mately 5 km/h.
I24A010
05engL2_240082_4 22-01-2004 13:05 Page 5-35

STARTING AND DRIVING
5-37
Power steering system*
EC13A-Gc
When the engine is stopped, the power
steering system will not function and it will
require greater manual effort to operate
the steering wheel. Keep this in mind in
particular when towing the vehicle. Never
turn off the engine while driving.
Periodically check the power steering fluid
level.
CAUTIONOn vehicles with power steering, do
not hold the steering wheel in the
fully turned position (either left or
right), for longer than 10 seconds.
This can cause damage to the power
steering pump due to reduced lubri-
cation.
Manual outside rear-view
mirrors*
EI08BAEa
Adjust the mirror surface by hands as indi-
cated by the arrows.
Day/Night Type inside
rearview mirror
EI08A-Hb
The lever (A) at the bottom of the mirror
can be used to adjust the mirror to reduce
the glare from the headlights of vehicles
behind you during night driving.
1. Normal
2. Anti-glare
WARNINGDo not attempt to adjust the rear-
view mirrors while driving. This can
be dangerous.
Be sure to adjust the mirrors before
driving.
I08B139I08A027
1 2 A
05engL2_240082_4 22-01-2004 13:05 Page 5-37