2004 MITSUBISHI L200 check transmission fluid

STARTING AND DRIVING
5-27
CAUTIONS(1) Do not force the vehicle to driver
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 follow
this procedure:
• The needle in the temperature
gauge approaches the over-
heating zone.
Refer to the “Engine overheat-
ing” on page 8-23.
• A/T fluid temperature warning
lamp illuminates.
Refer to the “A/T warning
lamp” on page 4-8.
(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 be-
come bogged down very deeply, op-
eration 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
thoroughly as soon as possible after
such use.
WARNINGWhen attempting to rock your vehi-
cle 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 by a rocking motion. Move the
selector lever alternately between the
“D” (DRIVE) and “R” (REVERSE)
position, (with manual transmission,
between 1st and Reverse), while
applying slight pressure to the accel-
erator 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.
05engL2_240082_4 22-01-2004 13:05 Page 5-27

FOR EMERGENCIES
Emergency towing
If 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
emergency, your vehicle may be tem-
porarily towed by a cable or chain secured
to one of the following parts:
A - Front towing hook
B - Spring shackleIf your vehicle is to be towed, pay care-
ful attention to the following points:
(1) For vehicles with automatic transmis-
sion, 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.
CAUTIONIf the vehicle is out of automatic
transmission fluid, the transmission
could be damaged.
(2) Move the gearshift lever (manual
transmission) or the selector lever
(automatic transmission) to the “Neu-
tral” or “N” (NEUTRAL).
(3) If your vehicle is a 4-wheel drive vehi-
cle, move the transfer shift lever to
“2H” position.
CAUTIONIf the vehicle is towed with the trans-
fer shift lever in “4H” or “4L” posi-
tion, the drive mechanism may be
damaged.
NOTE
(1) Use care that the towing rope is kept
as horizontal as possible. An angled
towing rope can damage the vehicle
body.
(2) Never attempt to tow out a ditched ve-
hicle, because the towing rope cannot
be kept horizontal.
8-21
N25A104
BB
Rear (4WD vehicles)
N25A096
A
4WD vehicles
08engL2_240082_4 22-01-2004 13:10 Page 8-21

MAINTENANCE
Selection of engine oil
(diesel-powered vehicle)
EM03BAO
(1) Select engine oil of the proper SAE
viscosity number according to the
atmospheric temperature.
2) Use engine oil conforming to the fol-
lowing classification:
• ACEA classification:
“For service B1, B2, B3 or B4”
• API classification:
“For service CD” or higher
NOTE
Use of additives is not recommended
since they may reduce the effectiveness
of additives already included in the engine
oil. It may result in failure of the mechani-
cal assembly.
Automatic transmission
fluid*
EM05A-Hh
The proper amount of automatic transmis-
sion fluid is essential to the life and opera-
tion of the automatic transmission. Either
insufficient fluid or excessive fluid could
cause transmission faults. The transmis-
sionfluid filler port cap is equipped with a
dipstick. Use the following procedure to
check the fluid level.
1. Check the fluid level after the vehicle
has been driven enough to warm up
the transmission fluid.
2. Park the vehicle on a flat, level sur-
face and apply the parking brake.
3. With the engine idling and the brake
pedal fully depressed, move the
transmission selector lever through all
the positions from the “P” (PARK) to
“L” (LOW), stopping momentarily at
each position.4. Move the selector lever to the “N”
(NEUTRAL) or “P” (PARK) position.
5. Remove the dipstick and wipe it with a
clean lint-free cloth.
6. Reinsert the dipstick as far as it goes.
7. Remove the dipstick and read the oil
level.
The fluid level should always be be-
tween the two marks on the dipstick.
8. Use only the following transmission
fluid to ensure optimum transmission
performance:
“ATF DEXRON II”
WARNINGDo not spill the fluid onto a hot ex-
haust manifold during topping up or
inspection, or a fire may occur.
9-4
M05A024M03B017
-40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 °C
SAE 5W – 30SAE 10W – 30
SAE 30
SAE 20W – 40
SAE 15W – 40
Diesel-powered vehicles
09engL2_240082_4 22-01-2004 13:12 Page 9-4