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Driving your vehicle
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4
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Illuminated ignition switch (if equipped)
Whenever a door is opened, the igni-
tion switch will be illuminated for your
convenience, provided the ignition
switch is not in the ON position. The
light will go off approximately 10 sec-onds after closing the door or when
the ignition switch is turned on. Ignition switch and anti-theft
steering column lock
Ignition switch position
LOCK
The steering wheel locks to protect
against theft. The ignition key can be
removed only in the LOCK position.
When turning the ignition switch to
the LOCK position, push the key
inward at the ACC position and turn
the key toward the LOCK position. ACC (Accessory)
The steering wheel is unlocked and
electrical accessories are operative.ON
The warning lights can be checked
before the engine is started. This is
the normal running position after the
engine is started.
Do not leave the ignition switch ON if
the engine is not running to preventbattery discharge.
START
Turn the ignition key to the START
position to start the engine. The
engine will crank until you release
the key; then it returns to the ON
position. The brake warning lamp
can be checked in this position.
If difficulty is experienced in turning the ignition key to the START posi-tion, turn the steering wheel rightand left to release the tension and then turn the key.
IGNITION SWITCH
RLDN30121GHA3201A
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Driving your vehicle
WARNING - Ignition key
• Never turn the ignition switch to LOCK or ACC while the
vehicle is moving. This wouldresult in loss of directional
control and braking function,
which could cause an immedi-ate accident.
The anti-theft steering column lock is not a substitute for the
parking brake. Before leaving
the driver’s seat, always make
sure the shift lever is engagedin 1 st
gear for manual transaxle
or P (Park) for automatic
transaxle, set the parking
brake fully and shut the
engine off. Unexpected and
sudden vehicle movement
may occur if these precau-tions are not taken.
(Continued)(Continued)
Never reach for the ignitionswitch, or any other controls
through the steering wheel
while the vehicle is in motion.
The presence of your hand orarm in this area could cause a
loss of vehicle control, an
accident and serious bodily
injury or death.
Do not place any movable objects around the driver’s
seat as they may move while
driving, interfere with the driv-er and lead to an accident.
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Starting the gasoline engine
1. Make sure the parking brake is
applied.
2. Manual Transaxle - Depress the
clutch pedal fully and shift the
transaxle into Neutral. Keep the
clutch pedal depressed while turn-
ing the ignition switch to the startposition.
Automatic Transaxle - Place the
transaxle shift lever in P (Park).
Depress the brake pedal fully.
You can also start the engine
when the shift lever is in the N(Neutral) position.
3. Turn the ignition switch to START and hold it there until the engine
starts (a maximum of 10 seconds),
then release the key.
4. In extremely cold weather (below -18°C / 0°F) or after the vehicle
has not been operated for several
days, let the engine warm up with-
out depressing the accelerator.
Whether the engine is cold or warm,
it should be started without
depressing the accelerator.
✽✽
NOTICE
Do not engage the starter for more than 10 seconds. If the engine stalls
or fails to start, wait 5 to 10 seconds
before re-engaging the starter.
Improper use of the starter maydamage it.
STARTING THE ENGINE
CAUTION
If the engine stalls while you are in motion, do not attempt tomove the shift lever to the P(Park) position. If traffic and road conditions permit, you mayput the shift lever in the N(Neutral) position while thevehicle is still moving and turn the ignition switch to the STARTposition in an attempt to restartthe engine.
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Driving your vehicle
Starting the diesel engine
To start the diesel engine when the engine is cold, it has to be pre-heat-
ed before starting the engine and
then have to be warmed up before
starting the driving.
1. Make sure the parking brake isapplied.
2. Manual Transaxle - Depress the
clutch pedal fully and shift the
Transaxle into the Neutral. Keepthe clutch pedal depressed while
cranking the engine.
Automatic Transaxle - Place the
Transaxle shift lever in P(park).
Depress the brake pedal fully.
You can also start the engine when
the shift lever is in the N(neutral) position.
3. Turn the ignition switch ON posi- tion to pre-heat the engine. Then
the glow indicator light will illumi-
nate. 4. If the glow indicator light goes out,
turn the ignition switch to STARTand hold it there until the engine
starts (a maximum of 10 sec-onds), then release the key.
✽✽
NOTICE
If the engine were not started within
2 seconds after the preheating iscompleted, turn the ignition key
once more to the LOCK positionduring 10 seconds, and then to the
ON position, in order to preheatagain.
W-60
Glow indicator light
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Driving your vehicle
Manual transaxle operation
The manual transaxle has five for-
ward gears.
Press the clutch pedal down fully
while shifting, then release it slowly.
A special safety feature prevents
inadvertent shifting from 5 (Fifth) to
R (Reverse). The gearshift lever must
be returned to the neutral position
before shifting into R (Reverse).
Make sure the vehicle is completelystopped before shifting into R (Reverse).
Never operate the engine with thetachometer (rpm) in the red zone.
✽✽ NOTICE
To avoid premature clutch wear and
damage, do not drive with your foot
resting on the clutch pedal. Also,don’t use the clutch to hold the vehi-cle stopped on an upgrade, while
waiting for a traffic light, etc.Downshifting
When you must slow down in heavy
traffic or while driving up steep hills,
downshift before the engine starts to
labor. Downshifting reduces the
chance of stalling and gives better
acceleration when you again need to
increase your speed. When the vehi-
cle is traveling down steep hills,
downshifting helps maintain safe
speed and prolongs brake life.
MANUAL TRANSAXLE (IF EQUIPPED)1
2 4
R
3
S
N
135
R
4
2
MMSA4002
WARNING - Manual
transaxle
Before leaving the driver’s seat,
always set the parking brake
fully and shut the engine off.Then make sure the transaxle isshifted into 1 st
gear when the
vehicle is parked on a level or
uphill grade, and shifted into R
(Reverse) on a downhill grade.
Unexpected and sudden vehicle
movement can occur if these
precautions are not followed in
the order identified.
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AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE (IF EQUIPPED)
RLDA3019
The lock release button must be depressed while moving the shift lever.
Depress the brake pedal and push the button when shifting.
The shift lever can be moved without depressing the lock release button.
■ Type A ■ Type B
Lock release button prevents shift lever
movement without first depressing the
button.
Lock release button
prevents shift lever movement
without first depressing the button.
O/D button
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Driving your vehicle
Automatic transaxle operation
All normal forward driving is done
with the shift lever in the D (Drive)position.
To move the shift lever from the P
(Park) position, the brake pedal must
be depressed and the lock release
button must be depressed.For smooth operation, depress thebrake pedal when shifting from N (Neutral) to a forward or reversegear.✽✽
NOTICE
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Transaxle ranges
P (park)
This position locks the transaxle and
prevents the front wheels from rotat-
ing. Always come to a complete stop
before shifting into this position.
✽✽
NOTICE
The transaxle may be damaged if
you shift into P (Park) while thevehicle is in motion.
(Continued)
Before leaving the driver’s seat, always make sure the
shift lever is in the P (PARK)
position. Set the parking
brake fully, shut the engine off
and take the key with you.
Unexpected and sudden vehi-
cle movement can occur if you
do not follow these precau-
tions in the order specified.
Never leave a child unattend- ed in a vehicle.WARNING
Shifting into P (Park) while the vehicle is in motion will cause
the drive wheels to lock which
will cause you to lose control
of the vehicle.
Do not use the P (Park) posi- tion in place of the parking
brake. Always make sure the
shift lever is latched in the P
(Park) position so that it can-
not be moved unless the lock
release button is pushed in,AND set the parking brake
fully.
(Continued)