
WARNINGlWhen 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  for-
ward or backward, causing injury or dam-
age to nearby people or objects.
NOTE
l Avoid sudden braking, acceleration, and turn-
ing;  such  operations  could  result  in  the  vehi-
cle becoming stuck.
l If the vehicle becomes stuck in sandy or mud-
dy roads, it can often be moved a rocking mo-
tion. Move the selector lever rhythmically be-
tween  the  “D”  (DRIVE)  and  “R”  (RE-
VERSE) position (with M/T, between 1 st
 and
Reverse),  while  applying  slight  pressure  to
the accelerator pedal.
l 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 for-
get to release the parking brake.
l If it is necessary to drive in extremely muddy
conditions,  the  use  of  tyre  chains  is  recom-
mended. Because the extent of muddy condi-
tions  is  difficult  to  judge  and  the  vehicle
could become bogged down very deeply, op-
eration  should  be  at  a  low  speed.  If  possible,
get  out  of  the  vehicle  and  check  the  condi-
tions ahead before proceeding.
l 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 af-
ter such use.
Climbing sharp grades
Set the transfer shift lever to “4L” position (easy se-
lect  4WD),  “4LLc”  position  (super  select  4WD)  to
maximize the engine torque.WARNINGl Go  straight  up.  Do  not  try  to  traverse
across a steep slope.
l 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.
NOTE
l Choose  as  smooth  a  slope  as  possible  with
few stones or other obstacles.
l Before attempting to drive up the slope, walk
up  it  to  confirm  that  the  vehicle  can  handle
the grade.
Descending sharp grades
Set the transfer shift lever to “4L” position (easy se-
lect  4WD),  “4LLc”  position  (super  select  4WD),
use  the  engine  brake  (downshifting)  and  descend
slowly.
WARNINGl Avoid  snaking  down  a  sharp  grade.  De-
scend the grade as straight as possible.
NOTE
l 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 down
it and confirm the path.
l Before  descending  a  grade,  it  is  necessary  to
choose the appropriate gear. Avoid changing
gears or depressing the clutch while descend-
ing the grade.
l MITSUBISHI
 MOTORS   is  not  responsible
to  the  operator  for  any  damage  or  injury
caused  or  liability  incurred  by  improper  and
negligent  operation  of  a  vehicle.  All  techni-
ques of vehicle operation described herein de-
pend on the skill and experience of the opera-
tor and other participating parties and any de-
viation  from  the  recommended  operation  in-
structions above is at their own risk.
Turning sharp corners
When turning a sharp corner in “4H” or “4L” posi-
tion  (easy  select  4WD),  “4HLc”  or  “4LLc”  posi-
tion  (super  select  4WD)  at  low  speed,  a  slight  dif-
ference  in  steering  may  be  experienced  similar  to
as if the brakes were applied. This is called tight cor-
ner braking and results from each of the 4 tyres be-
ing at a different distance from the corner.
The phenomenon is peculiar to 4-wheel drive vehi-
cles.  If  this  occurs,  either  straighten  the  steering
wheel, or change to rear-wheel drive.
Starting and driving
4-39
4    

Crossing a stream
4-wheel  drive  vehicles  are  not  necessarily  water-
proof.  If  the  electrical  circuits  become  wet,  further
operation  of  the  vehicle  will  be  impossible;  there-
fore,  avoid  crossing  streams  unless  absolutely  nec-
essary.  If  crossing  a  stream  is  unavoidable,  use  the
following procedure: 1.Check  depths  of  a  stream  and  geographical
features  before  attempting  to  cross  a  stream
and ford the stream where the water is as shal-
low as practicable.
2. Set  the  transfer  shift  lever  to  “4L”  position
(easy select 4WD), “4LLc” position (super se-
lect 4WD).
3. Drive  slowly  at  a  speed  of  approximately
5  km/h  (3  mph)  to  avoid  splashing  too  much
water.CAUTIONl Never  cross  a  stream  where  the  water  is
deep.
Do  not  change  gears  while  crossing  the
stream.
Frequent crossing of streams can adverse-
ly affect the life span of the vehicle; we rec-
ommend  you  to  take  the  necessary  meas-
ures to prepare, inspect, and repair the ve-
hicle.
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 driv-
ing slowly while lightly depressing the brake pedal.
Inspect each part of the vehicle carefully.
Inspection and maintenance
following rough road operation E00606700048
After  operating  the  vehicle  in  rough  road  condi-
tions,  be  sure  to  perform  the  following  inspection
and maintenance procedures:
l Check that the vehicle has not been damaged
by rocks, gravel, etc.
l Carefully wash the vehicle with water.
After  washing,  drive  the  vehicle  slowly
while lightly depressing the brake pedal in or-
der  to  dry  out  the  brakes.  If  the  brakes  still
do not function properly, we recommend you
to have the brakes checked as soon as possible.
l Remove  the  insects,  dried  grass,  etc.  clog-
ging the radiator core.
l After  crossing  a  stream,  be  sure  to  have  the
following items inspected at a  MITSUBISHI
MOTORS  Authorized Service Point and take
the necessary measures. •Check the brake system and, if necessary,
have it serviced.
• Check  the  engine,  transmission,  transfer,
and differential oil or grease level and tur-
bidity. If the oil or grease is milky, it indi-
cates  water  contamination.  Replace  it
with new oil or grease.
• Grease the propeller shaft.
• Check the inside of the vehicle. If ingress
of water is found, dry the carpet etc.
• Inspect  the  headlamps.  If  the  headlamp
bulb  is  flooded  with  water,  we  recom-
mend you to have it drained.Cautions on handling of 4-wheel
drive vehicles E00606800368
Tyres and wheels
Since  the  driving  torque  can  be  applied  to  the  4
wheels,  the  performance  of  the  vehicle  when  oper-
ating in 4-wheel drive is greatly affected by the con-
dition of the tyres.
 
Pay close attention to the tyres.
l Install  specified  tyres  on  all  wheels.  Refer  to
“Tyres and wheels” on page 9-17.
l Be  sure  to  fit  all  4  tyres  and  wheels  of  the
same size and type.
When  replacement  of  any  of  the  tyres  or
wheels is necessary, replace all of them.
l All  tyres  should  be  rotated  whenever  the
wear  difference  between  the  front  and  rear
tyres is recognizable.
Good  vehicle  performance  cannot  be  expected  if
there is a difference in wear between tyres. Refer to
“Tyre rotation” on page 8-13.
l Check the tyre inflation pressure regularly.
Starting and driving
4-40
4  

Limited-slip differential*E00606900037
A  limited-slip  differential  is  applied  for  the  rear
wheel differential only. The features of this limited-
slip differential are described 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  differential  and  a  conventional  differential  is
that if the wheel on one side of the vehicle loses trac-
tion,  a  greater  amount  of  torque  is  applied  to  the
wheel on the other side to improve traction.
NOTE l Even if there is a difference in the amount of
traction  the  wheels  can  get,  if  both  of  them
are spinning, the limited-slip differential will
not be effective.CAUTIONl Never  start  the  engine  while  one  of  the
rear  wheels  is  jacked  up  and  the  other  in
contact  with  the  ground;  doing  so  may
cause the vehicle to jump forward.
l When  attempting  to  extract  the  vehicle
from  snow,  mud,  etc.,  and  the  engine  is
run  continuously  at  high  speed,  the  limi-
ted-slip  differential  will  be  adversely  af-
fected.Braking E00607001494
All the parts of the brake system are critical to safe-
ty.  We  recommend  you  to  have  the  vehicle
checked  at  regular  intervals  according  to  the  serv-
ice booklet.CAUTIONl Avoid  driving  habits  that  cause  heavy
braking  and  never  “ride”  the  brakes  by
resting  your  foot  on  the  brake  pedal
while driving.
It causes brake overheating and fade.
Brake system
The  service  brake  is  divided  into  two  brake  cir-
cuits.  And  your  vehicle  is  equipped  with  power
brakes. If one brake circuit fails, the other is availa-
ble to stop the vehicle. If you should lose the pow-
er assist for some reason, the brakes will still work.
In  these  situations,  even  if  the  brake  pedal  moves
down  to  the  very  end  of  its  possible  stroke  or  re-
sists being depressed, keep depressing the brake ped-
al down harder and further than usual; stop driving
as  soon  as  possible  and  have  the  brake  system  re-
paired.
WARNINGl Do  not  turn  off  the  engine  while  your  ve-
hicle  is  in  motion.  If  you  turn  off  the  en-
gine  while  driving,  the  power  assistance
for  the  braking  system  will  stop  working
and your brakes will not work effectively.WARNINGl If  the  power  assist  is  lost  or  if  either
brake  hydraulic  system  stops  working
properly,  have  your  vehicle  checked  im-
mediately.
Warning lamp
The  brake  warning  lamp  illuminates  to  indicate  a
fault  in  the  braking  system.  Refer  to  “Brake  warn-
ing lamp” on page 3-08.
When brakes are wet
Check  the  brake  system  while  driving  at  a  low
speed  immediately  after  starting,  especially  when
the brakes are wet, to confirm they work normally.
A  film  of  water  can  be  formed  on  the  brake  discs
or  brake  drums  and  prevent  normal  braking  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 engine brak-
ing by shifting to a lower shift position while driv-
ing  on  steep  downhill  roads  in  order  to  prevent  the
brakes from overheating.
Starting and driving
4-42
4     

WARNINGlDo  not  leave  any  objects  near  the  brake
pedal or let a floor mat slide under it; do-
ing  so  could  prevent  the  full  pedal  stroke
that would be necessary in an emergency.
Make sure that the pedal can be operated
freely  at  all  times.  Make  sure  the  floor
mat is securely held in place.
Brake pads and linings
l Avoid hard braking situations.
New  brakes  need  to  be  broken-in  by  moder-
ate use for the first 200 km (124 miles).
l The  disc  brakes  are  provided  with  a  warning
device  which  emits  a  shrieking  metallic
sound  while  braking  if  the  brake  pads  have
reached their wear limit.
If you hear this sound, have the brake pads re-
placed immediately.
WARNINGl Driving  with  worn  brake  pads  will  make
it  harder  to  stop,  and  can  cause  an  acci-
dent.Anti-lock brake system (ABS)* E00607100775
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  effectiveness  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 dur-
ing  braking,  thus  maintaining  directional  stability,
ensuring  controllability  and  providing  optimum
braking force.
Driving hints l With ABS fitted, steering during sudden brak-
ing (when the ABS functions) differs slightly
from when the brakes are not being applied.
Steer the vehicle carefully in these conditions.
l Always  maintain  the  same  distance  from  the
vehicle in front of you as you would for a ve-
hicle 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  surface
is  pitted  or  has  other  differences  in  sur-
face height.
• Driving on bumpy roads or other poor driv-
ing surfaces.l Operation  of  ABS  is  not  restricted  to  situa-
tions  where  brakes  are  applied  suddenly.
This  system  may  also  operate  to  prevent
wheel  lock  when  you  are  driving  over  man-
holes,  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.
l When the ABS is activated, you may feel the
brake  pedal  pulsation  and  hear  a  characteris-
tic noise. Also at this time, you may feel as if
the pedal attempts 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 pump-
ing will result in reduced braking perform-
ance.CAUTIONl Even the ABS cannot prevent the natural
laws  of  physics  from  acting  on  the  vehi-
cle. It cannot for instance avoid accidents
that  may  result  from  excessive  speed  on
bends  or  following  another  vehicle  too
closely  or  aquaplaning.  It  should  remain
the driver’s task to observe safety precau-
tions  to  judge  speeds  and  brake  applica-
tions correctly in such conditions.
l Be  sure  to  use  tyres  of  the  same  type  and
size on 4 wheels.
If tyre types or sizes are mixed, ABS may
not function normally.
Starting and driving
4-43
4    

CAUTIONlNever  install  a  limited-slip  differential,
which  is  not  a  MITSUBISHI MOTORS
genuine  part,  as  the  ABS  may  not  func-
tion normally.
We  recommend  you  to  consult  a
MITSUBISHI  MOTORS   Authorized
Service Point.ABS warning lamp E00607201164
The ABS warning lamp should illuminate when the
ignition  switch  is  turned  “ON”,  and  should  go  off
in a few seconds.
CAUTIONl If  the  warning  lamp  stays  on  or  does  not
illuminate when you start the vehicle, it in-
dicates  that  the  ABS  is  not  functioning
and  that  only  the  standard  brake  system
is in operation. (In this condition the stand-
ard hydraulic brake system will still func-
tion.) We recommend you to have your ve-
hicle inspected as soon as possible.
NOTE
l On  vehicles  with  the  rear  differential  lock,
ABS  and  the  active  stability  &  traction  con-
trol  (ASTC)  functions  are  suspended  while
the rear differential lock is activated.
ASTC indication lamp, Active Stability Con-
trol function OFF indication lamp, ABS warn-
ing lamp and brake warning lamp are illumi-
nated while these functions are suspended.
It does not indicate a problem. When the rear
differential  lock  is  disengaged,  these  lamps
go out and function again.
Refer to “ ASTC indication lamp, ASTC OFF
indication lamp” on page 4-47.
l On  vehicles  with  rear  differential  lock,  ABS
functionality is suspended while the rear dif-
ferential lock is operating.
The  ABS  warning  lamp  is  illuminated  while
ABS  functionality  is  suspended.  It  does  not
indicate  a  problem.  When  the  rear  differen-
tial  lock  is  disengaged,  the  ABS  warning
lamp goes off and the ABS functions again.
Refer  to  “Rear  differential  lock”  on  page
4-34.
If the warning lamp illuminates while
driving E00607300663
If only the ABS warning lamp illuminates l Avoid  hard  braking  and  high-speed  driving.
Stop the vehicle in a safe place.
Restart  the  engine  and  check  to  see  whether
the  lamp  goes  out  after  a  few  minutes  driv-
ing;  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,
we  recommend  you  to  have  the  vehicle
checked as soon as possible.
l The  ABS  warning  lamp  can  illuminate  if  the
battery  voltage  is  insufficient  when  the  en-
gine  is  started.  In  this  case,  it  does  not  indi-
cate an ABS fault.
Charge  the  battery  by  allowing  the  engine  to
idle for a while.
If  the  battery  has  been  charged  but  the  ABS
warning lamp continues to illuminate or illu-
minates  intermittently,  have  the  vehicle  in-
spected.
If the ABS warning lamp and brake warning
lamp illuminate at the same time
l The  ABS  and  brake  force  distribution  func-
tion  may  not  work,  so  hard  braking  could
make the vehicle unstable.
Avoid  hard  braking  and  high-speed  driving.
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and contact a
MITSUBISHI MOTORS  Authorized Service
Point.
Starting and driving
4-44
4    

 Club cabSingle cab, Double cab (Vehicles without long bed)Double cab (Vehicles with long bed)130 mm30 mm30 mm255 mm55 mm55 mm3115 mm60 mm60 mm4872 mm812 mm812 mm520 mm20 mm20 mm685 mm85 mm85 mm7699 - 712 mm678 - 701 mm, 578 - 581 mm*679 - 716 mm, 576 mm*8656 - 669 mm638 - 658 mm, 537 - 541 mm*639 - 673 mm, 536 mm*9626 - 639 mm608 - 628 mm, 507 - 511 mm*609 - 643 mm, 506 mm*10410 - 423 mm399 - 412 mm, 287 - 291 mm*394 - 418 mm, 304 mm*11486 - 499 mm479 - 488 mm, 485 - 490 mm*474 - 494 mm, 488 mm*12897 mm897 mm897 mm131,251 mm1,136 mm1,316 mm1470 mm70 mm70 mm15502.5 mm502.5 mm502.5 mm16540.5 mm540.5 mm540.5 mm
Item 7, 8, 9, 10, 11: at kerb weight
*: 2WD vehicles with 15 inch tyres
 
NOTE
l The  values  under  item  7,  8,  9,  10,  11  are  ap-
plicable  to  unladen  vehicles.  These  values
can also be varied depending on the tyre size,
optional  equipment  and  suspension  condi-
tions.Operating hints
l Do not let the clutch slip (vehicles with a M/
a  only)  and  do  not  increase  the  engine  speed
more than necessary when starting.
l Be  sure  that  the  driving  speed  does  not  ex-
ceed the maximum speed for trailer operation.
l To prevent shocks from the overrun brake, de-
press  the  brake  pedal  lightly  at  first  and  then
more strongly.l To  make  full  use  of  engine  braking,  change
to a lower gear before descending a slope.
l The body, brakes, clutch, and chassis will be
under additional strain when towing a trailer.
l The heavier weight and higher rolling and air
resistance will increase fuel consumption.
Starting and driving
4-54
4 

CAUTIONlNormally,  use  the  “”
  (outside)  posi-
tion to keep the windscreen and side win-
dows  clear  and  quickly  remove  fog  or
frost from the windscreen.
If high cooling performance is desired, or
if the outside air is dusty or otherwise con-
taminated,  use  the  “
”   (recirculation)
position.  Set  the  air  selection  lever  to  the
“
”  (outside) position periodically to in-
crease  ventilation  so  that  the  windows  do
not become fogged up.
l Use  of  the  “
”
  (recirculation)  position
for extended time may cause the windows
to fog up.
Air conditioning switch* E00701500781
Push  the  switch,  and  the  air  conditioning  compres-
sor  will  turn  on.  The  air  conditioning  indication
lamp (A) will come on.
Push the switch again and the air conditioning com-
pressor will stop and the indication lamp goes off.
CAUTIONl When  using  the  air  conditioning,  the
idling  speed  may  slightly  increase  as  the
air  conditioning  compressor  is  switched
on/off  automatically.  While  the  vehicle
with  an  A/T  is  stationary,  fully  depress
the  brake  pedal  to  prevent  the  vehicle
from creeping.Operating the air conditioning system E00701800247
Heating
Set  the  mode  selection  dial  to  the  “
”   position
and set the air selection lever to the “” (outside)
position.
Turn the temperature control dial clockwise or anti-
clockwise to the desired temperature. Select the de-
sired blower speed.
NOTE
l For  maximum  heat,  set  the  blower  speed  at
the 3 rd
 position.
For pleasant driving
5-05
5     LHD RHD    LHD RHD  

lRecirculated air {Indication lamp (A) is ON}
Air  is  recirculated  inside  the  passenger  com-
partment.CAUTIONl Normally, use the outside position to keep
the  windscreen  and  side  windows  clear
and  quickly  remove  fog  or  frost  from  the
windscreen.
If high cooling performance is desired, or
if the outside air is dusty or otherwise con-
taminated  use  the  recirculation  position.
Switch to the outside position periodically
to  increase  ventilation  so  that  the  win-
dows do not become fogged up.
l Use of the recirculation position for exten-
ded time may cause the windows to fog up.Air conditioning switch E00703501128
Push  the  switch,  and  the  air  conditioning  compres-
sor  will  turn  on.  The  air  conditioning  indication
lamp (A) will come on.
Push the switch again, and the air conditioning com-
pressor will stop and the indication lamp goes off.
CAUTIONl When  using  the  air  conditioning,  the
idling  speed  may  slightly  increase  as  the
air  conditioning  compressor  is  switched
on/off  automatically.  While  the  vehicle
with  an  A/T  is  stationary,  fully  depress
the  brake  pedal  to  prevent  the  vehicle
from creeping.Operating the system in automatic
mode E00704100919
In  normal  conditions,  use  the  system  in  the  AUTO
mode and follow these procedures: 1.Set the blower speed selection dial to the “AU-
TO” position.
2. Select  the  temperature  control  dial  to  the  de-
sired  temperature.  The  temperature  can  be
set within a range of 17 to 27 (Type 1) or 20
to 30 (Type 2). The temperature will gradual-
ly increase as the dial is turned to the right.
3. Set  the  mode  selection  dial  to  the  “AUTO”
position.
4. Push  the  air  conditioning  switch  to  operate
the  air  conditioning.  When  the  air  condition-
ing operates, the indication lamp (A) in the di-
al will come on.
The  outlet  port  (except  “
” )  and  blower  speed,
and  ON/OFF  of  air  conditioning  will  be  controlled
automatically.
For pleasant driving
5-10
5