During hilly roads driving
Press the overdrive control switch to turn the over-
drive function off. The transmission will shift auto-
matically among the 1 st
, 2 nd
, and 3 rd
gears, and
light engine braking will be available on downhill
roads.Overdrive OFF indication lamp E00614600017
When the overdrive control switch is in the OFF po-
sition, the overdrive OFF indication lamp in the me-
ter cluster comes on.
When a malfunction occurs in the au-
tomatic transmission E00615100019When the selector lever position indicator blinksE00615200166
When the selector lever position indicator blinks
while you are driving, there could be a malfunction
in the automatic transmission system.
oror
CAUTIONl If the selector lever position indicator
blinks while you are driving, it is likely
that a safety device is operating because
of a malfunction in the automatic trans-
mission. We recommend you to have
your vehicle inspected as soon as possible.CAUTIONl The selector lever position indicator warn-
ing function does not operate with the se-
lector lever in the “P” (PARK), “R” (RE-
VERSE) or “N” (NEUTRAL) position.When the A/T (automatic transmission) fluid tem-
perature warning lamp comes on E00615300037
The automatic transmission fluid temperature warn-
ing lamp comes on when the automatic transmis-
sion fluid temperature becomes abnormally high
with the ignition switch “ON” position.
Normally the warning lamp comes on when the ig-
nition switch is turned to the “ON” position, and
then will go out after a few seconds.
Starting and driving
4-18
4
CAUTIONlIf the warning lamp comes on, reduce the
engine speed and stop the vehicle in a safe
area.
Then set the selector lever to “P” (PARK)
position and idle the engine until the warn-
ing lamp goes off.
When the warning lamp goes off, resume
normal driving.
If the warning lamp does not go off, we
recommend you to have your vehicle in-
spected.Operation of the automatic transmis-
sion E00604200515CAUTIONlBefore selecting a gear with the engine
running and the vehicle stationary, fully
depress the brake pedal to prevent the ve-
hicle from creeping.
The vehicle will begin to move as soon as
the gear is engaged, especially when the
engine speed is high, at fast idle or with
the air conditioning operating, the brakes
should only be released when you are
ready to drive away.
l Depress the brake pedal with the right
foot at all times.
Using the left foot could cause driver move-
ment delay in case of an emergency.CAUTIONl To prevent sudden acceleration, never
race the engine when shifting from the
“P” (PARK) or “N” (NEUTRAL) position.
l Operating the accelerator pedal while the
other foot is resting on the brake pedal
will affect braking efficiency and may
cause premature wear of brake pads.
Do not race the engine with brake pedal
pressed.
This can damage the transmission.
l Use the selector lever in the correct shift
position in accordance with driving condi-
tions.
Never coast downhill backward with the
“D” (DRIVE) position or coast forward
with the “R” (REVERSE) position.
The engine stops and the brake pedal ef-
fort or the steering wheel handling weight
increasing could lead to an accident.Passing acceleration E00604500127
To gain extra acceleration in “D” (DRIVE) posi-
tion (when passing another vehicle), push the accel-
erator to the floor. The automatic transmission will
automatically downshift.
Waiting E00604600128
For short waiting periods, such as at traffic signals,
the vehicle can be left in gear and held stationary
with the service brake.
For longer waiting periods with the engine running,
the selector lever should be placed in the “N” (NEU-
TRAL) position.
CAUTIONl Never hold the vehicle stationary on a hill
using the accelerator pedal (without us-
ing the brake pedal). Always apply the
parking brake and/or service brakes.
l Unexpected acceleration may occur if the
selector lever is in a position other than
“P” (PARK) or “N” (NEUTRAL) position.
Prior to moving off after having stopped
the vehicle, make sure that the selector lev-
er is in “D” (DRIVE) position.Parking E00604700246
To park the vehicle, first bring it to a complete
stop, fully engage the parking brake, and then
move the selector lever to the “P” (PARK) position.
If you are going to leave the vehicle unattended, al-
ways switch off the engine and remove the ignition
key.
NOTE l On a slope, be sure to apply the parking
brake before moving the selector lever to the
“P” (PARK) position. If you move the selec-
tor lever to the “P” (PARK) position before
applying the parking brake, it may be diffi-
cult to disengage the selector lever from the
“P” (PARK) position when next you drive
the vehicle, requiring application of a strong
force to the selector lever to move from the
“P” (PARK) position.
Starting and driving
4-19
4
WARNINGlIf the lock button is always pushed to op-
erate the selector lever, the lever may be
accidentally shifted into the “P” (PARK)
or “R” (REVERSE) position. Be sure not
to push the lock button when performing
the operations indicated by
in the illus-
tration.
l Always depress the brake pedal when
shifting the selector lever into a gear
from the “P” (PARK) or “N” (NEU-
TRAL) position.
When beginning to drive, do not shift the
selector lever from the “P” (PARK) or
“N” (NEUTRAL) position while depress-
ing the accelerator pedal, doing so is dan-
gerous because the vehicle will “jump” for-
ward or backward.
Selector lever position indicator E00603500726
When the ignition switch is turned to the “ON” po-
sition, the currently position of the selector lever is
indicated by the indicator (A) shown on the instru-
ment cluster {i.e. “P” (PARK), “R” (REVERSE),
“N” (NEUTRAL), “D” (DRIVE)}.Selector lever positions (Main gate) E00603800585
“P” PARK
This position locks the transmission to prevent the
vehicle from moving. The engine can be started in
this position.
“R” REVERSE
This position is to back up.
CAUTIONl Never shift into the “P” (PARK) or “R”
(REVERSE) position while the vehicle is
in motion to avoid a transmission damage.“N” NEUTRAL
At this position the transmission is disengaged. It is
the same as the neutral position on a M/T, and
should only be used when the vehicle is stationary
for an extended length of time during driving, such
as in a traffic jam.WARNINGl Never move the selector lever to the “N”
(NEUTRAL) position while driving. A se-
rious accident could occur since you
could accidentally move the lever into the
“P” (PARK) or “R” (REVERSE) position
or you will lose engine braking.
l On a gradient the engine should be star-
ted in the “P” (PARK) position, not in the
“N” (NEUTRAL) position.
l Always keep your right foot on the brake
pedal when shifting into or out of “N”
(NEUTRAL), to minimize the risk of loss
of control.
“D” DRIVE
This position is for normal driving. The transmis-
sion automatically selects a suitable gear ratio for
your speed and acceleration.
CAUTIONl Never shift into the “D” (DRIVE) posi-
tion from the “R” (REVERSE) position
while the vehicle is in motion to avoid
transmission damage.
Starting and driving
4-21
4
When a malfunction occurs in the au-
tomatic transmission E00615100152When the selector lever position indicator blinksE00615200179
When the selector lever position indicator blinks
while you are driving, there could be a malfunction
in the automatic transmission system.
throughor
CAUTIONl If the selector lever position indicator
blinks while you are driving, it is likely
that a safety device is operating because
of a malfunction in the automatic trans-
mission. We recommend you to have
your vehicle inspected as soon as possible.CAUTIONl The selector lever position indicator warn-
ing function does not operate with the se-
lector lever in the “P” (PARK), “R” (RE-
VERSE) or “N” (NEUTRAL) position.When the A/T (automatic transmission) fluid tem-
perature warning lamp comes on E00615300141
The automatic transmission fluid temperature warn-
ing lamp comes on when the automatic transmis-
sion fluid temperature becomes abnormally high.
Normally the warning lamp comes on when the ig-
nition switch is turned to the “ON” position, and
then will go out after a few seconds.
CAUTIONl If the lamp comes on, reduce the engine
speed and stop the vehicle in a safe area.
Then set the selector lever to the “P”
(PARK) position and idle the engine until
the warning lamp goes off. When the warn-
ing lamp goes off, resume normal driving.
If the warning lamp does not go off, we
recommend you to have your vehicle in-
spected.Operation of the automatic transmis-
sion E00604200528CAUTIONlBefore selecting a gear with the engine
running and the vehicle stationary, fully
depress the brake pedal to prevent the ve-
hicle from creeping.
The vehicle will begin to move as soon as
the gear is engaged, especially when the
engine speed is high, at fast idle or with
the air conditioning operating, the brakes
should only be released when you are
ready to drive away.
l Depress the brake pedal with the right
foot at all times.
Using the left foot could cause driver move-
ment delay in case of an emergency.
l To prevent sudden acceleration, never
race the engine when shifting from the
“P” (PARK) or “N” (NEUTRAL) position.
Starting and driving
4-23
4
NOTEl The 2WD/4WD operation indication lamp al-
so illuminates for a few seconds when the ig-
nition switch is turned to the “ON” position.
Refer to “2WD/4WD operation indication
lamp” on pages 4-27, 4-32.
The status of the rear differential lock (result-
ing from depression of the rear differential
lock switch) is shown by blinking or steady
illumination of the rear differential lock indi-
cation lamp.Transfer shift
lever positionRear differential lock indication lamp Easy select4WDSuper select 4WDRear differen-
tial lock deacti- vated
Switching inprogress
Rear differen-
tial lock activa- ted
: Blink: Illuminate (steady): Remain off
NOTE
l The indication lamp blinks while the rear dif-
ferential lock is being switched between its
activated and deactivated conditions. When
the switching operation is complete, the indi-
cation lamp is either illuminated steadily or
not illuminated.
l On vehicles with the active stability & trac-
tion control (ASTC) and anti-lock brake sys-
tem (ABS), the ASTC and ABS functions
are suspended while the rear differential lock
is activated. ASTC indication lamp, ASTC
OFF indication lamp and ABS warning lamp
are illuminated while these functions are sus-
pended. It dose not indicate a problem. When
the rear differential lock is disengaged, these
lamps go out and function again.
Refer to “ABS warning lamp” on page 4-44,
“ ASTC indication lamp, ASTC OFF indica-
tion lamp” on page 4-47.
l On vehicles with the anti-lock brake system
(ABS), the ABS function is suspended while
the rear differential lock is activated.
ABS warning lamp is illuminated while this
function is suspended.
Refer to “ABS warning lamp” on page 4-44.
l If the indication lamp continues blinking af-
ter the switch has been pressed to deactivate
the rear differential lock, hold the steering
wheel in the straight ahead position then slow-
ly depress and release the accelerator pedal
several times.
l If the indication lamp continues blinking af-
ter the switch has been pressed to activate
the rear differential lock, bear in mind the fol-
lowing instructions:
Starting and driving
4-35
4
•If the vehicle speed is 12 km/h (7 mph)
or higher, decelerate to a speed of 6 km/h
( 4 mph) or lower. The indication lamp
will illuminate steadily and the rear differ-
ential lock will be activated.
• If the vehicle speed is 12 km/h (7 mph)
or lower, turn the steering wheel from
side to side until the indication lamp illu-
minates steadily. If the vehicle is stuck in
soft ground, make sure the area around
the vehicle is clear then repeatedly at-
tempt to drive forward and backward.
The indication lamp will illuminate stead-
ily and the rear differential lock will be ac-
tivated.Examples of effective use of the rear
differential lock E00606400058CAUTIONlUse the rear differential lock only as an
emergency measure when the vehicle is
stuck and cannot be freed with the trans-
fer shift lever in “4L” or “4H” position
(easy select 4WD) or in “4LLc” or
“4HLc” position (super select 4WD). De-
activate the rear differential lock immedi-
ately after using it.When one of the wheels has fallen in a ditch
When driving on rocky roads
When the vehicle is unable to move because one of
the wheels is suspended in the air.
When getting out of snow
When the vehicle is unable to get going because
one of the wheels is on the snow and the other on a
paved road.Examples of incorrect use of the rear
differential lock E00606500059WARNINGlIf the “4L” or “4H” position (easy select
4WD), “4LLc” or “4HLc” position (super
select 4WD) is selected along with the
rear differential lock, the following phe-
nomena appear and it is very dangerous.
Please be sure to release the rear differen-
tial lock on normal roads.
Starting and driving
4-36
4
WARNING•If the rear differential lock is used by
mistake when driving on a paved
road: With the rear differential lock
on, the power to drive the vehicle
straight ahead becomes very strong,
which may make it difficult to turn
the steering wheel.WARNINGl If the rear differential lock is used by mis-
take when turning a curve or making a
right or left turn at a crossing or the like:
The vehicle is unable to make a turn and
may go straight ahead.WARNINGl If the rear differential lock is used by mis-
take except when making an emergency
escape on snow or frozen road: It be-
comes difficult to make a steady turn.
l In the case where the condition of the
road is different for the right tyre to
drive from the left tyre (such as one tyre
on a paved road and the other on ice), di-
rection of the vehicle may change abrupt-
ly when engine braking or accelerating.
Do not use the rear differential lock ex-
cept when making an emergency escape
on a snow or frozen road, but drive with
4WD.
Starting and driving
4-37
4
4-wheel drive operationE00606600920
By selecting 4-wheel drive, both axles of the vehi-
cle are rigidly connected with each other. This im-
proves the traction characteristics. When turning
sharp corners or moving forward and backward re-
peatedly, 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 short-
er 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 vehi-
cle correctly.
NOTE l The driving posture should be more upright
and closer to the wheel than usual; adjust the
seat to a good position for easy steering and
pedal operation. Be sure to wear the seat belt.
l After driving on rough roads, check each
part of the vehicle and wash it thoroughly
with water. Refer to the “Vehicle care” sec-
tion and “Inspection and maintenance follow-
ing rough road operation” on page 4-40.
Driving on dry paved road and highway
Select “2H” position (easy select 4WD), “2H” or
“4H” position (super select 4WD) to drive on the
dry paved road. Especially on dry highway, never
select the “4H” or “4L” position (easy select
4WD), “4HLc” or “4LLc” position (super select
4WD).CAUTIONl Selecting “4H” or “4L” position (easy se-
lect 4WD), “4HLc” or “4LLc” position (su-
per select 4WD) 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 possible dam-
age to the driving system.
Further, the drive train will be subjected
to excessive loading, possibly leading to
oil leakage, component seizure, or other
serious faults.
Driving on snowy or icy roads
Set the transfer shift lever to “4H” or “4L” position
(easy select 4WD), “4H” or “4HLc” position (su-
per select 4WD) in accordance with the road condi-
tions, and then gradually depress the accelerator ped-
al for a smooth start.
NOTE l The use of snow tyres and/or tyre chains is
recommended.
l Maintain a safe distance between vehicles,
avoid sudden braking, and use engine brak-
ing (downshifting).
CAUTIONl Avoid sudden braking, sudden accelera-
tion, and sharp turning; such operations
could cause skidding and spinouts.Driving on sandy or muddy roads
Set the transfer shift lever to “4H” or “4L” position
(easy select 4WD), “4HLc” or “4LLc” position (su-
per select 4WD) and then gradually depress the ac-
celerator pedal for a smooth start. Keep the pres-
sure on the accelerator pedal as constant as possi-
ble, and drive at low speed.CAUTIONl Do not force the vehicle or drive reckless-
ly on sandy surfaces. In comparison with
normal road surfaces, the engine and oth-
er drive-system components are put un-
der excessive strain when driving on such
a surface, and this could lead to accidents.
l 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 temperature gauge
approaches the overheating zone.
Refer to “Engine overheating” on
page 6-04.
• Automatic transmission fluid temper-
ature warning lamp comes on.
Refer to “When the A/T (automatic
transmission) fluid temperature warn-
ing lamp comes on” on pages 4-18,
4-23.
Starting and driving
4-38
4