
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     

CAUTIONlOperating 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.
l Use  the  selector  lever  in  the  correct  shift
position in accordance with driving condi-
tions.
Never  coast  downhill  backward  with  the
driving  shift  position  {“D”  (DRIVE)  or
sports  mode}  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.
l Do  not  race  the  engine  with  brake  pedal
pressed when the vehicle is stationary.
This can damage the automatic transmis-
sion.Passing acceleration E00604500329
To  gain  extra  acceleration  in  “D”  (DRIVE)  posi-
tion, push the accelerator to the floor. The automat-
ic transmission will automatically downshift.
NOTE l In  “Sports  mode”,  downshifts  do  not  take
place  when  the  accelerator  is  depressed  all
the way to the floor.
Waiting E00604600304
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,
place the selector lever in the “N” (NEUTRAL) po-
sition..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).  Prior
to moving off after having stopped the ve-
hicle,  make  sure  that  the  selector  lever  is
in the “D” (DRIVE) position.Parking E00604700262
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.When the automatic transmission makes no speed
change E00604800683
If  the  transmission  does  not  change  speeds  while
driving,  or  your  vehicle  does  not  pick  up  enough
speed  when  starting  on  an  uphill  slope,  it  may  be
that  there  is  something  unusual  happening  in  the
transmission,  causing  a  safety  device  to  activate.
We  recommend  you  to  have  your  checked  as  soon
as possible. 1.If  your  vehicle  has  difficulty  moving  uphill,
shift  the  selector  lever  into  2 nd
  gear  of  the
“Sports mode”.
This  method  might  not  work  depending  on
the type of transmission malfunction.
2. Once  the  vehicle  is  moving  on  a  level  road,
move the selector lever back to “D” (DRIVE).
NOTE l When  the  selector  lever  position  indicator  in
the  instrument  panel  blinks,  it  means  that
there  is  an  abnormal  condition  in  the  trans-
mission. Refer to  “When the selector lever po-
sition indicator blinks” on page 4-18.
Starting and driving
4-24
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    

Operation under adverse drivingconditions E00801702140
If your vehicle becomes stuck in sand,
mud or snow
If  the  vehicle  becomes  stuck  in  snow,  sand,  or
mud, it can often be moved with a rocking motion.
Move  the  selector  lever  alternately  between  the
“L”  (LOW)  and  “R”  (REVERSE)  position  (with
manual  transmission,  between  1 st
  and  Reverse),
while applying slight pressure to the accelerator ped-
al.
Avoid racing the engine or spinning the wheels. Pro-
longed  efforts  to  free  a  stuck  vehicle  may  result  in
overheating and transmission failure. Allow the en-
gine  to  idle  for  a  few  minutes  to  let  the  transmis-
sion cool between rocking attempts.
If the vehicle remains stuck after several rocking at-
tempts, seek other assistance.WARNINGl When 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.
On 2WD vehicles, it is recommended to start the ve-
hicle with parking brake partially, but not complete-
ly, applied by slightly pulling the parking brake lev-
er.
After  the  vehicle  has  become  free,  do  not  forget  to
release the parking brake.
NOTE
l Depress the accelerator pedal gradually when
starting the vehicle.
On a flooded road l Avoid  flooded  roads.  Water  could  enter  the
brake  discs,  resulting  in  temporarily  ineffec-
tive brakes. In such cases, lightly depress the
brake pedal to see if the brakes operate prop-
erly.  If  they  do  not,  lightly  depress  the  pedal
several  times  while  driving  in  order  to  dry
the brake pads.
l When driving in rain or on a road with many
puddles  a  layer  of  water  may  form  between
the tyres and the road surface.
This  reduces  a  tyre’s  frictional  resistance  on
the road, resulting in loss of steering stability
and braking capability.
 
To cope with this, observe the following items: (a)Drive your vehicle at slow speed. (b)Do  not  drive  on  worn  tyres.  Always
maintain  the  specified  tyre  inflation
pressures.
On a snow-covered or frozen road
l When  driving  on  a  snow-covered  or  frozen
road,  it  is  recommended  that  you  use  snow
tyres or tyre chains.
Refer to the “Snow tyres” and “Tyre chains”
sections.
l Avoid  high-speed  operation,  sudden  acceler-
ation, abrupt brake application and sharp cor-
nering.
l Depressing  the  brake  pedal  during  travel  on
snowy  or  icy  roads  may  cause  tyre  slippage
and  skidding.  When  traction  between  the
tyres and the road is reduced the wheels may
skid  and  the  vehicle  cannot  readily  be
brought  to  a  stop  by  conventional  braking
techniques.  Braking  will  differ,  depending
upon  whether  you  have  anti-lock  brake  sys-
tem  (ABS).  If  you  do  have  ABS,  brake  by
pressing  the  brake  system  pedal  hard,  and
keeping  it  pressed.  If  you  do  not  have  ABS,
pump  the  brake  pedal  with  short  rapid  jabs,
each  time  fully  applying  and  fully  releasing
for greatest effect.
l Allow  extra  distance  between  your  vehicle
and the vehicle in front of you, and avoid sud-
den braking.
l Accumulation  of  ice  on  the  braking  system
can cause the wheels to lock. Pull away from
a  standstill  slowly  after  confirming  safety
around the vehicle.CAUTIONl Do  not  press  the  accelerator  pedal  rapid-
ly.  If  the  wheels  break  free  of  the  ice,  the
vehicle  could  suddenly  start  moving  and
possibly cause an accident.
On a bumpy or rutted road
l Drive  as  slow  as  possible  when  driving  on
bumpy or rutted roads.
For emergencies
6-24
6   

7.Remove dipstick and read the automatic trans-
mission fluid level.
The fluid level should always be between the
two marks on the dipstick.WARNINGl Do  not  spill  the  fluid  onto  a  hot  exhaust
manifold  during  topping  up  or  inspec-
tion, or a fire may occur.
Fluid type
Use  only  “DIA  QUEEN  ATF  SP  III”  transmission
fluid to ensure optimum transmission performance.
Washer fluid E01000700672
The windscreen washer fluid reservoir is in the en-
gine compartment.
Check  the  washer  fluid  level  at  regular  intervals
and add washer fluid to reservoir if necessary.
NOTE
l The  washer  fluid  container  serves  the  wind-
screen and headlamps (if so equipped).
During cold weather
To  ensure  proper  operation  of  the  washers  at  low
temperatures,  use  a  fluid  containing  an  anti-freez-
ing agent.
Brake fluid E01000900687
To check the fluid level
Check the brake fluid level in the reservoir.
The brake fluid level must be between the “MAX”
and “MIN” marks on the reservoir.
The brake fluid level is monitored by a float. When
the  brake  fluid  level  falls  below  the  “MIN”  mark,
the brake fluid warning lamp lights up.
The fluid level falls slightly with wear of the brake
pads, but this does not indicate any abnormality.
If  the  brake  fluid  level  falls  markedly  in  a  short
length of time, it indicates leaks from the brake sys-
tem.
If this occurs, we recommend you to have the vehi-
cle checked.
Fluid type
Use  brake  fluid  conforming  to  DOT3  or  DOT4.
The brake fluid is hygroscopic. Too much moisture
in the brake fluid will adversely affect the brake sys-
tem, reducing the brake performance.
Maintenance
8-07
8