Warning lamps
E00502400017Brake warning lamp (brake
warning buzzer)
E00502501712
This lamp illuminates
when the ignition
switch is turned to the “ON” position,
and goes off after a few seconds.
Always make sure that the lamp goes off
before driving.
With the ignition switch in the “ON” po-
sition, the brake warning lamp illumi-
nates under the following conditions:
l When the parking brake lever has
been engaged.
l When the brake fluid level in the
reservoir falls to a low level.
l When the brake force distribution
function or the brake system is not
operating correctly.
Brake warning buzzer
When there is a danger of brake perform-
ance becoming compromised,
a buzzer
will sound to alert the driver. If this buz-
zer should continue to sound, park your
vehicle in a safe place and we recom-
mend you to have it checked. NOTE
l Depressing
the brake
pedal repeat-
edly may turn on the brake warn-
ing lamp, ABS warning lamp and
brake warning buzzer. It is normal
if the lamp goes out and the buz-
zer stops sounding after a few sec-
onds. CAUTION
l
In the
situations
listed below,
brake performance may be com-
promised or the vehicle may be-
come unstable if brakes are ap-
plied suddenly; consequently,
avoid driving at high speeds or
applying the brakes suddenly.
Furthermore, the vehicle
should be brought to a stop in a
safe location and to have it
checked. • The brake warning lampdoes not illuminate when
the parking brake is applied
or does not turn off when
the parking brake is re-
leased.
• The ABS warning lamp and brake warning lamp illumi-
nate at the same time.
For details, refer to “ABS
warning lamp” on page
4-40.
• The brake warning buzzer does not turn off.
l The vehicle should be brought
to a halt in the following man- CAUTION
ner when brake performance
has deteriorated.
• Depress the brake
pedal
harder than usual.
Even if the brake pedal
moves down to the very end
of its possible stroke, keep it
pressed down hard.
• Should the brakes fail, use engine braking to reduce
your speed and pull the park-
ing brake lever.
Depress the brake pedal to
operate the stop lamp to
alert the vehicles behind you.
NOTE l In
certain cases
immediately after
the engine has been started or
when the brake pedal is depressed
repeatedly, a noise generated by
operation of brake devices may be
heard coming from the engine com-
partment. At this time, you may
feel a shock from the brake pedal
if you depress it. This type of
noise or shock is normal and there
is no need for concern. In fact,
they indicate that the correspond-
ing devices are operating normally.
l The brake system uses brake fluid
pressurized by the pump.
Please refer to “Braking” on page
4-37. Instruments and controls
3-09 3
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Economical driving
E00600100561
For economical driving,
there are some technical re-
quirements that have to be met. The prerequisite
for low fuel consumption is a properly adjusted en-
gine. In order to achieve longer life of the vehicle
and the most economical operation, we recommend
you to have the vehicle checked at regular intervals
in accordance with the service standards.
Fuel economy and generation of exhaust gas and
noise are highly influenced by personal driving hab-
its as well as the particular operating conditions.
The following points should be observed in order
to minimize wear of brakes, tyres and engine as
well as to reduce environmental pollution.
Starting
Avoid rapid acceleration and sudden starts; such op-
eration will result in higher fuel consumption.
Shifting
Shift only at an appropriate speed and engine
speed. Always use the highest gear possible.
The transfer shift lever should be set to “2H” when
driving on normal roads and express ways to obtain
best possible fuel economy.
City traffic
Frequent starting and stopping increases the aver-
age fuel consumption. Use roads with smooth traf-
fic flow whenever possible. When driving on con-
gested roads, avoid use of a low gear at high en-
gine speeds.
Idling
The vehicle consumes fuel even during idling.
Avoid extended idling whenever possible. Speed
At higher
vehicle
speed, more fuel is consumed.
Avoid driving at full speed. Even a slight release of
the accelerator pedal will save a significant amount
of fuel.
Tyre inflation pressure
Check the tyre inflation pressures at regular inter-
vals. Low tyre inflation pressure increases road re-
sistance and fuel consumption. In addition, low
tyre pressures adversely affect tyre wear and driv-
ing stability.
Load
Do not drive with unnecessary articles in the lug-
gage compartment. Especially during city driving
where frequent starting and stopping is necessary,
the increased weight of the vehicle will greatly af-
fect fuel consumption. Also avoid driving with un-
necessary luggage or carriers, etc., on the roof; the
increased air resistance will increase fuel consump-
tion.
Cold engine starting
Starting of a cold engine consumes more fuel.
Unnecessary fuel consumption is also caused by
keeping a hot engine running. After the engine is
started, commence driving as soon as possible.
Air conditioning
The use of the air conditioning will increase the
fuel consumption. Driving, alcohol and drugs
E00600200067
Driving after drinking
alcohol is one of the most fre-
quent causes of accidents.
Your driving ability can be seriously impaired even
with blood alcohol levels far below the legal mini-
mum. If you have been drinking, don’t drive. Ride
with a designated non-drinking driver, call a cab or
a friend, or use public transportation. Drinking cof-
fee or taking a cold shower will not make you sober.
Similarly, prescription and nonprescription drugs af-
fect your alertness, perception and reaction time.
Consult with your doctor or pharmacist before driv-
ing while under the influence of any of these medi-
cations. WARNING
l NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE.
Your perceptions
are
less accurate, your
reflexes are slower and your judgment is
impaired. Starting and driving
4-02
4
OBKE12E1
When a malfunction occurs in the A/T
E00615100035
When the “N” indication lamp blinks E00615200023
When the “N” indication lamp (A) blinks with the
“D” (DRIVE) position
or “Sports mode” being se-
lected, the A/T may be malfunctioning. CAUTION
l
If the “N”
indication lamp blinks while
driving in the “D” (DRIVE) position or
“Sports Mode”, the A/T safety device
may be operating due to a malfunction.
We recommend you to have your vehicle
inspected as soon as possible. When the A/T fluid temperature warning lamp
comes on
E00615300109
When the A/T
fluid temperature warning lamp
comes automatic transmission fluid temperature be-
comes abnormally high. Normally the warning
lamp comes on when the ignition switch is turned
to the “ON” position, and then will go out after a
few seconds. CAUTION
l
If the 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 rec-
ommend you to have your vehicle inspec-
ted. Operation of the A/T
E00604200560 CAUTION
l
Before 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 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.
l To prevent sudden acceleration, never
race the engine when shifting from the
“P” (PARK) or “N” (NEUTRAL) position.
l Use the selector lever in the correct shift
position in accordance with driving condi-
tions.
Never coast downhill backward with the
selector lever in the “D” (DRIVE) or
sports mode position or coast forward
with the selector lever in the “R” (RE-
VERSE) position.
The engine may stop and the unexpected
increase in brake pedal effort and steer-
ing wheel weight could lead to an accident. Starting and driving
4-22
4
OBKE12E1
CAUTION
l
Do not race the engine with brake pedal
pressed when the vehicle is stationary.
This can damage the A/T.
Also, when you depress the accelerator
pedal while holding down the brake ped-
al with the selector lever in the “P”
(PARK), “N” (NEUTRAL) or “D”
(DRIVE) position, the increase in engine
revolutions may be limited.
Passing acceleration E00604500156
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.
Uphill/downhill driving E00610500089
DRIVING UPHILL
The transmission
may
not upshift to a higher gear
if the computer determines the current speed can-
not be maintained once a higher gear is engaged.
For smoother vehicle performance, if you release
the throttle while climbing a steep grade, the trans-
mission may not upshift. This is normal, as the com-
puter is temporarily preventing shifting. After reach-
ing the top of the hill, normal gear shift function
will resume. DRIVING DOWNHILL
When travelling down
steep grades, the computer
may automatically select a lower gear. This func-
tion assists engine braking efforts, reducing the
need for using the service brakes.
Waiting E00604600245
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 and apply the parking brake, while holding
the vehicle stationary with the service brake. CAUTION
l
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.
Parking E00604700161
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 A/T makes no speed change E00604800348
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 vehicle 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 transmission malfunction.
2. Once the vehicle is moving on a level road, move the selector lever back to “D” (DRIVE). Starting and driving
4-23 4
OBKE12E1
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 the “4LLc” position to
maximize the engine torque. WARNING
l 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
it up to confirm that the vehicle can handle
the grade.
Descending sharp grades
Set the transfer shift lever to the “4LLc” position,
use the engine brake (downshifting) and descend
slowly. WARNING
l 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 it
down 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 the “4HLc” or
“4LLc” position at low speed, a slight difference in
steering may be experienced similar to as if the
brakes were applied. This is called tight corner brak-
ing and results from each of the 4 tyres being 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.
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. Cross at a place where the water is less than 70 cm deep.
3. Set the transfer shift lever to the “4LLc” po- sition.
4. Drive slowly at a speed of approximately 5 km/h (3 mph) to avoid splashing too much
water. CAUTION
l
Do not
attempt
to cross a stream at a
place where the water is more than 70 cm
deep.
l Cross a stream temporarily for emergen-
cies and avoid doing so for a long period
of time.
l 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 driving slowly
while lightly depressing the brake pedal.
Inspect each part of the vehicle carefully.
NOTE l Because
the inside
of the vehicle is flooded
with water when crossing at a place where
the water is more than 50 cm deep, we recom-
mend you to have your vehicle inspected.
l Frequent crossing of streams can adversely af-
fect the life span of the vehicle; we recom-
mend you to take the necessary measures to
prepare, inspect, and repair the vehicle. Starting and driving
4-34
4
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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 E00606800401
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 9-12.
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 8-14. l Check the tyre inflation pressure regularly.
l If the tyre inflation pressure is inappropriate,
the transfer gear may make some noise and
shock while changing the drive mode. CAUTION
l
Always use tyres
of the same size, same
type, and same brand, and which have no
wear differences. Using tyres which differ
in size, type, brand or the degree of wear
will cause excessive loading, resulting in
possible damage to the drive system.
Towing
If towing is
necessary, we recommend you to have
it done by your MITSUBISHI MOTORS Author-
ized Service Point or a commercial tow truck service.
In the following cases, transport the vehicle using a
tow truck.
l The engine runs but the vehicle does not
move or abnormal noise is produced.
l Inspection of the vehicle’s underside reveals
that oil or some other fluid is leaking.
Only when you cannot receive a towing service
from a MITSUBISHI MOTORS Authorized Serv-
ice Point or commercial tow truck service, tow
your vehicle carefully in accordance with the in-
structions given in “Towing” on page 6-15. Starting and driving
4-35 4
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Braking
E00607001524
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. CAUTION
l
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 circuits
so that when one brake circuit fails, the other is
available to stop the vehicle. In this situation, even
if the brake pedal moves down to the very end of
its possible stroke, keep depressing the brake pedal
down harder than usual; stop driving as soon as pos-
sible and have the brake system repaired.
For details, refer to “Brake warning lamp” on page
3-09.
Power brakes
The power brakes use brake fluid pressurized by
the pump to power-assist the brake. If the brake sys-
tem fails during driving, the brake warning lamp
comes on and a buzzer sounds continuously. In this
case, the brake may not work properly.
If this buzzer should continue to sound, park your
vehicle in a safe place and have the system checked.
Refer to “Brake warning lamp” on page 3-09. CAUTION
l
Bring the vehicle
to halt in a safe location
by applying the brakes gently. Applying
the brakes rapidly or driving at high
speed may make the vehicle unstable.
NOTE l Depressing
the brake
pedal repeatedly may
turn on the brake warning lamp, ABS warn-
ing lamp and brake warning buzzer. (The
ASTC indication lamp and Active Stability
Control function OFF indication lamp also
turn on.) It is normal if the lamp goes out
and the buzzer stops sounding after a few sec-
onds.
l In certain cases immediately after the engine
has been started or when the brake pedal is
depressed repeatedly, a noise generated by op-
eration of brake devices may be heard com-
ing from the engine compartment, or the
brake pedal vibration may be felt. This type
of noise or vibration is normal and there is
no need for concern. In fact, it indicates that
the corresponding devices are operating nor-
mal. WARNING
l 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. WARNING
l If the power
assist is lost or if either
brake hydraulic system stops working
properly, have your vehicle checked im-
mediately.
Warning lamp l The
brake warning
lamp illuminates to indi-
cate a fault in the braking system. Read
“Brake warning lamp” on page 3-09.
l On vehicles with the rear differential lock,
the active stability & traction control
(ASTC) and anti-lock brake system (ABS)
functions are suspended while the rear differ-
ential lock is activated. ASTC indication
lamp, Active Stability Control function OFF
indication lamp, ABS warning lamp and
brake warning lamp are illuminated while
these functions are suspended. It does not in-
dicate a problem. When the rear differential
lock is disengaged, these lamps go out and
function again.
Refer to “Brake warning lamp” on page 3-09,
“ABS warning lamp” on page 4-40, “ASTC
indication lamp” on page 4-42, “Active sta-
bility control function OFF indication lamp”
on page 4-43.
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
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 driv-
ing slowly while lightly depressing the brake pedal. Starting and driving
4-37 4
OBKE12E1
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. WARNING
l Do 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 l Avoid hard braking situations.
New
brakes need
to be broken-in by moder-
ate use for the first 200 km (125 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. WARNING
l Driving with worn
brake pads will make
it harder to stop, and can cause an acci-
dent. Brake assist system
E00627000376
The brake assist system is a device assisting drivers
who cannot depress
the brake pedal firmly when it
is necessary to do so (such as in emergency stop sit-
uations) and provides greater braking force.
If the brake pedal is depressed suddenly, the brakes
will be applied with more force than usual. CAUTION
l
The brake
assist
system is not a device de-
signed to exercise braking force greater
than its capacity. Make sure to always
keep a sufficient distance between vehi-
cles in front of you without relying too
much on the brake assist system.
NOTE l Once
the brake
assist system is operational,
it maintains great braking force even if the
brake pedal is lightly released.
To stop its operation, completely remove
your foot from the brake pedal.
l When the brake assist system is in use while
driving, you may feel the brake pedal at-
tempt to resist, the pedal moves in small mo-
tions in conjunction with the operation noise,
or the vehicle body and the steering wheel vi-
brate. This occurs when the brake assist sys-
tem is operating normally and does not indi-
cate faulty operation. Continue to firmly de-
press the brake pedal. l
When
the
anti-lock
brake system warning
lamp is illuminated, the brake assist system
is not functioning. Starting and driving
4-38
4
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