The operation state of
rear differential lock 2WD/4WD operation
indication lamp
Rear differential lock deactivated
Switching in progress
Rear differential lock ac-
tivated : 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 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.
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:
• 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 switching opera-
tion will be completed and the indication
lamp will illuminate steadily. • 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 switching operation will be comple-
ted and the indication lamp will illumi-
nate steadily. CAUTION
l
If a
problem
is detected in the rear differ-
ential lock system, a safety device will ac-
tivate. The centre differential lock lamp,
front and rear wheel lamps will go out,
the rear differential lock indication lamp
will blink, and the rear differential lock
will deactivate. Park your vehicle in a
safe place, turn off the engine for a few
moments. Restart the engine.
It is safe to continue driving if the lamps
resume normal operation. If the rear dif-
ferential lock indication lamp blinks
when the rear differential lock is reactiva-
ted, we recommend you to have the vehi-
cle checked as soon as possible. Starting and driving
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4
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Examples of effective use of the rear
differential lock
E00606400045CAUTION
l
Use 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 “4LLc” or “4HLc” posi-
tion. Deactivate the rear differential lock
immediately 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
E00606500046 WARNING
l If the “4LLc” or “4HLc” position is selec-
ted along
with
the rear differential lock,
the following phenomena appear and it is
very dangerous.
Please be sure to release the rear differen-
tial lock on normal roads. • If the rear differential lock is used bymistake 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. Starting and driving
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WARNING
l 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. WARNING
l 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. 4-wheel drive operation
E00606600627
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 4-35.
Driving on dry paved road and highway
Select the “2H” or “4H” position to drive on the
dry paved road. Especially on dry highway, never
select the “4HLc” or “4LLc” position. Starting and driving
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4
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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
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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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CAUTION
l
Be sure to shift the transfer shift lever to
the “2H” position. Never try to tow with
the transfer shift lever in the “4H”,
“4HLc” or “4LLc” positions and with
any of the wheels on the ground (Type A
or B). This could result in damage to the
vehicle’s driving system, or the vehicle
could become separated from the tow
truck and unexpected accident might re-
sult. If you cannot shift the transfer shift
lever to “2H” position or the transmission
is malfunctioning or damaged, transport
the vehicle with all the wheels on a car-
riage (Type C or D) as illustrated.
If you can shift the transfer shift lever to the “2H” position.
If you cannot shift the transfer shift lever to the “2H”
position. Jacking up a 4-wheel drive vehicle
WARNING
l Do not
crank
the engine while jacking up
the vehicle.
The tyre on the ground may turn and the
vehicle may roll off the jack. Clutch operation
Quick or
slight
clutch engagement made while the
engine is running at high speed will cause damage
to the clutch and transmission because the tractive
force is very great.
Operate the pedal slowly and positively. Starting and driving
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4
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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
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4
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Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
E00607101248
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 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 surfaceis pitted or has other differences in sur-
face height.
• Driving on bumpy roads or other poor driv- ing surfaces.
l In order to ensure that the ABS will operate
correctly in situations where tyre chains have
been fitted, drive in the “4H”, “4HLc”, or
“4LLc” position. 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 the vibrations of
the vehicle body and steering wheel. You
may also hear a characteristic noise. At this
time, you may feel as if the pedal attempts to
resist being depressed.
This is a normal result of the ABS operation,
and does not indicate a problem.
In this situation, to let the ABS work for
you, just hold the brake pedal down more
firmly. Do not pump the brake. This will
result in reduced braking performance.
l When the engine starts and after starting to
drive, you might hear operation noise from
the engine compartment or feel a shock from
the brake pedal. This is normal. The ABS is
performing self-check.
l The ABS will operate after the vehicle has ac-
celerated to a speed in excess of approximate-
ly 10 km/h (6 mph). It stops operating when
the vehicle decelerates to a speed below
about 5 km/h (3 mph). CAUTION
l
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.
l Never 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. Starting and driving
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