2011 MITSUBISHI TRITON warning

4-wheel drive operation
E00606600920
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 4-41.
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). CAUTION
l
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). CAUTION
l
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. CAUTION
l
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 gaugeapproaches 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 4-19,
4-24. Starting and driving
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WARNING
l 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.
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. 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
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. 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 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
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CAUTION
l
Always use tyres of the same size, same
type, and same brand, and which have no
wear differences. Using tyres of different
size, type, brands or degree of wear, will
increase the differential oil temperature,
resulting in possible damage to the driv-
ing system. Further, the drive train will
be subjected to excessive loading, possibly
leading to oil leakage, component seizure,
or other serious faults.
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 6-20 . CAUTION
l
Be sure to shift the
transfer shift lever to
“2H” position and transport the vehicle
with the driving wheels on a carriage
(Type A, C or D) as illustrated.
Never try to tow with the transfer shift lev-
er in “4H” or “4L” position (easy select
4WD), “4H”, “4HLc” or “4LLc” position
(super select 4WD) and with the front or
rear wheels on the ground (Type A or B)
as illustrated. This could result in dam-
age to the drivetrain, or unstable towing.
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.
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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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. CAUTION
l
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. 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 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. 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
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
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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 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. WARNING
l Driving with worn brake
pads
will make
it harder to stop, and can cause an acci-
dent. Brake assist system*
E00627000392
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 active stability & traction control
(ASTC) indication lamp is illuminated, the
brake assist system may not function. 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 surfaceis pitted or has other differences in sur-
face height.
• Driving on bumpy roads or other poor driv- ing surfaces. Starting and driving
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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. 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. CAUTION
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.
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. CAUTION
l
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 4-48.
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
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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. NOTE
l Immediately
after the vehicle starts
moving
after engine start up, a whining sound of a mo-
tor will be heard from the engine compart-
ment. If the brake pedal is depressed at that
moment, you can feel the brake pedal pulsat-
ing.
This pulsation is due to the self-diagnosis op-
eration of the ABS and does not indicate a
malfunction.
l After driving on snowy roads, remove any
snow and ice which may have become ad-
hered to the wheel areas.
When doing this, be careful not to damage
the wheel speed sensors (A) and cables loca-
ted at each wheel on vehicles equipped with
an ABS.
Front
Rear l
The ABS becomes operative after the vehicle
has accelerated to a
speed

in excess of approx-
imately 10 km/h (6 mph). It stops operating
when the vehicle decelerates to a speed be-
low approximately 7 km/h (4 mph). Starting and driving
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Power steering system
E00607400260
The power steering system operates
while the en-
gine is running. It helps reduce the effort needed to
turn the steering wheel.
The power steering system has mechanical steering
capability in case the power assist is lost. If the pow-
er assist is lost for some reason, you will still be
able to steer your vehicle. If the power assist is
lost, you will notice it takes much more effort to
steer and that there is much more “free play” in the
steering wheel. If this happens, take your vehicle to
an authorized MITSUBISHI MOTORS dealer. WARNING
l Do not stop the
engine
while the vehicle is
moving. Stopping the engine would make
the steering wheel extremely hard to
turn, possibly resulting in an accident. CAUTION
l
Do not leave the steering
wheel turned all
the way in one direction. This can cause
damage to the power steering system. Active Stability & Traction
Control (ASTC)* E00616700344
The active stability & traction

control (ASTC)
takes overall control of the anti-lock brake system,
traction control function and Active Stability Con-
trol function to help maintain the vehicle’s control
and traction. Please read this section in conjunction
with the page on the anti-lock brake system, trac-
tion control function and Active Stability Control
function.

Anti-lock brake system (ABS) ® p. 4-44
Active Traction Control function ® p. 4-48
Active Stability Control function ® p. 4-48 CAUTION
l
Do not over-rely on
the
ASTC. This sys-
tem, like any other system, has limits and
cannot help you to maintain traction and
control of the vehicle in all circumstan-
ces. Reckless driving may lead to acci-
dents. Always drive carefully, taking into
account the traffic, road and environmen-
tal conditions.
l Be sure to use the same specified type and
size of tyre on all 4 wheels. Otherwise, the
ASTC may not work correctly.
NOTE l After
your vehicle is driven

a short distance
after starting the engine, a click is heard from
the engine compartment; however, this is on-
ly the sound of ASTC being checked. l
Some
vibration will be
felt
in the vehicle
body and a whining sound of a motor will be
heard from the engine compartment when
the ASTC functions. This is a normal result
of the ASTC operation, and does not indicate
a malfunction.
l The ASTC does not operate while the ABS
warning lamp is illuminated.
l On vehicles with the rear differential lock,
the ASTC and ABS functions are suspended
while the rear differential lock is activated.
ASTC indication lamp, ASTC OFF indica-
tion lamp and ABS 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 “ABS warning lamp” on page 4-45,
“ASTC indication lamp, ASTC OFF indica-
tion lamp” on page 4-48.
Driving hints E00616800039
When extricating the vehicle from mud, sand or
fresh snow, you may find

that operation of the
ASTC prevents the engine speed from increasing
in response to depression of the accelerator pedal.
If this happens and the vehicle remains stuck as a
result, deactivate the ASC function by pressing the
“ASC OFF” switch. The vehicle will then be easier
to extricate. (Brake control of the ATC function is
still working to prevent wheel spins when the ASC
function is deactivated by pressing the “ASC OFF”
switch.) Starting and driving
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