Page 145 of 370

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
E00615100019
When the selector lever position indicator blinks E00615200166
When  the  selector  lever  position  indicator  blinks
while 
you are driving, there could be a malfunction
in the automatic transmission system.
or or CAUTION
l
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. CAUTION
l
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
4-19 4     
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        Page 146 of 370

CAUTION
l
If  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 E00604200515CAUTION
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. CAUTION
l
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. 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.
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
4-20
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        Page 147 of 370

When the automatic transmission makes no speed
change
E00604800478
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.
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 4-19. Automatic transmission Sports
Mode 5A/T E00603200576
NOTE l During 
running-in  period  or  immediately  af-
ter  reconnection  of  the  battery  cable,  there
may be a case where gear shifts are not made
smoothly. This does not indicate a faulty trans-
mission.
Gear shifts will become smooth after the trans-
mission has been shifted several times by the
electronic control system.
Selector lever operation E00603300867
The transmission has 5 forward gears and 1 reverse
gear.
The 
individual gears are selected automatically, de-
pending  on  the  position  of  the  gear  selector  lever,
the  speed  of  the  vehicle  and  the  position  of  the  ac-
celerator pedal.
The  selector  lever  has  2  gates;  the  main  gate  (1)
and the manual gate (2). NOTE
l For 
information  on  manual  gate  operation,
please refer to “Sports mode” on page 4-23.
In the main gate, selector lever has 4 positions, and
is equipped with a lock button (A) to avoid inadver-
tent selection of the wrong gear. The lock button must be pushed to move the
selector lever.
The lock button need not be pushed to move
the selector lever. Starting and driving
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        Page 148 of 370

WARNING
l If  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. CAUTION
l
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. WARNING
l 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. CAUTION
l
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
4-22
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        Page 149 of 370

Sports mode
E00603901251
Whether 
the  vehicle  is  stationary  or  in  motion,
sports mode is selected by gently pushing the selec-
tor  lever  from  the  “D”  (DRIVE)  position  into  the
manual gate (A). To return to “D” range operation,
gently  push  the  selector  lever  back  into  the  main
gate (B).
 
In sports mode, gear shifts can be made rapidly sim-
ply by moving the selector lever backward and for-
ward.  In  contrast  to  a  manual  transmission,  the
sports  mode  allows  gear  shifts  with  the  accelerator
pedal depressed.
SHIFT UP
SHIFT DOWN + (SHIFT UP)
Push 
the lever forward once to shift up one gear.
 
- (SHIFT DOWN)
Pull  the  lever  backward  once  to  shift  down  one
gear. CAUTION
l
In 
 sports  mode,  the  driver  must  execute
upward shifts in accordance with prevail-
ing  road  conditions,  taking  care  to  keep
the engine speed below the red zone.
l By rapidly moving the selector lever back-
ward (SHIFT DOWN) twice, it is possible
to  skip  one  gear,  i.e.,  3 rd
  to  1 st
,  4 th
  to  2 nd
or 5 th
 to 3 rd
. Since sudden engine braking
and/or rapid acceleration can cause a loss
of traction, downshifts must be made care-
fully  in  accordance  with  the  vehicle’s
speed.
NOTE l In 
sports mode, only the 5 forward gears can
be  selected.  To  reverse  or  park  the  vehicle,
move  the  selector  lever  to  the  “R”  (RE-
VERSE) or “P” (PARK) position as required.
l To  maintain  good  running  performance,  the
transmission  may  refuse  to  perform  an  up-
shift  when  the  selector  lever  is  moved  to  the
“+  (SHIFT  UP)”  position  at  certain  vehicle
speeds.  Also,  to  prevent  over-revving  of  the
engine,  the  transmission  may  refuse  to  per-
form a downshift when the lever is moved to
the  “-  (SHIFT  DOWN)”  position  at  certain
vehicle speeds.
l In sports mode, downward shifts are made au-
tomatically  when  the  vehicle  slows  down.
When  the  vehicle  stops,  1 st
  gear  is  automati-
cally selected. l
When 
 driving  away  on  a  slippery  road,  push
the selector lever forward into the “+ (SHIFT
UP)”  position.  This  causes  the  transmission
to  shift  into  the  2 nd
  gear  which  is  better  for
smooth  driving  away  on  a  slippery  road.
Push  the  selector  lever  to  the  “-  (SHIFT
DOWN)” side to shift back to the 1 st
 gear.
Sports mode indicator E00612300355
In sports mode, the currently selected position is in-
dicated 
by  the  indicator  (A)  shown  on  the  instru-
ment panel. Starting and driving
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        Page 150 of 370

When a malfunction occurs in the au-
tomatic transmission
E00615100152
When the selector lever position indicator blinks E00615200179
When  the  selector  lever  position  indicator  blinks
while 
you are driving, there could be a malfunction
in the automatic transmission system.
through
or CAUTION
l
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. CAUTION
l
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. 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  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 E00604200528 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 To  prevent  sudden  acceleration,  never
race  the  engine  when  shifting  from  the
“P” (PARK) or “N” (NEUTRAL) position. Starting and driving
4-24
4     
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        Page 151 of 370

CAUTION
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 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.. 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.
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 4-19. Starting and driving
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        Page 152 of 370

Easy select 4WD*
E00614700119
Shifting 
to  rear-wheel  drive  or  4-wheel  drive  can
be  made  by  operating  the  transfer  shift  lever  (A).
Shift the transfer shift lever to an appropriate posi-
tion according to the road surface conditions. In ad-
dition, the 2WD/4WD operation indication lamp in-
dicates  the  transfer  shift  lever  shifting  state.  Refer
to “2WD/4WD operation indication lamp” on page
4-28.
Vehicles with manual transmission
Vehicles with automatic transmission Transfer shift lever position and 2WD/
4WD operation indication lamp
E00614800080 Transfer shift lever
position 2WD/4WD
operation in-
dication 
lamp Driving con-
ditions
2H Rear-wheel
drive When  driv-
ing 
on  dry
paved road.
4H 4-wheel
drive When  driv-
ing on rough,
sand 
or  snow
covered
roads.
4L Low range 4-
wheel drive When  driv-
ing 
up  or
down  steep
hills,  on
rough  or
muddy  roads
(especially
when  in-
creased  tor-
que  is  re-
quired). : Illuminate
: Remain offNOTE
l On 
vehicles  with  automatic  transmission,
when  the  transfer  shift  lever  is  in  “4L”,  the
transmission  will  not  shift  into  the  overdrive
gear. CAUTION
l
The 
 “4L”  range  gives  maximum  torque
for  lowspeed  driving  on  steep  slopes,  as
well  as  sandy,  muddy,  and  other  difficult
surfaces.  On  vehicles  with  automatic
transmission,  do  not  exceed  speeds  of  ap-
proximately  70  km/h  (43  mph)  in  “4L”
range.
l Do  not  drive  your  vehicle  in  the  “4H”  or
“4L”  on  dry  paved  roads  and  highways.
Doing  so  may  result  in  excessive  tyre
wear,  increased  fuel  consumption,  and
possible  noise  generation.  It  may  also  in-
crease  the  differential  oil  temperature,
which may damage the drive system. Fur-
ther,  the  drive  train  will  be  subjected  to
excessive loading, resulting in oil leakage,
component seizure, or other serious prob-
lems.  On  dry  paved  roads  and  highways,
drive the vehicle in “2H” only. Starting and driving
4-26
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