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
4
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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
4-21 4
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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
4
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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
4-23 4
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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
4-25 4
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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
4
OCRE12E1