Page 169 of 540

169
2-4. Using other
driving systems
2
When driving
CAUTION
■Caution while driving
●Never shift the front-wheel drive control lever from H2 to H4 if the wheels
are slipping.
Stop the slipping or spinning before shifting.
● For normal driving on dry and hard surface roads, use H2 position. Driving
on dry and hard surface roads in H4 or L4 position may cause drive com-
ponent oil leakage, seizure, or other problems resulting in an accident.
Further, it may cause tire wear and increased fuel consumption.
● Avoid turning suddenly in H4 or L4 position. If you do turn suddenly, the
difference in turning speeds between the front and rear wheels may have
a similar effect to braking, thus making driving difficult.
● Securely shift the front-wheel drive control lever to H4 or L4. Otherwise,
the transfer may disengage both the front and rear driveshafts from the
powertrain and allow the vehicle to move regardless of the shift position.
If this happens, the vehicle may be free to roll even if the automatic t\
rans-
mission is in P.
Page 170 of 540
170
2-4. Using other driving systems
Active traction control system
When the active traction control system is operatingIf any of the drive wheels spins,
the slip indicator flashes to indi-
cate that the active traction con-
trol system have been engaged.
: If equipped
The active traction control system automatically helps prevent the
spinning of 4 wheels when the vehicle is started or accelerated on
slippery road surfaces.
■ System operation
Vehicles with an automatic transmission:
Stop the vehicle, shift the shift lever to N and shift the front-
wheel drive control lever into L4.
Vehicles with a manual transmission:
Stop the vehicle or reduce your speed to less than 5 mph (8
km/h). Depress the clutch pedal and shift the four-wheel
drive control lever into LL.
Press the A-TRAC switch to
activate the system.
At this time, the active traction
control system indicator will
come on.
To cancel the system, push the
switch again.
Page 172 of 540
172
2-4. Using other driving systems
AUTO LSD system (2WD models)
When the AUTO LSD system is operatingIf the rear wheels spin, the slip
indicator flashes to indicate that
the AUTO LSD system has con-
trolled the spinning of the rear
wheels.
The AUTO LSD system aids traction by using the traction control
system to control engine performance and braking when one of the
rear wheels begins to spin.
The system should be used only wh en wheel spinning occurs in a
ditch or rough surface.
■ System operation
The system is activated when driving at a speed under 62 mph
(100 km/h).
Press the VSC OFF switch to
turn on the system.
At this time, the AUTO LSD
and VSC OFF indicators will
come on.
To turn off the system, push
the switch again.
Page 174 of 540

174
2-4. Using other driving systems
Rear differential lock system
Using the rear differential lock systemAutomatic transmission 4WD models: Before using the rear differential lock system.
Stop the vehicle, shift the shift lever to N and shift the front-
wheel drive control lever into L4 to see if this is sufficient. If
this has no effect, additionally use the rear differential lock
system.
Be sure to stop the wheels.
Press the RR DIFF LOCK switch.
Gently depress the accelerator pedal.
After the rear differential is locked, the indicator will come on.
Unlock the rear differential as soon as the vehicle moves.
To unlock the rear differential, push the switch again.
: If equipped
The rear differential lock system is provided for use only when wheel
spinning occurs in a ditch or on a slippery or rugged surface.
The rear differential lock system is effective in case one of the rear
wheels is spinning.
Press the RR DIFF LOCK
switch to lock the rear differen-
tial.
At this time, the rear differential
lock indicator will blink. Wait a
few seconds for the system to
complete operation. After the
rear differential is locked, the
indicator will stop blinking and
remain on.
To unlock the rear differential,
push the switch again.
Page 175 of 540

175
2-4. Using other
driving systems
2
When driving
Manual transmission
Before using the rear differential lock system.
Stop the vehicle or reduce your speed to less than 5 mph (8
km/h). Depress the clutch pedal and shift the four-wheel drive
control lever into LL to see if this is sufficient. If this has no
effect, additionally use the r ear differential lock system.
Be sure to stop the wheels.
Depress the clutch pedal.
Press the RR DIFF LOCK switch.
Slowly release the clutch pedal.
After the rear differential is locked, the indicator will come on.
Unlock the rear differential as soon as the vehicle moves.
To unlock the rear differential, push the switch again.
■ Locking the rear differential
●When the rear differential is locked, VSC is automatically turned off.
(The rear differential lock and VSC OFF indicators will come on.)
● The following systems do not operate when the rear differential is locked.
It is normal operation for the ABS warning light and VSC OFF indicator to
be on at this time.
•ABS
• Brake assist system
•VSC
• TRAC (TRC)
■ The rear differential lock is disengaged when
●Shift the four-wheel drive control lever to H or HL. (4WD models with a
manual transmission)
● Shift the front-wheel drive control lever to H2 or H4. (4WD models with
an automatic transmission)
Never forget to turn off the switch after using this feature.
■ After unlocking the rear differential
Check that the indicator goes off.
Page 176 of 540
176 2-4. Using other driving systems
CAUTION
■To avoid an accident
●Do not use the rear differential lock system except when wheel spinning
occurs in a ditch or on a slippery or ragged surface. Large steering effort
and careful cornering control will be required.
● Do not lock the rear differential until the wheels have stopped spinning.
Otherwise, the vehicle may move in an unexpected direction when the dif-
ferential lock is engaged, resulting in an accident. This may also lead to
possible damage to rear differential lock component parts.
● Do not drive over 5 mph (8 km/h) when the rear differential is locked.
● Do not keep driving with the RR DIFF LOCK switch on.
Page 178 of 540

178
2-4. Using other driving systems
Driving assist systems
When TRAC (TRC)/VSC are operatingIf the vehicle is in danger of slip-
ping, or if the rear wheels (2WD
models) or any of the drive
wheels (4WD models) spins, the
slip indicator flashes to indicate
that TRAC (TRC)/VSC have
been engaged.
To help enhance driving safety and performance, the following sys-
tems operate automatically in res ponse to various driving situations.
Be aware, however, that these systems are supplementary and
should not be relied upon too h eavily when operating the vehicle.
■ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
Helps to prevent wheel lock when the brakes are applied suddenly, or if
the brakes are applied while driving on a slippery road surface.
■Brake Assist
Generates an increased level of braking force after the brake pedal is
depressed, when the system detects a panic stop situation.
■VSC (Vehicle Stability Control)
Helps the driver to control skidding when swerving suddenly or turning
on slippery road surfaces.
■TRAC/TRC (Traction Control)
Maintains drive power and prevents the rear wheels (2WD models) or
all wheels (4WD models) from spinning when starting the vehicle or
accelerating on slippery roads.
Page 179 of 540
179
2-4. Using other
driving systems
2
When driving
To disable TRAC and VSC (2WD m odels and H2 mode [automatic
transmission] on 4WD models)
If the vehicle gets stuck in fresh snow or mud, TRAC and VSC may
reduce power from the engine to the wheels. You may need to turn
the system off to enable you to rock the vehicle in order to free it.
■ Turning off TRAC and VSC
Press and hold the switch for
more than 3 seconds while the
vehicle is stopped to turn off
TRAC and VSC.
The VSC OFF and TRAC OFF
indicators will come on.
Push the switch again to turn both
systems back on.