
Economical driving.......................................................................4-02
Driving, alcohol and drugs ........................................................... 4-02
Safe driving techniques ................................................................ 4-03
Running-in recommendations.......................................................4-04
Parking brake ................................................................................ 4-06
Parking .......................................................................................... 4-07
Steering wheel height adjustment .................................................4-08
Inside rear-view mirror ................................................................. 4-08
Outside rear-view mirrors ............................................................. 4-09
Ignition switch .............................................................................. 4-10
Steering wheel lock ...................................................................... 4-12
Starting..........................................................................................4-12
Diesel particulate filter (DPF)* .................................................... 4-13
Manual transmission ..................................................................... 4-14
Automatic transmission Sports Mode 4A/T, 5A/T .......................4-17
Easy select 4WD* ......................................................................... 4-22
Super select 4WD* ....................................................................... 4-26
Rear differential lock* .................................................................. 4-30
4-wheel drive operation ................................................................ 4-34
Inspection and maintenance following rough road oper- ation .......................................................................................... 4-36
Cautions on handling of 4-wheel drive vehicles ..........................4-36
Limited-slip differential* .............................................................. 4-38
Braking ......................................................................................... 4-38
Brake assist system* ..................................................................... 4-39
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)* ................................................... 4-39
Power steering system .................................................................. 4-42
Active Stability & Traction Control (ASTC)* .............................4-42
Cruise control* ............................................................................. 4-45
Cargo loads ................................................................................... 4-49Trailer towing
............................................................................... 4-49Starting and driving
OKTE14E2
4

Economical drivingE00600100620
For economical driving, there are some technical re-
quirements that have to be met. The prerequisite
for low fuel consumption is a properly adjusted en-
gine. In order to achieve longer life of the vehicle
and the most economical operation, we recommend
you to have the vehicle checked at regular intervals
in accordance with the service standards.
Fuel economy and generation of exhaust gas and
noise are highly influenced by personal driving hab-
its as well as the particular operating conditions.
The following points should be observed in order
to minimize wear of brakes, tyres and engine as
well as to reduce environmental pollution.
Starting
Avoid rapid acceleration and sudden starts; such op-
eration will result in higher fuel consumption.
Shifting
Shift only at an appropriate speed and engine
speed. Always use the highest gear possible.
The transfer shift lever should be set to “2H” when
driving 4WD vehicles on normal roads and express
ways to obtain best possible fuel economy.
City traffic
Frequent starting and stopping increases the aver-
age fuel consumption. Use roads with smooth traf-
fic flow whenever possible. When driving on con-
gested roads, avoid use of a low gear at high en-
gine speeds.
Idling
The vehicle consumes fuel even during idling.
Avoid extended idling whenever possible.Speed
The higher the vehicle speed, the more fuel con-
sumed. Avoid driving at full speed. Even a slight re-
lease of the accelerator pedal will save a significant
amount of fuel.
Tyre inflation pressure
Check the tyre inflation pressures at regular inter-
vals. Low tyre inflation pressure increases road re-
sistance and fuel consumption. In addition, low
tyre pressures adversely affect tyre wear and driv-
ing stability.
Load
Do not drive with unnecessary articles in the cargo
area. Especially during city driving where frequent
starting and stopping is necessary, the increased
weight of the vehicle will greatly affect fuel con-
sumption.
Cold engine starting
Starting of a cold engine consumes more fuel.
Unnecessary fuel consumption is also caused by
keeping a hot engine running. After the engine is
started, commence driving as soon as possible.
Air conditioning*
The use of the air conditioning will increase the
fuel consumption.Driving, alcohol and drugs E00600200012
Driving after drinking alcohol is one of the most fre-
quent causes of accidents.
Your driving ability can be seriously impaired even
with blood alcohol levels far below the legal mini-
mum. If you have been drinking, don’t drive. Ride
with a designated non-drinking driver, call a cab or
a friend, or use public transportation.
Drinking coffee or taking a cold shower will not
make you sober.
Similarly, prescription and nonprescription drugs af-
fect your alertness, perception and reaction time.
Consult with your doctor or pharmacist before driv-
ing while under the influence of any of these medi-
cations.WARNINGl NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE.
Your perceptions are less accurate, your
reflexes are slower and your judgment is
impaired.
Starting and driving
4-02 OKTE14E2
4

Parking brakeE00600501562
To park the vehicle, first bring it to a complete
stop, fully engage the parking brake, and then
move the gearshift lever to 1 st
(on an uphill) or Re-
verse (on a downhill) position for vehicles with man-
ual transmission or set the selector lever to “P”
(PARK) position on automatic transmission vehi-
cles.CAUTIONl Before driving, be sure that the parking
brake is fully released and brake warning
lamp is off.
If a vehicle is driven without releasing the
parking brake, the brake will be overhea-
ted, resulting in ineffective braking and
possible brake failure.
l When you intend to apply the parking
brake, firmly press the brake pedal to
bring the vehicle to a complete stop be-
fore pulling the parking brake lever. Pull-
ing the parking brake lever with the vehi-
cle moving could make the rear wheels
lock up, thereby making the vehicle unsta-
ble. It could also make the parking brake
malfunction.
l If the brake warning lamp does not extin-
guish when the parking brake is fully re-
leased, the brake system may be abnormal.
Have your vehicle checked immediately.
For details, refer to “Brake warning
lamp” on page 3-08.Type 1
To apply
1- Firmly depress and hold the brake pedal,
then pull the lever up without pushing the but-
ton at the end of hand grip.
To release
1- Firmly depress and hold the brake pedal,
then pull the lever up slightly.
2- Push the button at the end of hand grip.
3- Lower the lever fully.
Type 2
To apply
1- Firmly depress and hold the brake pedal,
then pull the lever out.
Starting and driving
4-06 OKTE14E2
4

To release
1-Firmly depress and hold the brake pedal,
then pull the lever out slightly and turn it
clockwise (LHD) or anticlockwise (RHD).
2- Push in the lever completely.
Parking E00600601202
Parking on a hill
To prevent the vehicle from rolling, follow these
procedures:
Parking on a downhill slope
Turn the front wheels towards the kerb and move
the vehicle forward until the kerb side wheel gently
touches the kerb.
Set the parking brake and place the gearshift lever
into the “R” (Reverse) position (with M/T) or the
selector lever into the “P” (PARK) position (with
A/T).
If necessary, apply chocks to wheels.
Parking on an uphill slope
Turn the front wheels away from the kerb and
move the vehicle back until the kerb side wheel gen-
tly touches the kerb.
Set the parking brake and place the gearshift lever
into the 1 st
position (with M/T) or the selector lever
into the “P” (PARK) position (with A/T).
If necessary, apply chocks to wheels.
NOTE l If your vehicle is equipped with
A/T, be sure
to apply the parking brake before moving the
selector lever to the “P” (PARK) position. If
you move the selector lever to the “P”
(PARK) position before applying the parking
brake, it may be difficult to disengage the se-
lector lever from the “P” (PARK) position
when next you drive the vehicle, requiring ap-
plication of a strong force to the selector lev-
er to move from the “P” (PARK) position.Parking with the engine running
Never leave the engine running while you take a
short sleep/rest. Also, never leave the engine run-
ning in a closed or poorly ventilated place.WARNINGl Leaving the engine running risks injury
or death from accidentally moving the
gearshift lever (on M/T vehicles) or the se-
lector lever (on A/T vehicles) or the accu-
mulation of toxic exhaust fumes in the pas-
senger compartment.
Where you park
Your front bumper can be damaged if you scrape it
over kerbs or parking stop blocks. Be careful when
travelling up or down steep slopes where your bump-
er can scrape the road.
WARNINGl Do not park your vehicle in areas where
combustible materials such as dry grass
or leaves can come in contact with a hot
exhaust, since a fire could occur.
When leaving the vehicle
Always remove the key from the ignition switch
and lock all doors when leaving the vehicle unatten-
ded.
Always try to park your vehicle in a well lit area.
Starting and driving
4-07
OKTE14E2
4LHD RHD LHD RHD

NOTEl If your vehicle is equipped with the Daytime
Running Lamp, when the ignition switch is
in the “ON”, the headlamp low beams etc.
are turned on.
Refer to “Headlamps” on page 3-30.
l Your vehicle is equipped with an electronic
immobilizer.
To start the engine, the ID code which the
transponder inside the key sends must match
the one registered in the immobilizer comput-
er.
Refer to “Electronic immobilizer” on page
1-03.
To remove the key
For vehicles with a M/T, when removing the key,
push the key in at the “ACC” position and keep it
depressed until it is turned to the “LOCK” position,
and remove it.For vehicles with an A/T, when removing the key,
first set the selector lever to the “P” (PARK) posi-
tion, and then turn the key to the “LOCK” position,
and remove it.CAUTIONl Do not remove the ignition key from the
ignition switch while driving. The steer-
ing wheel will lock, causing loss of control.
l If the engine is stopped while driving, the
brake servomechanism will cease to func-
tion and braking efficiency will deterio-
rate. Also, the power steering system will
not function and it will require greater
manual effort to operate the steering.
l Do not leave the key in the “ON” position
for a long time when the engine is not run-
ning, doing so will cause the battery to be
discharged.
l Do not turn the key to the “START” posi-
tion when the engine is running, doing so
could damage the starter motor.NOTE
l For vehicles with an
A/T, when the selector
lever is in the “P” (PARK) position, do not
operate the lock button of selector lever re-
peatedly for more than 30 seconds. You may
not be able to remove the key from the igni-
tion switch, because the protection circuit is
activated. If this occurs, wait a few moments
before removing the key.
Refer to “Selector lever operation” on page
4-17.
Starting and driving
4-11
OKTE14E2
4

Steering wheel lockE00601500227
To lock
Remove the key at the “LOCK” position.
Turn the steering wheel until it is locked.
To unlock
Turn the key to the “ACC” position while moving
the steering wheel slightly.
CAUTIONl Remove the key when leaving the vehicle.
NOTE
l If the front wheels are turned, the anti-theft
lock may sometimes make it difficult to turn
the key from “LOCK” to “ACC”. Firmly
turn the steering wheel to the left or to the
right as you turn the key.
Starting E00601600404
Tips for starting l Do not operate the starter motor continuous-
ly for anything longer than 10 seconds; do-
ing so could run down the battery. If the en-
gine does not start, turn the ignition switch
back to “LOCK” position, wait a few sec-
onds, and then try again.
Trying repeatedly with the starter motor still
turning will damage the starter mechanism.
l If the engine cannot be started because the
battery is weak or dead, refer to the “Emer-
gency starting” section for instructions on
starting the engine.
l The engine is well warmed up if the coolant
temperature gauge needle starts to move (the
engine speed decreases). Extended warming-
up operation will result in excessive fuel con-
sumption.WARNINGl Never run the engine in a closed or poor-
ly ventilated area any longer than is nee-
ded to move your vehicle in or out of the
area. Carbon monoxide gases are odour-
less and can be fatal.CAUTIONl Never attempt to start the engine by push-
ing or pulling the vehicle. Especially the
automatic transmission, since the struc-
ture is different from a manual transmis-
sion, it is not possible to start the engine
by using this technique. Never attempt
this or it could damage the automatic
transmission.
l Do not run the engine at high rpm or
drive the vehicle at high speed until the en-
gine has had a chance to warm up.
l Release the ignition key as soon as the en-
gine starts to avoid damaging the starter
motor.
l Do not stop the engine immediately after
high-speed or uphill driving. First allow
the engine to idle to give the turbocharg-
er a chance to cool down.Starting the engine E00601702223
1.Insert the ignition key and fasten the seat belt.
2. Make sure the parking brake is applied.
3. Depress and hold the brake pedal.
4. On vehicles with manual transmission, place
the gearshift lever in the “N” (Neutral) posi-
tion and depress the clutch pedal all the way.
Starting and driving
4-12 OKTE14E2
4

Automatic transmission SportsMode 4A/T, 5A/T E00603200710
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 E00603301082
The transmission has 4 forward gears (4A/T), 5 for-
ward gears (5A/T) 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 4-19.
In the main gate, the selector lever has 4 positions,
and is equipped with a lock button (A) to avoid in-
advertent selection of the wrong gear.The lock button must be pushed while the
brake pedal is depressed to move the selec-
tor lever.The lock button must be pushed to move the
selector lever.The lock button need not be pushed to move
the selector lever.WARNINGl 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.
When the selector lever cannot be shifted from
the “P” (PARK) position
When the selector lever cannot be shifted from the
“P” (PARK) position to another position while the
brake pedal is pressed and held down with the igni-
tion switch at the “ON” position, the battery may
be flat or the shift-lock mechanism may be malfunc-
tioning.
Immediately have your vehicle checked by an au-
thorized MITSUBISHI MOTORS dealer.
If you need to move the vehicle, shift the selector
lever as follows.
Starting and driving
4-17
OKTE14E2
4

1. Make sure the parking brake is applied.
2. Stop the engine if it is running.
3. Depress the brake pedal with the right foot.
4. Turn the ignition switch to the “ACC” posi-
tion.
5. Insert a straight blade (or minus) screwdriver
in the shiftlock release hole (A). Shift the se-
lector lever to the “N” (NEUTRAL) position
while pressing the straight blade (or minus)
screwdriver down.Selector lever position indicator E00603500885
When the ignition switch is turned to the “ON” po-
sition, the current position of the selector lever is in-
dicated 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) E00603800729
“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.
CAUTIONl Never shift into the “P” (PARK) or “R”
(REVERSE) position while the vehicle is
in motion to avoid 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.WARNINGl 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.
CAUTIONl 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
4-18 OKTE14E2
4