Possible driving speedE00610801151
Shift point
Speed limit2WDVehicles with easy select 4WDVehicles with super select 4WD2H, 4H4L2H, 4H, 4HLc4LLc1st
gear30 km/h (19 mph)35 km/h (22 mph)15 km/h (9 mph)35 km/h (22 mph)15 km/h (9 mph)2nd
gear60 km/h (37 mph)65 km/h (40 mph)35 km/h (22 mph)65 km/h (40 mph)30 km/h (19 mph)3rd
gear100 km/h (62 mph)105 km/h (65 mph)55 km/h (34 mph)105 km/h (65 mph)55 km/h (34 mph)4th
gear145 km/h (90 mph)155 km/h (96 mph)80 km/h (50 mph)150 km/h (93 mph)80 km/h (50 mph)
5th
gear is an overdrive ratio and its use reduces engine speed below that of the 4 th
gear. Use 5 th
gear whenever vehicle speed allows, for maximum fuel economy.
Starting and driving
4-16 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
Sports modeE00603901323
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 UPSHIFT 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.
CAUTIONl 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 4 or 5 forward gears
can be selected. To reverse or park the vehi-
cle, 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, 1st
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
E00612300498
In sports mode, the currently selected position is in-
dicated by the indicator (A) shown on the instru-
ment panel.
Starting and driving
4-19
OKTE14E2
4
When a malfunction occurs in the au-
tomatic transmission E00615100152When the selector lever position indicator blinksE00615200238
When the selector lever position indicator blinks
while you are driving, there could be a malfunction
in the automatic transmission system.
orthroughor
CAUTIONl 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.CAUTIONl 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.
CAUTIONl 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 E00604200528CAUTIONlBefore 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
4-20 OKTE14E2
4
CAUTIONlOperating 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..CAUTIONl 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 vehicle 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 4-20.
Starting and driving
4-21
OKTE14E2
4
Examples of incorrect use of the rear
differential lock E00606500059WARNINGlIf the “4L” or “4H” position (easy select
4WD), “4LLc” or “4HLc” position (super
select 4WD) is selected along with the
rear differential lock, the following phe-
nomena appear and it is very dangerous.
Please be sure to release the rear differen-
tial lock on normal roads. •If the rear differential lock is used by
mistake when driving on a paved
road: With the rear differential lock
on, the power to drive the vehicle
straight ahead becomes very strong,
which may make it difficult to turn
the steering wheel.WARNINGl If the rear differential lock is used by mis-
take when turning a curve or making a
right or left turn at a crossing or the like:
The vehicle is unable to make a turn and
may go straight ahead.WARNINGl If the rear differential lock is used by mis-
take except when making an emergency
escape on snow or frozen road: It be-
comes difficult to make a steady turn.
l In the case where the condition of the
road is different for the right tyre to
drive from the left tyre (such as one tyre
on a paved road and the other on ice), di-
rection of the vehicle may change abrupt-
ly when engine braking or accelerating.
Do not use the rear differential lock ex-
cept when making an emergency escape
on a snow or frozen road, but drive with
4WD.
Starting and driving
4-33
OKTE14E2
4
4-wheel drive operationE00606601028
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 4-36.
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).CAUTIONl 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).
CAUTIONl 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.CAUTIONl 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 gauge
approaches 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 page 4-20.
Starting and driving
4-34 OKTE14E2
4
WARNINGlWhen 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.WARNINGl 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.
WARNINGl 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
4-35
OKTE14E2
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