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CAUTIONlNever 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 disengag-
ed. It is the same as the neutral position on aM/T , and should only be used when the vehi-
cle 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
transmission automatically selects a suitable
gear ratio for your speed and acceleration.
CAUTIONl Never shift into the “D” (DRIVE) position
from the “R” (REVERSE) position while the
vehicle is in motion to avoid transmission damage.Sports mode
E00603901323
Whether the vehicle is stationary or in mo-
tion, sports mode is selected by gently push-ing the selector lever from the “D” (DRIVE)
position into the manual gate (A). To return to “D” range operation, gently push the selec-tor lever back into the main gate (B).
In sports mode, gear shifts can be made rap-
idly simply by moving the selector lever backward and forward. In contrast to a man- ual 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 up-
ward shifts in accordance with prevailingroad conditions, taking care to keep the en-
gine speed below the red zone.
Automatic transmission Sports Mode 4A/T, 5A/T
6-21OKTE15E3Starting and driving6
Page 154 of 418

CAUTIONlBy 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 trac-
tion, downshifts must be made carefully in
accordance with the vehicle’s speed.NOTEl 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 re-quired.
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
automatically when the vehicle slows down.
When the vehicle stops, 1st
gear is automati-
cally selected.NOTEl When driving away on a slippery road, push
the selector lever forward into the “+(SHIFT UP)” position. This causes the trans-
mission 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 posi- tion is indicated by the indicator (A) shown
on the instrument panel.
When a malfunction occurs in
the automatic transmission
E00615100152
When the selector lever position
indicator blinks
E00615200238
When the selector lever position indicator blinks while you are driving, there could be a
malfunction in the automatic transmission
system.
orthroughor
Automatic transmission Sports Mode 4A/T, 5A/T
6-22OKTE15E3Starting and driving6
Page 155 of 418

CAUTIONlIf the selector lever position indicator blinks
while you are driving, it is likely that a safe-
ty device is operating because of a malfunc-
tion in the automatic transmission. We rec-
ommend you to have your vehicle inspected as soon as possible.
l The selector lever position indicator warning
function does not operate with the selector
lever in the “P” (PARK), “R” (REVERSE) or “N” (NEUTRAL) position.When the A/T (automatic trans-
mission) fluid temperature warning lamp comes on
E00615300141
The automatic transmission fluid temperature
warning lamp comes on when the automatic
transmission fluid temperature becomes ab- normally high. Normally the warning lamp
comes on when the ignition switch is turned to the “ON” position, and then will go out af-
ter 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 recom- mend you to have your vehicle inspected.Operation of the automatic
transmission
E00604200528
CAUTIONl Before selecting a gear with the engine run-
ning and the vehicle stationary, fully depress
the brake pedal to prevent the vehicle from
creeping.
The vehicle will begin to move as soon as the gear is engaged, especially when the en- gine speed is high, at fast idle or with the airconditioning 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.
Automatic transmission Sports Mode 4A/T, 5A/T
6-23OKTE15E3Starting and driving6
Page 156 of 418

CAUTIONlOperating the accelerator pedal while the
other foot is resting on the brake pedal will affect braking efficiency and may cause pre-
mature wear of brake pads.
l Use the selector lever in the correct shift po-
sition in accordance with driving conditions.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 effort or the steering wheel handling weight in-creasing 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 transmission.Passing acceleration
E00604500329
To gain extra acceleration in “D” (DRIVE)
position, push the accelerator to the floor.The automatic transmission will automatical- ly downshift.
NOTEl 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) position..CAUTIONl Never hold the vehicle stationary on a hill
using the accelerator pedal (without using the brake pedal). Always apply the parking
brake and/or service brakes.
l Unexpected acceleration may occur if the se-
lector lever is in a position other than “P”
(PARK) or “N” (NEUTRAL). Prior to mov-
ing off after having stopped the vehicle, make sure that the selector lever is in the
“D” (DRIVE) position.Parking
E00604700262
To park the vehicle, first bring it to a com-
plete 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 unatten-
ded, always switch off the engine and remove the ignition key.
NOTEl 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 transmis-
sion 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 uphillslope, it may be that there is something un-
usual happening in the transmission, causing a safety device to activate. We recommendyou to have your vehicle checked as soon as
possible. 1. If your vehicle has difficulty moving up-
hill, 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).
Automatic transmission Sports Mode 4A/T, 5A/T
6-24OKTE15E3Starting and driving6
Page 157 of 418

NOTElWhen 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 position indicator blinks” on page 6-22.Easy select 4WD*
E00614700148
Shifting to rear-wheel drive or 4-wheel drive can be made by operating the transfer shiftlever (A). Shift the transfer shift lever to an
appropriate position according to the road surface conditions. In addition, the
2WD/4WD operation indication lamp indi- cates the transfer shift lever shifting state.Refer to “2WD/4WD operation indicationlamp” on page 6-27.Transfer shift lever position
and 2WD/4WD operation indi- cation lamp
E00614800080
Transfer shift lever position
2WD/4WD operation
indication lamp
Driving
conditions2HRear-wheel driveWhen driv-
ing on dry paved road.
4H4-wheel drive
When driv-
ing on rough, sand
or snow covered
roads.
Easy select 4WD*
6-25OKTE15E3Starting and driving6 Vehicles with manual transmissionVehicles with automatic transmission
Page 158 of 418

Transfer shiftlever position
2WD/4WD operation
indication lamp
Driving
conditions
4L
Low range 4-wheel drive
When driv-
ing up or down steep
hills, on rough or
muddy
roads (es- pecially
when in-
creased tor-
que is re- quired).
: Illuminate
: Remain off
NOTEl On vehicles with automatic transmission,
when the transfer shift lever is in “4L”, the transmission will not shift into the overdrivegear.CAUTIONl The “4L” range gives maximum torque for
lowspeed driving on steep slopes, as well assandy, muddy, and other difficult surfaces.
On vehicles with automatic transmission, do not exceed speeds of approximately 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. Do-
ing so may result in excessive tyre wear, in-
creased fuel consumption, and possible noise
generation. It may also increase the differen-
tial oil temperature, which may damage the drive system. Further, the drive train will besubjected to excessive loading, resulting in
oil leakage, component seizure, or other seri-
ous problems. On dry paved roads and high- ways, drive the vehicle in “2H” only.Transfer shift lever operation
E00614900111
The shift pattern is shown on the transfer
shift lever knob.
The transfer shift lever should be positioned
in accordance with the following operating conditions:
To shift fromToProcedureVehicles with manual transmissionVehicles with automatic transmission2H4HThe transfer shift lever can be operated while the ve-
hicle is either moving or stationary.The transfer shift lever can be operated while thevehicle is either moving or stationary.
Easy select 4WD*
6-26OKTE15E3Starting and driving6
Page 159 of 418

To shift fromToProcedureVehicles with manual transmissionVehicles with automatic transmission
4H2H
When the vehicle is not in motion, shift the gearshift
lever to the “N” (Neutral) position before operating
the transfer shift lever.
When the vehicle is moving, and only while it can be steered straight ahead, release the accelerator pedal
before operating the transfer shift lever.When the vehicle is not in motion, shift the selector
lever to the “N” (NEUTRAL) position before oper-
ating the transfer shift lever.
When the vehicle is moving, and only while it can
be steered straight ahead, shift the selector lever to
the “D” (DRIVE) position, and release the accelera- tor pedal before operating the transfer shift lever.4H4L
Stop the vehicle, depress the clutch pedal to the floor
and operate the transfer shift lever.
Stop the vehicle, shift the selector lever to the “N”
(NEUTRAL) position, and operate the transfer shift
lever.
If operation is made with the selector lever placed
in any other position than “N” (NEUTRAL) posi-
tion, a gear noise may be generated, with a possible
failure to shift into a proper gear.
4L4H
NOTEl Shifting of the transfer shift lever between
“2H” ↔ “4H” should only be done at speeds below 100 km/h (62 mph).
l During driving, never attempt to shift from
“4H” to “4L”.
l When shifting from “2H” to “4H” in cold
weather while the vehicle is in motion, the transmission gear may make some noise. In
cold weather, try to shift the gear while the
vehicle is stopped.NOTEl There may be a case that the transfer shift
lever feels heavy when it is moved from
“4H” to “2H” with the steering wheel in
turned position.
This is normal and not any indication of trouble.CAUTIONl Do not operate the transfer shift lever while
the rear wheels of the vehicle are slipping on snow or ice.2WD/4WD operation indica-
tion lamp
E00615000122Easy select 4WD*
6-27OKTE15E3Starting and driving6
Page 160 of 418

When the ignition switch is in the “ON” posi-
tion, the 2WD/4WD operation indication lamp shows the shifting condition. The 2WD/4WD operation indication lamp illumi-
nates at each transfer shift lever position as follows:
“2H” ↔ “4H”Transfer
shift lever position2WD/4WD operation indi- cation lamp
2H
Drive mode
switching in progress
Transfer
shift lever position2WD/4WD operation indi- cation lamp
4H
: Illuminate
: Remain off
NOTElWhen the transfer shift lever is shifted be-
tween 2H ↔ 4H, the 2WD/4WD operation indication lamp does not switch to illuminate
or remain off while the selection is in proc- ess. Take the following precautions when the indication lamp remains on or off.
• Keep the steering wheel in the straight
ahead position while making range selec-
tions. If you attempt to drive forward with the steering wheel turned, gear rattling
may occur and the desired range may not actually be selected.
• When the transfer shift lever is shifted be-
tween “2H” ↔ “4H” while the vehicle is stopped, the 2WD/4WD operation indica-
tion lamp does not switch to illuminate or remain off while the selection is in proc-
ess. Drive slowly and normally after con- firming that the lamp is switched.NOTE• Do not move the selector lever while the
2WD/4WD operation indication lamp is
switched.
• If the 2WD/4WD operation indication
lamp does not switch after a “2H” ↔ “4H” selection has been made with thevehicle moving, hold the steering wheel
in the straight ahead position and slowly
depress the accelerator pedal several times.
“4H” ↔ “4L”
Transfer shift lever
position2WD/4WD opera-
tion indication lamp
4HDrive mode switch- ing in progressEasy select 4WD*
6-28OKTE15E3Starting and driving6