
Switching between 4HL and 4LLc
Drive mode
selector positionIndicator lamp
4HLc
Drive mode
switching in
progress
and
4LLcand
Blink
Illuminate
Remain off
When the drive mode-selector is set
between “2H”, “4H” and “4HLc”, the
front wheel and/or centre differential
lock lamps blink while the selection is in
process. Take the following precautionswhen the indicator lamp is blinking.
Keep the steering wheel in the
straight ahead position while making
range selections. If you attempt to drive
forward with the steering wheel turned,
gear rattling or shock may occur and
the desired range may not actually be
selected.
When the drive mode-selector is set
between “2H”, “4H” and “4HLc”, while
the vehicle is stopped, the front wheel
and/or centre differential lock lamps
blink while the selection is in process.
Drive slowly and normally after
confirming that the lamp is switched.
If the front wheel and/or centre
differential lock lamps blinking after a
“2H” <-> “4H” <-> “4HLc” selection
has been made with the vehicle
moving, hold the steering wheel in the
straight ahead position and slowly
depress the accelerator pedal several
times.
The front and the rear wheel lamps will
blink during shifting process from
“4HLc” to “4LLc” or vice versa, as the
transfer passes through the neutral
position. Be sure to operate the drive
mode-selector until the front and the
rear wheel lamps illuminate again.
When parking, apply the parking brake
before stopping the engine and make
sure that the front and the rear wheel
lamps and the low range lamp are not
blinking during shifting processbetween “4HLc” <-> “4LLc”.
Otherwise, the vehicle could
unexpectedly move even if the
automatic transmission is in the “P”
(PARK) position
If, after a “4HLc” <-> “4LLc” selection
has been made, front and the rear
wheel lamps continue blinking and the
desired range is not actually selected,
return the drive modeselector to its
previous position. Place the steering
wheel in the straight ahead position,
drive the vehicle forward, and release
the accelerator pedal. Next, hold down
the clutch pedal (with manual
transmission) or place the selector lever
in the “N” (NEUTRAL) position (with
automatic transmission) and make the
range selection again.
If the low range lamp blinks when you
attempt to make a “4HLc” <-> “4LLc”
selection, a “4HLc” <-> “4LLc”
selection cannot be made. Stop the
vehicle and release the accelerator
pedal. Next, hold down the clutch pedal
(with manual transmission) or place the
selector lever in the “N” (NEUTRAL)
position (with automatic transmission)
and make the range selection again.
The active stability control function is
suspended while “4LLc” is selected
indicator lamp is illuminated while
these functions are suspended. It does
not indicate a problem. When “2H” or
“4H” or “4HLc” is selected, this lamp
goes out and function again. Refer to
“ASTC indicator lamp, ASTC OFF
indicator lamp”.
213)
165

WARNING
210)The “4LLc” range gives maximum
torque for low-speed driving on steep
slopes, as well as sandy, muddy, and other
difficult surfaces. On vehicles with
automatic transmission, do not exceed
speeds of approximately 70 km/h in “4LLc”
range.
211)Do not drive your vehicle in the
“4HLc” or “4LLc” position on dry paved
roads and highways. Doing so may result
in excessive tyre wear, increased fuel
consumption, and possible noise
generation. It may also increase the
differential oil temperature, which may
damage the drive system. Further, the drive
train will be subjected to excessive loading,
resulting in oil leakage, component seizure,
or other serious problems. On dry paved
roads and highways, drive the vehicle in
“2H” or “4H” only.212)Do not operate the drive
mode-selector while the rear wheels of the
vehicle are slipping on snow or ice.
213)If a problem is detected in the transfer
system, a safety device will activate. The
front and rear wheel lamps will go out, the
centre differential lock lamp will blink rapidly
(twice per second), and transfer shifting will
become impossible. Park your vehicle in a
safe place, turn off the engine for a few
moments. Restart the engine. The lamp
should resume normal operation. If the
lamps continue to blink, have the vehicle
checked by a Fiat Dealership as soon as
possible.
REAR DIFFERENTIAL
LOCK
(where provided)
If one wheel starts to spin freely and the
vehicle becomes stuck and cannot be
freed even using 4-wheel drive, the rear
differential lock switch (A) can be used
to activate the rear differential lock for
extra traction.
Operating the rear differential lock
1. Move the drive mode-selector to
“4L” or “4H” position (Easy select
4WD), “4LLc” or “4HLc” position (Super
select 4WD II).
2. To activate the rear differential lock,
press the rear differential lock switch (1).
3. To deactivate the rear differential
lock, press the rear differential lock
switch (2).
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STARTING AND DRIVING

differential lock is disengaged, these
lamps go out and function again. Refer
to “ABS warning lamp”, “ASTC
indicator lamp, ASTC OFF indicator
lamp”.
If the indicator lamp continues blinking
after the switch has been pressed to
deactivate the rear differential lock, hold
the steering wheel in the straight ahead
position then slowly depress and
release the accelerator pedal several
times.
If the indicator lamp continues blinking
after the switch has been pressed to
activate the rear differential lock, bear in
mind the following instructions:
If the vehicle speed is 12 km/h or
higher, decelerate to a speed of
2.5 km/h or lower. The indicator lamp
will illuminate steadily and the rear
differential lock will be activated.
If the vehicle speed is 12 km/h or lower,
turn the steering wheel from side to
side until the indicator lamp illuminates
steadily. If the vehicle is stuck in soft
ground, make sure the area around the
vehicle is clear then repeatedly attempt
to drive forward and backward. The
indicator lamp will illuminate steadily
and the rear differential lock will be
activated.
111)
Examples of effective use of the
rear differential lock
112)
When one of the wheels has fallen
in a ditch
When driving on rocky roads
When the vehicle is unable to move
because one of the wheels is
suspended in the air.When getting out of snow
When the vehicle is unable to get going
because one of the wheels is on the
snow and the other on a paved road.
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Examples of incorrect use of the
rear differential lock
214)
215)
216) 217)
WARNING
214)If the “4L” or “4H” position (Easy
select 4WD), “4LLc” or “4HLc” position
(Super select 4WD II) is selected along with
the rear differential lock, the following
phenomena appear and it is very
dangerous. Please be sure to release the
rear differential 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.
215)If the rear differential lock is used by
mistake 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.216)If the rear differential lock is used by
mistake except when making an
emergency escape on snow or frozen
road: It becomes difficult to make a steady
turn.
217)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), direction
of the vehicle may change abruptly when
engine braking or accelerating. Do not use
the rear differential lock except when
making an emergency escape on a snow
or frozen road, but drive with 4WD.
IMPORTANT
110)Operate the rear differential switch
after the wheels are stopped. Operating the
switch with the wheels turning may cause
the vehicle to dart in unexpected directions.
111)If a problem is detected in the rear
differential lock system, a safety device will
activate. The rear differential lock indicator
lamp will blink rapidly (twice per second),
and the rear differential lock will deactivate.
Park your vehicle in a safe place, turn off
the engine for a few moments. Restart the
engine. It is safe to continue driving if the
lamps resume normal operation. If the rear
differential lock indicator lamp blinks when
the rear differential lock is reactivated, have
the vehicle checked by a Fiat Dealership as
soon as possible.
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169

112)Use the rear differential lock only as an
emergency measure when the vehicle is
stuck and cannot be freed with the drive
mode-selector in “4L” or “4H” position
(Easy select 4WD) or in “4LLc” or “4HLc”
position (Super select 4WD II). Deactivate
the rear differential lock immediately after
using it.4 WHEEL DRIVE
OPERATION
By selecting 4-wheel drive, both axles
of the vehicle are rigidly connected with
each other. This improves the traction
characteristics. When turning sharp
corners or moving forward and
backward repeatedly, 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 shorter 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 vehicle
correctly.
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
After driving on rough roads, check
each part of the vehicle and wash it
thoroughly with water. Refer to the
“Vehicle care” section and “Inspection
and maintenance following rough road
operation”.Driving on dry paved road and
highway
Select “2H” position (Easy select 4WD),
“2H” or “4H” position (Super select
4WD II) 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 II).
113)
Driving on snowy or icy roads
Set the drive mode-selector to “4H”
position (Easy select 4WD), “4H” or
“4HLc” position in accordance with the
road conditions (Super select 4WD II)
and then gradually depress the
accelerator pedal for a smooth start.
Keep the pressure on the accelerator
pedal as constant as possible, and
drive at low speed. The use of snow
tyres and/or tyre chains is
recommended.
Maintain a safe distance between
vehicles, avoid sudden braking, and
use engine braking (downshifting).
114)
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Turning sharp corners
When turning a sharp corner in “4H” or
“4L” position (Easy select 4WD), “4HLc”
or “4LLc” position (Super select 4WD II)
at low speed, a slight difference in
steering may be experienced similar to
as if the brakes were applied. This is
called tight corner braking and results
from each of the 4 tyres being at a
different distance from the corner.
Crossing a stream
4-wheel drive vehicles are not
necessarily waterproof. If the electrical
circuits become wet, further operation
of the vehicle will be impossible;
therefore, avoid crossing streams
unless absolutely necessary. If crossing
a stream is unavoidable, use the
following procedure:
Check depths of a stream and
geographical features before
attempting to cross a stream and
ford the stream where the water is
as shallow as practicable.Set the
drive mode-selector to “4L”
position (Easy select 4WD), “4LLc”
position (Super select 4WD II).Drive
slowly at a speed of approximately
5 km/h to avoid splashing too
much water.
117) 118)
Inspection and maintenance
following rough road operation
After operating the vehicle in rough road
conditions, be sure to perform the
following inspection and maintenance
procedures:
Check that the vehicle has not been
damaged by rocks, gravel, etc.
Carefully wash the vehicle with water.
Drive the vehicle slowly while lightly
depressing the brake pedal in order to
dry out the brakes. If the brakes still do
not function properly, we recommend
you to have the brakes checked as
soon as possible.
Remove the insects, dried grass, etc.
clogging the radiator core.
After crossing a stream, be sure to have
the following items inspected at a Fiat
Dealership and take the necessary
measures:
Check the brake system and, if
necessary, have it serviced.
Check the engine, transmission,
transfer, and differential oil or grease
level and turbidity. If the oil or grease is
milky, it indicates water contamination.
Replace it with new oil or grease.
Grease the propeller shaft.
Check the inside of the vehicle. If
water is found, dry the carpet etc.
Inspect the headlamps. If the
headlamp bulb is flooded with water,
have the headlamp drained off.
IMPORTANT
113)Selecting “4H” or “4L” position (Easy
select 4WD), “4HLc” or “4LLc” position
(Super select 4WD II) 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 damage
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.
114)Avoid sudden braking, sudden
acceleration, and sharp turning; such
operations could cause skidding and
spinouts.
115)Do not force the vehicle or drive
recklessly on sandy surfaces. In
comparison with normal road surfaces, the
engine and other drive-system components
are put under excessive strain when driving
on such a surface, and this could lead to
accidents.
116)If any of following conditions occur
while the vehicle is being driven,
immediately park your vehicle in a safe
place and follow these procedures: the
needle in the temperature gauge
approaches the overheating zone. Refer to
“Engine overheating”; automatic
transmission fluid temperature warning
lamp comes on. Refer to “When the A/T
(automatic transmission) fluid temperature
warning lamp comes on”.
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117)Never cross a stream where the water
is deep. Do not change gears while
crossing the stream. Frequent crossing of
streams can adversely affect the life span
of the vehicle; we recommend you to take
the necessary measures to prepare,
inspect, and repair the vehicle.
118)After crossing a stream, apply the
brakes to be sure they are functioning
properly. If the brakes are wet and not
functioning properly, dry them out by
driving slowly while lightly depressing the
brake pedal. Inspect each part of the
vehicle carefully.
WARNING
218)When 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
forward or backward, causing injury or
damage to nearby people or objects.
219)Go straight up. Do not try to traverse
across a steep slope.
220)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.
221)Avoid snaking down a sharp grade.
Descend the grade as straight as possible.
CAUTIONS ON
HANDLING OF
4 WHEEL DRIVE
VEHICLES
Tyres and wheels
Since the driving torque can be applied
to the 4 wheels, the performance of the
vehicle when operating in 4-wheel drive
is greatly affected by the condition of
the tyres.
Pay close attention to the tyres.
Install specified tyres on all wheels.
Refer to “Tyres and wheels”.
Be sure to the appropriate tyre
inflation pressure according to no cargo
or cargo. Refer to “Tyre inflation
pressures”.
Be sure to fit all 4 tyres and wheels of
the same size and type. When
replacement of any of the tyres or
wheels is necessary, replace all of them.
All tyres should be rotated whenever
the wear difference between the front
and rear tyres is recognizable.
Good vehicle performance cannot be
expected if there is a difference in wear
between tyres. Refer to “Tyre rotation”.
Check the tyre inflation pressure
regularly.
119)
Towing
If towing is necessary, we recommend
you to have it done by a Fiat Dealership
or a commercial tow truck service. In
the following cases, transport the
vehicle using a tow truck.
The engine runs but the vehicle does
not move or abnormal noise is
produced.
Inspection of the vehicle’s underside
reveals that oil or some other fluid is
leaking.
Only when you cannot receive a towing
service from a Fiat Dealership or
commercial tow truck service, tow your
vehicle carefully in accordance with the
instructions given in “Towing”.
173

120)
Jacking up a 4-wheel drive vehicles
222)
Clutch operation
Quick or slight clutch engagement
made while the engine is running at
high speed will cause damage to the
clutch and transmission because the
tractive force is very great. Operate the
pedal slowly and positively.Limited-slip differential
A limited-slip differential is applied for
the rear wheel differential only. The
features of this limited-slip differential
are described below:
Just as with a conventional differential,
the wheel on one side is allowed to turn
at a different speed from the wheel on
the other side when the vehicle is
cornering. The difference between the
limited-slip differential and a
conventional differential is that if the
wheel on one side of the vehicle loses
traction, a greater amount of torque is
applied to the wheel on the other side
to improve traction.
Even if there is a difference in the
amount of traction the wheels can get,
if both of them are spinning, the
limited-slip differential will not be
effective.
121) 122)
IMPORTANT
119)Always use tyres of the same size,
same type, and same brand which have no
wear differences. Using the tyres which
differ in size, type, brands or the degree of
wear or the inappropriate tyre inflation
pressure, will increase the differential oil
temperature and may be impossible to shift
the transfer, resulting in possible damage 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.
120)Be sure to set the drive mode-selector
to “2H” position and transport the vehicle
with the driving wheels on a carriage (Type
C or D) as illustrated. Never try to tow with
the drive mode-selector in “4H” or “4L”
position (Easy select 4WD), “4H”, “4HLc” or
“4LLc” position (Super select 4WD II) and
with the front or rear wheels on the ground
(Type A or B) as illustrated. This could result
in damage to the drivetrain, or unstable
towing. If you cannot set the drive
mode-selector to “2H” position or the
transmission is malfunctioning or damaged,
transport the vehicle with all the wheels on
a carriage (Type C or D) as illustrated.
121)Never start the engine while one of the
rear wheels is jacked up and the other in
contact with the ground; doing so may
cause the vehicle to jump forward.
122)When attempting to extract the
vehicle from snow, mud, etc., and the
engine is run continuously at high speed,
the limited-slip differential will be adversely
affected.
B
C
D
A
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