
Driving your vehicle
16 5
D (Drive)
This is the normal forward driving posi-
tion. The transmission will automatically
shift through a 5 (or 4)-gear sequence,
providing the best fuel economy and
power.
For extra power when passing another
vehicle or climbing grades, depress the
accelerator fully, at which time the trans-
mission will automatically downshift to
the next lower gear.
✽NOTICE
Always come to a complete stop before
shifting into D (Drive).
2 (Second Gear, if equipped)
Use 2 (Second Gear) for more power
when climbing hills and for increased
braking when going down hills. This posi-
tion also helps reduce wheel spin on slip-
pery surfaces. When the shift lever is
placed in 2 (Second Gear), the transmis-
sion will automatically shift from first to
second gear.
L (Low, if equipped)
Move the shift lever to this position in
hard pulling situations and for climbing
steep grades.
O/D (Over Drive) system
(if equipped)
Pressing the O/D system button cancels
and engages the overdrive system.
When the O/D system is cancelled, the
O/D OFF indicator illuminates and the
transmission gear range is limited to 1st
through 3rd.
OTQ057007R
CAUTION
Do not exceed the recommended
maximum speeds in 2 (Second
Gear) or L (Low). Operating the
vehicle at speeds above the maxi-
mum recommended, for 2 (Second
Gear) or L (Low) may cause exces-
sive heat to develop which could
result in damage to or failure of the
automatic transmission.
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517
Driving your vehicle
The transmission will not shift to 4th gear
until the O/D system button is pressed
again to release the switch.
When driving down a sloping road with
the transmission in O/D (4th), you can
decrease the vehicle speed without using
the brakes by pressing the O/D button.
When the ignition is switched OFF, O/D
OFF mode is automatically cancelled.
O/D OFF Indicator
This indicator light illuminates in the
instrument panel when the O/D mode is
cancelled.Sports mode (if equipped)
Whether the vehicle is stationary or in
motion, sports mode is selected by push-
ing the shift lever from the D (Drive) posi-
tion into the manual gate. To return to D
(Drive) range operation, push the shift
lever back into the main gate.
In sports mode, moving the shift lever
backwards and forwards will allow you to
make gearshifts rapidly. In contrast to a
manual transmission, the sports mode
allows gearshifts with the accelerator
pedal depressed.
Up (+) : Push the lever forward once to
shift up one gear.
Down (-) : Pull the lever backwards once
to shift down one gear.
✽NOTICE
• In sports mode, the driver must exe-
cute upshifts in accordance with road
conditions, taking care to keep the
engine speed below the red zone.
• In sports mode, only the 5 forward
gears can be selected. To reverse or
park the vehicle, move the shift lever
to the R (Reverse) or P (Park) position
as required.
• In sports mode, downshifts are made
automatically when the vehicle slows
down. When the vehicle stops, 1st gear
is automatically selected.
• In sports mode, when the engine rpm
approaches the red zone shift points
are varied to upshift automatically.
• To maintain the required levels of
vehicle performance and safety, the
system may not execute certain
gearshifts when the shift lever is oper-
ated.
• When driving on a slippery road,
push the shift lever forward into the
+(up) position. This causes the trans-
mission to shift into the 2nd gear
which is better for smooth driving on
a slippery road. Push the shift lever to
the -(down) side to shift back to the 1st
gear.
OTQ057007R-1 + (UP)
- (DOWN)
Sports mode
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519
Driving your vehicle
Moving up a steep grade from a stand-
ing start
To move up a steep grade from a stand-
ing start, depress the brake pedal, shift
the shift lever to D (Drive). Select the
appropriate gear depending on load
weight and steepness of the grade, and
release the parking brake. Depress the
accelerator gradually whilst releasing the
service brakes.
When accelerating from a stop on a
steep hill, the vehicle may have a ten-
dency to roll backwards. Shifting the
shift lever into 2 (Second Gear) will
help prevent the vehicle from rolling
backwards.
Shift lock system (if equipped)
For your safety, the Automatic
Transmission has a shift lock system
which prevents shifting the transmission
out of P (Park) unless the brake pedal is
depressed.
To shift the transmission out of P (Park):
Ty p e A
1. Depress and hold the brake pedal.
2. Depress the lock release button and
move the shift lever.
Type B (If the ignition key interlock sys-
tem is equipped)
1. Depress and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine or turn the ignition to
the ON position.
3. Depress the lock release button and
move the shift lever.
If the brake pedal is repeatedly
depressed and released with the shift
lever in the P (Park) position, a chattering
sound near the shift lever may be heard.
This is a normal condition.
Ignition key interlock system
(if equipped)
The ignition key cannot be removed
unless the shift lever is in the P (Park)
position. If the ignition switch is in any
other position, the key cannot be
removed.
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Driving your vehicle
22 5
Releasing the parking brake
To release the parking brake, first apply
the foot brake and pull up the parking
brake lever slightly. Secondly depress the
release button (1) and lower the parking
brake lever (2) whilst holding the button.
CAUTION
• Driving with the parking brake
applied will cause excessive
brake pad and brake rotor wear.
• Do not operate the parking brake
whilst the vehicle is moving
except in an emergency situation.
It could damage the vehicle sys-
tem and make endanger driving
safety.WARNING
• To prevent unintentional move-
ment when stopped and leaving
the vehicle, do not use the
gearshift lever in place of the
parking brake. Set the parking
brake AND make sure the
gearshift lever is securely posi-
tioned in 1st (First) gear or R
(Reverse) for manual transmis-
sion equipped vehicles and in P
(Park) for automatic transmission
equipped vehicles.
• Never allow anyone who is unfa-
miliar with the vehicle to touch
the parking brake. If the parking
brake is released unintentionally,
serious injury may occur.
• All vehicles should always have
the parking brake fully engaged
when parking to avoid inadver-
tent movement of the car which
can injure occupants or pedestri-
ans.
OTQ057009
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Driving your vehicle
30 5
• Don't "ride" the brake pedal. Resting
your foot on the brake pedal whilst driv-
ing can be dangerous because it can
result in the brakes overheating and
losing their effectiveness. It also
increases the wear of the brake com-
ponents.
• If a tyre goes flat whilst you are driving,
apply the brakes gently and keep the
car pointed straight ahead whilst you
slow down. When you are moving
slowly enough for it to be safe to do so,
pull off the road and stop in a safe
place.
• If your car is equipped with an auto-
matic transmission, don't let your car
creep forward. To avoid creeping for-
ward, keep your foot firmly on the
brake pedal when the car is stopped.
• Use caution when parking on a hill.
Firmly engage the parking brake and
place the gear selector lever in P (auto-
matic transmission) or in first or
reverse gear (manual transmission). If
your car is facing downhill, turn the
front wheels into the kerb to help keep
the car from rolling. If your car is facing
uphill, turn the front wheels away from
the kerb to help keep the car from
rolling. If there is no kerb or if it is
required by other conditions to keep
the car from rolling, block the wheels.• Under some conditions your parking
brake can freeze in the engaged posi-
tion. This is most likely to happen when
there is an accumulation of snow or ice
around or near the rear brakes or if the
brakes are wet. If there is a risk that the
parking brake may freeze, apply it only
temporarily whilst you put the gear
selector lever in P (automatic transmis-
sion) or in first or reverse gear (manu-
al transmission) and block the rear
wheels so the car cannot roll. Then
release the parking brake.
• Do not hold the vehicle on the upgrade
with the accelerator pedal. This can
cause the transmission to overheat.
Always use the brake pedal or parking
brake.
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533
Driving your vehicle
✽NOTICE - Manual
transmission
For manual transmission vehicles, you
should depress the brake pedal at least
once to set the cruise control after start-
ing the engine.
3. Press the button (SET-), and release it
at the desired speed. The SET indica-
tor light will illuminate. Release the
accelerator pedal at the same time.
The desired speed will automatically
be maintained.
On a steep grade, the vehicle may slow
down or speed up slightly whilst going
uphill or downhill.
To increase cruise control set
speed:
Follow either of these procedures:
• Press the button (RES+) and hold it.
Your vehicle will accelerate.Release the
button at the speed you want.
• Press the button (RES+) and release it
immediately. The cruising speed will
increase by 2.0 km/h or 1 mph each
time you press the button (RES+) in
this manner.
OTQ045226
OTQ045281
■Type A
■Type BOTQ045224
OTQ045282
■Type A
■Type B
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Driving your vehicle
34 5
To decrease the cruising speed:
Follow either of these procedures:
• Press the button (SET-) and hold it.
Your vehicle will gradually slow down.
Release the button at the speed you
want to maintain.
• Press the button (SET-) and release it
immediately. The cruising speed will
decrease by 2.0 km/h or 1 mph each
time you press the button (SET-) in this
manner.
To temporarily accelerate with the
cruise control on:
If you want to speed up temporarily when
the cruise control is on, depress the
accelerator pedal. Increased speed will
not interfere with cruise control operation
or change the set speed.
To return to the set speed, take your foot
off the accelerator pedal.
To cancel cruise control, do one
of the following:
• Depress the brake pedal.
• Depress the clutch pedal with a manu-
al transmission.
• Shift into N (Neutral) with an automatic
transmission.
• Press the
CANCEL / Oswitch located
on the steering wheel.
OTQ045226
OTQ045281
■Type A
■Type BOTQ045227
OTQ045283
■Type A
■Type B
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Driving your vehicle
40 5
Hazardous driving conditions
When hazardous driving conditions are
encountered such as water, snow, ice,
mud, sand, or similar hazards, follow
these suggestions:
• Drive cautiously and allow extra dis-
tance for braking.
• Avoid sudden movements in braking or
steering.
• When braking with non-ABS brakes
pump the brake pedal with a light up-
and-down motion until the vehicle is
stopped.• If stalled in snow, mud, or sand, use
second gear. Accelerate slowly to
avoid spinning the drive wheels.
• Use sand, rock salt, tyre chains, or
other non-slip material under the drive
wheels to provide traction when stalled
in ice, snow, or mud.
Rocking the vehicle
If it is necessary to rock the vehicle to free
it from snow, sand, or mud, first turn the
steering wheel right and left to clear the
area around your drive wheels. Then,
shift back and forth between 1st (First)
and R (Reverse) in vehicles equipped
with a manual transmission or R
(Reverse) and any forward gear in vehi-
cles equipped with an automatic trans-
mission. Do not race the engine, and spin
the wheels as little as possible. If you are
still stuck after a few tries, have the vehi-
cle pulled out by a tow vehicle to avoid
engine overheating and possible damage
to the transmission.
SPECIAL DRIVING CONDITIONS
WARNING - ABS
Do not pump the brake pedal on a
vehicle equipped with ABS.
WARNING - Downshifting
Downshifting with an automatic
transmission, whilst driving on
slippery surfaces can cause an
accident. The sudden change in
tyre speed could cause the tyres to
skid. Be careful when downshifting
on slippery surfaces.
CAUTION
Prolonged rocking may cause
engine over-heating, transmission
damage or failure, and tyre damage.
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