Operation of the A/T
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CAUTIONlBefore selecting a gear with the engine run-
ning and the vehicle stationary, fully depressthe 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 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 Operating 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 To prevent sudden acceleration, never race
the engine when shifting from the “P”
(PARK) or “N” (NEUTRAL) position.
l Use the selector lever in the correct shift po-
sition in accordance with driving conditions. Never coast downhill backward with the se- lector lever in the “D” (DRIVE) or sportsmode position or coast forward with the se-
lector lever in the “R” (REVERSE) position. The engine may stop and the unexpected in- crease in brake pedal effort and steering
wheel weight could lead to an accident.CAUTIONl Do not race the engine with brake pedal
pressed when the vehicle is stationary.
This can damage the A/T.
Also, when you depress the accelerator ped- al while holding down the brake pedal withthe selector lever in the “P” (PARK), “N”
(NEUTRAL) or “D” (DRIVE) position, the
increase in engine revolutions may be limi-
ted.Passing acceleration
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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.Uphill/downhill driving
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DRIVING UPHILL
The transmission prevents unnecessary up-
shifts even when the accelerator pedal is re- leased and ensures smooth driving.
DRIVING DOWNHILL
According to the conditions, the transmission
will automatically shift to a lower gear ratio to achieve stronger engine braking. This mayhelp reduce your need to use the service brake.
Waiting
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For short waiting periods, such as at trafficsignals, 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 and apply the parking
brake, while holding the vehicle stationary with the service brake.
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.Parking
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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.
Automatic transmission INVECS-II Sports Mode 5A/T (Intelligent & Innovative Vehicle Electronic Control System II)
6-24OVWE16E1Starting and driving6
When driving downhill
It is important to take advantage of the en-
gine braking by shifting to a lower shift posi- tion while driving on steep downhill roads in
order to prevent the brakes from overheating.
WARNINGl Do not leave any objects near the brake
pedal or let a floor mat slide under it; do-
ing so could prevent the full pedal stroke that would be necessary in an emergency.Make sure that the pedal can be operated freely at all times. Make sure the floor mat is securely held in place.
Brake pads
l Avoid hard braking situations.
New brakes need to be broken-in by
moderate use for the first 200 km (125 miles).
l The disc brakes are provided with a
warning device which emits a shrieking
metallic sound while braking if the brake pads have reached their wear limit.
If you hear this sound, have the brake pads replaced immediately.
WARNINGl Driving with worn brake pads will make
it harder to stop, and can cause an acci-
dent.Brake assist system
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The brake assist system is a device assistingdrivers who cannot depress the brake pedalfirmly when it is necessary to do so (such as
in emergency stop situations) and provides
greater braking force.
If the brake pedal is depressed suddenly, the brakes will be applied with more force thanusual.
CAUTIONl The brake assist system is not a device de-
signed to exercise braking force greater than its capacity. Make sure to always keep a suf-
ficient distance between vehicles in front of
you without relying too much on the brake
assist system.NOTEl Once the brake assist system is operational,
it maintains great braking force even if the
brake pedal is lightly released.
To stop its operation, completely remove
your foot from the brake pedal.
l When the brake assist system is in use while
driving, you may feel the brake pedal at-
tempt to resist, the pedal moves in small mo- tions in conjunction with the operation
noise, or the vehicle body and the steering wheel vibrate. This occurs when the brake
assist system is operating normally and does not indicate faulty operation. Continue to
firmly depress the brake pedal.
l When the anti-lock brake system warning
lamp is illuminated, the brake assist system is not functioning.Anti-lock brake system
(ABS) E00607101248
Environmental conditions can have an effect
on braking. During sudden braking when
there is snow, ice, oil, water etc. on the road
surface, a skid may occur. In this situation, steering control and braking effectiveness is
reduced and the stopping distance is in-
creased. The vehicle may also go into an un- controlled spin.
Brake assist system
6-41OVWE16E1Starting and driving6
Avoid racing the engine or spinning thewheels. Prolonged efforts to free a stuck ve-
hicle may result in overheating, transmission and drivetrain failure. Allow the engine toidle for a few minutes to let the transmissioncool between rocking attempts.
If the vehicle remains stuck after several rocking attempts, seek other assistance.WARNINGl 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 for-ward or backward, causing injury or
damage to nearby people or objects.
On a flooded road
l Avoid flooded roads. Water could enter
the brake discs, resulting in temporarily
ineffective brakes. In such cases, lightly
depress the brake pedal to see if the brakes operate properly. If they do not,
lightly depress the pedal several times while driving in order to dry the brake
pads.
l When driving in rain or on a road with
many puddles a layer of water may form between the tyres and the road surface.
This reduces a tyre’s frictional resistance
on the road, resulting in loss of steering stability and braking capability.
To cope with this, observe the following
items: (a)Drive your vehicle at slow speed. (b)Do not drive on worn tyres. (c)Always maintain the specified
tyre inflation pressures.
On a snow-covered or frozen
road
l When driving on a snow-covered or fro-
zen road, it is recommended that you use snow tyres or tyre chains.
Refer to the “Snow tyres” and “Tyre
chains” sections.
CAUTION• Avoid sudden braking, sudden acceleration,
and sharp turning; such operations could cause skidding and spinouts. Also, doing so could cause damage to the drivetrain.l Depressing the brake pedal during travel
on snowy or icy roads may cause tyre slippage and skidding. When traction be-
tween the tyres and the road is reduced
the wheels may skid and the vehicle can-
not readily be brought to a stop by con- ventional braking techniques. Brakingwill differ, depending upon whether you have anti-lock brakes (ABS). As your
vehicle is equipped with ABS, brake by pressing the brake pedal hard, and keep-
ing it pressed.
l Allow extra distance between your vehi-
cle and the vehicle in front of you, and avoid sudden braking.
l Accumulation of ice on the braking sys-
tem can cause the wheels to lock. Pullaway from a standstill slowly after con-
firming safety around the vehicle.CAUTIONl Do not press the accelerator pedal rapidly. If
the wheels break free of the ice, the vehicle
could suddenly start moving and possibly
cause an accident.
On a bumpy or rutted road
Drive as slow as possible when driving on
bumpy or rutted roads.
Operation under adverse driving conditions
8-20OVWE16E1For emergencies8
During cold weather
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To ensure proper operation of the washers at
low temperatures, use a fluid containing ananti-freezing agent.Brake fluid
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To check the fluid level
The brake fluid level is monitored by a float.
When the brake fluid level falls below the “MIN” mark, the brake fluid warning lamp
lights up.
The brake fluid level must be between the
“MAX” and “MIN” marks on the reservoir.LHDRHD
If the level is below the “MIN” mark, check
according to the following procedure: 1. Turn the ignition switch to the “LOCK”
or “ACC” position.
2. Repeatedly depress the brake pedal until
significant resistance is felt (normally af-
ter about 40 times).
3. Check the brake fluid level in the reser-
voir.
The brake fluid level must be between the “MAX” and “MIN” marks on the
reservoir.
The fluid level falls slightly with wear of the brake pads, but this does not indicate any ab-
normality.
If the brake fluid level falls markedly in a short length of time, it indicates leaks from
the brake system.
If this occurs, we recommend you to have the vehicle checked.
Fluid type
Use brake fluid conforming to DOT3 or
DOT4 from a sealed container. The brake
fluid is hygroscopic. Too much moisture in the brake fluid will adversely affect the brake
system, reducing the brake performance.
CAUTIONl Take care in handling brake fluid as it is
harmful to the eyes, may irritate your skin
and also damage painted surfaces.
Brake fluid
10-09OVWE16E1Maintenance10