Driving your vehicle
4
6
Before entering vehicle
• Be sure that all windows, outside
mirror(s), and outside lights are clean.
Check the condition of the tires.
Check under the vehicle for any sign of leaks.
Be sure there are no obstacles behind you if you intend to back up. Necessary inspections
Fluid levels, such as engine oil,
engine coolant, brake fluid, and
washer fluid should be checked on a
regular basis, with the exact interval
depending on the fluid. Further
details are provided in chapter 8,“Maintenance”.
Before starting
Close and lock all doors.
Position the seat so that all con-
trols are easily reached.
Adjust the inside and outside rearview mirrors.
Be sure that all lights work.
Check all gauges.
Check the operation of warning lights when the ignition switch is
turned to the ON position.
Release the parking brake and make sure the brake warning lightgoes out.
For safe operation, be sure you are
familiar with your vehicle and itsequipment.
BEFORE DRIVING
WARNING
Driving while distracted can
result in a loss of vehicle con-
trol, that may lead to an acci-
dent, severe personal injury,
and death. The driver’s primary
responsibility is in the safe and
legal operation of a vehicle, and
use of any handheld devices,
other equipment, or vehicle sys-
tems which take the driver’s
eyes, attention and focus away
from the safe operation of a
vehicle or which are not permis-
sible by law should never beused during operation of the
vehicle.
65
Driving your vehicle
WARNING- Driving under
the influence of alcohol or drugs
Drinking and driving is danger-
ous. Drunk driving is the num-
ber one contributor to the high-
way death toll each year. Even asmall amount of alcohol will
affect your reflexes, percep-
tions and judgement. Drivingwhile under the influence of
drugs is as dangerous or more
dangerous than driving drunk.
You are much more likely to
have a serious accident if you
drink or take drugs and drive.
If you are drinking or taking
drugs, don’t drive. Do not ridewith a driver who has been drink-
ing or taking drugs. Choose adesignated driver or call a cab.WARNING
When you intend to park or stop the vehicle with the
engine on, be careful not todepress the accelerator pedal
for a long period of time. It may
overheat the engine or exhaust
system and cause fire.
When you make a sudden stop or turn the steering
wheel rapidly, loose objects
may drop on the floor and it
could interfere with the opera-
tion of the foot pedals, possi-
bly causing an accident. Keep
all things in the vehicle safelystored.
If you do not focus on driving, it may cause an accident. Becareful when operating what
may disturb driving such as
audio or heater. It is theresponsibility of the driver to
always drive safely.WARNING
All passengers must be proper-
ly belted whenever the vehicle
is moving. Refer to “Seat belts”
in chapter 3 for more informa-
tion on their proper use.
WARNING
Always check the surrounding
areas near your vehicle for peo-
ple, especially children, before
putting a vehicle into “D (Drive)”
or “R (Reverse)”.
617
Driving your vehicle
For smooth operation, depress thebrake pedal when shifting from N(Neutral) to a forward or reverse gear.
Transaxle ranges
The indicator lights in the instrument
cluster displays the shift lever posi-
tion when the ignition switch is in theON position.
P (Park)
Always come to a complete stop
before shifting into P (Park). This
position locks the transaxle and pre-
vents the front wheels from rotating. R (Reverse)
Use this position to drive the vehicle
backward.
WARNING
- Automatic
transaxle
Always check the surrounding areas near your vehicle for
people, especially children,
before shifting a vehicle into
D (Drive) or R (Reverse).
Before leaving the driver’s seat, always make sure the
shift lever is in the P (Park)
position; then set the parking
brake fully and shut the
engine off. Unexpected and
sudden vehicle movementcan occur if these precautions
are not followed in the orderidentified.
Do not use the engine brake (shifting from a high gear to
lower gear) rapidly on slip-
pery roads.
The vehicle may slip causing an accident.
CAUTION
To avoid damage to your
transaxle, do not acceleratethe engine in R (Reverse) orany forward gear position withthe brakes on.
When stopped on an upgrade, do not hold the vehicle sta-tionary with engine power.Use the service brake or theparking brake.
Do not shift from N (Neutral) or P (Park) into D (Drive), or R(Reverse) when the engine isabove idle speed.
WARNING
Shifting into P (Park) while the vehicle is in motion will cause
the drive wheels to lock which
will cause you to lose control
of the vehicle.
Do not use the P (Park) posi- tion in place of the parking
brake. Always make sure the
shift lever is latched in the P
(Park) position and set the
parking brake fully.
Never leave a child unattend- ed in a vehicle.
CAUTION
The transaxle may be damaged
if you shift into P (Park) whilethe vehicle is in motion.
621
Driving your vehicle
Ignition key interlock system (if equipped)
The ignition key cannot be removed
unless the shift lever is in the P
(Park) position. Good driving practices
Never move the shift lever from P
(Park) or N (Neutral) to any other
position with the accelerator pedaldepressed.
Never move the shift lever into P (Park) when the vehicle is in motion.
Be sure the vehicle is completely stopped before you attempt to shift
into R (Reverse) or D (Drive).
Never take the vehicle out of gear and coast down a hill. This may be
extremely hazardous. Always leave
the vehicle in gear when moving.
Do not "ride" the brakes. This can cause them to overheat and mal-
function. Instead, when you are
driving down a long hill, slow down
and shift to a lower gear. When you
do this, engine braking will help
slow down the vehicle.
Slow down before shifting to a lower gear. Otherwise, the lower
gear may not be engaged. Always use the parking brake. Do
not depend on placing the
transaxle in P (Park) to keep the
vehicle from moving.
Exercise extreme caution when driving on a slippery surface. Be
especially careful when braking,
accelerating or shifting gears. On a
slippery surface, an abrupt change
in vehicle speed can cause the
drive wheels to lose traction and
the vehicle to go out of control.
Optimum vehicle performance and economy is obtained by smoothlydepressing and releasing the
accelerator pedal.
623
Driving your vehicle
Engine power can be delivered to all
front and rear wheels for maximum
traction. 4WD is useful when extra
traction is required on road, such as,
when driving on slippery, muddy,
wet, or snow-covered roads. These
vehicles are not designed for chal-
lenging off-road use. Occasional off-
road use such as established
unpaved roads and trails are OK. It is
always important when traveling off-
highway that the driver carefully
reduces the speed to a level that
does not exceed the safe operating
speed for those conditions. In gener-
al, off-road conditions provide less
traction and braking effectiveness
than normal road conditions. The
driver must be especially alert to
avoid driving on slopes which tilt the
vehicle to either side.
These factors must be carefully con-
sidered when driving off-road. Keeping
the vehicle in contact with the driving
surface and under control in these
conditions is always the driver's
responsibility for the safety of him/her-
self and his or her passengers.FOUR WHEEL DRIVE (4WD) (IF EQUIPPED)
WARNING -
Off road driving
This vehicle is designed prima-
rily for on road use although it
can operate effectively off road.
However, it was not designed to
drive in challenging off-road
conditions. Driving in condi-
tions that exceed the vehicle'sintended design or the driver's
experience level may result in
severe injury or death.CAUTION
Do not select four wheel drive on flat and normal roads.
Four-wheel driving on flat roads for a long period causespoor fuel economy and noiseand it also causes tires towear faster.
Four-wheel driving on flat and normal roads can result in asevere binding and chatteringcondition when turning thesteering wheel.
Four-wheel driving on flat roads for a long period canalso cause the differential oiltemperature to increase,resulting in damage to parts in the power train.
625
Driving your vehicle
This mode is used when driving on slippery roads such as
snowy and rainy roads at normal speed.
Maximum speed: 80 km/h (50 mph)
2H
(Rear-wheel drive)
✽✽ NOTICE
4WD transfer has a time delay for a few seconds until the actual shift is made after turning the transfe r shift knob.
When the 4WD transfer mode is shifted, it may cause mechanical noise. It is not a mechanical failur e but a normal
condition.
Part-Time 4WD (if equipped)
Transfer mode Selection button Indicator light Description
This mode is used when driving on normal roads and
highway.
4H
(High-speed
4-wheel drive)
This mode is used when increased traction is required,
such as climbing or descending hills, driving off-roads,
and towing a vehicle.
Maximum speed: 40 km/h (25 mph)
4L
(Low-speed
4-wheel drive)
44 WW DD
H
H II
4WD
HI
4WD
LOW
44 WW DD
L
L OO WW
(not illuminated)
(illuminated)(illuminated)
CAUTION
When you stop the vehicle to transfer the shift knob, wait until the corresponding indicator light turns on or off to depart. If the vehicle moves before the transfer is completed, the vehicle may be damaged.
Driving your vehicle
26
6
Part-time 4WD knob operation
2H ↔↔
4H
Turn the transfer knob from the 2H mode to 4H mode or 4H mode to 2H
mode at the speed below 80 km/h
(50 mph). It is not necessary to put
the shift lever into the N (Neutral)
position. Perform this operation when
driving straight. There will be a few
seconds of time delay before shifting
into the desired mode.
If the weather is extremely cold (- 15°C /5°F) and the engine is not
heated, transfer from 2H mode to 4H
mode when the vehicle is stopped or
at low speed. 4H
↔
↔
4L
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Put the shift lever into the N (Neutral) position.
3. Turn the transfer knob to the 4H or 4L position.
4. Before shifting to other ranges from the N (Neutral) position, wait
for the corresponding indicator
light to turn on or off in the cluster.
✽✽ NOTICE
If the mode is not shifted like the
previous instructions, it will not
transfer into the selected mode and
the corresponding indicator light
will continuously blink.
OHM058010N
OHM058011
CAUTION
Always check the 4WD shift knob and cluster to see if thesystem has been activated unintentionally.
Do not speed over 80 km/h (50 mph) in the 4H mode and 40km/h (25 mph) in the 4L mode.
627
Driving your vehicle
This mode is used when driving on slippery roads, such as
snowy and rainy roads at normal speed.
Maximum speed: 80 km/h (50 mph)
AUTO
(Automatic
4-wheel drive)
✽✽ NOTICE
4WD transfer has a time delay for a few seconds until the actual shift is made after turning the transfe r shift knob.
When the 4WD transfer mode is shifted, it may cause mechanical noise. It is not a mechanical failur e but a normal
condition.
Full-Time 4WD Operation (if equipped)
Transfer mode Selection button Indicator light Description
This mode is used when driving on normal roads and
highway.
The engine power is distributed to all four wheels auto-
matically without the driver's intervention in accordance
with the road conditions and driving conditions.
4H
(High-speed
4-wheel drive)
This mode is used when ncreased traction is required,
such as climbing or descending hills, driving off-roads,
and towing a vehicle.
Maximum speed: 40 km/h (25 mph)
4L
(Low-speed
4-wheel drive)
44 WW DD
H
H II
4WD
HI
4WD
LOW
44 WW DD
L
L OO WW
(not illuminated)
(illuminated)(illuminated)
CAUTION
When you stop the vehicle to transfer the shift knob, wait until the corresponding indicator light turns on or off to depart. If the vehicle moves before the transfer is completed, the vehicle may be damaged.