Page 161 of 426

CAUTIONlIf a problem is detected in the transfer sys-
tem, 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 mo-
ments. Restart the engine. The lamp should resume normal operation. If the lamps con-tinue to blink, have the vehicle checked by aMITSUBISHI MOTORS Authorized Serv-
ice Point as soon as possible.Rear differential lock*
E00606201301
If one wheel starts to spin freely and the vehi-
cle becomes stuck and cannot be freed even using 4-wheel drive, the rear differential lock switch (A) can be used to activate the reardifferential lock for extra traction.
Operating the rear differential
lock
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Move the drive mode-selector to “4L” or
“4H” position (Easy select 4WD), “4LLc” or “4HLc” position (Super select
4WD II).
3. To activate the rear differential lock,
press the rear differential lock switch
(1).
4. To deactivate the rear differential lock,
press the rear differential lock switch
(2).CAUTIONl Operate the rear differential switch after the
wheels are stopped. Operating the switch with the wheels turning may cause the vehi-
cle to dart in unexpected directions.NOTEl The rear differential lock does not operate
when the drive mode-selector is in “2H” po-
sition (Easy select 4WD), “2H” or “4H” po- sition (Super select 4WD II).
Rear differential lock*
6-45OKTE17E1Starting and driving6
Page 162 of 426

NOTElWhen the rear differential is locked with the
drive mode-selector in “4L” or “4H” posi-
tion (Easy select 4WD), “4LLc” or “4HLc”
position (Super select 4WD II) changing the drive mode-selector to “2H” position (Easyselect 4WD), “2H” or “4H” position (Super
select 4WD II) makes the rear differential unlock automatically.The rear differential lock indi-
cation lamp
E00606301429
When the ignition switch is turned to the
“ON” position or the operation mode is put in ON, the rear differential lock indication lamp
(A) in the meter cluster illuminates for a few
seconds then indicates the rear differential lock’s operating status (activated or deactiva-
ted).
NOTEl The 2WD/4WD operation indication lamp
also illuminates for a few seconds when the
ignition switch is turned to the “ON” posi- tion or the operation mode is put in ON.
Refer to “2WD/4WD operation indication
lamp” on pages 6-38, 6-42.
The status of the rear differential lock (re- sulting from depression of the rear differen-
tial lock switch) is shown by blinking or steady illumination of the rear differential
lock indication lamp.The opera-
tion state of rear differ- ential lockRear differential lock indi- cation lampEasy select4WDSuper select4WD IIRear differ-ential lock
deactivatedThe opera-
tion state of rear differ- ential lockRear differential lock indi- cation lampEasy select4WDSuper select4WD IISwitching inprogress
Rear differ-ential lock activated
: Blink
: Illuminate (steady)
: Remain off
Rear differential lock*
6-46OKTE17E1Starting and driving6 Easy select 4WD Super select 4WD II
Page 163 of 426

NOTElThe indication lamp blinks while the rear
differential lock is being switched between
its activated and deactivated conditions. When the switching operation is complete,
the indication lamp is either illuminated steadily or not illuminated.
l The ASTC and ABS functions are suspen-
ded while the rear differential lock is activa-
ted.
ASTC indication lamp, ASTC OFF indica- tion lamp and ABS warning lamp are illumi- nated while these functions are suspended.
It does not indicate a problem. When the
rear differential lock is disengaged, these lamps go out and function again.
Refer to “ABS warning lamp” on page
6-57, “ASTC indication lamp, ASTC OFF in-
dication lamp” on page 6-62.
l If the indication lamp continues blinking af-
ter 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.
l If the indication lamp continues blinking af-
ter the switch has been pressed to activate the rear differential lock, bear in mind thefollowing instructions:
• If the vehicle speed is 12 km/h or higher,
decelerate to a speed of 2.5 km/h or low-er. The indication lamp will illuminate
steadily and the rear differential lock will be activated.NOTE• If the vehicle speed is 12 km/h or lower,
turn the steering wheel from side to side
until the indication lamp illuminates steadily. If the vehicle is stuck in softground, make sure the area around the ve-
hicle is clear then repeatedly attempt to
drive forward and backward. The indica- tion lamp will illuminate steadily and the
rear differential lock will be activated.CAUTIONl If a problem is detected in the rear differen-
tial lock system, a safety device will acti- vate. The rear differential lock indication 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 en- gine. It is safe to continue driving if the lamps resume normal operation. If the rear differential lock indication lamp blinks whenthe rear differential lock is reactivated, have
the vehicle checked by a MITSUBISHI
MOTORS Authorized Service Point as soon
as possible.Examples of effective use of the
rear differential lock
E00606401127
CAUTIONl Use the rear differential lock only as an
emergency measure when the vehicle is stuck and cannot be freed with the drivemode-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.
When one of the wheels has fall-
en in a ditch
Rear differential lock*
6-47OKTE17E1Starting and driving6
Page 164 of 426

When driving on rocky roads
When the vehicle is unable to move becauseone of the wheels is suspended in the air.
When getting out of snow
When the vehicle is unable to get going be-cause one of the wheels is on the snow and
the other on a paved road.
Examples of incorrect use of
the rear differential lock
E00606501128
WARNINGl 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 phe-nomena appear and it is very dangerous.
Please be sure to release the rear differen-
tial 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.WARNINGl If the rear differential lock is used by mis-
take 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.WARNINGl If the rear differential lock is used by mis-
take except when making an emergencyescape on snow or frozen road: It be-
comes difficult to make a steady turn.
Rear differential lock*
6-48OKTE17E1Starting and driving6
Page 165 of 426

WARNINGlIn 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), direc- tion of the vehicle may change abruptly
when engine braking or accelerating.
Do not use the rear differential lock ex-
cept when making an emergency escape on a snow or frozen road, but drive with
4WD.4-wheel drive operation*
E00606602171
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 for-
ward and backward repeatedly, however, the drive line is stressed, which is felt as a brak-
ing effect. A 4-wheel drive vehicle can accel-
erate more quickly and smoothly.
However, note that the braking distance is not shorter than that of a rear-wheel drive ve-hicle.
When using 4-wheel drive on rough roads
(snow, mud, sand, etc.), it is important to op- erate the vehicle correctly.NOTEl 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 seatbelt.
l After driving on rough roads, check each
part of the vehicle and wash it thoroughlywith water. Refer to the “Vehicle care” sec-
tion and “Inspection and maintenance fol-
lowing rough road operation” on page 6-52.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).
CAUTIONl 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 pos-sible noise generation and early tyre wear.It may also increase the differential oil tem-
perature, 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.
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 (Su-
per select 4WD II) and then gradually de-
press the accelerator pedal for a smooth start. Keep the pressure on the accelerator pedal asconstant as possible, and drive at low speed.
4-wheel drive operation*
6-49OKTE17E1Starting and driving6
Page 166 of 426

NOTElThe use of snow tyres and/or tyre chains is
recommended.
l Maintain a safe distance between vehicles,
avoid sudden braking, and use engine brak-
ing (downshifting).CAUTIONl Avoid sudden braking, sudden acceleration,
and sharp turning; such operations could
cause skidding and spinouts.
Driving on sandy or muddy
roads
Set the drive mode-selector to “4H” or “4L”
position (Easy select 4WD), “4HLc” or “4LLc” position (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.
CAUTIONl Do not force the vehicle or drive recklessly
on sandy surfaces. In comparison with nor- mal road surfaces, the engine and other
drive-system components are put under ex-
cessive strain when driving on such a sur-
face, and this could lead to accidents.CAUTIONl 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 ap-
proaches the overheating zone.
Refer to “Engine overheating” on page 8-09.
• Automatic transmission fluid temperature
warning lamp comes on.
Refer to “When the A/T (automatic trans-
mission) fluid temperature warning lamp comes on” on page 6-34.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.NOTEl Avoid sudden braking, acceleration, and
turning; such operations could result in thevehicle becoming stuck.NOTEl If the vehicle becomes stuck in sandy or
muddy roads, it can often be moved a rock-
ing motion. Move the selector lever rhythmi-
cally between the “D” (DRIVE) and “R”
(REVERSE) position (with M/T, between 1 st
and Reverse), while applying slight pressure to the accelerator pedal.
l It is recommended to start the vehicle with
parking brake partially, but not completely, applied by slightly pulling the parking brake
lever.
After the vehicle has become free, do not forget to release the parking brake.
l If it is necessary to drive in extremely mud-
dy conditions, the use of tyre chains is rec-
ommended. Because the extent of muddy conditions is difficult to judge and the vehi-
cle could become bogged down very deeply,
operation should be at a low speed. If possi- ble, get out of the vehicle and check the con-
ditions ahead before proceeding.
l Driving over roads in coastal areas or roads
on which anti-skid preparations have been
spread can cause rust on the vehicle; wash
the vehicle thoroughly as soon as possible after such use.
Climbing sharp grades
Set the drive mode-selector to “4L” position
(Easy select 4WD), “4LLc” position (Super
select 4WD II) to maximize the engine tor-
que.
4-wheel drive operation*
6-50OKTE17E1Starting and driving6
Page 167 of 426

WARNINGlGo straight up. Do not try to traverse
across a steep slope.
l 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.NOTEl Choose as smooth a slope as possible with
few stones or other obstacles.
l Before attempting to drive up the slope,
walk up it to confirm that the vehicle canhandle the grade.
Descending sharp grades
Set the drive mode-selector to “4L” position
(Easy select 4WD), “4LLc” position (Super
select 4WD II), use the engine brake (down- shifting) and descend slowly.
WARNINGl Avoid snaking down a sharp grade. De-
scend the grade as straight as possible.NOTEl When descending a sharp grade, if the
brakes are applied suddenly because of an
obstacle encountered, control of the vehicle
could be lost. Before descending the slope,
walk down it and confirm the path.
l Before descending a grade, it is necessary to
choose the appropriate gear. Avoid changing
gears or depressing the clutch while de- scending the grade.
l MITSUBISHI
MOTORS is not responsible
to the operator for any damage or injury caused or liability incurred by improper and
negligent operation of a vehicle. All techni- ques of vehicle operation described herein depend on the skill and experience of the op-
erator and other participating parties and any
deviation from the recommended operation instructions above is at their own risk.
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 wereapplied. 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 pro- cedure: 1. Check depths of a stream and geographi-
cal features before attempting to cross a
stream and ford the stream where the water is as shallow as practicable.
2. Set the drive mode-selector to “4L” po-
sition (Easy select 4WD), “4LLc” posi-
tion (Super select 4WD II).
3. Drive slowly at a speed of approximate-
ly 5 km/h (3 mph) to avoid splashing too
much water.
CAUTIONl 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 recom-mend you to take the necessary measures toprepare, inspect, and repair the vehicle.
4-wheel drive operation*
6-51OKTE17E1Starting and driving6
Page 168 of 426

CAUTIONlAfter 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.Inspection and maintenance
following rough roadoperation E00606701566
After operating the vehicle in rough road
conditions, be sure to perform the following inspection and maintenance procedures:
l Check that the vehicle has not been dam-
aged by rocks, gravel, etc.
l 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.
l Remove the insects, dried grass, etc.
clogging the radiator core and A/T oil
cooler.
l After crossing a stream, be sure to have
the following items inspected at aMITSUBISHI MOTORS Authorized
Service Point and take the necessary
measures. • Check the brake system and, if neces-
sary, have it serviced.
• Check the engine, transmission, trans-
fer, and differential oil or grease level
and turbidity. If the oil or grease is milky, it indicates water contamina-
tion. Replace it with new oil or grease.
• Grease the propeller shaft.
• Check the inside of the vehicle. If in-
gress of water is found, dry the carpet etc.
• Inspect the headlamps. If the head-
lamp bulb is flooded with water, have the headlamp drained off.Cautions on handling of 4-
wheel drive vehicles E00606802102
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 af- fected by the condition of the tyres.
Pay close attention to the tyres.
l Install specified tyres on all wheels. Re-
fer to “Tyres and wheels” on page
11-16.
l Be sure to the appropriate tyre inflation
pressure according to no cargo or cargo.
Refer to “Tyre inflation pressures” on
page 10-12.
l 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.
l All tyres should be rotated whenever the
wear difference between the front and
rear tyres is recognizable.
Good vehicle performance cannot be expec- ted if there is a difference in wear between tyres. Refer to “Tyre rotation” on page 10-13.
l Check the tyre inflation pressure regular-
ly.CAUTIONl Always use tyres of the same size, same
type, and same brand, and which have no wear differences. Using the tyres which dif-fer in size, type, brands or the degree of
wear or the inappropriate tyre inflation pres-
sure, will increase the differential oil tem- perature and may be impossible to shift the transfer, resulting in possible damage to thedriving system. Further, the drive train willbe subjected to excessive loading, possibly
leading to oil leakage, component seizure, or
other serious faults.
Inspection and maintenance following rough road operation
6-52OKTE17E1Starting and driving6