5.After turning the ignition key to the
“ON” position, make certain that all
warning lamps are functioning properly before starting the engine.
6. Turn the ignition key to the “START”
position without depressing the accelera-
tor pedal, and release it when the engine starts.NOTEl A ticking noise may be heard after starting
the engine. This is not an abnormal condi-tion. The noise will disappear after a shorttime of engine running.
If the ticking noise continues after the en-
gine is warmed up, we recommend you to have your vehicle checked.
When it is difficult to start the
engine
After several attempts, you may experience that the engine still does not start. 1. Make sure that all electric devices, such
as lamps, air conditioning blower and
rear window demister, are turned off.
2. While depressing the brake pedal, press
the accelerator pedal halfway and hold it
there, then crank the engine. Release the
accelerator pedal, immediately after the
engine starts.
3. If the engine still will not start, the en-
gine could be flooded with too much
petrol. While depressing the brake pedal, push the accelerator pedal all the way
down and hold it there, then crank the
engine for 5 to 6 seconds. Return the ig- nition switch to the “LOCK” position
and release the accelerator pedal. Wait a few seconds, and then crank the engine
again for 5 to 6 seconds while depress-
ing the brake pedal, but do not push the accelerator pedal. Release the ignition
key if the engine starts. If the engine
fails to start, repeat these procedures. If the engine still will not start, we recom-
mend you to have the vehicle checked.
Using the MIVEC engine
The MIVEC engine automatically switches its intake-valve control between a low-speed mode and a high-speed mode in accordancewith the driving conditions for maximum en-
gine performance.
NOTEl To protect the engine, the high-speed mode
may not be selected while the engine coolanttemperature is low. In such a case, the en-
gine revolutions do not rise to over
5,000 rpm even if the accelerator pedal is depressed.Starting the engine (diesel-
powered vehicles)
E00601801331
1. Insert the ignition key and fasten the seat
belt.
2. Make sure the parking brake is applied.
3. Depress and hold the brake pedal.
4. Make sure the selector lever is in the “P”
(PARK) position.
5. Turn the ignition key to the “ON” posi-
tion.
The diesel preheat indication lamp will
first illuminate, and then after a short
time go out, indicating that preheating is completed.
NOTEl If the engine is cold, the diesel preheat indi-
cation lamp is on for a longer time.
Starting
6-13OVWX17E1Starting and driving6
If you are going to leave the vehicle unatten-
ded, always switch off the engine and remove the ignition key.NOTEl On a slope, be sure to apply the parking
brake before moving the selector lever to the
“P” (PARK) position. If you move the selec- tor lever to the “P” (PARK) position before applying the parking brake, it may be diffi-
cult to disengage the selector lever from the
“P” (PARK) position when next you drive the vehicle, requiring application of a strong
force to the selector lever to move from the
“P” (PARK) position.When the A/T makes no speed
change
E00604801879
If the transmission does not change speeds
while driving, or your vehicle does not pick up enough speed when starting on an uphillslope, it may be that there is something un-
usual happening in the transmission, causing a safety device to activate. We recommendyou to have your vehicle checked immediate-
ly. 1. If your vehicle has difficulty moving up-
hill, shift the selector lever into 2nd
gear
of the “Sports mode”.
This method might not work depending on the transmission malfunction.
2. Once the vehicle is moving on a level
road, move the selector lever back to
“D” (DRIVE).Super select 4WD II (SS4 II)
E00605701325
Shifting to rear-wheel drive or 4-wheel drive
can be made by operating the transfer shift lever (A). Shift the transfer shift lever to an appropriate position according to the roadsurface conditions. In addition, the
2WD/4WD operation indication lamp indi- cates the transfer shift lever shifting state.Refer to “2WD/4WD operation indicationlamp” on page 6-23.
Shift lever position and
2WD/4WD operation indica- tion lamp
E00605801401
Transfer shift lever position
2WD/4W D opera-
tion indi- cationlamp
Driving
conditions2HRear-wheel driveWhen driv-
ing on dry
paved road.
4H
Full-time 4-wheel drive
The basic
position for
super select
4WD II.
When driv-
ing on dry
paved or
slippery
roads.
4HLc
Centre dif- ferential
lock engag- ed 4-wheel driveWhen driv-
ing on
rough, sand
or snow
covered
roads.
: Illuminate
: Remain off
Super select 4WD II (SS4 II)
6-21OVWX17E1Starting and driving6
NOTElThe 2WD/4WD operation indication lamp
blinks while the selection is in process. Takethe following precautions when the indica-tion lamp is blinking.
• Keep the steering wheel in the straight
ahead position while making range selec- tions. If you attempt to drive forward with
the steering wheel turned, gear rattling may occur and the desired range may notactually be selected.
• If the front wheel and/or centre differen-
tial lock lamps continue 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 accelera-
tor pedal several times.
• If, after a “4HLc” ↔ “4LLc” selection
has been made, the front and rear wheel
lamps continue blinking and the desired range is not actually selected, return the
transfer shift lever to its previous position.
Place the steering wheel in the straight
ahead position, drive the vehicle forward, and release the accelerator pedal. Next,
place the selector lever in the “N” (NEU- TRAL) position and make the range se-
lection again.NOTEl If the front and rear wheel lamps blink rapid-
ly (twice per second) when you attempt to make a “4HLc” ↔ “4LLc” selection, the se- lection cannot be made. Stop the vehicle and
release the accelerator pedal. Next, place the selector lever in the “N” (NEUTRAL) posi-
tion and make the range selection again.CAUTIONl If 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, 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 lamps should resume normal operation. If the lamps continue to blink, we recom-
mend you to have the vehicle checked as soon as possible.
Super select 4WD II (SS4 II)
6-25OVWX17E1Starting and driving6
NOTE•If the vehicle speed is
12 km/h (7 mph) 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 switch- ing operation will be completed and the
indication lamp will illuminate steadily.CAUTIONl If a problem is detected in the rear differen-
tial lock system, a safety device will acti- vate. The centre differential lock lamp, front and rear wheel lamps will go out, the reardifferential lock indication lamp will blink,
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 re- sume normal operation. If the rear differen-
tial lock indication lamp blinks when the rear differential lock is reactivated, we rec-
ommend you to have the vehicle checked as soon as possible.Examples of effective use of the
rear differential lock
E00606400045
CAUTIONl Use the rear differential lock only as an
emergency measure when the vehicle is stuck and cannot be freed with the transfer
shift lever in “4LLc” or “4HLc” position.
Deactivate the rear differential lock immedi- ately after using it.When one of the wheels has fall-
en 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.
Rear differential lock*
6-28OVWX17E1Starting and driving6
4-wheel drive operationE00606602344
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 6-33.
Driving on dry paved road and
highway
Select the “2H” or “4H” position to drive on
the dry paved road. Especially on dry high- way, never select the “4HLc” or “4LLc” po-sition.
CAUTIONl Selecting the “4HLc” or “4LLc” position to
drive on dry paved road will increase the
fuel consumption with possible noise gener- ation 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 transfer shift lever to the “4H” or
“4HLc” position in accordance with the road conditions, and then gradually depress the ac-
celerator pedal for a smooth start.
NOTEl The use of snow tyres and/or tyre chains is
recommended.
l In order to ensure that the anti-lock brake
system (ABS) will operate correctly in situa-tions where tyre chains have been fitted, drive in the “4H”, “4HLc” or “4LLc” posi-tion.
l Maintain a safe distance between vehicles,
avoid sudden braking, and use engine brak- ing (downshifting).
4-wheel drive operation
6-30OVWX17E1Starting and driving6
CAUTIONlAvoid sudden braking, sudden acceleration,
and sharp turning; such operations could
cause skidding and spinouts.
Driving on sandy or muddy
roads
Set the transfer shift lever to the “4HLc” or “4LLc” position and then gradually depress
the accelerator pedal for a smooth start. Keep
the pressure on the accelerator pedal as con- stant 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.
l 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
8-04.CAUTION• A/T fluid temperature warning lamp illu-
minates.
Refer to “When the A/T fluid temperature
warning lamp comes on” on page 6-19.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.
l If the vehicle becomes stuck in sandy or
muddy roads, it can often be moved with a
rocking motion. Move the selector lever rhythmically between the “D” (DRIVE) and
“R” (REVERSE) position, 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.NOTEl 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 transfer shift lever to the “4LLc” po-
sition to maximize the engine torque.
WARNINGl Go 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.
4-wheel drive operation
6-31OVWX17E1Starting and driving6
NOTElBefore attempting to drive up the slope,
walk it up to confirm that the vehicle canhandle the grade.
Descending sharp grades
Set the transfer shift lever to the “4LLc” po-
sition, use the engine brake (downshifting)
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 it down 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.NOTEl 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 the “4HLc”
or “4LLc” position at low speed, a slight dif-
ference in steering may be experienced simi- lar 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 dis-tance from the corner.
The phenomenon is peculiar to 4-wheel drive vehicles. If this occurs, either straighten the steering wheel, or change to rear-wheel drive.
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. Cross at a place where the water is less
than 70 cm deep.
3. Set the transfer shift lever to the “4LLc”
position.
4. Drive slowly at a speed of approximate-
ly 5 km/h (3 mph) to avoid splashing too
much water.CAUTIONl Do not attempt to cross a stream at a place
where the water is more than 70 cm deep.
l Cross a stream temporarily for emergencies
and avoid doing so for a long period of time.
l 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.NOTEl Because the inside of the vehicle is flooded
with water when crossing at a place where
the water is more than 50 cm deep, we rec- ommend you to have your vehicle inspected.
4-wheel drive operation
6-32OVWX17E1Starting and driving6
NOTElFrequent 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.Inspection and maintenance
following rough roadoperation E00606700048
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.
After washing, 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.
l After crossing a stream, be sure to have
the following items inspected at a
MITSUBISHI 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 carpetetc.
• Inspect the headlamps. If the head-
lamp bulb is flooded with water, we
recommend you to have it drained.Cautions on handling of 4-
wheel drive vehicles E00606802144
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
11-11.
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.
l If the tyre inflation pressure is inappro-
priate, the transfer gear may make some
noise and shock while changing the drive mode.CAUTIONl Always use tyres of the same size, same
type, and same brand, and which have no wear differences. Using tyres which differ in
size, type, brand or the degree of wear will
cause excessive loading, resulting in possi- ble damage to the drive system.
Inspection and maintenance following rough road operation
6-33OVWX17E1Starting and driving6