
Shift ranges up or down one by one as follows:
M1
→
←M2→
←M3→
←M4→
←M5→
←M6→
←M7
M7(
7th):
Use this position for all normal forward driving at
highway speeds.
M6( 6th) andM5(5th):
Use these positions when driving up long slopes, or
for engine braking when driving down long slopes.
M4( 4th),M3(3rd) andM2(2nd):
Use these positions for hill climbing or engine brak-
ing on downhill grades.
M1( 1st):
Use this position when climbing steep hills slowly or
driving slowly through deep snow, or for maximum
engine braking on steep downhill grades.
• Remember not to drive at high speeds for ex-
tended periods of time in lower than 7th gear.
This reduces fuel economy.
• Moving the shift lever to the same side twice will
shift the ranges in succession. However, if this
motion is rapidly done, the second shifting may
not be completed properly.
• In the manual shift mode, the transmission
may not shift to the selected gear or may au-
tomatically shift to the other gear. This helps
maintain driving performance and reduces the
chance of vehicle damage or loss of control. •
When the transmission does not shift to the
selected gear, the Automatic Transmission
(AT) position indicator light (in the vehicle in-
formation display) will blink and the buzzer
will sound.
• In the manual shift mode, the transmission
automatically shifts down to 1st gear before
the vehicle comes to
astop. When accelerat-
ing again, it is necessary to shift up to the
desired range.
Accelerator downshift -inD(Drive)
position
For passing or climbing hills, depress the accelera-
tor pedal to the floor. This shifts the transmission
down into alower gear, depending on the vehicle
speed.
Shift lock release
If the battery is discharged, the shift lever may not
be moved from the P(Park) position even with the
brake pedal depressed. To release the shift lock, perform the following pro-
cedure:
1. Place the ignition switch in the “OFF” or “LOCK”
position.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Remove the shift lock cap jAa nd push down
the shift lock release button.
4. Push and hold the shift lever button and move the shift lever to the N(Neutral) position while
holding down the shift lock release button j
A.
Place the ignition switch in the “ON” position to
release the steering wheel lock.
The vehicle may be moved, by pushing, to the de-
sired location.
If the shift lever cannot be moved out of the P(Park)
position, have an approved dealer or qualified work-
shop check the AT system as soon as possible.
Fail-safe
When the fail-safe operation occurs, the AT will be
locked in any of the forward gears depending on
conditions.
If the vehicle is driven under extreme conditions,
such as excessive wheel spinning and subse-
quent hard braking, the fail-safe system may be
activated. This will occur even if all electrical cir-
cuits are functioning properly. In this case, place
the ignition switch in the “OFF” position and wait
for 3seconds. Then place the ignition switch back
in the “ON” position. The vehicle should return to JVS0444X
Starting
and driving
5-21

its normal operating condition. If it does not re-
turn to its normal operating condition, have an
approved dealer or qualified workshop check the
transmission and repair it if necessary.
DRIVING WITH MANUAL
TRANSMISSION (MT) WARNING
• Do not downshift abruptly on slippery roads.
This may cause aloss of control.
• Do not over-rev the engine when shifting to a
lower gear. This may cause
aloss of vehicle
control or engine damage.
CAUTION
• Do not rest your foot on the clutch pedal while
driving. This may damage the clutch system.
• Fully depress the clutch pedal before shifting
to help prevent transmission damage.
• Stop the vehicle completely before shifting
into the
R(Reverse) position.
• When the vehicle is stopped for
aperiod of
time, for example, waiting at stoplights, shift
to the N(Neutral) position and release the
clutch pedal with the footbrake pedal
depressed. Starting vehicle
1. After starting the engine, depress the clutch
pedal to the floor and move the shift lever to the
1( 1st), 2(2nd) or R(Reverse) position.
RENAULT recommends to start the vehicle in
2nd gear on level, flat ground and in the unladen
condition.
2. Slowly depress the accelerator pedal, releasing the clutch pedal and parking brake at the same
time.
Shifting gear
To change gears, or when upshifting or downshift-
ing, fully depress the clutch pedal, shift into the ap-
propriate gear, then slowly and smoothly release the
clutch pedal.
Start the vehicle in the 1(1st) or 2(2nd) position
and shift to the 3(3rd), 4(4th), 5(5th) and 6(6th)
gear in sequence according to the vehicle speed.
If it is difficult to move the shift lever into the R
(Reverse) or 1(1st) position, shift to the N(Neutral)
position, and then release the clutch pedal once.
Fully depress the clutch pedal again and shift into R
or 1. To reverse, depress the shift lever and then move it
to the
R(Reverse) position after the vehicle has
completely stopped. JVS0450XZ
5-22 Starting and driving

•
Whenever the Stop/Start System is deactivated
the indicator light ➀on the Stop/Start OFF
switch illuminates. In this condition the Stop/
Start System cannot prevent unnecessary fuel
consumption, exhaust emissions, or noise dur-
ing your journey.
• If the Stop/Start System is malfunctioning, the
indicator light
➀on the Stop/Start OFF switch
illuminates.
NOTE
The Stop/Start System ON or OFF messages dis-
played for afew seconds in the vehicle informa-
tion display when the Stop/Start OFF switch is
pressed. See “Stop/Start System display” earlier
in this section. WARNING
• Do not attempt to raise two wheels off the
ground and shift the transmission to any drive
or reverse position with the engine running.
Doing so may result in drivetrain damage or
unexpected vehicle movement which could
result in serious vehicle damage or personal
injury.
• Do not attempt to test
a4WD equipped ve-
hicle on a2-wheel dynamometer or similar
equipment even if the other two wheels are
raised off the ground. Make sure you inform
test facility personnel that your vehicle is
equipped with 4WD before it is placed on a
dynamometer. Using the wrong test equip-
ment may result in drivetrain damage or unex-
pected vehicle movement which could result
in serious vehicle damage or personal injury.
CAUTION
• Do not drive the vehicle in the <4H> or <4LO>
position on dry hard surface roads. Driving on
dry, hard surfaces in <4H> or <4LO> may
cause unnecessary noise, tyre wear and in-
creased fuel consumption.
If the Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) warning light
turns on when driving on dry hard surface
roads:
–i
nthe <4H> position, shift the 4WD mode
switch to <2WD>. –i
nthe <4LO> position, stop the vehicle and
shift the transmission lever to the N(Neu-
tral) position with the brake pedal
depressed and shift the 4WD mode switch
to <2WD>.
If the 4WD warning light is still on after the
above operation, have your vehicle
checked by an approved dealer or quali-
fied workshop as soon as possible.
• The transfer case may be damaged if you con-
tinue driving with the 4WD warning light blink-
ing.
See “On-road and off-road driving precautions” ear-
lier in this section for other precautions.
PART TIME 4WD SYSTEM
The part time 4WD system provides three drive
modes: <2WD>, <4H> and <4LO>. The desired
drive mode can be selected using the 4WD mode
switch according to the driving conditions. JVS0445X
4WD mode switch
FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE (4WD)
(where fitted)
5-26 Starting and driving

4WD mode
switch Wheels driven Indicator
Use conditions Operation of 4WD mode switch
(See “4WD mode switch operation” later in this section.)
4WD mode <4LO>
<2WD> Rear wheels
m -
For
driving on dry,
paved roads. Shifting between the <2WD> and <4H> drive
modes can be done while driving.
The indicator will change when the drive mode is
changed.
Shifting between the <2WD> and <4H> modes
must be performed at
aspeed below 100 km/h
(60 MPH).
<4H> Four wheels
m -
For
driving on rough,
sandy or snow-
covered roads.
<4LO> Neutral
m Blinking
The
4LO indicator
blinks when shifting
between <4H> and
<4LO>. Shifting between the <4H> and <4LO> drive
modes:
•S
top the vehicle, depress the clutch pedal (MT
models) and the brake pedal and shift the shift
lever to the N(Neutral) position.
•D epress and turn the 4WD mode switch. The
4WD mode switch will not shift between <4H>
and <4LO> if the transmission is not in the N
(Neutral) position or the vehicle is moving.
•W ait for the 4LO indicator to stop blinking and
stay on or off before shifting your transmission into gear or releasing the clutch pedal (MT
models).
Four wheels
m Stay
on*
For use when
maximum power and
traction are required
at low speeds (for
example, on steep
grades or rocky,
sandy, muddy
roads).
*: When the <4LO> position is selected, the
ESP system is disabled and the ESP off
indicator light illuminates. See “Warning lights,
indicator lights and audible reminders” in the
“2. Instruments and controls” section.
5-28 Starting and driving

WARNING
AT model: If the 4WD mode indicator is “OFF” or
the ATP warning light is “ON”, this indicates that
the automatic transmission P(Park) position will
not function and could result in the vehicle mov-
ing unexpectedly, causing serious personal in-
jury or property damage. Always set the parking
brake.
CAUTION
To avoid vehicle damage:
• Do not operate the 4WD mode switch when
cornering, reversing or if the rear wheels are
spinning freely. The vehicle must be moving
straight ahead.
• Do not move the shift lever (AT model) or
release the clutch pedal (MT model) when the
4LO indicator is blinking. Failure to do this
may cause the gears to grind and damaging
the powertrain.
• MT model: Do not accelerate rapidly from a
stopped position when the 4LO indicator is
blinking. Drive straight ahead at
alow speed
until the 4LO indicator is lit. The 4LO indicator
blinks when shifting between <4LO> and
<4H>.
• If the 4WD warning light comes on, perform
the following procedure:
1) Turn off the engine.
2) Start the engine. 3) Check if the 4WD warning light comes on.
If the 4WD warning light is still on after following
the above procedure, have the system checked
and serviced immediately by an approved dealer
or qualified workshop.
The transfer case 4WD mode switch is used to
select either Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) or
Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) depending on the driving
conditions. Turn the 4WD mode switch to select a drive mode (<2WD>, <4H> or <4LO>).
To change into or out of 4LO mode:
1. The vehicle MUST BE standing still.
2. Depress the clutch pedal (MT model) and the brake pedal and move the shift lever to N(Neu-
tral).
3. Depress and turn the 4WD mode switch to change into or out of <4LO>. WARNING
• When parking, apply the parking brake before
stopping the engine and make sure that the
4WD mode indicator is on and that the ATP
warning light or ATP warning message is off,
otherwise, the vehicle could unexpectedly
move even if the automatic transmission is in
the P(Park) position.
• The 4LO indicator must stop blinking and re-
main on or turn off before shifting the trans-
mission into gear. The vehicle may move un- expectedly if the shift lever is shifted from the
N(
Neutral) position to any other gear while
the 4LO indicator is blinking.
CAUTION
• Never turn the 4WD mode switch between
<4LO> and <4H> while driving.
• The <4H> drive mode provides greater power
and traction. Avoid excessive speed as it will
cause increased fuel consumption and higher
oil temperatures, and could damage power
train components. Speeds over 100 km/h (60
MPH) in <4H> are not recommended.
• The <4LO> drive mode provides maximum
power and traction. Avoid raising vehicle
speed excessively. The maximum speed is
approximately 50 km/h (30 MPH).
• The 4WD mode switch can be turned between
<2WD> and <4H> while driving straight ahead.
Do not turn the 4WD mode switch while mak-
ing
aturn or reversing.
• Do not turn the 4WD mode switch between
<2WD> and <4H> while driving on steep
downhill grades. Use the engine brake and
low transmission gears for engine braking.
• Do not turn the 4WD mode switch between
<2WD> and <4H> with the rear wheels spin-
ning.
Starting and driving 5-29

•
Do not drive the vehicle in <4H> or <4LO>
mode on dry, hard surfaced roads. This may
cause unnecessary noise and tyre wear.
RENAULT recommends driving in 2WD under
these conditions.
• It is not possible to shift the 4WD transfer
case between <4H> and <4LO> at low ambi-
ent temperatures when the engine is cold. Do-
ing so may cause the 4LO indicator to blink.
Wait until the 4WD transfer case has reached
operational temperature (after driving for a
while) before using the 4WD mode switch to
change between <4H> and <4LO>.
When driving on rough roads
• Set the 4WD mode switch to <4H> or <4LO>.
• Drive carefully and according to the road surface
conditions.
If the vehicle gets stuck
• Place stones or wooden blocks under the tyres
to free the vehicle.
• Set the 4WD mode switch to <4H> or <4LO>.
• If it is difficult to free the vehicle, drive the vehicle
forwards and backwards to increase the mo-
mentum. If the vehicle is stuck deep in mud, tyre
chains may be effective.
CAUTION
• Do not spin the wheels excessively. The
wheels will sink deep into the mud and it will
be difficult to free the vehicle from the mud. •
Avoid shifting gears with the engine running
at high speeds as this may cause
amalfunc-
tion.
4WD MODE SWITCH OPERATION
• Set the 4WD mode switch to <2WD>, <4H> or
<4LO>, depending on driving conditions.
• You may feel
aslight vehicle movement if the
4WD mode switch is operated while making a
turn, accelerating or decelerating, or if the igni-
tion switch is placed in the “OFF” position while
the 4WD mode switch is set to <4H> or <4LO>.
This is normal.
CAUTION
• The 4WD mode switch can be turned between
<2WD> and <4H> while driving straight ahead.
Do not turn the 4WD mode switch while mak-
ing
aturn or reversing.
• Do not operate the 4WD mode switch while
driving on steep downhill grades. Use the en-
gine brake by setting
alow transmission gear. •
Do not operate the 4WD mode switch with the
rear wheels spinning.
• Before turning the 4WD mode switch to <4H>
from <2WD>, make sure that the vehicle
speed is less than 100 km/h (60 MPH). Fail-
ure to do so can damage the 4WD system.
• Never turn the 4WD mode switch between
<4LO> and <4H> while driving.
4WD MODE INDICATOR
The 4WD mode indicator is displayed in the vehicle
information display.
While the engine is running, the 4WD mode indica-
tor will illuminate the position selected by the 4WD
mode switch.
• The 4WD mode indicator may blink while shift-
ing from one drive mode to the other. When
the shifting is completed, the 4WD mode indi-
cator will come on. If the indicator does not
come on immediately, make sure the area
around the vehicle is safe, and drive the ve- JVS0445X
JVS0447X
5-30 Starting and driving

hicle straight, accelerate or decelerate or
move the vehicle in reverse, then shift the
4WD mode switch.
• If the 4WD warning light comes on or 4WD Er-
ror warning (where fitted) appears, the 4WD
mode indicator turns off.
4WD WARNING
Warning light Warning light
Comes on or
blinks when:
m Illuminates
There
is a
malfunction in the
4WD system
m Blinks
The
difference in
wheel rotation is large
If the 4WD warning light comes on, the 4WD mode
indicator turns off.
Al arge difference between the diameters of front
and rear wheels will make the 4WD warning light
blink. Change the 4WD mode switch to <2WD>
and do not drive fast.
CAUTION
• If the 4WD warning light comes on or blinks
during operation for
awhile, have your ve-
hicle checked by an approved dealer or quali-
fied workshop as soon as possible. •
Shifting between <4H> and <4LO> is not rec-
ommended when the 4WD warning light turns
on.
• When the 4WD warning light comes on, the
2WD mode may be engaged even if the 4WD
mode switch is in <4H>. Be especially careful
when driving. If corresponding parts are mal-
functioning, the 4WD mode will not be en-
gaged even if the 4WD mode switch is shifted.
• Do not drive the vehicle in the <4H> or <4LO>
position on dry hard surface roads. Driving on
dry, hard surfaces in <4H> or <4LO> may
cause unnecessary noise, tyre wear and in-
creased fuel consumption.
If the Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) warning light
turns on when driving on dry hard surface
roads:
–i nthe <4H> position, shift the 4WD mode
switch to <2WD>.
–i nthe <4LO> position, stop the vehicle and
shift the transmission lever to the N(Neu-
tral) position with the brake pedal
depressed and shift the 4WD mode switch
to <2WD>.
If the 4WD warning light is still on after the
above operation, have your vehicle
checked by an approved dealer or quali-
fied workshop as soon as possible. •
The transfer case may be damaged if you con-
tinue driving with the warning light blinking.
Warning indicator
If any malfunction occurs in the Four-Wheel Drive
(4WD) system while the engine is running, awarn-
ing message appears in the vehicle information dis-
play.
If the [4WD system fault] warning appears, there
may be amalfunction in the 4WD system. Reduce
vehicle speed and have your vehicle checked by an
approved dealer or qualified workshop as soon as
possible.
CAUTION
• Do not operate the engine on
afree roller
when any of the wheels raised.
• If the [4WD system fault] warning appears
while driving, there may be
amalfunction in
the 4WD system. Reduce the vehicle speed
and have your vehicle checked by an
approved dealer or qualified workshop as
soon as possible. Be especially careful when
driving.
• The power train may be damaged if you con-
tinue driving with the [4WD system fault] warn-
ing on.
Starting and driving 5-31

After using the rear differential lock, or when resum-
ing normal driving, push the differential lock mode
switch to the OFF position. The differential lock indi-
cator light will turn off after the differential lock is
released.
NOTE
• The rear differential lock-up device operates
only when the engine is running.
• In 4H mode, the rear differential lock-up de-
vice does not operate when the differential
lock mode switch is turned to the “ON” posi-
tion. (The differential lock indicator light will
flash.) WARNING
• Use the rear differential lock only in an emer-
gency when it is not possible to free astuck
vehicle even using the 4LO position.
• When the differential lock is in operation, turn-
ing the vehicle becomes hard and, especially
at high speeds, is dangerous.
• While differential lock is on, the Anti-lock
Braking System (ABS) warning light and the
Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) off indi-
cator light illuminate. This indicates that anti-
lock function may not fully operate.
• Do not operate the differential lock when the
vehicle is turning or when one side wheel is
rotating. Otherwise the power train system
parts could be damaged. •
Avoid quick starts while the differential lock is
in operation. Otherwise the power train sys-
tem parts could be damaged.
Observe the above precautions. Otherwise, loss
of normal steering control may result. WARNING
• The Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) sys-
tem is designed to help the driver maintain
stability but does not prevent accidents due
to abrupt steering operation at high speeds or
by careless or dangerous driving techniques.
Reduce vehicle speed and be especially care-
ful when driving and cornering on slippery sur-
faces and always drive carefully.
• Do not modify the vehicle’s suspension. If
suspension parts such as shock absorbers,
struts, springs, stabiliser bars, bushings and
wheels are not recommended by RENAULT
for your vehicle or are extremely deteriorated,
the ESP system may not operate properly.
This could adversely affect vehicle handling
performance, and the ESP warning light may illuminate.
• If brake related parts such as brake pads, ro-
tors and callipers are not RENAULT-recom-
mended or are extremely deteriorated, the
ESP system may not operate properly and the
ESP warning light may illuminate.
• If engine control related parts are not
RENAULT recommended or are extremely de-
teriorated, the ESP warning light may illu-
minate.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY
PROGRAMME (ESP) SYSTEM
(where fitted)
Starting and driving 5-33