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156 2-1. Driving procedures
■After the engine starts
In order  to secure a  rich exhaust sound  when starting the  vehicle and  envi-
ronmental  performance,  air  intake  and  exhaust  sounds  become  lou d  and
vibrations may increase for a little while after the engine starts. This is not a
malfunction.
■ Operating your vehicle in a foreign country
Comply with the relevant vehicle registration laws and confirm  the availability
of the correct fuel. ( P. 461)
■ REV indicator
WARNING
■When starting the vehicle (vehicl es with an automatic transmission)
● Always  keep  your  foot  on  the  brake  pedal  while  stopped  with  the   engine
running. This prevents the vehicle from creeping.
● Firmly  depress  the  brake  pedal  because  engine  speed  may  increas e
immediately  after  starting  the  engine,  when  the  air  conditioning  system  is
operating, when turning the steering wheel, etc., thereby causi ng creeping
to become stronger. Apply the parking brake as necessary.
When  the  set  engine  speed  is  reached
the REV indicator comes on and a buzzer
sounds to inform the driver. 
( P. 204, 217)
(When  the  engine  speed  enters  the  red
zone,  the  REV  indicator  flashes  regard-
less of settings.) 
     
        
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160 2-1. Driving procedures
WARNING
■When the vehicle is stopped
●Do not race the engine. 
If the vehicle is in any gear other than P (vehicles with an au tomatic trans-
mission only) or N, the vehicle may accelerate suddenly and une xpectedly,
causing an accident.
● Do not leave the vehicle with the engine running for a long tim e. 
If  such  a  situation  cannot  be  avoided,  park  the  vehicle  in  an  open  space
and check that exhaust fumes do not enter the vehicle interior.
● On vehicles with an automatic transmission, in order to prevent  accidents
due  to  the  vehicle  rolling  away,  always  keep  depressing  the  brake  pedal
while the engine is running, and apply the parking brake as nec essary.
● If the vehicle is stopped on an incline, in order to prevent ac cidents caused
by the vehicle rolling forward or backward, always depress the  brake pedal
and securely apply the parking brake as needed.
● Avoid revving or racing the engine. 
Running the engine at high speed while the vehicle is stopped m ay cause
the exhaust system to overheat, which could result in a fire if  combustible
material is nearby. 
     
        
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161
2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
WARNING
■
When the vehicle is parked
●Do  not  leave  glasses,  cigarette  lighters,  spray  cans,  or  soft  d rink  cans  in
the vehicle when it is in the sun. 
Doing so may result in the following:
• Gas may leak from a cigarette lighter or spray can, and may lead to a fire.
• The  temperature  inside  the  vehicle  may  cause  the  plastic  lense s  and
plastic material of glasses to deform or crack.
• Soft  drink  cans  may  fracture,  causing  the  contents  to  spray  ov er  the
interior  of  the  vehicle,  and  may  also  cause  a  short  circuit  in  the  vehi-
cle's electrical components.
● Do  not  leave  cigarette  lighters  in  the  vehicle.  If  a  cigarette  lighter  is  in  a
place such as the glove box or on the floor, it may be lit acci dentally when
luggage is loaded or the seat is adjusted, causing a fire.
● Do  not  attach  suction  cups  to  the  windshield  or  windows.  Do  not  place
containers  such  as  air  fresheners  on  the  instrument  panel  or  da shboard.
Suction cups or containers may act as lenses, causing a fire in  the vehicle.
● Do  not  leave  a  door  or  window  open  if  the  curved  glass  is  coate d  with  a
metallized film such as a silver-colored one. Reflected sunligh t may cause
the glass to act as a lens, causing a fire.
● Always apply the parking brake, shift the shift lever to P (veh icles with an
automatic transmission only), stop the engine and lock the vehi cle. 
Do not leave the vehicle unattended while the engine is running .
● Do not touch the exhaust  pipe while the engine is running  or  im mediately
after turning the engine off. 
Doing so may cause burns.
● Do not leave the engine running in an area with snow build-up,  or where it
is  snowing.  If  snowbanks  build  up  around  the  vehicle  while  the  engine  is
running,  exhaust  gases  may  collect  and  enter  the  vehicle.  This  may  lead
to death or a serious health hazard. 
     
        
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163
2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
WARNING
■
When braking
●When the brakes are wet, drive more cautiously. 
Braking distance increases when the brakes are wet, and this may cause
one  side  of  the  vehicle  to  brake  differently  than  the  other  sid e. Also,  the
parking brake may not securely hold the vehicle.
● If the brake  booster device does not operate,  do  not follow oth er vehicles
closely and avoid hills or sharp turns that require braking. 
In  this  case,  braking  is  still  possible,  but  the  brake  pedal  should  be
depressed more firmly than usual. Also, the braking distance wi ll increase.
Have your brakes fixed immediately.
● Do not pump the brake pedal if the engine stalls. 
Each push on the brake pedal uses up the reserve for the power- assisted
brakes.
● The brake system consists of 2 individual hydraulic systems; if one of the
systems  fails,  the  other  will  still  operate.  In  this  case,  the  brake  pedal
should be depressed more firmly than usual and the braking  dist ance will
increase. 
Have your brakes fixed immediately.  
     
        
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164 2-1. Driving procedures
NOTICE
■Pre-driving check
Trapping small animals in the cooling fan and belts of the engi ne may result
in a malfunction. Check that no small animal enters the engine compartment
and under the vehicle before starting the engine.
■ When driving the vehicle
Vehicles with an automatic transmission
●Do not depress the accelerator and brake pedals at the same tim e during
driving, as this may r estrain driving torque.
● Do  not  use  the  accelerator  pedal  or  depress  the  accelerator  and  brake
pedals at the same time to hold the vehicle on a hill.
Vehicles with a manual transmission
● Do not depress the accelerator and brake pedals at the same tim e during
driving, as this may r estrain driving torque.
● Do not shift gears unless the clutch pedal is fully depressed.  After shifting,
do not release the clutch pedal abruptly. Doing so may damage t he clutch,
transmission and gears.
● Observe the following to prevent the clutch from being damaged.
• Do not rest your foot on the clutch pedal while driving. 
Doing so may cause clutch trouble.
• Do not use any gear other than the 1st gear when starting off  and mov-
ing forward. 
Doing so may damage the clutch.
• Do  not  use  the  clutch  to  hold  the  vehicle  when  stopping  on  an  uphill
grade. 
Doing so may damage the clutch.
● Do  not  shift  the  shift  lever  to  R  when  the  vehicle  is  still  moving.  Doing  so
may damage the clutch, transmission and gears.
● Do  not  release  the  clutch  pedal  too  quickly.  Doing  so  may  damag e  the
transmission.
■ When parking the vehicle (vehicl es with an automatic transmission)
Always  shift  the  shift  lever  to  P.  Failure  to  do  so  may  cause  t he  vehicle  to
move or the vehicle may accelerate suddenly if the accelerator  pedal is acci-
dentally depressed. 
     
        
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166
2-1. Driving procedures
Engine (ignition) switch (vehicles with a smart key system)
Performing  the  following  operations  when  carrying  the  electroni c
key  on  your  person  starts  the  engine  or  changes  “ENGINE  START
STOP” switch modes.
■ Starting the engine
Vehicles with an auto matic transmission
Check that the parking brake is set.
Check that the shift lever is set in P.
If the shift lever is not set in P, the engine may not be started. 
( P. 178)
Firmly depress the brake pedal.
The  smart  key  system  indicator  light  (green)  will  turn  on.  If  t he
indicator light does not turn on, the engine cannot be started.
Press  the  “ENGINE  START
STOP”  switch  shortly  and
firmly.
When  operating  the  “ENGINE
START  STOP”  switch,  one
short, firm press is enough. It is
not  necessary  to  press  and
hold the switch.
The  engine  will  crank  until  it
starts  or  for  up  to  10  seconds,
whichever is less.
Continue depressing the brake
pedal  until  the  engine  is  com-
pletely started.
The  engine  can  be  started
from  any  “ENGINE  START
STOP” switch mode.
STEP 1 
STEP 2 
STEP 3 
STEP 4  
     
        
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167
2-1. Driving procedures
2
When driving
Vehicles with a manual transmission
Check that the parking brake is set.
Check that the shift lever is set in N.
Firmly depress the clutch pedal.
The  smart  key  system  indicator  light  (green)  will  turn  on.  If  t he
indicator light does not turn on, the engine cannot be started.
Press  the  “ENGINE  START
STOP”  switch  shortly  and
firmly.
When  operating  the  “ENGINE
START  STOP”  switch,  one
short, firm press is enough. It is
not  necessary  to  press  and
hold the switch.
The  engine  will  crank  until  it
starts  or  for  up  to  10  seconds,
whichever is less.
Continue depressing the clutch
pedal  until  the  engine  is  com-
pletely started.
The  engine  can  be  started
from  any  “ENGINE  START
STOP” switch mode.
STEP 1 
STEP 2 
STEP 3 
STEP 4  
     
        
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168 2-1. Driving procedures
■Stopping the engine
Vehicles with an auto matic transmission
Stop the vehicle.
Shift the shift lever to P.
Set the parking brake. ( P.   1 8 9 )
Release the brake pedal.
Press the “ENGINE START STOP” switch.
Check  that  the  smart  key  system  indicator  light  (green)  is
off.
Vehicles with a manual transmission While depressing the clutch  pedal, stop the vehicle.
Shift the shif t lever to N.
Set the parking brake. ( P.   1 8 9 )
Release the clutch pedal.
Press the “ENGINE START STOP” switch.
Check  that  the  smart  key  system  indicator  light  (green)  is
off.
STEP 1 
STEP 2 
STEP 3 
STEP 4 
STEP 5 
STEP 6 
STEP 1 
STEP 2 
STEP 3 
STEP 4 
STEP 5 
STEP 6