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TIP NO. 1:
How to use Your 4WD
Driving through sand
Firstly, you have to set the transfer shift lever to
'4H' or '4L' [or '4H' or '4HLC' in super select II
transmission], in accordance with the sand conditions
and the speed you wish to drive at (it's advisable to
drive at '4L' or '4HLC' in the very soft sand).
Secondly, gradually depress the accelerator pedal for
smooth start and keep the pressure on the accelerator
pedal as constant as possible.
Climbing through sharp grades
1. Choose
as smooth a slope as possible with few stones and other obstacles.
2. Before attempting to drive up the slope, walk up it
to confirm that the vehicle can handle the grade.
3.
Go
straight up, do not try to traverse across a steep slope, and if you
begin to loose traction, ease off the accelerator pedal and work the
steering wheel back and fourth gently in an effort to regain
aggregate traction again.
Descending sharp grades
Before descending the slope, walk down it and confirm the path to
avoid encountering obstacles. Also, before descending, it's
necessary to choose the appropriate gear, avoid changing gears or
depressing the clutch, whilst descending the grade.
Note: Avoid snaking down a sharp grade; descend the
grade as straight as possible.
Set the transfer shift lever to '4L' (part time 4WD) or
'4LLC' (super select 4WD II), use the engine brake
(downshifting) and descend slowly.
Turning sharp corners <Except "4H" (Super select
4WD)>
When turning a sharp corner in four wheel drive, the
same thing that happens when doing so with the brake applied may
occur. This is called tight corner braking, and results from each of
the four tyres being at a different distance from the corner.
The phenomenon is
peculiar to four wheel drive vehicles. If this occurs, either
straighten out the steering wheel, or change to two-wheel drive.
Top
Crossing a stream
Avoid crossing a stream unless it's absolutely
necessary, because if the electric circuits become wet,
further operation of the vehicle will be impossible.
Therefore, if you find it absolutely necessary to cross
a stream since there is no other alternative, please use
the following procedures:
1.
Check the depth of the stream and it's geographical
features before attempting to cross it, and go through
the stream where the water is shallowest.
2. Cross at a place where the water is less than 60 cm
deep.
3. Set the transfer shift lever to '4L' (part time 4WD)
or 'LLC' (super select 4WD II).
4. Drive slowly at a speed of approximately 5km/h to
avoid splashing too much water.
Note:
After crossing the stream, inspect the brakes to be sure
that 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.
Cautions !
1. If a problem is detected in the transfer system, the
safety device operates the front and rear wheel lamps to
go off, the center differential lock lamp will blink
(once per second), and the transfer shifting becomes
impossible.
In this
case, park your vehicle in a safe place and follow these
procedures:
Turn
off the engine, re-start the engine and check if the
lamp returns to former condition - if yes, there is no
problem.
However, if the lamp blinks again, have the vehicle
checked at the workshop.
2.
Operate the rear differential switch after the wheels
have stopped turning. Operating the switch with the
wheels turning may cause the vehicle to dart in
unexpected direction.
3. Use
the rear differential only as an emergency measure, when
the vehicle is stuck and cannot be freed with the
transfer shift lever in '4L' (part time 4WD) position or
in '4LLC' or '4HLC' (super select 4WD II) position.
De-activate the rear differential lock immediately after
using it.
4. If
the rear differential lock is used by mistake while
turning a curve or making a right or left turn at a
crossing or the like, the vehicle will be unable to make
a turn and may go straight ahead.
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5. If
automatic transmission fluid temperature warning lamp
illuminates, immediately reduce the engine revolution
and move to a safe area. Then set the selector lever to
'P' position and idle the engine until the warning lamp
goes off. You can then continue driving, but if it does
not go off, you need to have your vehicle inspected at
the workshop.
6.
After operating the vehicle in rough conditions, be sure
to
-
Check the vehicle for any damage
-
Carefully wash the vehicle with
water, drive the vehicle slowly while lightly depressing the brake
pedal, in order to dry out the brakes
-
If a stream has been crossed,
check the engine, transmission and differential oil. If the oil or
grease is milky or cloudy because of its mixing with water, it
must be replaced with new oil.
-
Check the inside of the vehicle for water. If found, dry the
carpets, etc.
- Inspect he headlamps. If the
head lamp bulb is flooded with water, have it drained off.
TIP NO 2: Do it your self prior to long distance travel
You can carry out inspection on your vehicle your
self prior to long distance travel, and these inspection
items need to be performed before getting into the
driver's seat and starting the engine:
-
Check tyres for proper air pressure, cuts or cracks,
depth of tread grooves
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Check engine, transmission and power steering oil for
proper oil level, impurity and leaks
-
Check cooling water, radiator cap for the amount of
cooling water, water leaks, loose radiator cap
-
Check battery for electrolyte level, terminal
connections, leaks
-
Check windscreen washer tank for the amount of washer
fluid
After getting into the driver's seat :
-
Check steering wheel for looseness and play
-
Check if hand-brake operates properly
-
Check if horn, windscreen wipers, window washers work
properly
-
Check the rear view mirror for looseness and dirtiness
-
Check door locks and seat belts for operation
-
Check all lamps for operations, check engine exhaust gas
for colour (as it should not have any colour of the
burning is complete
Whilst driving slowly:
-
Check whether the brakes work well
-
Check whether every recently repaired item works well
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Check whether the steering wheel turns normally
Top
TIP NO .
3: Tyres
Purpose & safety precautions
Tyres have two functions. Firstly, they are air filled
cushions that absorb most of the shocks caused by road
irregularities; tyres flex, or give, as they meet the
irregularities. Therefore, they reduce the effects of
shocks on the passengers in the car. Secondly, the tyres
grip the road to provide good traction; good traction
enables the car to accelerate, brake and corner well.
Therefore, please take the following safety
precautions:
-
Inspect the tyres whenever you can and more so before
you proceed on long distance travel, for cracks or
bulges in the side walls, and if found defective, please
change immediately.
-
Inspect
and adjust tyre pressure at the petrol station whenever
possible and when they are cold, because if you check
and adjust tyre pressure whilst they are hot, the
pressure could drop below allowed minimum (the
specifications are available on the drivers door
opening).
-
There
are times when the tyre pressure should be on the high
side. For example, you should increase the tyre pressure
by 3 -4 psi for trailer pulling or for extra (heavy)
load and for sustaining high speed. But, never exceed
the pressure specified on the tyre side wall.
Saving on Tyres (Tyre Rotations)
At regular intervals, i.e. every 10,000 km, the tyres
have to be inspected to determine whether they are safe
for further use. When any improper tyre pattern is
found, the technician must learn and inform the cause of
the abnormal tread wear and correct it, and when they
are made to good condition or found in good condition,
they have to be rotated after the tyres have cooled down
and their inflation pressure is adjusted.
The amount of wear a tyre gets depends on it's location
on the car. For example, on a car with rear wheel drive,
the right, rear tyre wears-out about twice as faster
than the left front tyre. This is because many roads are
slightly crowned and rough at the right hand side, and
also because the right, rear tyre is driving. The crown
causes the car to lean out a little, and hence the right
tyres carry more weight. The combination of this and
carrying power through the right rear tyre causes it to
wear faster. The same applies to the front tyres if the
vehicle is front drive vehicle. To equalize wear as much
as possible, tyres should be rotated anytime uneven wear
is noticed and at the distance specified by the car
manufacturer.
TIP NO. 4: Preventive maintenance is better than capital
expenditure
Preventive maintenance, which includes inspections, has
to be performed regularly as per the vehicle
manufacturers recommendations to keep your vehicle on
the road. If the vehicle is used under severe operating
conditions, maintenance and inspection must be performed
more regularly than the standard recommendations.
Severe operating conditions include the following cases:
-
Frequent driving in dusty areas
-
Frequent driving on rough roads
-
Engine idling for long time, leaving vehicle standing
with engine running and air conditioning on
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Frequent, sudden application of brakes
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Towing of trailer
-
Using as taxi or rent-a-car
-
More than 50% of operation time in heavy traffic in hot
temperatures of above 32 Celsius
-
Operation under excessive load
For
more details, please refer to your service booklet that
is given with every sold vehicle, as it contains useful
information for you |
