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To shift from 4x4 LOW RANGE to 4x4:
Stop the vehicle and place the automatic
transmission into NEUTRAL or depress the
clutch on vehicles with a manual transmission.
Push the LOW RANGE button on the instrument
panel to shift the transfer case from 4x4 LOW
RANGE to 4x4.
Driving Off Road with 4-Wheel
Drive
Most vehicles with four-wheel drive are
especially equipped for driving on sand, snow,
mud, or rough terrain and have operating
characteristics that are somewhat different from
conventional vehicles, both off and on the road.
The driving tips below will help you learn to
use four-wheel drive.
❑
Do not use 4WD LOW on dry, hard-surfaced
roads.
❑
Special maintenance procedures are necessary
after operating with drive components in
water.
❑
Manual locking hubs must be in LOCK
position before shifting into four-wheel drive.
When using four-wheel drive, maintain steering
wheel control at all times, especially in rough
terrain. Since sudden changes in terrain can
result in abrupt steering wheel motion, make
sure you grip the steering wheel rim from the
outside. Do not grip the spokes.
Drive cautiously to avoid vehicle damage from
concealed objects such as rocks and stumps.
Know the terrain or examine maps of the area in
question before driving. Map out your route
beforehand. To maintain steering and braking
control of your vehicle, you must have all four
201
tires on the ground, and they must be rolling,
not sliding or spinning.
Transmission upshift in 4x4 with transfer case in
4L may be quite firm due to large total gear
reduction. This condition is normal.
Sand
When driving over sand, try to keep all four
wheels of the vehicle on the most solid area of
the trail. Do not reduce the tire pressures but
shift to a lower gear and drive steadily through
the terrain. Apply accelerator slowly and avoid
spinning the wheels.
Mud and Water
When driving through water, determine the
depth; avoid water higher than the bottom of
the hubs (if possible) and proceed slowly. If the
ignition system gets wet, the vehicle may stall.
Once through water, always try the brakes. Wet
brakes do not stop the vehicle as effectively as
dry brakes. Drying can be improved by moving
your vehicle slowly, while applying light
pressure on the brake pedal.
After driving through mud, clean off residue
stuck to rotating driveshafts and tires. Excess
mud stuck on tires and rotating driveshafts
causes an imbalance which could damage drive
components.
NOTE:
If the transmission and transfer case is
submerged in water, their fluids should
be checked and changed, if necessary.
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Additional Special Driving
Instructions for Utility Vehicles
Driving on Hill or Slope Terrain
When driving on a hill, it may be necessary to
travel diagonally up or down. Avoid driving
crosswise or turning on steep slopes, you could
lose traction and slip sideways. Drive straight
up, straight down or avoid the hill completely.
Know the conditions on the other side of a hill
before driving over the crest.
When climbing a steep hill, start in a lower gear,
rather than finding it necessary to downshift
from a higher gear after the ascent has started.
This reduces strain on the engine and the
possibility of stalling.
When descending a steep hill avoid sudden
braking. Rapid pumping of the brake pedal will
help slow the vehicle and still maintain steering
control.
Driving on Snow or Ice
A four-wheel drive vehicle has advantages over
two-wheel drive vehicles in snow and ice but
can skid like any other vehicle. If so equipped,
keep the vehicle in four-wheel drive if icy or
slippery conditions exist.
Avoid sudden applications of power and quick
changes of direction on snow or ice. Apply the
accelerator slowly and steadily when starting
from a full stop.
All utility-type and Four-Wheel Drive vehicles
have special design and equipment features to
make them capable of performing in a wide
variety of off-road applications. Specific design
characteristics give them higher centers of
gravity than ordinary passenger cars.
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R
WARNING
All utility and four-wheel drive vehicles
are not designed for cornering at speeds
as high as passenger cars any more than
low-slung sports cars are designed to
perform satisfactorily under off-road
conditions. Avoid sharp turns or abrupt
maneuvers in these vehicles.
Brakes
Front Disc Brakes
The front disc brakes are self-adjusting. They do
not require service other than periodic inspection
for pad wear.
Rear Drum Brakes
The rear drum brakes are self-adjusting.
Automatic adjustment occurs when the brakes
are applied while “backing up.” If normal
operation does not include much backing, adjust
the brakes when they seem “low,” using the
procedure under
If Brakes Do Not Grip Well or
Pedal is Low
in this chapter.
Hydraulic Power Brakes
The hydraulic brake system is made up of two
independent hydraulic circuits. One hydraulic
circuit supplies fluid to the front disc brakes and
the other hydraulic circuit supplies fluid to the
rear drum brakes. These two circuits are
supplied by a common hydraulic brake fluid
reservoir, with a fluid level sensor.
The brake light in the instrument cluster will
light for low brake fluid in the common brake
fluid reservoir.
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