Automatic transaxle
Designed for the most efficient control and equipped with self- adapting capabilities, the electronically controlled transaxle used in your vehicle selects the most favorable gear for each type of driving and road condition. DRIVING UPHILL
The transaxle may not shift to a higher gear if the computer determines your current speed would be affected. For smoother operation, the transaxle may not shift if you release the throttle while climbing a steep hill. This is normal because the computer controls the shifting. After reaching the top of the hill, your normal gear shift function will resume. DRIVING DOWNHILL
When traveling down steep grades and using the brakes, the computer may automatically select a lower gear. This helps engine braking efforts, reducing your need to use the brakes.
Shift points
Possible driving speed Vehicles equipped with 5-speed manual tran-
saxle Vehicles equipped with 6-speed manual tran-
saxle 1st gear 30 mph (50 km/h) 37 mph (60 km/h) 2nd gear 55 mph (90 km/h) 55 mph (90 km/h) 3rd gear 80 mph (130 km/h) 80 mph (130 km/h) 4th gear 108 mph (175 km/h) 108 mph (175 km/h) 5th gear — 130 mph (210 km/h)
CAUTION! ● The electronically controlled transaxle system is
strictly intended to provide supplementary func- tions. When driving downhill under certain condi- tions, when the automatic transaxle is cold immediately after starting, no automatic downshift may be made. The driver should move the selector lever to shift down to a lower gear (3rd gear or 2nd gear), which will permit the engine to begin braking.
Features and controls
NOTE ● During the break-in period or immediately after recon-
necting the battery, your vehicle may not shift smoothly. This does not indicate a problem in the transaxle. Shifting will become smoother once the transaxle has been shifted several times by the electronic control system.
Selector lever operation
As an additional safety precaution, models equipped with an automatic transaxle have a shift-lock device that holds the selector lever in the “P” (PARK) position. To move the selector lever from the “P” (PARK) position to another position, follow the steps below.
1. Press and hold the brake pedal down. 2. Move the selector lever to the desired position.
NOTE ● The selector lever cannot be moved from “P” (PARK) to
another position if the ignition key is at the “LOCK” posi- tion, or has been removed, or if the brake pedal is not pressed and held down.
The transaxle has 4 forward (4-speed automatic transaxle) or 5 forward (5-speed automatic transaxle) gears and 1 reverse gear. The individual gears are selected automatically, depending on the position of the gear selector lever, the speed of the vehicle and the position of the accelerator pedal. The selector lever has 2 “gates”: the main gate (A) and the manual gate (B).
NOTE ● For information on manual gate operation, refer to “Sports mode” on page 3-76.
Features and controls
In the main gate, the selector lever has 4 positions, and is equipped with a lock button (C) to prevent inadvertent selec- tion of the wrong gear.
The lock button must be pushed while the brake pedal is depressed to move the selector lever.
The selector lever will move without pushing the lock button.
The lock button must be pushed to move the selector lever.
WARNING! ● If the lock button is always pressed when using the
selector lever, the lever may be accidentally shifted into the “P” (PARK) or “R” (REVERSE) position. Do not press the lock button when making shifts shown by in the illustration.
Features and controls
NOTE ● If the brake pedal is not depressed and held, the shift-lock
device activates to prevent the selector lever from being moved from the “P” (PARK) position.
Selector lever position indicator
When the ignition key is turned to the “ON” position, the cur- rently position of the selector lever is indicated by the indicator (A) shown on the instrument cluster {i.e. “P” (PARK), “R” (REVERSE), “N” (NEUTRAL) or “D” (DRIVE)}. In sports mode, the currently selected gear is indicated by the indicator (A).
● Always depress the brake pedal when shifting the selector lever into a gear from the “N” (NEUTRAL) position. When beginning to drive, do not shift the selector lever from the “N” (NEUTRAL) position while depressing the accelerator pedal. This will cause the vehicle to “jump” forward or backward.
WARNING!
Features and controls
When the selector lever position indicator flashes while you are driving, there could be a malfunction in the automatic tran- saxle.
NOTE
● In sports mode, the indication of the currently selected gear flashes.
● If the selector lever position is in the “P” (PARK), “R” (REVERSE) or “N” (NEUTRAL) position, the indicator does not flash.
CAUTION! ● If a malfunction occurs in the automatic transaxle
while driving, the selector lever position indicator will flash. In this case, immediately park your vehicle in a safe place and follow these procedures: {The selector lever position indicator warning func- tion does not operate with the selector lever in the “P” (PARK), “R” (REVERSE) or “N” (NEUTRAL) position.} [The selector lever position indicator flashes rapidly (twice per second)] The automatic transaxle fluid is overheating. Park your vehicle in a safe place but do not turn off the engine. Move the selector lever to the “P” (PARK) position and open the engine hood. Keep the engine idling. After a while, move the selector lever to the “D” (DRIVE) position and confirm that the selector lever position indicator stops flashing. It is safe to continue driving if the selector lever position indica- tor no longer flashes. If the selector lever position indicator continues flashing or flashes intermittently, have your vehicle inspected by an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your choice. [The selector lever position indicator flashes slowly (once per second)] The automatic transaxle safety device may be oper- ating due to a malfunction. Have your vehicle inspected by an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your choice as soon as possible.
Features and controls
Selector lever positions (Main gate)
“P” PARK
This position locks the transaxle to prevent the vehicle from moving. The engine can be started from the “PARK” position. “R” REVERSE
Move the lever to this position only after the vehicle has come to a complete stop.
“N” NEUTRAL
At this position, the transaxle is disengaged. It is the same as the neutral position on a manual transaxle and should be used when the vehicle is not moving for an extended length of time during driving, such as in a traffic jam.
CAUTION! ● Never shift into the “P” (PARK) or “R”
(REVERSE) position while the vehicle is in motion. If the lever is shifted into the “P” (PARK) or “R” (REVERSE) position while the vehicle is in motion, the transaxle may be damaged.
WARNING! ● Never move the selector lever to the “N” (NEU-
TRAL) position while driving since you could acci- dentally slip it into the “P” (PARK) or “R”(REVERSE) position, damaging the transaxle.
● To prevent the vehicle from rolling when stopped on a slope, the engine should be started in the “P” (PARK) position, not in “N” (NEUTRAL) position.
● Always keep your foot on the brake pedal when the vehicle is in “N” (NEUTRAL) position, or when shifting into or out of “N” (NEUTRAL) position, to prevent rolling.
Features and controls
“D” DRIVE
This position is used for most city and highway driving. Engine shifting and braking are done automatically as needed, depend- ing on road conditions. NOTE
● For information on manual gate operation, please refer to “Sports mode” on page 3-76.
Sports mode
Whether the vehicle is stationary or in motion, sports mode is selected by pushing the selector lever from the “D” position into the manual gate. To return to “D” range operation, push the selector lever back into the main gate. In sports mode, gear shifts can be made rapidly simply by mov- ing the selector lever backward and forward. Sports mode allows gear shifts with the accelerator pedal depressed.
Manual gate
+ (SHIFT UP)
Push the lever forward once to shift up one gear.
- (SHIFT DOWN)
Pull the lever backward once to shift down one gear.
SHIFT UP
SHIFT DOWN
Features and controls
3
NOTE
● In sports mode, only the 4 forward gears (4-speed auto- matic transaxle) or 5 forward gears (5-speed automatic transaxle) can be selected. To reverse or park the vehicle, move the selector lever to the “R” (REVERSE) or “P” (PARK) position in the main gate.
● To maintain the required levels of vehicle performance and safety, the system may not execute certain gear shifts when the selector lever is operated, such as 4th or 5th gear at low speed.
● In sports mode, downward shifts are made automatically when the vehicle slows down. When the vehicle stops, 1st gear is automatically selected.
● When pulling away from a standstill on a slippery road, push the selector lever forward to the + (SHIFT UP) posi- tion. This causes the transaxle to select 2nd gear, which is better for safe driving on slippery roads. Push the selector lever to the - (SHIFT DOWN) side to shift back to 1st gear.
● Move the selector lever gently between the manual and main gates and between positions in the manual gate. Excessive force could damage the selector lever.
CAUTION! ● Upward shifts do not take place automatically in
sports mode. The driver must make upward shifts in accordance with prevailing road conditions, making sure the engine rpm remains below the red zone on the tachometer.
● By rapidly moving the selector lever backwards (SHIFT DOWN) twice, it is possible to skip one gear (i.e., 3rd to 1st, 4th to 2nd or 5th to 3rd). Since sud- den engine deceleration or acceleration can cause a loss of traction, downshifts must be made carefully in accordance with the vehicle’s speed.
Features and controls
Operation of the automatic transaxle
Passing acceleration
To gain extra acceleration in “D” (DRIVE) position (when passing another vehicle) push the accelerator to the floor. The automatic transaxle will automatically downshift. NOTE
● In sports mode, downshifts do not take place when the accelerator is depressed all the way to the floor.
Waiting
For short waiting periods, such as at traffic lights, the vehicle can be left in gear and held stationary with the service brake. For longer waiting periods with the engine running, the selec- tor lever should be placed in the “N” (NEUTRAL) position.
CAUTION! ● Before selecting a gear with the engine running and
the vehicle stationary, fully depress the brake pedal to prevent the vehicle from creeping. The vehicle will begin to move as soon as the gear is engaged, especially when the engine speed is high, at fast idle or with the air conditioning operating, the brakes should only be released when you are ready to drive away.
● Depress the brake pedal with the right foot at all times. Using the left foot could cause driver movement delay in case of an emergency.
● To prevent sudden acceleration, never run the engine at high rpms when shifting from the “P” (PARK) or “N” (NEUTRAL) position.
● Operating the accelerator pedal while the other foot is resting on the brake pedal will affect braking effi- ciency and may cause premature wear of brake pads. Do not rev the engine with the brake pedal pressed. This can damage the transaxle.
● Use the gearshift lever in the correct shift position in accordance with driving conditions. Never coast downhill backward in the driving shift position {“D” (DRIVE) or sports mode} or coast for- ward in the “R” (REVERSE) position. Engine stopping and increased brake pedal and steering effort could lead to an accident.
CAUTION! ● To avoid transaxle overheating, never try to keep
your vehicle stationary on a hill by using the acceler- ator pedal. Always apply the parking brake and/or service brake.
● Unexpected acceleration may occur if the selector lever is in a position other than “P” (PARK) or “N” (NEUTRAL). Prior to moving off after having stopped the vehicle, make sure that the selector lever is in “D” (DRIVE) position or “Sports mode” position.
Features and controls
Parking
To park the vehicle, first bring it to a complete stop, fully engage the parking brake, and then move the selector lever to the “P” (PARK) position. When the automatic transaxle makes no speed change
If the transaxle does not change gears while driving, or your vehicle does not pick up enough speed when starting on an uphill slope, it may be that there is something unusual happen- ing in the transaxle, causing a safety device to activate. Have your vehicle checked at an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your choice as soon as possible.
1. If your vehicle has difficulty moving uphill, shift the selector lever into 2nd gear of the sports mode. This method might not work depending on the type of transaxle malfunction.
2. Once the vehicle is moving on a level road, move the selector lever back to “D” (DRIVE) position.
NOTE ● When the selector lever position indicator in the instru-
ment cluster flashes, it means that there is an abnormal condition in the transaxle. Refer to “Selector lever posi- tion indicator” on page 3-73.
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