TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION

How to use

the vehicle effectively,

for safe driving.

Four Wheel Driving

Guide to

4This Guide was prepared in Collaboration with

the UNHCR e-center: www.the-ecentre.net

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Copyright 2001 Toyota Motor Corporation. All rights reserved.

Basic Information for 4WDHow 4WD WorksUsing 4WD VehiclesBasic of Off-road Driving

Driving TechniquesHill-climbingDown-hill DrivingDitchSlopeMuddy SoilRiverSandy SoilRocky SurfaceSnowy Surface

RemarksEscapeWinching TechniquesInspection before DrivingInspection after Driving

In this manual you will find basic

information needed to operate a

4WD. Even if you are an experi-

enced 4WD user, you will probably

find some information in here you

didn’t know or be reminded of

something you may have forgot-

ten. In any event, please enjoy

reading through this manual and

learning or re-learning the benefits

of owning a Toyota 4WD.

INTRODUCTION

2 3

HOW TO use the vehicle effectively,for safe driving.

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CONTENTS

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2

3

1 FWD: Front Wheel Drive2 RWD: Rear Wheel Drive

1 Full Time 4WD: Permanent 4WD2 Standby 4WD: Usually 2WD, becomes

4WD automatically when it is necessary.3 Part-time 4WD: Usually 2WD,

becomes 4WD by the driver’s choice.

4 5

Using 4WD vehicles

Using 4WD Vehicles1Basic Information for 4WD

How 4WD WorksThe mechanism and characteristics offour-wheel drive (4WD) vehicles

Most cars on the road today moveby using two wheels, either on therear (RWD) or on the front (FWD)of the vehicle. 4WD, on the otherhand, uses all four wheels. Bymobilizing all four wheels, it can

move the vehicle even if one of thewheels doesn’t have traction. 4WDgets more traction than RWD orFWD and ensures stable drivingoff-road—on sandy, muddy orslippery surfaces.

4WD 2WD

The Difference between 4WD and 2WD

The front wheels can-not climb the gapRWD

RWD

FWDThe front wheels(drive) slip

The rear wheels(drive) get caught inthe gap

2WD

4WD

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The vehicle utilizes allfour-wheels to propel it.

The vehicle losesmomentum.

Shifting the gearbox to 4WD modeis only half of the procedure toactually engage all of the wheels.The front drive shaft has to be con-nected to the front wheels, too.There are three types of connec-tions here.1 Manual: Rotate the dial of thefront free-wheel hub into “lock”position.2 Power Locking: Push the hub-lock switch button. Some 4WDvehicles with power-locking con-nections require the vehicle to be

in reverse motion to do this. So it isnot possible to do this if the car isstuck. These vehicles require thedriver to lock the front free-wheelhub in advance.3 Automatic: The locking of frontfree-wheel hub is done while thediver shifts into 4WD mode.

7

Locking the front free-wheel hub

With full-time 4WD, no action is necessary. With part-time 4WD, driversmust lock the front free-wheel hubs and shift into four wheel drive.

4WD mode

There are two types of 4WD regarding transfer.1 Transfer lever type: Shift the lever to “H4” or “L4”.2 Switch type: Push a switching button.

Sub-transmission

Basic Information for 4WD

6

As a general rule, shifting into 4WD is to be done while the car is parked.Yet, there are types of 4WD that allow the shifting to be done while thevehicle is in motion. Confirm the appropriate procedure (by consulting theoperation manual) so as not to damage the vehicle and to avoid accidents.When the shift is made, usually an indicator lamp lights up to confirm theshift. However, the lamp can fail and driving the car is a better way of con-firming that the shift into 4WD has taken place.

Manual

Power Locking

Hub Lock & H4 button

1

When driving in 4WD, making asharp turn can feel like the vehicleis blocked. This is called tight cor-ner braking phenomenon and is aresult of the difference in the rota-tion speed required for the front

LSD (Limited Slip Differential)Some vehicles are equipped with alimited-slip differential. If one rearwheel begins to spin, the limitedslip differential automaticallytransfers the drive the other rearwheel.Differential lock systemSome vehicles are equipped with afront or rear differential lock system.1. This differential lock system iseffective in case one or either rightor left pair of the wheels is spinning.Before using the front and rear dif-ferential lock system, first shift thefour-wheel drive control into "H4"

or "L4" with the free-wheel hubsengaged to see if it works. If this hasno effect, also use the front and reardifferential lock system.2. Do not use the front and rear dif-ferential lock in conditions otherthan the above as it will makesteering and cornering very diffi-cult. This is especially true whenusing the front differential lock inaddition to the rear and may causethe vehicle to spin suddenly duringacceleration or engine braking.*

and rear wheels. While this is not amalfunction,driving on a road withgood traction could result in worntires and damage the mechanism .It should be avoided. Driving with-out the center differential lockedhelps avoid this problem.

9

Tight corner brakingphenomenon

Basic Information for 4WD

8

Basic of Off-road Driving

Use this for normal driving on dry, hard-sur-faced roads.This position provides bettereconomy, a quieter ride and the least wear.

Use this for normal driving on wet, icy orsnow-covered roads.This position providesgreater traction than two-wheel drive.

Use this for maximum power and traction.Use "L4" for climbing or descending steephills, off-road driving, and hard pulling insand, mud or deep snow.

DRIVING CONDITIONS

2WD H2: Lever at "H2"

(High speed position,two wheel drive)

4WD H4: Lever at "H4"

(High speed position,four wheel drive)

4WD L4

(Low speed position,four wheel drive)

DRIVING POSITION

Driving slowlywhen using L4.

LSD & Differential locksystem

1

*Engine Brake: By backing off theaccelerator, you can use the engine tohelp you brake. The resistance, of theslowing engine, slows the wheel speedand effectively slows the vehicle.

If the slope is steep or has a slipperysurface, making an approach runcould reduce slip while climbing. Ifthere is no room for an approach

run, an alternate route should beused. However, an approach runshould be restrained to gapless sur-faces. When there is a gap on thesurface it is better to climb slowlyand steadily to reduce the shock tothe under body.

11

Approach run

1 Speed, distance and direc-tion: Make an approach run at anadequate speed and from suffi-cient distance. Climb the hillstraight towards the top.

2 Long climb: When climbing along hill, keep the speed steady.3 Clutch operation: It is best notto shift. However, if a change isrequired on the way, do it quicklyand with little clutch use to avoidlosing momentum and traction.

Tips for driving

Hill-climbing

10

2Driving Techniques

GEAR SELECTION

Gear which requiresno shift change

Use a lower gear toget the maximumengine brake

Use a lower gear

L4

L4

L4

Use a higher gearwhen starting and alower gear down hill

CHECK POINTS TO JUDGE THE DRIVEABILITY

Angle, Length, Surface (hardness,solidity, gap, slipperiness) Drop orcurve at the top of slope

Angle, Length, Surface (hardness,solidity, gap, slipperiness)

Width, Depth of ditch, Angle,Surface (sand, stone, mud, solidity)

Angle,Width, Distance, Surface(hardness, solidity,gap,slipperiness)

Angle,Width, Distance, Surface(solidity, existence of track or gap)

Depth,Width, Distance, Speed ofthe flow, Bottom (Stability, solidity, gap slipperiness)

Gradient, Distance Surface(solidity, gap)

Gradient, Distance Surface(solidity, gap, slipperiness)

Gradient, Distance Surface (iced, gap, hidden object undersnow)

SITUATION

Hill Climb

Down Hill

Ditch

Slope

Muddy Soil

River

Sandy Soil

Rocky Surface

Snowy Surface

Keep the speedsteady… The vehicle can end up

making a big leap oth-erwise.

Choose in advance the routewith the least gaps .

2

If you slip before reaching the top,back up using the engine as abrake. This is your recovery. Keepthe steering wheel pointed towardthe top of the slope and use the

1 Gear selection and braking:Choose a low gear to take advan-tage of engine braking and to beable to avoid using the brake. On asteep or slippery slope, choosing“L4” to get the maximum enginebrake is appropriate. Of course theconditions and type of vehicle(manual or automatic, etc.) maynecessitate foot braking.2 Maintain the direction:Down-hill driving should aim

straight down the hill. If the tireslose traction, slightly acceleratingcan help regain traction and steer-ing control.3 Long slope: Vehicles tend togain momentum as they go down-hill. Regardless, try to maintain asteady speed.4 Clutch operation: When driv-ing down-hill, don’t clutch, as itwill nullify the engine brake. Thiscauses loss of traction and acceler-ates the vehicle. It is one of themost dangerous things when driv-ing downhill.

13

Down-hillDriving

4 Acceleration: Use a steadyacceleration up the hill and backoff the acceleration towards thetop to avoid shooting over the top.

If the wheels lose traction becausethe surface is slippery , slightlydecelerate to bring the tractionback.

Driving Techniques

12

*Vehicles with ABS** allow theapplication of even full-brakingthough full-braking may require alonger distance to come to a full stop.

Recovery

Tips for driving

Make a carefulrecovery when anattempt fails.

Use theengine tobrake.

Back up straight andavoid locking tires.

Before driving a down-hill,check the surface condition andchoose a gear that is adequateto the gradient.

Make absolutely sureto keep the vehiclespeed constant.

Avoid operation of theclutch or changingspeed.

rear-view mirror to guide yourdescent. It is best not to use thefoot brake to avoid tire-lock. How-ever,brake gently to keep the vehi-cle under control* in cars withautomatic transmissions due tothe lack of enough engine braking.

**ABS: The ABS (Anti-lock BrakingSystem) prevents wheel lock-upallowing the driver to take evasiveaction while braking.

2

15

1 Approach angle and drivepath: Approach ditches/holes atan angle for maximum control.Direct approaches could result inhitting the bumper or underguardagainst edge of the ditch. Theangled approach increases clear-ance. The angled approach alsoforces tires into the ditch one byone, reducing the impact to the

body. It is important at this timethat at least three of the tiresmaintain traction. Be sure to usefull-time 4WD with center differ-ential activated when driving inthese conditions.Caution: If your angle is wrong, twotires may enter the ditch at the sametime, which could cause you to getstuck. Drive carefully.

Driving Techniques

14

Driving over aDitchTips for driving

Apply the tire to the “wall” of a ditch/gap and then accel-erate gently to bring the tire over the “wall”. Decelerateright after the tire goes beyond the “wall.”

2 Driving speed and accelera-tion: Slowly enter one tire at atime into the ditch/gap. Then,accelerate a little until the tirestarts to pass the lip and decelerateright after the tire clears the ditch.Repeat this process for all fourtires. On a slippery surface,increase or decrease speed asneeded.

Approach a ditchslantwise and drop

the tires one by one.

��

3 Mitigate depth or slope:When the depth or the angle is toogreat, adjustments could be madeby placing a rock or other objectwhere the tires hit.

2 Driving Techniques

16

Driving over a Slope

1 Driving path:Only drive through shallow mud(the depth should not go above thecenter of the differential); remainon as solid a surface as possible.

2 Gear selection:Choose the gear one lower thanthe one capable for managing thesurface. If the vehicle is equippedwith a differential lock system,activate it.

3 Clutch operation: Maintain aspeed in which traction is not lostand do not change gears. Shiftingcan result in sudden decelerationand make the vehicle stick in place.

4 Steering operation:Rotating the steering on muddysurface causes increased resist-ance. Keep the direction constant.

5 Adjustment of tire pressure:On a muddy surface, mud can stickin the tire tread which reducestraction and the vehicle can easilyget stuck. To prevent this , reducetire pressure to the level of 1.2kg/cm2 to 1.5 kg/cm2.This increas-es traction. If the mud is very wet,increasing the tire pressure couldincrease the traction by makingmud less likely to stick on thetires.

17

Driving through Muddy Soil

1 Approach angle:Use different approaches shouldbe applied depending on the cir-cumstance. Given a choice, howev-er, keep the driver’s seat closer tothe mountain side gives the driveran increased sense of security.

2 Driving speed and acceleration:Steady acceleration or a constant speedis best.

Tips for driving

Utilizing tire chains

On a muddy surface, consider usingtire chains.

Tips for driving

The driver’s seat shouldbe mountain side tohelp prevent panic andfeelings of vertigo.

Avoid frequent gearshifts.

Steer to the valley side to adjust thedirection of the vehicle.

Steering to the mountain side couldcause a roll over.

2

1 Approach angle and drivingpath: Choose a downstream path.Going against the flow could stopthe vehicle. Also avoid anywheredeeper than the center of the tires.In shallow places where thestream is slow, you must be carefulof mud and sand accumulations.Water is deeper than it appears, soadd 20 to 30% to the depth as itlooks from the surface.2 Gear selection and speed:“L4” is a good choice and constantacceleration prevents water fromentering the muffler and theengine. Water entering the airintake or electrical system wouldcause water-hammer* or a short-circuit.3 Steering operation: The bot-tom may not be visible because ofmud or sunlight reflected on theriver surface. Such situations could

result in the vehicle getting caughtin a gap at the bottom. To guardagainst such an incident, yourthumbs should not be placedinside the steering wheel.4 Selection of landing area: Thelanding area should be a pointwith a solid surface and a smallvertical gap. (Many vehicles getstuck at the landing point.)

Driving Techniques

18

Driving througha River

1 Traction and tire pressure: Insandy soil, the sand is soft and theresistance is high.Similar to muddysoil, gaining traction in sand is dif-ficult. In order to avoid gettingstuck, reduce the tire pressure.However, too much reduction couldcause the tires to separate from therims causing a whole new set ofproblems.2 Gear selection: Considering thestrong resistance, “L4” is a goodchoice. If the vehicle is equippedwith a differential lock system,activate it.3 Steering and clutch opera-tion: Don’t turn suddenly. Steppingon the clutch could get the vehiclestuck. Therefore, use a gear whichwill take you through the entiretrip without shifting. If you mustshift, do it quickly so as not to losemomentum. Automatic transmis-

sion is thus preferable over manualtransmission as it doesn’t requirethe driver to use a clutch.4 Stopping a vehicle: Applyingbrakes will sink the vehicle. There-fore, let the vehicle stop by itself or,even better, stop the vehicle on asolid surface or at a high positionso that restarting on a downhillslope is possible.

19

Driving throughSandy Soil

Tips for driving Tips for driving

Avoid shifting to getup and down.

If the vehicle stops, turnthe steering straightbefore restarting.

When the vehicle is stuck, lowerthe tire pressure to make therestart easier but don’t forget toadd pressure afterward.

*Water-hammer: If a quantity ofwater coming into the combustionchamber exceeds its capacity, propercompression stops. This may cause aconnecting rod to bend or even breakand may also damage a piston.

2

INSPECTION OF THE SURFACE1 As dangerous objects could beunderneath the snow, walk on thesurface to test it before drivingthrough snow.2 The maximum depth of snowyou should drive through is up tothe differential. If the surface con-sists mostly of new, dry snow, themaximum height could be up tothe bumper. Anything deeperrequires the vehicle to repeat theprocess of pushing the snow andthen backing up.3 The quality of the snow wouldchange its resistance. Vehicles canget more easily stuck in wet andicy snow.4 Some vehicles get more stabilityby driving through a track left byprevious vehicles.

STARTING THE VEHICLEAbrupt clutching results in loss of

traction. To start a vehicle, engagethe clutch gently and gradually.Select a higher gear, too. With anautomatic transmission vehicle,simply release the brake pedal tostart the vehicle in motion.

DRIVING SPEEDOn a road with an icy or snowy sur-face, drive at less than half the reg-ular speed.

STEERING OPERATION1 Use studless tires* when drivingthrough snow. Over confidence ofdriving a 4WD could lead to thevehicle getting stuck or to an acci-dent. Once the vehicle loses trac-

1 Gear selection and speed:“L4”would be the right choice to drivethrough steep and rocky surfaces.Drive at a walking speed. Fast driv-ing kicks up stones which candamage the vehicle, while impactfrom driving over a gap coulddamage the wheels or suspension.2 Driving path: It is best to havean assistant guide the driver forsafety. Look for sharp rocks whichcan damage the wheel or burst atire. When driving over rocks,make sure they can’t move. If arock tilts when initially touched, itcould lodge under the body of thevehicle or could give way causing aroll-over.3 Tire pressure: Lowering thepressure is an option when better

traction is required.However,high-er pressure is required most of thetime in order to minimize the pos-sible damage by the rocks to thetire and wheel.4 Steering operation: In prepa-ration against the kickback fromthe rocky surface, place yourthumbs on the steering wheel. Afirm grip is necessary to avoidstraying from the chosen path.

Driving Techniques

20 21

Driving on a Rocky SurfaceTips for driving Tips for driving

Driving on a Snowy Surface

Ask an assistantto guide the driv-er.

Driving at highspeeds is alwaysdangerous.

* Studless Tires: The specific tire fordriving on an icy or snowy road. Themain benefit of this tire is its abilityto keep elastic in cold temperatures,which in turn improves its traction.The tread of this type of tire is specif-ically designed for smooth drivingon icy or snowy roads.

2

23

tion, there is no differencebetween 4WD and 2WD.2 Making a sharp turn is danger-ous. If the vehicle starts to spin, ittends to spin towards the lowerside of the road or towards thedirection of the tire that slipped.Slowly, step on the acceleratorpedal (don’t release the pedal) andcounter-steer to regain control.3 When the vehicle starts to losetraction during cornering, driverstend to overcompensate. The driv-er should be aware of this tenden-cy, as sometimes the vehicleregains traction suddenly andstarts a sharp turn.

BRAKE 1 Test the braking for tire lock-upin a safe environment. Knowingthis limit helps the driver makedelicate maneuver under pressuresituations.2 Even vehicles with studless tiresor those using tire chains havelower grip against horizontal mo-

mentum. Therefore, the vehiclespeed should be lowered beforecornering.3 The areas before intersectionsand corners tend to have slipperysurfaces, as many vehicles haveapplied brakes at those pointsbefore.

UP-HILL SLOPE Start the climb by observing thevehicles ahead and try not to stopwhile climbing. If you are forced tostop and can not restart,back up tothe bottom of the slope andrestart there.

DOWN-HILL SLOPEShifting or sudden decelerationwhile going downhill should beavoided as the vehicle could losetraction. Choose a low gear and letthe engine control the speed.

Driving Techniques

22

1 Tire chains: There are metalchains and non-metal chains.Non-metal chains are lighter, easi-er to carry and attach. Conversely,metal chains are heavier and moredifficult to attach. Yet, they arecheaper and easier to repair if bro-ken and thus more suitable forcross-country driving.2 Attaching chains: Chainsshould be attached as soon as thesnow starts falling continuously. Ifoncoming vehicles are wearingthem, attach chains. In the case of4WD, attach chains to the tireswith the heavier load. On deepsnow or for driving downhill, usethe front tires. In pressed snowsand up-hill, use the rear tires. Gen-erally speaking, attaching to thefront tires risks damage to theinside of wheel-housing, axle orbrake hose. Regarding vehicle con-trol, attaching chains to the reartires can increase under-steering,

but makes correction easier. If thevehicle gets stuck, the chains canbe removed and reattached to thefront tires for traction. Wherechains should be attached (front orrear tires) is a case-by-case deci-sion, but generally it is recom-mended to use the rear tires.

SNOW ACCUMULATION ON THEVEHICLEWhile driving, snow that sticks tothe fenders could interfere withsteering and snow on the head-lamps could affect the beam.Check these potential problems byinspecting it from time to time.

Tire chains

Other tips for cold places

2

25

TRY NOT TO BRING SNOW INTOTHE VEHICLEBe careful not to bring the snowinside the vehicle on shoes andclothes as it could make the pedalsurface slippery or freeze the ped-als when the vehicle is parked.

PARKING1 Avoid parking in a windy orsnowy place or where a large blockof snow could fall.2 When parking for an extendedperiod of time, have space to brushthe snow before driving again.3 One way to maintain batterypower is by disconnecting the

cable. In an extremely cold place,removing the entire battery to bekept in a warmer place is anothereffective option. Changing thedirection of the vehicle whenparking or putting a corrugatedpaper or towels in or on the hooddoesn’t help very much.4 So as not to let the parkingbrake freeze, park the vehiclewithout activating the parkingbrake. Leave the vehicle in eitherfirst gear or in reverse.5 To prevent the wipers fromfreezing in place, move them tothe up position, not touching thewindshield.6 To prevent keyhole freeze, insertan anti-corrosion lubricant intothe keyhole.

RADIATOR LIQUID’S QUANTITYAND CONCENTRATIONPrevent freezing by adding LLCanti-freezing radiator fluid.

WINDOW-WASHER FLUIDDriving through snowy conditionsconsumes a larger amount of win-dow-washer liquid than normal.Make sure you have plenty.

STARTING THE VEHICLEWhen a vehicle has been parkedfor a long time, the radiator fluidcould be frozen slightly, even ifanti-freeze is being used. If drivingbegins before the liquid melts, thelittle liquid left in the radiatorcould boil and burst the hose. Letthe engine warm up before mov-ing the vehicle. Wait until hot aircomes out from the heater or untilthe water temperature gagestarts showing some warmth.

Driving Techniques

24

FREEZING OF THE DOORIf you force the door to open afterit becomes frozen, you might dam-age its rubber seal. Apply heatwith moderately warm water andwait for the door to defrost.

SELECTION OF FUELGas oil freezes under minus 10degrees and can choke the fuelline. Leave some room in the fueltank before arriving at your desti-nation so that refueling locallywith non-freezing fuel is possible.

BATTERY LIQUIDWhen there is not enough fluid inthe battery, the power supply goesdown and restarting under coldconditions becomes difficult.

road condition add to the instabil-ity.On rocky places with gaps, evena 5-degree tilt can cause the vehi-cle to flip. It is desirable to “feel”these angles in a safe and stableenvironment so as not to gobeyond these limits in the actualdriving situations. Vehicles modi-fied to increase height or withother additions change its centerof gravity and extra caution isrequired.

from the side, inadequate opera-tion while driving a sloping road,shock from a road gap or road col-lapse can all cause a vehicle to flip.

burnout. If the vehicle is equippedwith an idling timer, turn it off aswell.2 Prepare for escape: Prepare toextract yourself from the seat beltand to be able to protect yourself ifyou fall.3 Get rid of seat belt: If you can-not get rid of the belt, cut it with aseatbelt cutter.4 Open the door or window:Open the appropriate door/win-dow for you to make the escape. Ifthe door/window is forced shutbecause of deformation of thebody, use a hammer to smash thewindow and escape.

5 Escape from the vehicle:Examine to determine if the routeof escape is a safe one and get outfrom the vehicle. Avoid gettingclose to the tires because anengine or transmission tends to behot and the fuel tank could ignite.Assess the surface condition andstability of the vehicle beforedeciding which side of the vehiclefrom which to escape.6 Escape to a safe place: Toavoid secondary damage, get awayfrom the vehicle and call for help.

2726

3Remarks

Escape from a Turned-over VehicleThe reasons vehicles areturned on their sides

Maximum angle beforeturning on its side

An abrupt turn during high speeddriving, sudden braking, a collision

Escaping from an upsetvehicle

If the vehicle flips, do not panicand behave with caution.

1 Turn off the engine: By turn-ing off the engine, you prevent oilor fuel from catching fire or otherengine trouble such as an engine

In addition to keeping appropriatespeed and avoiding abrupt opera-tion, stay away from a roadsidethat might collapse; pay extraattention while driving steepslopes. The maximum tilt for avehicle before it turns over when itis not in motion is somewherebetween 30 degrees to left/rightand 40 degrees to front/rear.Whenthe vehicle is in motion, speed and

Escape to the safe side!

3

1. Depending on the weight of theobject to be moved, decide thenumber of pulleys, length of rope,how to hook the cable (e.g. sin-gle/double/triple line) and thedirection of pulling.

2. When anchoring the pullingvehicle, engage the parking brakeand put blocks in front of thewheels.You may find that pressingon the foot brakes adds furtherstability.

29

Winch operation

Use a winch not only to getunstuck, but also to removeobjects and to climb or descendextremely steep hills.A winch takes the work out of free-ing a vehicle. Also a vehicle canfree itself with a winch. However,never use the winch to lift or move

people or to lift objects.Winching requires an anchor:other vehicles can be used as

Remarks

28

Winching TechniquesWinching your way free

Escape tools that savelife

Result could be fatal if the seat beltcannot be removed or if the win-dows or doors don’t open quickly.To prepare for such an emergency,there are several escape tools.Most of them are a combination ofhammer to break the windowsand a scissors/cutter to cut theseat belt.They are useful to escape

from one’s own vehicle and to saveother people from their vehicle aswell.Tool choices should be made care-fully because functions differ withtypes and sizes. The tools shouldbe fixed on a place within thereach of the driver even when thevehicle is turned upside down.

Within 15 degrees hori-zontally and verticallyfrom the vehicle center. Stand clear of the

cable and loadduring the winch-ing operation.

U SHACKLE

BLOCKS TO WHEEL

LEATHERGLOVESTOW ROPE

PULLEY

LEATHERPADBLANKET

If necessary, usetree as an anchor

anchors, but natural objects suchas trees, stumps and rocks are best.Select the anchor carefully andensure it can withstand the load.

3. If needed, use an additionalanchor for stability or to preventflipping the vehicle.4. Wrap the anchor with a leatherpad. Also place a blanket in themiddle of the cable when winching.

3

OUTSIDE THE VEHICLETires (spare included): Check thepressure with a gauge and lookcarefully for cuts, damage orexcessive wear.Wheel nuts: Make sure nuts are

stoplamps, tail lamps, turn signalsand other lamps are all working.Check the headlamp aim.

INSIDE THE VEHICLEJack and wheel nut wrench:Make sure you have your jack andwheel nut wrench.Seatbelts: Check that the buckleslock securely. Make sure the beltsare not worn or frayed.Instrument and controls : Espe-cially make sure the servicereminder indicators, instrumentlight and defroster are working.Brakes: Make sure the pedal hasenough clearance.

IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENTSpare fuses: Make sure you have

not missing or loose.Fluid leaks: After the vehicle hasbeen parked for a while, checkunderneath for leaking fuel oil,water or fluid. (water drippingfrom air conditioning after use isnormal)Lights: Make sure the headlamps,

31

Before startingthe engine

Inspection before Driving Off-road

Remarks

30

Rewinding

Always inspect and carefullyrewind the cable after use. Whenspooling the cable, be sure to dis-tribute it evenly and tightly on thedrum. Replace the cable if any partbecomes damaged. For moredetails regarding winching, pleaserefer to your operation manual.

1 Adjust seat position, seatbackangle, seat cushion angle, headrestraint height and steeringwheel angle.2 Adjust inside and outside rear-view mirrors.3 Lock all doors.4 Fasten seatbelts.

Entering a vehicle

5. If possible,start the engine of thestuck vehicle and shift to neutral.6. Keep the wheels pointing

spare fuses. They should cover allthe amperage ratings designatedon the fuse box lid.Coolant level: Make sure thecoolant level is correct.Battery and cables: All the bat-tery cells should be filled to theproper level with distilled water.Look for corroded or loose termi-nals or a cracked case. Check thecables for good condition andconnections.Wiring: Look for damaged, looseor disconnected wires.Fuel lines: Check the lines forleaks or loose connections.

straight to the pulling direction.7. Start the engine of the winch-ing vehicle and begin to pull.

Convoys:When traveling in a convoy, youare responsible for the vehiclebehind you, keeping them in viewensures that you know about anyproblems immediately. Never fol-low a car too closely. A vehiclestops quickly when it gets stuck,flying rocks can damage yourvehicle, in dusty conditions, youmay not be able to see clearly, sogive the vehicle ahead room.

3

The parts related to the engine andpowertrain are subject to intenseheat and load. Driving throughwater exposes heated parts towater and causes faster degrada-

tion of parts and material. Mudand sand that sticks to the vehiclecan accelerate corrosion. Parts ofthe vehicle could also have beendamaged by rocks or other objectson the road.

parts that support transmissioncan result in corrosion.Sand can easily sneak into armsthat support axle and bushingresulting in faster wear on thoseparts.Dust stuck on the front of radiatorreduces the cooling capacity andcan result in corrosion.

2 Easy inspection: Look aroundtires and under the body for visibledamage.

� Damage to the body: Dam-age to the bumper or the body hasto be treated immediately if it

interferes with the rotation of tiresor power train parts.

� Damage to power trainparts: Damage to axle housing orrod-arm could cause oil leakage orunstable steering.

Damage to brake fluid hose orbrake-wire: Small stones can jumpinto these parts resulting in oilleakage or damage to the wiring.

� Tilt: Put the vehicle on levelground to determine tilt.

33

Vehicle condition

After washing and inspection, thefollowing maintenance procedurescould be applied.1. Sand and dust on the air clean-er should be taken off by gentlyshaking the cleaner. If the dustspersist, consider replacing thecleaner.2. Check the engine oil. If waterhas entered, whitening of the oiltakes place. If carbon has found itsway, blackening of the oil takesplace. If the amount is not enough,add oil. If irregularly largeamounts of oil is missing, identifi-cation and rectification of thecause is called for.

3. The level of brake fluid, power-steering oil and transmission oil,must be verified and inspected iflarge amounts are missing.4. Supply sufficient battery liquid.5. Add grease to all grease-uppoints.6. Any damage caused to the drivetrain should be treated at thegarage to the extent necessary.7. Seriously damaged tires orwheels should be replaced.

Easy Maintenance

1 Cleaning: Start with washingthe vehicle. Focus on the underbody rather than the body withthe following in mind:Mud stuck on the wheel can dis-turb the wheel balance and resultin vibrations at high speed.Check for scratches on the tires andwheels. The wheel rims and thesidewall of tires have to beinspected carefully because driv-ing through rocky surfaces candamage these parts.Mud caught by the cover and other

Basic maintenance

Inspection after Driving Off-road

Remarks

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