7-5
LEARNING TO OPERATE YOUR VEHICLE
You should become familiar with the perfor-
mance characteristics of the vehicle in a large,
flat area that is free of obstacles and other ve-
hicles. Practice control of the accelerator ped-
al, brakes, steering, and drive select lever.
Drive first at slow speed and become comfort-
able at that speed before gradually increasing
your speed. Become familiar with the way the
vehicle feels in low and high ranges, first in
two-wheel drive (2WD) and then in four-wheel
drive (4WD) and four-wheel drive with the dif-
ferential locked (DIFF. LOCK). Also practice
driving in reverse. Take the time to learn basic
operation before attempting more difficult ma-
neuvers.
Perform the Pre-Operation Checks on pages
5-1–5-11. Set the parking brake, shift to neu-
tral, and follow the instructions on page 6-1 to
start the engine. Once it has warmed up and
you have turned the choke off, you are ready
to begin driving your vehicle. With the engine
idling, shift the drive select lever into low or
high. Then release the parking brake. Press
the accelerator pedal slowly and smoothly.
The centrifugal clutch will engage and you will
start to accelerate. Avoid higher speeds until
you are thoroughly familiar with the operation
of your vehicle.
When slowing down or stopping, take your
foot off the accelerator pedal and smoothly
press the brake pedal. Improper use of the
brakes can cause the tires to lose traction, re-
ducing control and increasing the possibility of
an accident.
U5UG12.book Page 5 Thursday, June 23, 2005 9:02 AM