2000 MITSUBISHI CARISMA stop start

STARTING AND DRIVING
5–12
StartingEI02FAIh
Tips for starting
(1) Do not operate the starter motor con-
tinuously for anything longer than 10
seconds; doing so could run down the
battery. If the engine does not start, turn
the ignition switch back to “LOCK”, wait
a few seconds, and then try again.
Trying repeatedly with the starter mo-
tor still turning will damage the starter
mechanism.
(2) If the engine cannot be started because
the battery is weak or dead, refer to the
“Emergency starting” section for instruc-
tions on starting the engine.
(3) The engine is well warmed up if the
coolant temperature gauge needle
starts to move (the engine speed de-
creases). Extended warming - up oper-
ation will result in excessive fuel con-
sumption.
WARNING
Never run the engine in a closed or
poorly ventilated area any longer than
is needed to move your vehicle in or
out of the area. Carbon monoxide
gases are odourless and can be fatal.
CAUTION
(1) Never attempt to start the engine
by pushing or pulling the vehicle.
Especially in the automatic trans-
mission since the structure is dif-
ferent from a manual transmis-
sion, it is not possible to start the
engine by using this technique.
Never attempt this or it could
damage the automatic transmis-
sion.
(2) Do not run the engine at high rpm
or drive the vehicle at high speed
until the engine has a chance to
warm up.
(3) Release the ignition key as soon
as the engine starts to avoid dam-
aging the starter motor.
(4) If your vehicle is equipped with a
turbocharger, do not stop the en-
gine immediately after operating
the vehicle at high speeds. Allow
the engine to idle for approxi-
mately 60 seconds or more to
give the turbocharger a chance to
cool down.
NOTE
After replacing the battery, the electronic
control system data for the engine, auto-
matic transmission, etc., will be erased. As a
result, the engine speed may become un-
stable and shift shocks may occur.
If the engine speed becomes unstable, initial
engine adjustments will need to be per-
formed.
Refer to the section ”What to do if the engine
speed becomes unstable after the battery is
replaced” on page 8–22.
Shift shocks will become smoother after sev-
eral changes in speed.

STARTING AND DRIVING
5–19
Except for vehicles with Sports mode
I04A229a
Indicator lamps
A- Selector lever position indicator lamp
B- “N” indicator lamp
The indication lamps in the instrument panel
are for indication the selector lever position
and one of them will be illuminated when the
ignition is switched “ON”.
I04A257a
Vehicles with Sports mode
CAUTION
If the “N” (NEUTRAL) indicator lamp
in the selector lever position indicator
flashes while you are driving, there
could be a malfunction in the auto-
matic transmission. (If the selected
lever position is in the “P” (PARK),
“R” (REVERSE) or “N” (NEUTRAL)
position, the indicator lamp does not
flash.) Identify and rectify the problem
in accordance with the following pro-
cedure.
CAUTION
[The “N” indicator lamp flashes rapid-
ly (twice per second)]
The automatic transmission 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) posi-
tion and open the bonnet. Keep the
engine idling.
After a while, move the selector to the
“D” position and confirm that the “N”
indicator lamp stops flashing. It is safe
to continue driving if the “N” indicator
lamp no longer flashes.
Be sure to carry out this check with
the selector lever in the all forward
position except for “P” (PARK), “R”
(REVERSE) or “N” (NEUTRAL). The
“N” indicator lamp warning function
operates only in these positions.
If the “N” indicator lamp continues
flashing or flashes intermittently,
have your vehicle inspected by an
authorized MITSUBISHI dealer.

STARTING AND DRIVING
5–20
CAUTION
[The “N” indicator lamp flashes slow-
ly (once per second)]
The automatic transmission safety
device may be operating due to a mal-
function.
Have your vehicle inspected by an
authorized MITSUBISHI dealer as
soon as possible.
Selector positionsEI04BALb
P - PARKThis position locks the transmission to pre-
vent the vehicle from moving. The engine
can be started in this position.
R - REVERSEMove the lever to this position only after the
vehicle has come to a complete stop.
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” or “R” position while the ve-
hicle is in motion, the transmission
may be damaged.
N - NEUTRALAt this position, the transmission is disen-
gaged. It is the same as the neutral position
on a manual transmission, and should be
used when the vehicle is stationary for an ex-
tended length of time during driving, such as
in a traffic jam.
WARNING
(1) Never move the selector lever to
the “N” position while driving.
A serious accident could occur
since you could accidentally
move the lever into the “P” or “R”
position and engine braking
would be lost.
(2) On a slope gradient, the engine
should be started in the “P”
(PARK) position, not in the “N”
(NEUTRAL) position.
(3) Always keep your right foot on
the brake pedal when the vehicle
is in “N” (NEUTRAL), or when
shifting into or out of “N” (NEU-
TRAL), to minimize the risk of
loss of control.
D - DRIVEThis position is for normal driving.
The transmission automatically selects a
suitable gear for your speed and acceler-
ation.
Engine braking is automatically applied
when necessary, depending on road condi-
tions.
Please refer to “Uphill/downhill driving” on
page 5–24.

STARTING AND DRIVING
5–22
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Sports mode
(Vehicles with Sports mode)
EI04S-Oa
Whether the vehicle is stationary or in mo-
tion, sports mode is selected by pushing the
selector lever from the “D” (DRIVE) position
into the manual gate (A). To return to “D”
range operation, push the selector lever
back into the main gate (B).
In sports mode, gear shifts can be made
rapidly simply by moving the selector lever
backwards and forwards. In contrast to a
manual transmission, the sports mode al-
lows gear shifts with the accelerator pedal
depressed.
+ (UP): Push the lever forward once to shift
up one gear.
– (DOWN): Pull the lever backwards once to
shift down one gear.
CAUTION
(1) Upward shifts do not take place
automatically in sports mode.
The driver must execute upward
shifts in accordance with prevail-
ing road conditions, taking care
to keep the engine speed below
the red zone.
(2) By rapidly moving the selector
lever backwards (DOWN) twice, it
is possible to skip one gear, i.e.,
3rd to 1st or 4th to 2nd. Since
sudden engine braking and/or
rapid accelera-tion can cause a
loss of traction, however, down-
shifts must be made carefully in
accordance with the vehicle’s
speed.
NOTE
(1) In sports mode, only the 4 forward gears
can be selected. To reverse or park the
vehicle, move the selector lever to the
“R” (REVERSE) or “P” (PARK) position
as required.
(2) To maintain the required levels of ve-
hicle performance and safety, the sys-
tem may not execute certain gear shifts
when the selector lever is operated,
such as 4th gear at low speed.
(3) In sports mode, downward shifts are
made automatically when the vehicle
slows down. When the vehicle stops,
1st gear is automatically selected.
(4) When driving away on a slippery road,
push the selector lever forward into the
+(UP) position. This causes the trans-
mission to shift into the 2nd gear which
is better for smooth driving away on a
slippery road. Push the selector lever to
the – (DOWN) side to shift back to the
1st gear.
(5) Move the selector lever gently between
the manual and main gates and be-
tween positions in the manual gate.
Undue force could damage the selector
lever.

STARTING AND DRIVING
5–25
WaitingEI04G-Ee
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 selector lever should be placed
in the “N” (NEUTRAL) position.
CAUTION
(1)Never hold the vehicle stationary
while in gear on a hill with the accel-
erator, always apply the parking
brake and/or service brake.
(2)Unexpected acceleration may occur
if the selector lever is in a position
other than “P” (PARK) or “N” (NEU-
TRAL).
Prior to moving off after having
stopped the vehicle, make sure that
the selector lever is in “D” (DRIVE)
or “Sports mode” position.
ParkingEI04H-Be
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.
If you are going to leave the vehicle unat-
tended, always switch off the engine and re-
move the ignition key.
NOTE
On a slope, be sure to apply the parking
brake before moving the selector lever to the
“P” (PARK) position. If you move the selector
lever to the “P” (PARK) position without first
applying the parking brake, a stronger than
normal resistance force may be encoun-
tered. In this situation, move the selector
lever strongly when you next wish to drive.
I27A052a
Parking brakeEI07A-Jn
To park the vehicle, first bring it to a complete
stop, fully engage the parking brake and
then move the gear shift lever to 1st (on an
uphill) or Reverse (on a downhill) position, for
vehicles with a manual transmission or set
the selector lever to “P” (PARK) position on
automatic transmission vehicles.
To apply
1-Pull the lever up without pushing the
button at the end of the hand grip.

STARTING AND DRIVING
5–27
Braking EI23AAFc
All the parts of the brake system are critical
to safety. Have the vehicle serviced by an
authorized MITSUBISHI dealer at regular
intervals according to the service booklet.
Brake system
(1)The service brake is divided into two
brake circuits so that when one brake
circuit fails, the other is available to
stop the vehicle. If this occurs, howev-
er, the brake pedal must be depressed
further than usual; stop driving as
soon as possible and have the brake
system repaired at the nearest autho-
rized MITSUBISHI dealer.
(2)The brake boosting force is lost after
the brake pedal is depressed once or
twice while the engine is off. If this oc-
curs, the brake will require greater
force than usual. This is especially im-
portant when the vehicle is being
towed.
Warning lamp
The brake warning lamp lets you know if
your brake system is working properly.
Read “Brake warning lamp” on page 4–8 .
When brakes are wet
Check the brake system while driving at a
low speed immediately after starting, es-
pecially when the brakes are wet, to con-
firm they work normally.
A film of water can form on the brake discs
and prevent normal functioning after driv-
ing in heavy rain or through large puddles,
or after the vehicle is washed. If this oc-
curs, dry the brakes out by driving slowly
while lightly depressing the brake pedal.
When driving downhill
It is important to take advantage of the en-
gine braking by shifting to a lower gear
while driving on steep downhill roads in or-
der to prevent the brakes from overheat-
ing.
Brake pads
(1)With new brake pads, avoid where
possible sudden full application of the
brakes for the first 200 km of driving.
(2)The disc brakes are provided with a
warning device which emits a shriek-
ing metallic sound while braking if the
brake pads have reached their limit. If
you hear this sound, have the brake
pads replaced by your MITSUBISHI
dealer.
CAUTION
(1) Do not leave any objects or place
a thick floor mat around the brake
pedal; doing so could prevent the
full pedal stroke that would be
necessary in an emergency.
Make sure that the pedal can be
operated freely at all times.
(2) Avoid driving habits that cause
heavy braking and never “ride”
the brakes by resting your foot on
the brake pedal while driving.
It causes brake overheating and
fade.

STARTING AND DRIVING
5–28
Anti–lock brake system
(ABS)*
EI24ACA
Environmental conditions can have an effect
on braking. During sudden braking when
there is snow, ice, oil, water etc. on the road
surface, a skid may occur. I n this situation,
steering control and braking effectiveness is
reduced and the stopping distance is in-
creased. The vehicle may also go into an un-
controlled spin.
The ABS helps prevent the wheels from
locking during braking, thus maintaining
directional stability, ensuring controllability
and providing optimum braking force.
Driving hints
(1) With ABS fitted, steering during sudden
braking (when the ABS functions) differs
slightly from when the brakes are not
being applied.
Steer the vehicle carefully in these
conditions.(2) Always maintain the same distance
from the vehicle in front of you as you
would for a vehicle not equipped with
ABS. Compared with vehicles not fitted
with ABS, your vehicle may require a
longer stopping distance in the following
cases:

Driving on gravel or snow–covered
roads.

Driving with tyre chains installed.

Driving on roads where the road
surface is pitted or has other differ-
ences in surface height.

Driving on bumpy roads or other
poor driving surfaces.
(3) Operation of ABS is not restricted to
situations where brakes are applied
suddenly. This system may also oper-
ate to prevent wheel lock when you are
driving over manholes, steel road–work
plates, or the vehicle is driven over
steps or level differences in the road,
road markings, or other surfaces which
are difficult for the wheels to grip.
(4) When the ABS is activated, you may
feel the brake pedal pulsating and hear
a characteristic noise. Also at this time,
it may feel as if the pedal attempts to re-
sist being depressed.
In this situation, to let the ABS work
for you, just hold the brake pedal
down more firmly. Do not pump the
brake. This will result in reduced
braking performance.
CAUTION
(1) Even the ABS can not prevent the
natural laws of physics from act-
ing on the vehicle. It cannot for in-
stance avoid accidents that may
result from excessive speed on
bend or following another vehicle
too closely, or aquaplaning. It
should remain the driver’s task to
observe safety precautions to
judge speeds and brake applica-
tions correctly in such condi-
tions.
(2) Be sure to use tyres of the same
type and size on four wheels.
If tyre types or sizes are mixed,
ABS may not function normally.
(3) Never install a limited slip differ-
ential, which is not MITSUBISHI
Genuine parts, as the ABS may
not function normally.
Please consult an authorized
MITSUBISHI dealer.

STARTING AND DRIVING
5–30
Rear
I24A052a
(2) After driving on snowy roads, remove
any snow and ice which may have be-
come adhered to the wheel areas.
When doing this, be careful not to dam-
age the wheel speed sensors (A) and
cables located at each wheel.
(3) The ABS becomes operative after the
vehicle has accelerated to a speed in
excess of approximately 10 km/h. It
stops operating when the vehicle de-
celerates to a speed below approxi-
mately 5 km/h.
G09A017a
Steering wheel height
adjustment
EG09A-Ci
To adjust the steering wheel height, release
the tilt lock lever while holding the steering
wheel by hand, and raise or lower the steer-
ing wheel to the desired height.
After adjustment, securely lock the lever by
pulling it upward.
1-Locked
2-Released
WARNING
(1) After adjusting to the desired
height, check to be sure that the
lever is locked.
(2) Do not attempt to adjust the steer-
ing wheel while you are driving
the vehicle.
(3) When releasing the tilt lock lever,
move it to the release position (2)
and hold the steering wheel by
hand to prevent it falling to the
lowest position.