2000 MITSUBISHI CARISMA engine

FOR PLEASANT DRIVING
6–36
RHD
H04F078a
CAUTION
When using the air conditioning, the
idling speed may slightly increase as
the air conditioning compressor is
switched on/off automatically. Es-
pecially for vehicles with an auto-
matic transmission, while the vehicle
is stationary, fully depress the brake
pedal to prevent the vehicle from
creeping.
Automatic air conditioning*EH14A-U
The air conditioning can only be operated
while the engine is running.
CAUTION
When using the air conditioning, the
idling speed may slightly increase as
the air conditioning compressor is
switched on/off automatically. Es-
pecially for vehicles with an auto-
matic transmission, while the vehicle
is stationary, fully depress the brake
pedal to prevent the vehicle from
creeping.
H14A019a
NOTE
(1) There is a photo sensor, atmosphere
temperature sensor and interior air tem-
perature sensor inside the vehicle.
A- Photo sensor
B- Atmosphere temperature sensor
C- Interior air temperature sensor
Never place anything on top of the
cover of these sensors, doing so will
prevent them from functioning properly.
(2) The cool air form the ventilators may ap-
pear as a mist. This is due to moist air
being suddenly cooled by the air condi-
tioning. This will clear after a few mo-
ments.

FOR PLEASANT DRIVING
6–46
CAUTION
(6) When the cigarette lighter socket
is used as a power source for an
electric appliance, be sure that
the electric appliance operates at
12 V and has an electric capacity
of 120 W or less. In addition, long
use of the electric appliance with-
out running the engine may run
down the battery.
G32A110a
AshtrayEG32AAV
Push the tray centre (A) to open.
G32A151a
To remove the ashtray, pull up the inner part
(B) from the sliding tray.
CAUTION
(1) Do not put papers and other
things that burn into your ash-
trays. If you do, cigarettes or
other smoking materials could
set them on fire, causing damage.
(2) Always close the ashtray. If left
open, other cigarette butts in the
ashtray may be rekindled.
(3) Put out a match and cigarette be-
fore they are placed in the ash-
tray.

VEHICLE CARE
7–4
WashingEK22ACCb
Chemicals contained in the dirt and dust
picked up from the road surface can damage
the paint coat and body of your vehicle if left
in prolonged contact.
Frequent washing and waxing is the best
way to protect your vehicle from this dam-
age. This will also be effective in protecting
it from environmental elements such as rain,
snow, salt air, etc.
Do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight.
Park the vehicle in the shade and spray it
with water to remove dust. Next, using an
ample amount of clean water and a car
washing brush or sponge, wash the vehicle
from top to bottom.
Use a mild car washing soap if necessary.
Rinse thoroughly and wipe dry with a soft
cloth. After washing the vehicle, carfully
clean the joints and flanges of the doors,
bonnet, etc., where dirt is likely to remain.
CAUTION
(1) When washing the under side of
your vehicle or wheel, wear a pair
of rubber gloves.
CAUTION
(2) Refrain from using a car wash as
its brushes may scratch the paint
surface, causing it to lose its
gloss.
Scratches will be especially vis-
ible on darker coloured vehicles.
(3) Never spray or splash water on
the electrical components in the
engine compartment, as this may
adversely affect engine starting.
Exercise caution also when
washing the underbody; be care-
ful not to spray water into the en-
gine compartment.
(4) Some types of hot water washing
equipment apply high pressure
and heat to the vehicle. They may
cause heat distortion and damage
to the vehicle resin parts and may
result in flooding of the vehicle in-
terior. Therefore; observe the fol-
lowing.

Maintain a good distance of ap-
prox. 40 cm or more between
the vehicle body and the wash-
ing nozzle.
CAUTION

When washing around the door
glass, hold the nozzle at a dis-
tance of more than 50 cm and
at right angles to the glass sur-
face.
(5) Using an automatic car wash, pay
attention to the following items, re-
fering to the operation manual or
consulting a car wash operator. If
the followings are not followed, it
could result in damage to your ve-
hicle.

The outside mirrors are re-
tracted.

The roof antenna is removed.

If your vehicle is equipped
with the rear wiper, tape or re-
move it.

VEHICLE CARE
7–5
During cold weatherThe salt and other chemicals spread on the
roads in some areas in winter can have a
harmful effect on the vehicle body. You
should therefore wash the vehicle as often
as possible in accordance with our care–in-
structions. It is recommended to have a pre-
servative applied and the underfloor protec-
tion checked at an authorized MITSUBISHI
dealer before and after the cold weather sea-
son.
After washing your vehicle, wipe off all water-
drops from the rubber parts around the doors
to prevent the doors from freezing.
NOTE
To prevent freezing of the weatherstripping
on the doors, bonnet, etc., they should be
treated with silicone spray.
WaxingEK33A-N
Waxing the vehicle will help prevent the ad-
herence of dust and road chemicals to the
paintwork. Apply a wax solution after wash-
ing the vehicle, or at least once every three
months to assist displacing of water. Do not
wax your vehicle in direct sunlight. You
should wax after the surfaces have cooled.
CAUTION
(1) Waxes containing high abrasive
compounds should not be used.
Such waxes remove rust and
stain effectively from the paint-
work but they are harmful to the
lustre of the painted surface.
Further, they are harmful to
glossy surfaces such as grille,
garnish, mouldings, etc.
(2) Do not use petrol or paint
thinners to remove road tar or
other contamination to the
painted surface.
(3) Do not apply wax on the areas
having black mat coating as it can
cause uneven discolouration,
patches, blurs, etc. If stained with
wax, immediately wipe off with a
piece of soft cloth and warm
water.
(4) On vehicles with the sunroof, be
careful when waxing the area
around the sunroof opening, not
to put any wax on the weather-
strip (black rubber). If stained
with wax, the weatherstrip cannot
maintain a weatherproof seal with
the sunroof.
PolishingEK04A-Ac
The vehicle should only be polished if the
paintwork has become stained or lost its
lustre. Matt - finish parts and plastic bumpers
must not be polished, polishing these parts
will stain them or damage their finish.
Damaged paintEK08A-Ac
Small cracks and scratches in the paint coat
should be touched up as soon as possible
with MITSUBISHI touch - up paint to prevent
corrosion.
Check body areas facing the road or the
tyres carefully for damage to the paint coat
caused by flying stones, etc. The paint code
number for your vehicle can be found on the
vehicle information code plate in the engine
compartment.
Chrome partsEK06A-Aa
In order to prevent spots and corrosion of
chrome parts, wash with water, dry thor-
oughly, and apply a special protective coat-
ing. This should be done more frequently in
winter.

VEHICLE CARE
7–6
Servicing of plastic partsEK29AMEc
Use a sponge or chamois leather.
If a car wax adheres on a grey or black rough
surface of the bumper, moulding or lamps,
the surface becomes white. In such a case,
wipe it off using lukewarm water and soft
cloth or chamois leather.
CAUTION
(1) Do not use a scrubbing brush or
other hard tools as they may dam-
age the plastic part surface.
(2) Do not use wax containing com-
pound (polishing powder) which
may damage the plastic part sur-
face.
(3) Do not bring the plastic parts into
contact with brake fluids, engine
oils, greases, paint thinners,
painting, and sulphuric acid (bat-
tery electrolyte) which may stain,
or discolour the plastic parts.
If they touch the plastic part, wipe
them off with soft cloth, chamois
or the like and an aqueous sol-
ution of neutral detergent, then
immediately rinse the affected
parts with water.
Aluminium wheels*EK35A-Af
A protective coating is provided over the alu-
minium type wheels.
Clean aluminium wheels with a cleaner de-
signed for use on aluminium and apply an
appropriate protection agent.
NOTE(1) When cleaning aluminium type wheels,
do not use abrasive cleaners. Wheels
exposed to sea water or road chemicals
should be cleaned as soon as possible.
(2) Brushes may damage the aluminium
wheel surface. Always use a sponge,
chamois leather, etc.
(3) Do not apply hot water directly from the
steam cleaner or similar to the wheel
surface.
Window glassEK10A-Ca
The window glass can normally be cleaned
using only a sponge and water.
Glass cleaner can be used to remove oil,
grease, dead insects, etc. After washing the
glass, wipe dry with a clean, dry, soft cloth.
Never use the same cloth to wipe the win-
dow glass as would be used to wipe the
paintwork; wax from the painted surfaces
could adhere to the glass and reduce its
transparency and visibility.
NOTETo clean the inside of the rear window, al-
ways use a soft cloth and wipe the window
glass along the demister heater element so
as not to cause damage.
Wiper bladesEK11A-Aa
Use a soft cloth and glass cleaner to remove
grease, dead insects, etc., from the wiper
blades. Replace the wiper blades when they
no longer wipe properly. (Refer to
page 9–18)

VEHICLE CARE
7–7
Cleaning the sunroof*EK30A-Ab
Clean the inside of the sunroof with a soft
cloth. Hard deposits should be wiped away
with a cloth dipped in warm, neutral deter-
gent solution. Wipe away the solution with a
sponge dipped in fresh water.
NOTEThe surface treatment on the inside of the
glass may be removed if hard cloth or or-
ganic solvent (benzine, thinner, etc.) is used.
Chassis and underbody protec-
tion
EK12A-Jc
Your vehicle’s underbody has been treated
at the factory in order to protect it from rust
and corrosion. Some areas have been in-
jected with anti-corrosion agents and wax.
The effectiveness of these measures, how-
ever, will be reduced by flying stones, road
chemicals, etc., as the vehicle is driven. You
should take your vehicle to your authorized
MITSUBISHI dealer every 12 months to
have body sheet metal inspected for condi-
tion, and it is recommended to have the un-
derbody checked regularly (autumn and
spring) and have additional protection treat-
ment carried out as required.
As not all of the commercially available ma-
terials are suitable for use on your vehicle, it
is recommended that you have this work
carried out by an authorized MITSUBISHI
dealer.
When washing the vehicle, especially in
winter, spray the underbody with water to re-
move dirt and dust which might contain salts,
road chemicals, etc.
Engine compartmentEK13A-Aa
Clean the engine compartment at the begin-
ning and end of winter. Pay particular atten-
tion to flanges, crevices and peripheral parts
where dust containing road chemicals and
other corrosive materials might collect.
If salt and other chemicals are used on the
roads in your area, clean the engine com-
partment at least once every three months.

For emergencies
If the vehicle breaks down 8–2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Operation under adverse driving conditions 8–2. .
Tools and jack 8–3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Jacking up the vehicle 8–4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Spare wheel 8–6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wheel covers* 8–8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If a tyre is punctured 8–9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Towing 8–12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine overheating 8–15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Emergency starting 8–17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bleeding the fuel system
(diesel-powered vehicles only) 8–21. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Removal of water from the fuel filter
(diesel-powered vehicles only) 8–21. . . . . . . . . . . . .
What to do if the engine speed becomes
unstable after the battery is replaced: 8–22. . . . . .
Fuses 8–22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Changing a fuse 8–25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Replacement of lamp bulbs 8–26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

FOR EMERGENCIES
8–2
If the vehicle breaks downEN40B-Bc
If the vehicle breaks down on the road, move
it to the shoulder and use the hazard warning
flashers.
If the engine stops/fails
Vehicle operation and control are affected if
the engine stops. Before moving the vehicle
to a safe area be aware of the following:
1. The brake booster becomes inoperat-
ive and the pedal effort will increase.
Press down the brake pedal harder
than usual.
2. Since the power steering pump is no
longer operative, the steering wheel
feels heavy when turning it. Turn the
wheel with more effort than usual.
Operation under adverse
driving conditions
EI43ABAa
If your vehicle is stuck: in sand,
mud or snow
If the vehicle becomes stuck in snow, sand,
or mud, it can often be moved by a rocking
motion. Move the gearshift lever or selector
lever alternately between the 1st and Re-
verse position (with manual transmission),
the “L” (LOW) and “R” (REVERSE) position
(with INVECS–II 4A/T), and the Sport mode
and “R” (REVERSE) position (with INVECS–
II Sport Mode 4A/T) while applying slight
pressure to the accelerator pedal.
Avoid racing the engine or spinning the
wheels. Prolonged efforts to free a stuck ve-
hicle may result in overheating and trans-
mission failure. Allow the engine to idle for a
few minutes to let the transmission cool be-
tween rocking attempts.
If the vehicle remains stuck after several
rocking attempts, seek other assistance.
WARNING
When attempting to rock your vehicle
out of a stuck position, be sure that
the area around the vehicle is clear of
people and physical objects. The
rocking motion may cause the ve-
hicle to suddenly launch forward or
backward causing injury or damage
to nearby people or objects.
On a flooded road
(1) Avoid flooded roads. Water could enter
the brake discs, resulting in temporarily
ineffective brakes. In such cases, lightly
depress the brake pedal to see if the
brakes operate properly. If they do not,
lightly depress the pedal several times
while driving in order to dry the brake
pads.
(2) When driving in rain or on a road with
many puddles a layer of water may form
between the tyres and the road surface.
This reduces a tyre’s frictional resis-
tance on the road, resulting in loss of
steering stability and braking capability.
To cope with this, observe the following
items:
(a) Drive your vehicle at a slow speed.
(b) Do not drive on worn tyres. Always
maintain the specified tyre inflation
pressures.