STARTING AND DRIVING
5-6
The catalytic converter itself gets hot
quickly, and may be damaged if overheat-
ed. The following points should be noted
in order to prevent the ignition of unburned
petrol within the catalytic converter.
(1) In case of the petrol-powered vehi-
cles, use UNLEADED PETROL
ONLY of the type of recommended in
“Fuel selection” on page 5-3.
(2) Do not drive with an extremely low
fuel level; running out of fuel could
cause damage to the catalytic con-
verter.
(3) Do not switch OFF the ignition switch
while driving.
(4) Do not try to start the engine by push-
ing the vehicle. If the battery is weak
or discharged, use another battery to
start the engine.
(5) In case of the petrol-powered vehi-
cles, do not idle the engine with any
spark plug wires disconnected or re-
moved such as performing diagnostic
tests.
(6) Do not idle the engine for prolonged
periods during very rough idle or mal-
functioning operating conditions.
(7) Do not race the engine when turning
off the ignition switch to prevent cat-
alytic converter from being damaged
due to unburnt fuel.(8) Stop driving the vehicle if you think
the performance is noticeably low, or
that there is unnecessary engine rota-
tion, or any other engine trouble, such
as with the ignition, etc.
If it is impractical to stop driving imme-
diately, reduce the speed and drive
for only a short time. Have an inspec-
tion made by your nearest authorized
MITSUBISHI dealer as soon as pos-
sible.
(9) In unusual situations involving grossly
malfunctioning engine operation, a
burnt smell may indicate severe and
abnormal catalyst overheating.
If this occurs, the vehicle should be
stopped in a safe place, the engine
switched off and the vehicle allowed
to cool. Once the engine is cool, a
service, including a tune-up to manu-
facturer’s specifications, should be
obtained immediately.Economical drivingEC19AAPa
For economical driving, there are some
technical requirements that have to be
met. The prerequisite for low fuel con-
sumption is a properly adjusted engine. In
order to achieve longer life of the vehicle
and the most economical operation, have
the vehicle serviced by an authorized
MITSUBISHI dealer at regular intervals in
accordance with the service standards.
Fuel economy and generation of exhaust
gas and noise are highly influenced by
personal driving habits as well as the par-
ticular operating conditions. The following
points should be observed in order to min-
imize wear of brakes, tyres and engine as
well as to reduce environmental pollution.
05engL2_240082_4 22-01-2004 13:04 Page 5-6
STARTING AND DRIVING
5-32
ParkingEI22A-Ak
Parking on a slope
Fully engage the parking brake, and then
move the gearshift lever to 1st (on an up-
hill) or reverse (on a downhill) position on
manual transmission vehicle.
On automatic transmission vehicle, move
the selector lever to “P” (PARK) position.
When parking on a hill, apply chocks to
wheels for greater safety.
Parking with the engine running
Do not keep the engine running in a
closed or poorly ventilated place. Carbon
monoxide gas is odourless and extremely
poisonous and dangerous.
Where you park
Do not park in a place where there are in-
flammable objects such as dry grass,
leaves, etc. because the exhaust system
with catalyst produces very high tempera-
tures. This may cause a fire.
When leaving the vehicle
Always remove the key from the ignition
switch and lock all doors when leaving the
vehicle unattended.
Always try to park your vehicle in a well lit
area.
BrakingEI23A-Me
All the parts of the brake system are cri-
tical 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, how-
ever, the brake pedal must be de-
pressed further than usual; stop driv-
ing as soon as possible and have the
brake system repaired at the nearest
authorized 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 important
when the vehicle is being towed.
(3) On diesel-powered vehicles, the
brake booster will no longer function if
the V-belt is broken, and the brake
failure warning lamp will illuminate to
inform the driver. If this happens, use
engine braking (down-shifting) to re-
duce the speed of the vehicle and
then depress the brake pedal withmore force than usual to stop the
vehicle in a safe place, and have the
brake system serviced at the nearest
authorized MITSUBISHI dealer.
Warning lamp
The brake warning lamp lets you know if
your brake system is working properly.
Read “Brake warning lamp” on page 4-9.
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
or brake drums and prevent normal func-
tioning after driving in heavy rain or
through large puddles, or after the vehicle
is washed. If this occurs, dry the brakes
out by driving slowly while lightly depress-
ing 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
order to prevent the brakes from overheat-
ing.
05engL2_240082_4 22-01-2004 13:05 Page 5-32
MAINTENANCE
EM01A-Hh
Adequate care of your vehicle at regular
intervals serves to preserve the value and
appearance as long as possible.
Some maintenance items can be carried
out by the owner (do it yourself), while
others should be carried out by an author-
ized MITSUBISHI dealer (periodic inspec-
tion and maintenance). This section de-
scribes only those items which can be car-
ried out by the owner. In the event a
malfunction or other problem is disco-
vered, have it corrected by an authorized
MITSUBISHI dealer. This section contains
information on inspection maintenance
procedures that you can do yourself, if you
wish to do so. Follow the instructions and
cautions for each of the various proce-
dures.WARNING(1) When checking or servicing the
inside of the engine compart-
ment, make sure the engine is
switched off and has had a
chance to cool down.
(2) If it is necessary to do work in
the engine compartment with
the engine running, be espe-
cially careful that your clothing,
hair, etc., does not become
caught by the fan, drive belts, or
other moving parts.
(3) Do not smoke, cause sparks or
allow open flames around fuel or
battery. The fumes are flam-
mable.
(4) Be extremely cautious when
working around the battery. It
contains poisonous and cor-
rosive sulphuric acid.
(5) Do not get under your vehicle
with just the body jack support-
ing it. Always use automotive
jack stands.
(6) Improper handling of compo-
nents and materials used in the
vehicle can endanger your
personal safety.
Consult an authorized MITSU-
BISHI dealer for necessary infor-
mation.
Engine oilEM03A-Dh
The engine oil used has a significant effect
on the engine’s performance, service life
and startability. Only use oil of the recom-
mended quality and appropriate viscosity.
All engines consume a certain amount of
oil during normal operation (See note be-
low). It is important, therefore to check the
oil at regular intervals or before starting a
long journey.
9-2
M03A036
2500 model
09engL2_240082_4 22-01-2004 13:12 Page 9-2