2008 MITSUBISHI COLT warning

8-2 Maintenance
8Service precautions
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Adequate care of your vehicle at
regular intervals serves to pre-
serve the value and appear ance as long as possible.
Maintenance items as described in this owner’s manual can be
performed by the owner.
We recommend you to have the periodic inspection and main-
tenance performed by a MITS UBISHI MOTORS Authorized
Service Point or another specialist. In the event a malfunction
or other problem is discovered, we recommend you to have it
checked and repaired. This section contains information on
inspection maintenance procedures that you can do yourself.
Follow the instructions and cautions for each of the various
procedures.
WARNING!
● When checking or servicing the inside of the engine
compartment, make sure th e engine is switched off
and has had a chan ce to cool down.
●If it is necessary to do work in the engine compart-
ment with the engine runni ng, be especially careful
that your clothing, hair, et c., does not become caught
by the fan, drive belts, or other moving parts.
● The fan may turn on automatically even if the
engine is not running; turn the ignition key to
“LOCK” position and remove the key to ensure
safety while you work in the engine compartment.
●Do not smoke, cause sparks or allow open flames
around fuel or battery. The fumes are flammable.
●Be extremely cautious wh en working around the
battery. It contains poison ous and corrosive sulphu-
ric acid.
● Do not get under your vehicle with just the body
jack supporting it. Always use automotive jack
stands.
●Improper handling of comp onents and materials
used in the vehicle can endanger your personal
safety. We recommend you to consult a specialist for
necessary information.
WARNING!

Maintenance8-3
8
Catalytic converter
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For ordinary use, there are no
particular precautions except that
of using unleaded petrol.
The exhaust gas scavenging device used with the catalytic con-
verter is extremely ef ficient for the reduction of noxious gases.
The catalytic converter is inst alled in the exhaust system.
It is important to keep the engine properly tuned to ensure
proper catalyst operation and prevent po ssible catalyst damage. The catalytic converter itself gets hot quickly, and may be dam-
aged if overheated. The followi
ng points should be noted in
order to prevent the ignition of unburned petrol within the cata-
lytic converter. ● In case of petrol-powered vehicles, use UNLEADED
PETROL ONLY of the type recommended in “Fuel selec-
tion” on page 2.
● Do not drive with an extremely low fuel level; running out
of fuel could cause damage to the catalytic converter.
● Do not try to start the engine by pushing the vehicle. If the
battery is weak or discharged, use another battery to start
the engine.
● In the case of petrol-powered vehicles, do not idle the
engine with any spark plug wires disconnected or
removed such as for performing diagnostic tests.
● Do not idle the engine for prolonged periods during very
rough idle or malfunctioning operating conditions.
● Do not race the engine when turning off the ignition
switch. This will damage the catalytic converter due to
contact with unburnt fuel.
● Stop driving the vehicle if you think the performance is
noticeably low, or there is un necessary engine rotation, or
any other engine trouble, such as with the ignition, etc.
If it is impractical to stop driving immediately, reduce the
speed and drive for only a s hort time. We recommend you
to have your vehicle inspected as soon as possible.
CAUTION!
● Damage to the catalytic co nverter can result if your
vehicle is not kept in a proper operating condition.
In the event of an engine malfunction, particularly
involving engine misfiring or other apparent loss of
performance, have your vehicle serviced promptly.
Continued operation of your vehicle in a severely
overheated condition may re sult in damage to the
converter and vehicle.
WARNING!
● As with any vehicle, do not park or operate this
vehicle in areas where combustible materials such as
dry grass or leaves can come into contact with a hot
exhaust, as a fire could occur.
●Paint should not be applied to the catalytic con-
verter.

8-12 Maintenance
8
Petrol-powered vehicles with turbocharger
Check the coolant level in the reserve tank. The reserve tank lid
is equipped with a dipstick.
Remove the dipstick and wipe it with a clean cloth. Reinsert
the dipstick as far as it goes. Remove the dipstick and read the
coolant level, which should always be within the range “F”
(FULL) or “L” (LOW) while the engine is cold.
To add coolant
The cooling system is a closed system and normally the loss of
coolant should be very slight. A noticeable drop in the coolant
level could indicate leakage. If this occurs, we recommend that
you have the system checked as soon as possible.
Petrol-powered vehicles
Except for vehicles with turbocharger
If the level drops below the “LOW” level on the reserve tank,
open the lid and add coolant to “FULL” level.
If the reserve tank is completely empty, remove the radiator
cap (A) and add coolant until the level reaches the filler neck.
Vehicles with turbocharger
If the level drops below the “L” (LOW) level on the dipstick,
add coolant to the reserve tank.
If the reserve tank is completely empty, remove the radiator
cap (A) and add coolant until the level reaches the filler neck.
FULL
LOWWARNING!
● Do not open the radiator ca p while the engine is hot.
The coolant system is u nder pressure and any hot
coolant escaping coul d cause severe burns.
WARNING!
●Do not open the radiator ca p while the engine is hot.
The coolant system is u nder pressure and any hot
coolant escaping coul d cause severe burns.

Maintenance8-13
8
Diesel- powered vehicles
If the level drops below the “LOW” level on the reserve tank,
open the lid and add coolant to the “FULL” level.
Anti-freeze
The engine coolant contains an ethylene glycol anti-corrosion
agent. The cylinder head and wa ter pump housing are cast alu-
minium alloy, and periodic changing of the engine coolant is
necessary to prevent corrosion of these parts.
Use a High-quality ethylene glycol based coolant. This has
excellent protection against corros ion and rust formation of all
metals including aluminium and can avoid blockages in the
radiator, heater, cylinder head, engine block, etc.
Because of the necessity of this anti-corrosion agent, the cool-
ant must not be replaced with plain water even in summer. The
required concentration of anti -freeze differs depending on the
expected ambient temperature.
During cold weather
If the temperatures in your ar ea drop below freezing, there is a
danger that the coolant in the engine or radiator could freeze
and cause severe damage to the engine and/or radiator. Add a
sufficient amount of anti-freeze to the coolant to prevent it
from freezing.
The engine coolant mixture used at the factory provides protec-
tion against freezing for temperat ures as low as approximately
-30 °C. The concentration should be checked before the start of
cold weather and anti-freeze added to the system if necessary.
WARNING!
●Do not open the reserve tank while the engine is hot.
The coolant system is under pressure and any hot
coolant escaping coul d cause severe burns.
Ambient temperature
(minimum) °C -30 -35 -50
Anti-freeze
concentration % 45 50 60
CAUTION!
●
Do not use alcohol or me thanol anti-freeze or any
engine coolants mixed with alcohol or methanol
anti-freeze. The use of an improper anti-freeze can
cause corrosion of the aluminium components.
● For effective anti-corro sion and anti-freeze per-
formance, keep the anti -freeze concentration within
a range of 45 to 60 %.
Concentrations exceeding 60 % will result in a
reduction of both the an ti-freeze and cooling per-
formance, thus adversel y affecting the engine.
●Do not top up with water only.
Water by itself reduces th e rust-protective and anti-
freeze qualities of the cool ant and has a lower boil-
ing point. It can also cause damage to the cooling
system if it should freeze. Do not use tap water, as it
can cause corrosion and rust formation.

8-14 Maintenance
8Wa s h e r f l u i d
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Check the washer fluid level in the container.
If the level is low, replenish the container with washer fluid.
NOTE●
The washer fluid container serves the windscreen and rear
window.
During cold weather
To ensure proper oper ation of the washers at low temperatures,
use a fluid containing an anti-freezing agent.
Brake fluid/Clutch fluid*
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The brake fluid (A) and the clutch fluid (B) share a reservoir
tank.
To check the fluid level
The fluid level must be between the “MAX” and “MIN” marks
on the reservoir.
The brake fluid level is monitored by a float. When the fluid
level falls below the “MIN” mark, the brake fluid warning
lamp lights up.
The brake fluid level falls slightly with wear of the brake pads,
but this does not indicate any abnormality.
A- Brake fluid C- Partition
B- Clutch fluid

8-18 Maintenance
8
NOTE●Keep the terminals clean. Afte r the battery is connected,
apply terminal protection grease. To clean the terminals,
use lukewarm water.
● Check to see if the battery is securely installed and cannot
be moved during travel. Also check each terminal for
tightness.
● When the vehicle is to be left unused for a long period of
time, remove the battery and store it in a place where the
battery fluid will not freeze. Th e battery should be stored
only in a fully charged condition.
WARNING!
● Keep sparks, cigarettes and flames away from the
battery, because the ba ttery could explode.
●The battery electrolyte is extremely caustic. Do not
allow it to come into cont act with your eyes, skin,
clothing, or the painted surf aces of the vehicle. Spilt
electrolyte should be flus hed immediately with copi-
ous amounts of water.
Irritation to eyes or skin from contact with electro-
lyte requires immediate medical attention.
● Ventilate when charging or using the battery in an
enclosed space.
CAUTION!
● Never disconnect the ba ttery with the ignition
switch in the “ON” position; doing so could damage
the vehicle’s electrical components.
● Never short-circuit the battery; doing so could cause
it to overheat and be damaged.
●Always wear protective eye goggles when working
near the battery.
●If the battery is to be qui ck-charged, first disconnect
the battery cables.
● In order to prevent a short ci rcuit, be sure to discon-
nect the negative (-) terminal first.
●Keep it out of re ach of children.
●Do not bring any adjacent pa rts, plastic parts and
so on into contact with su lphuric acid (battery elec-
trolyte), as they may cra ck, stain or discolour.
If they are in contact, wipe off with a soft cloth,
chamois or similar and an aqueous solution of neu-
tral detergent, then imme diately rinse the affected
parts with plenty of water.
CAUTION!

Maintenance8-19
8
Tyres
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Tyre inflation pressuresE01001401237
*: Above 160 km/h (99 mph)
Check the tyre inflation pressure of all th
e tyres while they are cold; if insufficient or excessive, adjust to the specified v alue.
After the tyre inflation pressure has been adjusted, check the tyres for damage and ai r leaks. Be sure to put caps on the valves.
WARNING!
●Driving with tyres that are worn, damaged or
improperly inflated can lead to a loss of control or
blow out of the tyres which can result in a collision
with serious or fatal injury.
ItemTy r e s i z eNormalAt trailer towing
FrontRearFrontRear
Normal tyre 175/65R14 82S
2.4 bar (240 kPa),
2.5 bar (250 kPa)* 2.4 bar (240 kPa),
2.5 bar (250 kPa)* 2.4 bar (240 kPa) 2.5 bar (250 kPa)
175/65R14 82T
195/50R15 82H
205/45R16 83H
205/45R16 83V 2.2 bar (220 kPa),
2.5 bar (250 kPa)* 2.2 bar (220 kPa),
2.5 bar (250 kPa)* 2.2 bar (220 kPa) 2.5 bar (250 kPa)
Compact spare tyre T115/70D15 4.2 bar (420 kPa)—

Maintenance8-23
8
The speed limit for tyre chains is 50 km/h (31 mph). Remove
the tyre chains as soon as possible on snow-free roads.
Ty r e s i z eWheel sizeMax. chain height [mm]
175/65R14*1, *214x5.5 J 12
185/55R15*
315x6.0 J
*
1: Petrol-powered vehicles with turbocharger have 15-inch
brakes, so 14-inch tyres and wheels cannot be used on them.
*
2: Use only 175/65R14 snow tyres (M + S) with the 1500 mod-
els of the petrol-powered vehicles without turbocharger
*
3: Snow tyres (M + S) only
CAUTION!
●
For vehicle with 195/50R15 or 205/45R16 tyres,
chains should not be us ed. The clearance between
the chains and the body is small, and the body might
be damaged.
However, if chains must be used on vehicles with
195/50R15 or 205/45R16 tyres, because of adverse
road conditions such as sn ow or ice, proceed as fol-
lows:
Change all the original tyres (including wheels) to
175/65R14 tyres (14 x 5.5 J wheels) or 185/55R15 M
+ S tyres (15 x 6.0 J wheels) and then use the chains
on the front wheels.
WARNING!
● DO NOT use a jack when fitting the chains, as in the
conditions, the tyres may sl ip on the icy road, caus-
ing the vehicle to slip off the jack.
CAUTION!
● Practice fitting the chains before you need them.
Don’t expect help from ot her people in the cold.
●Choose a clear straight stretch of road where you
can pull off and still be seen while you are fitting the
chains.
● Do not fit chains before you need them. This will
wear out your tyres and the road surface.
●After driving for about 100-300 metres, stop and
retighten the chains.
●Care should be taken with extremes of steering lock
to prevent possible contac t between the chains and
the vehicle body.
● Drive carefully and do no t exceed 50 km/h (31 mph).
Remember, fitting chains is not going to stop acci-
dents from happening.
● When tyre chains are instal led, take care that they
do not damage the disc wheel or body.