2008 MITSUBISHI COLT Owner's Manual (in English)

Vehicle care7-3
7
Cleaning the interior of your vehicle
E00900200031
After cleaning the interior of your vehicle with water, cleaner
or similar, wipe and dry in a shady, well-ventilated area.
NOTE●
Always read the instructio ns on the cleaner label.
Plastic, vinyl leather, fabric and flocked partsE00900300045
1. Gently wipe off with gauze or other soft cloth soaked with
a 3% aqueous solution of neutral detergent.
2. Dip cloth in fresh water and wring out well. Using this cloth, wipe off the detergent thoroughly.
NOTE● Do not use cleaners, conditioners and protectants contain-
ing silicons or wax.
Such products may cause annoying reflections and
obscure vision.
UpholsteryE00900500018
1. To maintain the value of your new vehicle, handle the
upholstery carefully and k eep the interior clean.
Use a vacuum cleaner and brush to clean the seats. If
stained, vinyl and synthetic leather should be cleaned with
an appropriate cleaner, and cloth fabrics can be cleaned
with either upholstery cleaner or a 3% solution of neutral
detergent in lukewarm water.
2. Clean the carpeting with a vacuum cleaner and remove
any stains with carpet cleaner. Oil and grease can be
removed by lightly dabbing with a clean colourfast cloth
and stain remover.
Genuine leather*E00900600093
1. Lightly wipe off with gauze or other soft cloth soaked
with a 5% aqueous solution of neutral detergent for wool.
2. Dip cloth in fresh water and wring it out well. Using this cloth, wipe off the detergent thoroughly.
3. Apply leather protecting agent to the genuine leather sur- face.
NOTE● If genuine leather is wet with water or is washed in water,
wipe off water as quickly as possible with a dry, soft cloth.
● Slight stains on genuine leather may be removed with
leather cleaner as well.
● The genuine leather surface may be damaged if a nylon
brush or synthetic fibre is rubbed hard against it.
● Organic solvents such as benzine, alcohol and gasoline,
acid or alkaline solvents may discolour the genuine
leather surface. Be sure to use neutral detergents.
CAUTION!
●Do not use organic substances (solvents, kerosine,
alcohol, gasoline, etc.) or alkaline or acidic solutions.
These chemicals can cause discolouring, staining or
cracking of the surface.
If you use cleaners or po lishing agents, make sure
their ingredients do not in clude the substances men-
tioned above.

7-4 Vehicle care
7
●Dirty genuine leather seat may mildew. Be very careful
about oil stains and remove them quickly.
● The genuine leather surface may harden and shrink if it is
exposed to direct rays of the sun for long hours. When
your vehicle is parked, place it in the shade as much as
possible.
● When the temperature of the ve hicle interior rises in sum-
mer, vinyl products left on the genuine leather seat may
deteriorate and stick to the seat.Cleaning the exterior of your vehicle
E00900700010
If the following is left on your vehicle, it may cause corrosion,
discolouration and stains, wash the vehicle as soon as possible.
● Seawater, anti-freeze for road use.
● Soot and dust, iron powder from factories, chemical sub-
stance (acids, alkali s, coal-tar, etc.).
● Droppings from birds, carcasse s of insects, tree sap, etc.
Wa s h i n gE00900901136
Chemicals contained in the dirt and dust picked up from the
road surface can damage the paint coat and body of your vehi-
cle if left in prolonged contact.
Frequent washing and waxing is the best way to protect your
vehicle from this damage. This wi ll also be effective in protect-
ing it from environmental elements such as rain, snow, salt air,
etc.
Do not wash the vehicle in dir ect sunlight. Park the vehicle in
the shade and spray it with water to remove dust. Next, using
an ample amount of clean wate r 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, care-
fully clean the joints and flanges of the doors, bonnet, etc.,
where dirt is likely to remain.
CAUTION!
● When washing the under side of your vehicle or
wheel, be careful not to injure your hands.

Vehicle care7-5
7
●If your vehicle has rain sensor wipers, place the
wiper switch lever in the “ ” (OFF) position to
deactivate the rain sensor before washing the vehi-
cle. Otherwise, the wipers will operate in the pres-
ence of water spray on the windscreen and may get
damaged as a result.
● Refrain from using a car wash as its brushes may
scratch the paint surface, ca using it to lose its gloss.
Scratches will be especially visible on darker col-
oured vehicles.
● Never spray or splash water on the electrical compo-
nents in the engine compartment, as this may
adversely affect engine starting.
Exercise caution also when washing the underbody;
be careful not to spray wa ter into the engine com-
partment.
● 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 floo ding of the vehicle inte-
rior. Therefore; ob serve the following.
• Maintain a good distance of approx. 50 cm or more
between the vehicle body and the washing nozzle.
• When washing around the door glass, hold the
nozzle at a distance of more than 50 cm and at
right angles to the glass surface.
CAUTION!
● After washing the vehicle, drive the vehicle slowly
while lightly depressing the brake pedal several
times in order to dry out the brakes.
Leaving the brakes wet could result in reduced
braking performance. There is also a possibility that
they could freeze up or b ecome inoperative due to
rust, rendering the vehicle unable to move.
● When using an automatic car wash, pay attention to
the following items, referi ng to the operation man-
ual or consulting a car wash operator. If the follow-
ing procedure is not followed, it could result in
damage to your vehicle.
• The outside mirrors are retracted.
• The antenna is removed.
• The rear wiper arm assembly is taped or removed.
• If your vehicle is equipped with a rear spoiler, con- sult a car wash operator be fore using the car wash.
• If your vehicle has rain sensor wipers, place the
wiper switch lever in th e “ ” (OFF) position to
deactivate the rain sensor.
CAUTION!

7-6 Vehicle care
7
During cold weather
The 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 ve hicle as often as possible in
accordance with our care instruc tions. It is recommended to
have a preservative applied an d the underfloor protection
checked before and after the cold weather season.
After washing your vehicle, wipe off all waterdrops from the
rubber parts around the doors to prevent the doors from freez-
ing.
NOTE● To prevent freezing of the w eatherstripping on the doors,
bonnet, etc., they should be treated with silicone spray.
WaxingE00901000528
Waxing the vehicle will help prev ent the adherence of dust and
road chemicals to the paintwor k. Apply a wax solution after
washing 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.
PolishingE00901100011
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 paintE00901200012
Small cracks and scratches in th e 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.
CAUTION!
●Waxes containing high abrasive compounds should
not be used. Such waxes rem ove rust and stain effec-
tively from the paintwork but they are harmful to
the lustre of the painted surface.
Further, they are harmful to glossy surfaces such as
grille, garnish, mouldings, etc.
● Do not use petrol or paint thinners to remove road
tar or other contamination on the vehicle surface.
●Do not apply wax on areas with a black mat coating
as it can cause uneven disc olouration, patches, blurs,
etc. If stained with wax, wipe off immediately with a
soft cloth and warm water.
CAUTION!

Vehicle care7-7
7
Cleaning plastic partsE00901300071
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.
Chrome partsE00901400014
In order to prevent spots and corrosion of chrome parts, wash
with water, dry thoroughly, and apply a special protective coat-
ing. This should be done more frequently in winter.
Aluminium wheels*E00901500086
1. Remove dirt using a sponge while sprinkling water on the wheel.
2. Use neutral detergent on any dirt that cannot be removed
easily with water.
Rinse off the neutral detergent after washing the wheel.
3. Dry the wheel thoroughly using a chamois leather or a soft
cloth.
CAUTION!
● Do not use a scrubbing brush or other hard tools as
they may damage the plastic part surface.
●Do not use wax containing compound (polishing
powder) which may damage the plastic part surface.
●Do not bring the plastic parts into contact with gaso-
line, light oil, brake fluids, engine oils, greases, paint
thinners, and sulphuric ac id (battery electrolyte)
which may crack, stain or discolour the plastic
parts.
If they touch the plastic pa rt, wipe them off with soft
cloth, chamois or the like and an aqueous solution of
neutral detergent then immediately rinse the
affected parts with water.
CAUTION!
● Do not use a brush or other hard implement on the
wheels.
Doing so could scratch the wheels.
●Do not use any cleaner th at contains an abrasive
substance or is acidic or alkaline. Doing so could
cause the coating on the wheels to peel or become
discoloured or stained.
● Do not directly apply hot water using a steam
cleaner or by any other means.
●Contact with seawater an d road deicer can cause
corrosion. Rinse off such su bstances as soon as pos-
sible.

7-8 Vehicle care
7
Window glassE00901600104
The window glass can normally be cleaned using only a
sponge and water.
Glass cleaner can be used to re move oil, grease, dead insects,
etc. After washing the glass, wi pe dry with a clean, dry, soft
cloth. Never use the same cloth to wipe the window glass as
would be used to wipe the paintwork; wax from the painted
surfaces could adhere to the gl ass and reduce its transparency
and visibility.
NOTE● To clean the inside of the tailgate window, always use a
soft cloth and wipe the window glass along the demister
heater element so as not to cause damage.
Wiper bladesE00901700017
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 8-25.)
Engine compartmentE00902100265
Clean the engine compartment at the beginning and end of
winter. Pay particular attention to flanges, crevices and periph-
eral parts where dust containing road chemicals and other cor-
rosive materials might collect.
If salt and other chemicals ar e used on the roads in your area,
clean the engine compartment at least every three months.
Never spray or splash water on the electrical components in the
engine compartment, as this may cause damage.
Do not bring the nearby parts, the plastic parts and so on into
contact with sulphuric acid (bat tery electrolyte) which may
crack, stain or discolour them.
If they are in contact, wipe off with soft cloth, chamois or the
like and an aqueous solution of neutral detergent then immedi-
ately rinse the affected pa rts with plenty of water.
CAUTION!
●If your vehicle has rain sensor wipers, place the
wiper switch lever in th e “ ” (OFF) position to
deactivate the rain sensor before washing the wind-
screen. Otherwise, the wip ers will operate in the
presence of water spray on the windscreen and may
get damaged as a result.

8
Maintenance
Service precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8- 2
Catalytic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8- 3
Bonnet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8- 4
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8- 7
Engine coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8- 11
Washer fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8- 14
Brake fluid/Clutch fluid* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8- 14
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8- 15
Tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8- 19
Parking brake lever stroke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8- 24
Wiper blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8- 25
General maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8- 28
For cold and snow weather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8- 29
Fuse links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8- 30
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8- 30
Replacement of lamp bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8- 40

8-2 Maintenance
8Service precautions
E01000100458
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!