4-2 Driving safety
4Driving precaution
N00629300040
Utility vehicles have higher ground clearance and a narrower
track, which enables them to perform in a wide variety of off-
road situations. Because of the higher ground clearance, these
vehicles have a higher center of gravity, which makes them
handle differently than ordinary vehicles when driving on
pavement. They are not designed to maneuver or corner at the
same speed on pavement as conventional 2-wheel drive pas-
senger cars any more than low-slung sports cars are designed
to perform satisfactorily in off-road conditions.
Always drive safely and steer the vehicle carefully. Avoid oper-
ating the vehicle in a manner that might require sharp turns or
abrupt maneuvers. As with other vehicles of this type, failure
to operate this vehicle correctly can result in loss of control or
vehicle rollover.
In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more
likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt. Before starting
the vehicle, always make certain that you and all your passen-
gers are properly wearing their seat belts (with children in the
rear seat, in appropriate restraints).
Fuel economy
N00628800080
Fuel economy is dependent on many factors. Your personal
driving habits can have a significant effect on your fuel use.
Several recommendations for achieving the greatest fuel econ-
omy are listed below.
Whenever accelerating from a stop, always accelerate
slowly and smoothly.
When parked for even a short period, do not idle the
engine. Shut it off.
Plan your trips to avoid unnecessary stops.
Keep your tires inflated to the recommended pressures.
For freeway driving, maintain a speed of approximately
50 mph (80 km/h) when traffic, roadway and weather con-
ditions safely permit.
Keep your air filter clean and your vehicle lubricated
according to the recommendations in this manual.
Always keep your vehicle well maintained. A poorly
maintained engine wastes fuel and costs money.
Do not overload your vehicle.
WA R N I N G
!Utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover
rate than other types of vehicles. Avoid abrupt
maneuvers and excessive speed. Always buckle up.
BK0102600US.book 2 ページ 2009年3月30日 月曜日 午後2時2分
Driving safety
4-9
4
Tire and loading information placard
N00630100136
The tire and loading information placard is located on the
inside sill of the driver’s door. This placard shows the maximum number of occupants permit-
ted to ride in your vehicle as well as “the combined weight of
occupants and cargo” (C), which is called the vehicle capacity
weight. The weight of any non-factory-installed options, as
well as the tongue weight of a trailer being towed and roof load
is included in the definition of “cargo” when determining the
vehicle capacity weight. This placard also tells you the size and
recommended inflation pressure for the original equipment
tires on your vehicle. For more information, refer to “Tires” on
page 7-20.
Ty p e 1
A- Vehicles sold in U.S.A. and Canada (Type 1)
B- Vehicles sold in Canada (Type 2)
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For emergencies
6-21
6
11. Check the tire inflation pressure. The recommended tire
pressure for your vehicle is listed on the tire and loading
information placard attached to the driver’s door sill as
shown in the illustration. Refer to “Tire inflation pres-
sures” on page 7-24.A- Vehicles sold in U.S.A. and Canada
B- Vehicles sold in Canada
CAUTION
!While the spare tire is stowed, the inflation pressure
should be checked at least once a month to assure
that it remains at the recommended inflation pres-
sure. See the tire and loading information placard
attached to the driver’s door sill. Refer to “Tire and
loading information placard” on page 9-3.Driving with an improperly inflated tire can cause
an accident. If you have no choice but to drive with
an under-inflated tire, keep your speed down and
avoid sudden steering or braking, if possible. Inflate
the tire to the correct pressure as soon as possible.
Refer to “Tire inflation pressures” on page 7-24.If your vehicle is equipped with the 17-inch-steel
spare tire or compact spare tire, it should only be
used temporarily. When the spare tire is used, the
tire pressure monitoring system will not work prop-
erly. See an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer as
soon as possible to replace or repair the original tire.After changing the tire and driving the vehicle about
620 miles (1,000 km), retighten the wheel nuts to
make sure that they have not come loose.If the steering wheel vibrates when driving after
changing the tire, have the tire checked for balance
at an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a
repair facility of your choice.Do not mix one type of tire with another or use a dif-
ferent size from the one listed. This would cause
early wear and poor handling.
BK0102600US.book 21 ページ 2009年3月30日 月曜日 午後2時2分
7-20 Vehicle care and maintenance
7
NOTECheck each battery terminal for corrosion. You can stop
more corrosion by washing with a solution of baking soda
and water. Grease the posts and clamps after cleaning or
tightening them.
Check to see that the battery is securely installed and can-
not be moved. Also check each terminal for tightness.
If you will not be driving your vehicle for a long period of
time, remove the battery and store it in a place where the
battery fluid will not freeze. The battery only should be
stored with a full charge.
Tires
N00939200511
It is important to familiarize yourself with the following terms:
Cold tire pressure:
• The measured pressure after the vehicle has been parked
for at least three hours,
or
• The measured pressure when the vehicle is driven less
than 1 mile (1.6 km) after having been parked for three
hours.
Maximum inflation pressure: the maximum permissible
cold tire inflation pressure for this tire.
Recommended inflation pressure: the inflation pressure
for optimum tire performance.
In order to prevent a short circuit, be sure to discon-
nect the negative (-) terminal first, and reconnect it
last.If the electrolyte level is very low, have the battery
checked at an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer
or a repair facility of your choice.Battery terminals and related accessories contain
lead and lead compounds. Wash hands after han-
dling.
WA R N I N G
!
WA R N I N G
!Driving with tires that are worn, damaged or
improperly inflated is dangerous.
These type tire conditions will adversely affect vehi-
cle performance.
These type tire conditions can also cause a tread sep-
aration or blowout which may result in an accident
causing serious injury or death.Tires, including spare tire, degrade over time with
age even when they are not being used. It is recom-
mended that tires over 6 years generally be replaced
even if damage is not obvious.
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7-26 Vehicle care and maintenance
7
Replacing tires and wheels
N00939600283
Tire maintenance
N00939700138
The following maintenance steps are recommended:
Check tire pressures regularly. Have regular maintenance done on the wheel balance and
front and rear suspension alignment.
Rotate your tires regularly as described in the “Tire rota-
tion” section on page 7-27.
Tread wear indicators
N00939800168
Tread wear indicators are built into the original equipment tires
on your vehicle to help you know when your tires should be
replaced. Many states have laws requiring that you replace
your tires at this point.
These indicators are molded into the bottom of the tread
grooves and will appear when the tire tread is worn down to
1/16 inch (1.6 mm).
CAUTION
!Avoid using different size tires from the one listed
and the combined use of different types of tires, as
this can affect driving safety.
Refer to “Tires and wheels” on page 9-7.On all-wheel drive vehicles, always use tires of the
same size, type, and brand that have no wear differ-
ences. Using tires of different size, type, brand or
degree of wear, will increase the differential oil tem-
perature, and result in possible damage to the driv-
ing system. Further, the drivetrain will be subjected
to excessive loading, possibly leading to oil leakage,
component seizure, or other serious problems.As your vehicle is equipped with a tire pressure
monitoring system, use only Mitsubishi genuine
wheels.
Other wheels do not permit correct installation of
tire inflation pressure sensors and can cause air
leakage and sensor failure, which would not be cov-
ered by your vehicle’s warranty.
See an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer when
you replace a tire or wheel.
1- Location of the tread wear indicator
2- Tread wear indicator
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7-28 Vehicle care and maintenance
7
Snow tires
N00940000405
In some areas of the country, snow tires are required for winter
driving. If snow tires are required in your area, you must
choose snow tires of the same size and type as the original tires
provided with your vehicle. Snow tires should also be installed
on all four wheels. Otherwise your safety and vehicle handling
can be reduced.
Even where laws may permit it, snow tires should not be oper-
ated at sustained speeds over 75 mph (120 km/h).
CAUTION
!A compact spare tire can be fitted temporarily in
place of a tire that has been removed during the tire
rotation. However, it must not be included in the
regular tire rotation sequence.If the tires have arrows (A) indicating the correct
direction of rotation, swap the front and rear tires
on the left-hand side of the vehicle and the front and
rear tires on the right-hand side of the vehicle sepa-
rately. Keep each tire on its original side of the vehi-
cle. When installing the tires, make sure the arrows
point in the direction in which the wheels will turn
when the vehicle moves forward. Any tire whose
arrow points in the wrong direction will not perform
to its full potential.
Front
CAUTION
!Avoid the combined use of different types of tires.
Using different types of tires can affect vehicle per-
formance and safety.
CAUTION
!As your vehicle is equipped with a tire pressure
monitoring system, use only Mitsubishi genuine
wheels.
Other wheels do not permit correct installation of
tire inflation pressure sensors and can thus cause air
leakage and sensor failure, which would not be cov-
ered by your vehicle’s warranty.
See an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer when
you replace a tire or wheel.
BK0102600US.book 28 ページ 2009年3月30日 月曜日 午後2時2分
Vehicle care and maintenance
7-33
7 General maintenance
N00941500159
The next pages list the maintenance service recommended by
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation. In addition to the general
maintenance that needs to be performed at the times listed,
there are other parts which do not usually need regular mainte-
nance.
But, if any of these parts stops working properly, your vehicle
performance could suffer. Have these items checked if you
notice a problem with them.
See your authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer for assistance, if
you have any questions.Disc brake pads
N00941600020
Good brakes are essential to safe driving. Check the brake pads
for wear. For good braking performance, replace the brake pads
with the same type pads as the originals.Brake hoses
N00941700089
Brake hoses and tubing should be checked for:
Severe surface cracking, scuffing or worn spots. If the
fabric casing of the hose is showing through any cracks or
worn spots in the rubber hose cover, the hose should be
replaced. The brakes can fail if the hose wears through.
Improper installation may cause twisting, or wheel, tire or
chassis interference.
Ball joint, steering linkage seals and drive shaft
boots
N00941800107
Check the following parts for damage and grease leaks:
Ball joint boots of the front suspension and steering link-
age
Bellows on both ends of the drive shaftDrive belt (for generator, power steering pump,
air conditioning compressor)
N00941900137
Check the tension of the drive belt. The deflection must be
within specifications, when pressed at a point halfway between1- Power steering pump pulley
2- Crank shaft pulley
3- Generator pulley
4- Air conditioning pulley
BK0102600US.book 33 ページ 2009年3月30日 月曜日 午後2時2分
Specifications
9-3
9
Tire and loading information placard
N01148100443
The tire and loading information placard is located on the
inside sill of the driver’s door. Ty p e 1
Ty p e 2
A- Vehicles sold in U.S.A. and Canada (Type 1)
B- Vehicles sold in Canada (Type 2)
BK0102600US.book 3 ページ 2009年3月30日 月曜日 午後2時2分