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
4-4 Driving safety
4
Floor mats Defrosters
Check these by selecting the defroster mode, and set the blower
switch on high. You should be able to feel the air blowing
against the windshield.
(Refer to “Defrosting or defogging the windshield and door
windows” on page 5-12, 5-23.)TiresCheck all the tires for heavy tread wear or uneven wear pat-
terns. Look for stones, nails, glass, or other objects stuck in the
tread. Look for any tread cuts or sidewall cracks. Check the
wheel nuts for tightness, and the tires (including spare tire) for
proper pressures. Replace your tires before they are heavily
worn out.
As your vehicle is equipped with a tire pressure monitoring
system, there is a risk of damage to the tire inflation pressure
sensors when the tire is replaced on the rim. Tire replacement
should, therefore, be performed only by an authorized Mitsub-
ishi Motors dealer.LightsHave someone watch while you turn all the exterior lights on
and off. Also check the turn signal indicators and high-beam
indicators on the instrument panel. Fluid leaksCheck the ground under the vehicle after parking overnight, for
fuel, water, oil, or other leaks. Make sure all the fluid levels are
correct. Also, if you can smell fuel, you need to find out why
immediately and have it fixed.
WA R N I N G
!Keep floor mats clear of the pedals by correctly lay-
ing floor mats that are suitable for the vehicle.
To prevent the floor mats from slipping out position,
securely retain them using the hooks etc.
Note that laying a floor mat over a pedal or laying
one floor mat on top of another can obstruct pedal
operation and lead to a serious accident.
BK0102600US.book 4 ページ 2009年3月30日 月曜日 午後2時2分
Driving safety
4-5
4 Safe driving techniques
N00629200052
Even this vehicle’s safety equipment, and your safest driving,
cannot guarantee that you can avoid an accident or injury.
However, if you give extra attention to the following areas, you
can better protect yourself and your passengers:
Drive defensively. Be aware of traffic, road and weather
conditions. Leave plenty of stopping distance between
your vehicle and the vehicle ahead.
Before changing lanes, check your mirrors and use your
turn-signal light.
While driving, watch the behavior of other drivers, bicy-
clists, and pedestrians.
Always obey applicable laws and regulations. Be a polite
and alert driver. Always leave room for unexpected
events, such as sudden braking.
If you plan to drive in another country, obey their vehicle
registration laws and make sure you will be able to get the
right fuel.
Driving during cold weather
N00629400315
Check the battery, including terminals and cables. During
extremely cold weather, the battery will not be as strong.
Also, the battery power level may drop because more
power is used for cold starting and driving.
Before driving the vehicle, check to see if the engine runs
at the proper speed and if the headlights are as bright as
normally. Charge or replace the battery if necessary. Dur-
ing extreme cold weather, it is possible that a very low
battery could freeze.
Warm the engine sufficiently. After starting the engine,
allow a short warm-up time to distribute oil to all cylin-
ders. Then drive your vehicle slowly.
Stay at low speeds at first so that the transaxle, transfer
case and rear axle oil have time to spread to all the lubri-
cation points.
WA R N I N G
!The battery gives off explosive hydrogen gas. Any
spark or flame can cause the battery to explode,
which could cause serious injuries or death.
Always wear protective clothes and a face mask
when working with your battery, or let a skilled
mechanic do it.
BK0102600US.book 5 ページ 2009年3月30日 月曜日 午後2時2分
4-8 Driving safety
4Loading information
N00629900378
It is very important to know how much weight your vehicle can
carry. This weight is called the vehicle capacity weight and
includes the weight of all occupants, cargo (including the roof
load), non-factory-installed options, and the tongue weight of
the trailer, if any, being towed. The tire and loading informa-
tion placard located on the driver’s door sill of your vehicle
will show how much weight it may properly carry.
It is important to familiarize yourself with the following terms
before loading your vehicle:
Vehicle maximum load on the tire: load on an individual
tire that is determined by distributing to each axle its share
of the maximum loaded vehicle weight and dividing by
two.
Vehicle normal load on the tire: load on an individual tire
that is determined by distributing to each axle its share of
the curb weight, accessory weight, and normal occupant
weight and dividing by two.
Maximum loaded vehicle weight: the sum of -
(a) Curb weight;
(b) Accessory weight;
(c) Vehicle capacity weight; and
(d) Production options weight.Curb weight: the weight of a motor vehicle with standard
equipment including the maximum capacity of fuel, oil,
and coolant.
Accessory weight: the combined weight (in excess of
those standard items which may be replaced) of automatic
transmission, power steering, power brakes, power win-
dows, power seats, radio, and heater, to the extent that
these items are available as factory-installed equipment
(whether installed or not).
Vehicle capacity weight: the rated cargo and luggage load
plus 150 lbs (68 kg)* times the vehicle’s designated seat-
ing capacity.
Production options weight: the combined weight of those
installed regular production options weighing over 5 lbs
(2.3 kg) in excess of those standard items which they
replace, not previously considered in curb weight or
accessory weight, including heavy duty brakes, ride level-
ers, roof rack, heavy duty battery, and special trim.
Normal occupant weight: 150 lbs (68 kg)* times the num-
ber of specified occupants. (In your vehicle the number is
3)
Occupant distribution: distribution of occupants in a vehi-
cle as specified. (In your vehicle the distribution is 2 in
front, 1 in second row seat)
WA R N I N G
!Never overload your vehicle. Overloading can dam-
age your vehicle, adversely affect vehicle perfor-
mance, including handling and braking, cause tire
failure, and result in an accident.
*: 150 lbs (68 kg) is the weight of one person as defined by
U.S.A. and Canadian regulations.
BK0102600US.book 8 ページ 2009年3月30日 月曜日 午後2時2分
Driving safety
4-15
4
When the roof carrier is not in use, align the crossbar markings
with the roof rail (if so equipped) markings to minimize wind
noise.
Trailer towing
N00629800234
Towing a trailer will adversely affect handling, performance,
braking, durability and driving economy (fuel consumption,
etc.).
When you do, be sure to use proper equipment and allow cau-
tious steering and braking for safe driving.
WA R N I N G
!Make sure the crossbars are fixed securely by push-
ing forward and rearward them. Failure to do so
may cause an unexpected accident resulting in seri-
ous injury or death.
Check the crossbars and knobs regularly to make
sure it is securely fastened to the roof rails (if so
equipped).
CAUTION
!Do not lose control of your vehicle when towing a
trailer.
• Always use proper equipment.
• Always drive carefully.
Damage to your vehicle caused by improper equip-
ment or driving is not covered by your warranty.
BK0102600US.book 15 ページ 2009年3月30日 月曜日 午後2時2分
7-2 Vehicle care and maintenance
7Service precautions
N00937300316
Taking regular care of your vehicle will preserve its value and
appearance as long as possible.
You can do some of the maintenance work yourself, and the
rest should only be performed by an authorized Mitsubishi
Motors dealer or a repair facility of your choice.
If you discover a malfunction or other problem, have it cor-
rected by an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair
facility of your choice.
This section describes the maintenance inspections that you
can do yourself, if you so desire. Follow the instructions and
precautions for each procedure.
Have you purchased the Mitsubishi Motors Diamond Care Pro-
tection Plan? The Plan supplements your new vehicle warran-
ties. See your authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer for details.
WA R N I N G
!When checking or servicing the inside of the engine
compartment, be sure the engine is stopped and has
had a chance to cool down. If you need to work in the engine compartment with
the engine running, be especially careful that your
clothing, hair, etc. does not get caught in the fan,
drive belts, or other moving parts.The fan can turn on automatically even if the engine
is not running. Turn the ignition switch to the
“LOCK” position and remove the key to be safe
while you work in the engine compartment.Do not smoke or allow open flames around fuel or
the battery. The fumes are flammable.
Be extremely careful when working around the bat-
tery. It contains poisonous and corrosive sulfuric
acid. Do not get under your vehicle while it is on a jack.
Always use properly rated automotive jack stands. Handling your vehicle’s parts and materials in the
wrong way can injure you. Ask an authorized Mit-
subishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your
choice if you have questions.
WA R N I N G
!
BK0102600US.book 2 ページ 2009年3月30日 月曜日 午後2時2分
Vehicle care and maintenance
7-3
7 Catalytic converter
N00937400421
The catalytic converter requires you to use unleaded fuel only.
Leaded gasoline will destroy the emission-control effective-
ness of the converter.
Normally, the catalytic converter does not require maintenance.
However, it is important to keep the engine properly tuned for
the converter to continue to work properly. To reduce the possibility of catalytic converter damage:
Use UNLEADED GASOLINE ONLY of the type of rec-
ommended in “Fuel selection”.
Do not drive with an extremely low fuel level. Running
out of gas could damage the catalytic converter.
Do not idle the engine with any spark plug wires discon-
nected or removed, such as when performing diagnostic
tests.
Do not idle the engine for a long time if it is idling
roughly or otherwise obviously malfunctioning.
To prevent the catalytic converter from being damaged
from unburned gas, do not race the engine when turning
off the ignition switch.
Stop driving the vehicle if you think the performance is
noticeably low, or the engine has a malfunction. If you are
not able to stop driving immediately, slow down and drive
for only a short time. Have an inspection made by an
authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of
your choice as soon as possible.
In unusual situations involving major engine problems, a
burning odor may indicate severe and abnormal catalytic
converter overheating. If this occurs, stop in a safe place,
shut the engine off and let the vehicle cool. Once the
engine is cool, immediately take your vehicle to an autho-
rized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your
choice for service.
CAUTION
!Damage to the catalytic converter can result if your
vehicle is not kept in proper operating condition. If
the engine malfunctions or misfires, or if your vehi-
cle performance suffers, have it serviced promptly.
Running your vehicle when it is overheated may
result in damage to the converter and vehicle.
WA R N I N G
!Do not park or run your vehicle in areas where com-
bustible materials such as dry grass or leaves can
come in contact with a hot exhaust, since a fire could
occur.Do not put undercoat paint on the catalytic con-
verter.
BK0102600US.book 3 ページ 2009年3月30日 月曜日 午後2時2分
7-8 Vehicle care and maintenance
7
If you cannot find oils with the ILSAC certification symbol,
use an API classification SM oil with the following label.
This mark appears on the top of the oil container and tells you
two important things about the oil.
Recommended engine oil viscosityUse engine oil with the proper thickness for the outdoor tem-
peratures where you will be driving.
SAE 5W-20 engine oil is strongly recommended for optimum
fuel economy and cold starting.
SAE 10W-30 may be used when the normal operating tempera-
ture is above 100 °F (38 °C).
1- The top portion shows the quality of the oil.
2- The center portion shows the SAE grade of the oil viscosity.API service symbolBK0102600US.book 8 ページ 2009年3月30日 月曜日 午後2時2分