1-2 General information
1Fuel selection
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Your vehicle is designed to use unleaded gasoline only. It is
equipped with a fuel filler tube especially designed to accept
only a small diameter unleaded gasoline dispensing nozzle. Gasoline detergent additivesIn the United States, fuel suppliers are required by law to add
detergents to their gasoline to minimize fuel-injector fouling
and minimize intake-valve deposits. Detergent gasoline helps
keep your engine in tune and your emission-control system
working properly.
Octane requirementUnleaded gasoline having an octane number of 87
[(MON+RON)/2] or 91 RON may be used, though it recom-
mended your vehicle be operated on premium grade unleaded
gasoline having a minimum octane number of 91
[(MON+RON)/2], or 95 RON. To get maximum performance,
premium gasoline is recommended.
MON: Motor Octane Number
RON: Research Octane Number Oxygenated gasoline Gasoline sold at some service stations contains oxygenates
such as ethanol and MTBE, although the oxygenates may not
be identified by those names. Oxygenates are required in some
areas of the country. Such fuel can be used in your vehicle.Ethanol (Gasohol) A mixture of 10 % ethanol (grain alcohol) and 90 % unleaded
gasoline may be used in your vehicle, provided the octane
number is at least as high as that recommended for unleaded
gasoline. Methanol Do not operate your vehicle on gasoline containing methanol
(wood alcohol). Using this type of alcohol could adversely
affect the vehicle’s performance and damage critical parts of
the vehicle’s fuel system.
WA R N I N G
!Gasoline is highly flammable and explosive. You
could be burned, seriously injured or killed when
handling it. Whenever you refuel your vehicle, stop
the engine and keep flames, sparks, and smoking
materials away from the vehicle. Always handle fuel
in well-ventilated outdoor areas.
CAUTION
!Using leaded gasoline in your vehicle will damage
the engine, catalytic converter, and the oxygen sen-
sors. Also, using leaded gasoline is illegal, and will
void your warranty coverage of the engine, catalytic
converter, and oxygen sensors.
BK0102600US.book 2 ページ 2009年3月30日 月曜日 午後2時2分
1-4 General information
1
Repeatedly driving short distances at low speeds can
cause deposits to form in the fuel system and engine,
resulting in poor starting and poor acceleration. If these
problems occur, you are advised to add a detergent addi-
tive to the gasoline when you refuel the vehicle. The addi-
tive will remove the deposits, thereby returning the engine
to a normal condition. Be sure to use a genuine Mitsubishi
cleaning additive. Using an unsuitable additive could
make the engine malfunction. For details, please contact
the nearest authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer.
Filling the fuel tank
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WA R N I N G
!Gasoline is highly flammable and explosive. You
could be burned, seriously injured or killed when
handling it. When refueling your vehicle, always
turn the engine off and keep away from flames,
sparks, and smoking materials. Always handle fuel
in well-ventilated outdoor areas.Before removing the fuel cap, be sure to get rid of
your body’s static electricity by touching a metal
part of the car or fuel pump. Any static electricity on
your body could create a spark that ignites fuel
vapor.Perform the whole refueling process (opening the
fuel tank filler door, removing the fuel cap, etc.) by
yourself. Do not let any other person come near the
fuel tank filler. If you allowed a person to help you
and that person was carrying static electricity, fuel
vapor could be ignited.Do not move away from the fuel tank filler until
refueling is finished. If you moved away and did
something else (for example, sitting on a seat) part-
way through the refueling process, you could pick
up a fresh charge of static electricity.Be careful not to inhale fuel vapor. Fuel contains
toxic substances.Keep the doors and windows closed while refueling
the vehicle. If they were open, fuel vapor could get
into the cabin.
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
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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
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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
For emergencies
6-3
6
3. You could be injured if the vehicles move. Set the parking
brake firmly on each vehicle. Put an automatic transaxle
in “P” (PARK) or a manual transaxle in “N” (Neutral).
Turn the ignition key to the “LOCK” position. NOTETurn off all lights, heater, and other electrical loads. This
will avoid sparks and help save both batteries.
4. Make sure your battery electrolyte is at the proper level.
(Refer to “Battery” on page 7-16.)5. Connect one end of one jumper cable to the positive (+)
terminal of the discharged battery (A), and the other end
to the positive (+) terminal of the booster battery (B).
NOTEOpen the terminal cover before connecting the jumper
cable to the positive terminal of the battery.
(Refer to “Battery” on page 7-16.)
Use the proper cables suitable for the battery size.
Otherwise heat damage to the cables could result.
Check the jumper cables for damage and corrosion before
use.
WA R N I N G
!Turn the ignition key to the “LOCK” position on
both vehicles. Make sure that the cables or your
clothes cannot be caught by the fan or drive belt.
Personal injury could result.
WA R N I N G
!If the electrolyte fluid is not visible, or looks frozen,
DO NOT ATTEMPT JUMP STARTING!!
The battery might split open or explode if the tem-
perature is below the freezing point or if it is not
filled to the proper level.
BK0102600US.book 3 ページ 2009年3月30日 月曜日 午後2時2分
6-4 For emergencies
6
6. Connect one end of the other jumper cable to the negative
(-) terminal of the booster battery (B), and the other end to
the engine block of the vehicle with the low battery (A) at
the point farthest from the battery.
7. Start the engine in the vehicle providing the boost. Let the
engine idle a few minutes, then start the engine in the
vehicle with the low battery.8. After the engine is started, disconnect the cables in the
reverse order from the way you connected them.
WA R N I N G
!Be sure to follow the proper order when connecting
the batteries, of: →→→. Make sure that the connection is made to the
engine properly. If the connection is directly made to
the negative side of the battery, the flammable gases
from inside the battery might catch fire and explode,
causing personal injury. When connecting the jumper cable, do not connect
the positive (+) cable to the negative (-) terminal.
Otherwise sparks can make the battery explode.
CAUTION
!Make sure that the jumper cable will not be caught
in the cooling fan or other moving parts in the
engine compartment.
WA R N I N G
!Charging your battery while it is still in your vehicle
might cause the battery to catch fire and explode. If
you have to charge it while in the vehicle, disconnect
the negative terminal. Keep sparks, cigarettes and flames away from the
battery because the battery may explode.Keep your work area well vented when charging or
using the battery in an enclosed space. Remove all the caps before charging the battery. Electrolyte (battery acid) is corrosive diluted sul-
phuric acid. If electrolyte comes in contact with your
hands, eyes, clothes, or the painted surface of your
vehicle, thoroughly flush with water. If electrolyte
gets in your eyes, flush them immediately and thor-
oughly with water, and get prompt medical atten-
tion.Always wear protective clothing and goggles when
working near the battery.Keep the battery out of the reach of children.
BK0102600US.book 4 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
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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
Vehicle care and maintenance
7-19
7
NOTEOpen the terminal cover (A) before disconnecting or con-
necting the positive (+) terminal of the battery.
WA R N I N G
!Never disconnect the battery while the engine is run-
ning, or you could damage the vehicle’s electrical
parts. Never short-circuit the battery. This could cause it
to overheat and be damaged. Keep sparks, cigarettes, and flames away from the
battery because the battery could explode. Electrolyte (battery acid) is made of corrosive
diluted sulfuric acid. If it spills on nearby parts, it
can crack, stain, or discolor them. And if it gets on
your skin or in your eyes, it can cause burns or
blindness. Please observe the following handling
instructions:
• If electrolyte gets on plastic parts or other nearby
parts, wipe it off with a soft cloth or chamois
soaked in a solution of water and neutral detergent
then immediately rinse the affected parts with
plenty of water.
• If electrolyte gets on your hands or clothes, rinse
thoroughly with water. If electrolyte gets in your
eyes, flush them with water immediately and get
immediate medical attention.
Open doors and windows in any closed space where
you may be charging or working with the battery. Always wear protective clothing and goggles when
working with the battery, or have a skilled automo-
bile technician do it. If you are quick-charging your battery, first discon-
nect the battery cables.
BK0102600US.book 19 ページ 2009年3月30日 月曜日 午後2時2分
7-32 Vehicle care and maintenance
7
NOTETo meet government regulations and promote cleaner air,
your vehicle is equipped with an onboard diagnostic sys-
tem (OBD). The engine electronic control module that
controls OBD functions stores various data (especially
about the exhaust emissions). This data will be erased if
the battery cable is disconnected, which could make a
rapid diagnosis difficult. Do not disconnect the battery
cable when the engine malfunction indicator (“SERVICE
ENGINE SOON” or “Check engine light”) is on.Spark plugs
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Spark plugs must fire properly for good engine performance
and emission-control.
Do not reuse them by cleaning or regapping. Change them at
the mileage listed in the “WARRANTY AND MAINTE-
NANCE MANUAL”.
Your vehicle may be equipped with iridium tipped spark plugs,
which are identified by marks on the ceramic. They do not
require replacement as frequently as the conventional type
spare plug and will last much longer.NOTEUse the spark plugs listed under “Engine specifications”
on page 9-6 or plugs that are exactly the same. Other
plugs could cause engine damage, performance problems
or radio noise.Fuel hoses
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Check the hose surfaces for any heat and mechanical damage,
hard and brittle rubber, cracking, tears, cuts and abrasions. Payspecial attention to the hoses closest to high heat sources such
as the exhaust manifold. Check all the hose connections, such
as clamps and couplings, to make sure they are secure and that
there are no leaks. If you see any wear or damage, replace the
hoses immediately.
Fuel system (tank, pipe line and connection, and
fuel tank filler tube cap)
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Check these regularly for damage or leaks in the fuel lines and
connections. Check the fuel tank filler tube cap for damage or
looseness. Pay special attention to the fuel lines closest to high
heat sources such as the exhaust manifold.Evaporative emission control system (except
evaporative emission canister)
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If the fuel-vapor vent line is clogged or damaged, the fuel-
vapor mixture will escape, polluting the air.
Have the system checked at an authorized Mitsubishi Motors
dealer at the mileage specified in the “WARRANTY AND
MAINTENANCE MANUAL”.
WA R N I N G
!If you see a fuel leak or if you smell fuel, do not run
the engine. Any spark (including from the ignition),
flame or smoking material could cause an explosion
or fire. Call an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer
or a repair facility of your choice for assistance.
BK0102600US.book 32 ページ 2009年3月30日 月曜日 午後2時2分