2010 MITSUBISHI LANCER SPORTBACK check engine light

Driving safety
4-5
4 Driving during cold weather
N00629400328


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 and turbocharger. 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.


Manual transaxle can be harder to shift in cold weather
conditions. This is normal and shifting will get easier as
the transaxle warms up.


Check the engine antifreeze.
If there is not enough coolant because of a leak or from
engine overheating, add high-quality ethylene glycol anti-
freeze and water. The recommended blend is about 50 %
water and 50 % anti-freeze. Use a higher concentration
(not over 60 %) when the outside temperature is -31 °F
(-35 °C) or lower. When the engine is working very hard
(for example, during mountain driving and/or when the
outside temperature is high), use a 50 % concentration.
This blend will provide adequate protection from corro-
sion and boiling.
[For RALLIART vehicles sold in U.S.A.]


Mitsubishi Motors recommends that the standard equip-
ment tires be replaced with winter tires when the vehicle
is going to be used in winter.
The standard equipment tires provided with this vehicle
are summer tires and use a high-grip compound that pro-
vides superior grip.
The road grip, however, is reduced in winter.
When replacing the standard equipment tires with winter
tires, all four tires must be replaced using radial identical-
size winter tires.
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 injury or death.
Always wear protective clothes and a face mask
when working with your battery, or let a skilled
mechanic do it.
WA R N I N G
!

Never open the radiator cap when the radiator is
hot. You could be seriously burned.
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4-6 Driving safety
4Braking
N00629500488
All the parts of the brake system are critical to safety. Have the
vehicle serviced by an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or
a repair facility of your choice at regular intervals according to
the “WARRANTY AND MAINTENANCE MANUAL”.When brakes are wetCheck the brake system while driving at a low speed immedi-
ately after starting, especially when the brakes are wet, to con-
firm they work normally.
A film of water can be formed on the brake discs and prevent
normal braking after driving in heavy rain or through large
puddles, or after the vehicle is washed. If this occurs, dry the
brakes out by driving slowly while lightly depressing the brake
pedal.When driving in cold weatherOn snowy roads, ice can form on the braking system, making
the brakes less effective. While driving in such conditions, pay
close attention to preceding and following vehicles and to the
condition of the road surface. From time to time, lightly
depress the brake pedal and check how effective the brakes are.When driving downhillIt is important to take advantage of the engine braking by shift-
ing to a lower shift position while driving on steep downhill
roads in order to prevent the brakes from overheating.
Parking
N00629600261
Parking on a hillWhen parking on a hill, set the parking brake, and turn the
front wheels toward the curb on a downhill, or away from the
curb on an uphill.
If necessary, apply chocks to wheels.For vehicles equipped with manual transaxlePlace the gearshift lever into the “R” (Reverse) position when
parking on a downhill slope, into the 1st position when parking
on an uphill slope.For vehicles equipped with continuously variable trans-
mission (CVT) or Twin Clutch SSTBe sure that the parking brake is firmly set when parked and
that the selector lever (CVT) or gearshift lever (Twin Clutch
SST) is in the “P” (PARK) position.
When parking on a hill, it is important to set the parking brake
before moving the selector lever (CVT) or gearshift lever
(Twin Clutch SST) to the “P” (PARK) position. This prevents
loading the parking brake against the transaxle. When this hap-
pens, it is difficult to move the selector lever (CVT) or gear-
shift lever (Twin Clutch SST) out of the “P” (PARK) position.
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6-2 For emergencies
6If the vehicle breaks down
N00836300145
If your vehicle breaks down on the road, move to the shoulder
and turn on the hazard warning flashers. If there is no shoulder,
or the shoulder is not safe, drive in the right lane slowly, with
the hazard lights flashing, until you come to a safe stopping
place. Keep the flashers flashing. If the engine stops/fails If the engine stops, there will be no power assist to the steering
and brakes, making these difficult to use.

The brake booster will not work, so the brakes will not
grip well. The brake pedal will be harder to press than
usual.


Since there is no power steering assist, the steering wheel
will be hard to turn. Turning the steering wheel requires
more effort than usual.
When the engine fails at the intersection Get help from your passengers, bystanders, etc. to push the
vehicle and move it to a safe zone.
Jump-starting the engine
N00836400654
If the engine cannot be started because the battery is weak or
dead, you can start it with the battery from another vehicle
using jumper cables.
1. Take off any metal jewelry such as watch bands or brace-
lets that might make an accidental electrical contact.
2. Position the vehicles close enough together so that the
jumper cables can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren’t
touching each other.
WA R N I N G
!

When using jumper cables to start a vehicle, follow
the procedures and be very cautious. CAUTION
!

Do not try to start your vehicle by pushing or tow-
ing. Vehicles equipped with continuously variable
transmission (CVT) or Twin Clutch SST cannot be
started this way. Pushing or towing a vehicle that
has a manual transaxle may overheat and damage
the catalytic converter. Also, there is more risk of an
accident when a vehicle is being pushed or towed.CAUTION
!

Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt bat-
tery. If the other system isn’t 12-volt, both systems
can be damaged.
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For emergencies
6-5
6
As your vehicle has anti-lock brakesIf you drive your vehicle with a low battery charge, after the
engine has been started by using jumper cables, the engine may
misfire. This can cause the anti-lock braking system warning
light to blink on and off. This is only due to the low battery
voltage. It is not a problem with the brake system. If this hap-
pens, fully charge the battery and ensure the charging system is
operating properly.
Engine overheating
N00836500323
When the engine is overheating, the information screen in the
multi-information display will be interrupted and the engine
coolant temperature warning display will appear. Also “ ”
will blink. If this happens:
1. Stop the vehicle in a safe place. Turn on the hazard warn-
ing flashers.
2. With the engine still running, carefully raise the engine
hood to vent the engine compartment.
3. Check that the cooling fan is running. If the fan is not
turning, stop the engine immediately and contact an
authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of
your choice for assistance.
4. If you see steam or spray coming from under the hood,
turn off the engine.
WA R N I N G
!

To avoid personal injury, keep hands, hair, jewelry
and clothes away from the cooling fan. The cooling
fan can start at any time.
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Vehicle care and maintenance
7-21
7 Wa s h e r f l u i d
N00938600273
The windshield washer fluid reservoir is in the engine compart-
ment.
Check the washer fluid level at regular intervals and add
washer fluid to reservoir if necessary.
Open the reservoir cap and check the fluid level with the dip-
stick.During cold weatherWhen freezing weather is anticipated, flush out the water in the
reservoir by operating the pump. Fill the reservoir with wind-
shield antifreeze (not radiator antifreeze), and operate the sys-
tem for a few seconds to flush out the residual water.
Brake fluid/Clutch fluid
(if so equipped)
N00938700216
The brake fluid and the clutch fluid share the reservoir tank.To check the fluid levelThe fluid level must be between the “MAX” and “MIN” marks
on the reservoir.
The fluid level falls slightly with wear of the brake pads, but
this does not indicate any abnormality.
The fluid in the master cylinder should be checked when doing
other work under the engine hood. The brake system should
also be checked for leaks at the same time.
If the fluid level falls markedly in a short length of time, it indi-
cates leaks from the brake system.
If this occurs, have the vehicle checked by an authorized Mit-
subishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your choice.
MAX
MIN
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7-42 Vehicle care and maintenance
7
NOTE

To 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
N00940900202
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.NOTE

Use the spark plugs listed under “Engine specifications”
on page 9-8 or plugs that are exactly the same. Other
plugs could cause engine damage, performance problems
or radio noise.
Ty p e 1
Ty p e 2 Iridium tipped type
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7-46 Vehicle care and maintenance
7
Exhaust system
N00942200108
The best way to keep carbon monoxide gas from entering
inside your vehicle is to have the engine exhaust system prop-
erly serviced.
Have a competent mechanic inspect the complete exhaust sys-
tem and nearby body areas for broken, damaged, deteriorated,
or mispositioned parts if you notice any of the following:

A change in the sound of the exhaust system


The smell of exhaust fumes inside the vehicle


The underside or rear of the vehicle is damaged
Also check the exhaust system each time the vehicle is raised
for lubrication, oil changes, or required service. Any open
seams or loose connections could let dangerous exhaust fumes
seep into the luggage compartment and passenger compart-
ments.
Check for any of the following conditions:

Check for holes or exhaust gas leaks caused by corrosion
or damage.


Check the joints and connections for looseness or exhaust
gas leaks.


Check the rubber hangers and brackets for damage.
Hood lock release mechanism and safety catch
N00942500114
The hood lock release mechanism and hood safety catch should
be checked, cleaned, and oiled when needed for easy move-
ment and to stop rust and wear. Use Multipurpose Grease
NLGI Grade 2 sparingly for all sliding parts of the hood latch
and release lever. Work the grease into the hood lock mecha-
nism until all the movable surfaces are covered.
Also, put a light coat of the same grease on the safety catch
wherever moving parts touch.
WA R N I N G
!

Carbon monoxide gas from your vehicle’s exhaust is
poisonous. Breathing these fumes can cause uncon-
sciousness or death.
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7-96 Vehicle care and maintenance
7
NOTE

When the door is frozen, opening it by force may tear off
or crack the rubber gasket installed around the door. Pour
warm water to melt the ice. Be sure to thoroughly wipe off
the water after opening the door. To prevent freezing of
the weatherstripping on the doors, hood, etc., treat with
silicone lubricant.
Waxing
N00946000218
Wax your vehicle once or twice a year, or when water does not
bead up on the paint.
Use a soft cloth to put a small amount of wax on the painted
surfaces. After the wax has dried, polish with a dry soft cloth.
Do not wax your vehicle in direct sunlight.
You should wax when the painted surfaces are cool.
Polishing
N00946100059
If painted surfaces have been severely damaged and lost their
original luster and color tone, polish the surface lightly with a
fine polishing compound. Avoid limiting your polishing to the
damaged surface only; polish a somewhat wider area, moving
the polishing cloth in one direction. After polishing, flush the
compound from the surface and apply a coat of wax to regain a
beautiful luster.Damaged paint
N00946200063
Small cracks and scratches in the paint coat should be touched
up as soon as possible with touch-up paint to prevent corrosion.
Check body areas facing the road or the tires carefully for dam-
age to the paint caused by flying stones, etc. The paint code
number for your vehicle can be found on the vehicle informa-
tion code plate in the engine compartment.
CAUTION
!

Waxes containing high abrasive compounds should
not be used. These waxes remove rust and stain
effectively from the paintwork, but are harmful to
the finish on the paint and the plate, because they
also remove clearcoat.
They are also harmful to other glossy surfaces such
as the grille, trim, moldings, etc.


Do not use gasoline, kerosene, benzine or paint thin-
ners to remove road tar or other dirt from the vehi-
cle surface.


Do not put wax on the areas having black matte
coating because it can cause uneven discoloration,
patches, blurs, etc. If these get wax on them, wipe
the wax off right away with a soft cloth and warm
water.


On vehicles equipped with sunroof, be careful not to
apply any wax on the weatherstrip (black rubber)
when waxing the area around the sunroof opening.
If stained with wax, the weatherstrip cannot main-
tain a weatherproof seal with the sunroof.CAUTION
!
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