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 (windshield, door win-
dows)” on page 5-14, 5-23, 5-33, 5-43.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 pressure. 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 of posi-
tion, securely retain them using the hooks etc.
Placing 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.
BK0115300US.book 4 ページ 2009年7月16日 木曜日 午前9時13分
Driving safety
4-5
4 Safe driving techniques
N00629200094
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
N00629400230
Check the battery. At the same time, check the terminals
and wiring. 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 lubrication
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 injury or death.
Always wear protective clothes and a face mask
when working with your battery, or let a skilled
mechanic do it.
BK0115300US.book 5 ページ 2009年7月16日 木曜日 午前9時13分
4-6 Driving safety
4
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% antifreeze. 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 out-
side temperature is high), use a 50% concentration. This
blend will provide adequate protection from corrosion and
boiling.
Braking
N00629500475
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
downshifting while driving on steep downhill roads in order to
prevent the brakes from overheating.
WA R N I N G
!
Never open the radiator cap when the radiator is
hot. You could be seriously burned.
BK0115300US.book 6 ページ 2009年7月16日 木曜日 午前9時13分
4-8 Driving safety
4Loading information
N00629900352
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 (3 in the case of your vehicle)
Occupant distribution: Occupant distribution within the
passenger compartment (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.
BK0115300US.book 8 ページ 2009年7月16日 木曜日 午前9時13分
4-18 Driving safety
4
Trailer hitchesChoose a proper hitch and ball, and make sure it is installed at a
height that is compatible with the trailer.
Use a good equalizing hitch which uniformly distributes the
trailer tongue load throughout the frame.NOTE
Mitsubishi Motors recommends that sway control be used
whenever you are towing, to improve towing stability.
For further information, please contact your authorized
Mitsubishi Motors dealer.
Safety chainsA safety chain must always be used between the towing vehi-
cle and the trailer. Leave sufficient slack in the chain for turns.
The chain should cross under the trailer tongue to prevent the
tongue from dropping to the ground in case it becomes dam-
aged or separated.
For correct safety chain procedures, consult your authorized
Mitsubishi Motors dealer.Maintenance when trailer towingYour vehicle will need service more often when you’re towing
a trailer. Refer to “WARRANTY AND MAINTENANCE
MANUAL”. Especially important in trailer operation are man-
ual transaxle oil, automatic transaxle fluid, engine oil, rear axle
oil, belt, cooling system and brake system. Each of these is
covered in this manual.
For details, please refer to the “Vehicle care and maintenance”
section.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
WA R N I N G
!
If you make any holes in the body of your vehicle for
installing a trailer hitch, be sure to seal the holes
later when you remove the hitch. If you don’t seal
them, deadly carbon monoxide (CO) from your
exhaust can enter your vehicle. Refer to “Exhaust
system” on page 7-40.
CAUTION
!
Never tow a trailer without using a safety chain
securely attached to both the trailer and the vehicle.
If the coupling unit or hitch ball experiences a prob-
lem, the trailer may separate from your vehicle.
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Driving safety
4-21
4
When towing at high altitudes, engine coolant and automatic
transaxle oil will overheat at a lower temperature than at nor-
mal altitudes.
If you turn your engine off immediately after towing at high
altitude on steep uphill grades, your vehicle may show signs
similar to overheating. To avoid this, let the engine run while
parked (preferably on level ground) with the automatic tran-
saxle in the “P” (PARK) position for a few minutes before turn-
ing the engine off.
If the engine coolant temperature indicator flashes on
the information screen in the multi-information display or
the engine power drops suddenly, refer to “Engine over-
heating” on page 6-5.
If the warning display or warning display illumi-
nates, refer to “Warning display” on page 3-97.
Driving on hillsReduce speed and downshift before you start down a long or
steep downgrade. If you don’t shift down, over using the
brakes can cause reduced brake efficiency.
You can tow in “D” (DRIVE) position. You may want to shift
the selector lever to the 3rd or a lower position, under heavy
loads or hilly conditions.
ParkingAlways place chocks or blocks under both the vehicle and
trailer wheels when parking. Be sure that the parking brake is
firmly set and that the selector lever is in the “P” (PARK) posi-
tion. Avoid parking on a hill with a trailer, but if it cannot be
avoided, do so only after performing the following:
1. Apply the brakes and keep them applied.
2. Have someone place chocks or blocks under both the
vehicle and trailer wheels.
3. When the chocks or blocks are in place, release your
brakes slowly until the chocks or blocks absorb the load.
4. Apply the parking brake firmly.
5. Set the selector lever to the “P” (PARK) position and turn
off the engine.
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6-20 For emergencies
6
[Vehicle with aluminum wheels]
Normal wheels
Temporarily tighten the wheel nuts (flange nuts) until
their flange section comes in contact with the wheel and
it is no longer loose. Compact spare wheel
Install the wheel nuts with their tapered ends facing
inward, then tighten by hand until the wheel is no longer
loose.
NOTE
Flange nuts can be temporarily used on the compact spare
or steel wheel, but return them to the original wheel and
tire as soon as possible.
If all 4 wheels are changed to steel wheels, use tapered
nuts.
CAUTION
!
Never apply oil to either the wheel bolts or the nuts
or they will tighten too much.
BK0115300US.book 20 ページ 2009年7月16日 木曜日 午前9時13分
7
Vehicle care and maintenance
Service precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 2
Catalytic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 3
Engine hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 4
View of the engine compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 7
Engine oil and oil filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 8
Engine coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 11
Air cleaner filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 13
Automatic transaxle fluid (if so equipped) . . . . . .7- 16
Continuously variable transmission (CVT) fluid
(if so equipped) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 17
Transfer oil (All-wheel drive models) . . . . . . . . . .7- 18
Rear axle oil (All-wheel drive models) . . . . . . . . .7- 18
Washer fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 19
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 19
Power steering fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 20
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 21
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 23
Brake pedal free play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 32
Parking brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 33
Wiper blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 34
Emission-control system maintenance. . . . . . . . . .7- 34General maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 37
For cold and snowy weather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 41
Fusible links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 41
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 42
Replacement of light bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 50
Vehicle care precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 80
Cleaning the inside of your vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 81
Cleaning the outside of your vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 83
BK0115300US.book 1 ページ 2009年7月16日 木曜日 午前9時13分