2011 MITSUBISHI COLT Owner's Manual (in English)

Vehicle care precautions............................................................... 7-02
Cleaning the interior of your vehicle ............................................7-02
Cleaning the exterior of your vehicle ...........................................7-03Vehicle care7

Vehicle care precautionsE00900100665
In order to maintain the value of your vehicle, it is
necessary to perform regular maintenance using the
proper procedures. Always maintain your vehicle
in compliance with environmental pollution control
regulations. Carefully select the materials used for
washing, etc., to be sure that they do not contain cor-
rosives. If in doubt, we recommend you to consult
a specialist for selection of these materials.CAUTIONl Cleaning products can be dangerous.
Some are poisonous. Others can burst in-
to flame if you strike a match or drop
them on a hot part of the vehicle. Some
are dangerous if you breathe their fumes
in a closed space. When you use anything
in a container to clean your vehicle, al-
ways follow the instructions and always
open your vehicle doors or windows when
you’re cleaning the inside. Never use the
following to clean your vehicle: • Petrol
• Paint Thinner
• Benzine
• Kerosene
• Turpentine
• Naphtha
• Lacquer Thinner
• Carbon Tetrachloride
• Nail Polish Remover
• Acetone
l These are all dangerous, and can damage
your vehicle.Cleaning the interior of your
vehicle E00900200347
After cleaning the interior of your vehicle with wa-
ter, cleaner or similar, wipe and dry in a shady, well-
ventilated area.CAUTIONl Do not use organic substances (solvents,
benzine, kerosene, alcohol, petrol, etc.) or
alkaline or acidic solutions.
These chemicals can cause discolouring,
staining or cracking of the surface.
If you use cleaners or polishing agents,
make sure their ingredients do not in-
clude the substances mentioned above.
NOTE
l Always read the instructions on the cleaner la-
bel.
Plastic, vinyl leather, fabric and
flocked parts E00900300045
1.Gently wipe off with gauze or other soft
cloth soaked with a 3 % aqueous solution of
neutral detergent.
2. Dip cloth in fresh water and wring out well.
Using this cloth, wipe off the detergent thor-
oughly.
NOTE
l Do not use cleaners, conditioners, and protec-
tants containing silicons or wax.
Such products may cause annoying reflec-
tions and obscure vision.Upholstery E00900500135
1.To maintain the value of your new vehicle,
handle the upholstery carefully and keep the
interior clean.
Use a vacuum cleaner and brush to clean the
seats. If stained, vinyl and synthetic leather
should be cleaned with an appropriate clean-
er, and cloth fabrics can be cleaned with ei-
ther upholstery cleaner or a 3 % solution of
neutral detergent in lukewarm water.
2. Clean the carpeting with a vacuum cleaner
and remove any stains with carpet cleaner.
Oil and grease can be removed by lightly dab-
bing with a clean colourfast cloth and stain re-
mover.
Genuine leather* E00900600569
1.Lightly wipe off with gauze or other soft
cloth soaked with a 5 % aqueous solution of
neutral detergent.
2. Dip cloth in fresh water and wring it out
well. Using this cloth, wipe off the detergent
thoroughly.
3. Apply leather protecting agent to the genuine
leather surface.
Vehicle care
7-02
7

NOTEl If genuine leather is wet with water or is wash-
ed in water, wipe off water as quickly as pos-
sible with a dry, soft cloth. If left damp, mil-
dew may grow.
l The genuine leather surface may be damaged
if a nylon brush or synthetic fibre is rubbed
hard against it.
l Organic solvents such as benzine, kerosene,
alcohol and petrol, acid or alkaline solvents
may discolour the genuine leather surface.
Be sure to use neutral detergents.
l Remove dirty patches or oil substances quick-
ly as they can stain genuine leather.
l The genuine leather surface may harden and
shrink if it is exposed to direct sun for long
hours. When your vehicle is parked, place it
in the shade as much as possible.
l When the temperature of the vehicle interior
rises in summer, vinyl products left on the
genuine leather seat may deteriorate and
stick to the seat.Cleaning the exterior of your
vehicle E00900700010
If the following is left on your vehicle, it may
cause corrosion, discolouration and stains, wash
the vehicle as soon as possible.
l Seawater, anti-freeze for road use.
l Soot and dust, iron powder from factories,
chemical substance (acids, alkalis, coal-tar,
etc.).
l Droppings from birds, carcasses of insects,
tree sap, etc.Washing E00900902351
Chemicals contained in the dirt and dust picked up
from the road surface can damage the paint coat
and body of your vehicle if left in prolonged contact.
Frequent washing and waxing is the best way to pro-
tect your vehicle from this damage. This will also
be effective in protecting it from environmental el-
ements such as rain, snow, salt air, etc.
Do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight. Park the
vehicle in the shade and spray it with water to re-
move dust. Next, using an ample amount of clean
water and a car washing brush or sponge, wash the
vehicle from top to bottom.
Use a mild car washing soap if necessary. Rinse
thoroughly and wipe dry with a soft cloth. After
washing the vehicle, carefully clean the joints and
flanges of the doors, bonnet, etc., where dirt is like-
ly to remain.
CAUTIONl When washing the under side of your ve-
hicle or wheel, be careful not to injure
your hands.
l If your vehicle has rain sensor wipers,
place the wiper switch lever in the “
”
(OFF) position to deactivate the rain sen-
sor before washing the vehicle. Other-
wise, the wipers will operate in the pres-
ence of water spray on the windscreen
and may get damaged as a result.
l Refrain from using a car wash as its brush-
es may scratch the paint surface, causing
it to lose its gloss.
Scratches will be especially visible on
darker coloured vehicles.
l Never spray or splash water on the electri-
cal components in the engine compart-
ment, as this may adversely affect engine
starting.
Exercise caution also when washing the
underbody; be careful not to spray water
into the engine compartment.
l Some types of hot water washing equip-
ment apply high pressure and heat to the
vehicle. They may cause heat distortion
and damage to the vehicle resin parts and
may result in flooding of the vehicle inte-
rior. Therefore; observe the following. •Maintain a distance of approx. 50 cm
or more between the vehicle body and
the washing nozzle.
• When washing around the door glass,
hold the nozzle at a distance of more
than 50 cm and at right angles to the
glass surface.
Vehicle care
7-03
7

CAUTIONlAfter washing the vehicle, drive the vehi-
cle slowly while lightly depressing the
brake pedal several times in order to dry
out the brakes.
Leaving the brakes wet could result in re-
duced braking performance. Also, there
is a possibility that they could freeze up
or become inoperative due to rust, render-
ing the vehicle unable to move.
l When using an automatic car wash, pay
attention to the following items, referring
to the operation manual or consulting a
car wash operator. If the following proce-
dure is not followed, it could result in dam-
age to your vehicle. • The outside mirrors are retracted.
• The antenna is removed.
• The rear wiper arm assembly is taped
or removed.
• If your vehicle is equipped with a rear
spoiler, consult a car wash operator be-
fore using the car wash.
• If your vehicle has rain sensor wipers,
place the wiper switch lever in the
“
” (OFF) position to deactivate the
rain sensor.
During cold weather
Salt and other chemicals spread on the roads in
some areas in winter can have a harmful effect on
the vehicle body. You should therefore wash the ve-
hicle as often as possible in accordance with our
care-instructions. It is recommended to have a pres-
ervative applied and the underfloor protection
checked before and after the cold weather season.
After washing your vehicle, wipe off all water-
drops from the rubber parts around the doors to pre-
vent the doors from freezing.
NOTE l To prevent freezing of the weatherstripping
on the doors, bonnet, etc., they should be trea-
ted with silicone spray.Waxing E00901000717
Waxing the vehicle will help prevent the adherence
of dust and road chemicals to the paintwork. Apply
a wax solution after washing the vehicle, or at least
once every three months to assist displacing of water.
Do not wax your vehicle in direct sunlight. You
should wax after the surfaces have cooled.
CAUTIONl Waxes containing high abrasive com-
pounds should not be used. Such waxes re-
move rust and stains effectively from the
paintwork but they are harmful to the lus-
tre on the painted surface and the plated
surface.
Further, they are harmful to glossy surfa-
ces such as grille, garnish, mouldings, etc.
l Do not use petrol or paint thinners to re-
move road tar or other contamination to
the vehicle surface.
l Do not apply wax on the areas having
black mat coating as it can cause uneven
discolouration, patches, blurs, etc. If
stained with wax, immediately wipe off
with a piece of soft cloth and warm water.Polishing E00901100011
The vehicle should only be polished if the paint-
work has become stained or lost its lustre. Matt-fin-
ish parts and plastic bumpers must not be polished,
polishing these parts will stain them or damage
their finish.Damaged paint E00901200168
Small cracks and scratches in the paint coat should
be touched up as soon as possible with
MITSUBISHI touch-up paint to prevent corrosion.
Check body areas facing the road or the tyres care-
fully for damage to the paint coat caused by flying
stones, etc. The paint code number for your vehicle
can be found on the vehicle information code plate
on the door sill.
Cleaning plastic parts E00901300550
Use a sponge or chamois leather.
If a car wax adheres on a grey or black rough sur-
face of the bumper, moulding or lamps, the surface
becomes white. In such a case, wipe it off using
lukewarm water and soft cloth or chamois leather.
CAUTIONl Do not use a scrubbing brush or other
hard tools as they may damage the plastic
part surface.
l Do not use wax containing compound (pol-
ishing powder) which may damage the
plastic part surface.
Vehicle care
7-04
7

CAUTIONlDo not bring the plastic parts into contact
with petrol, light oil, brake fluids, engine
oils, greases, paint thinners, and sulphu-
ric acid (battery electrolyte) which may
crack, stain or discolour the plastic parts.
If they touch the plastic parts, wipe them
off with soft cloth, chamois or the like
and an aqueous solution of neutral deter-
gent then immediately rinse the affected
parts with water.Chrome parts E00901400014
In order to prevent spots and corrosion of chrome
parts, wash with water, dry thoroughly, and apply a
special protective coating. This should be done
more frequently in winter.
Aluminium wheels* E00901500086
1.Remove dirt using a sponge while sprinkling
water on the wheel.
2. Use neutral detergent on any dirt that cannot
be removed easily with water.
Rinse off the neutral detergent after washing
the wheel.
3. Dry the wheel thoroughly using a chamois
leather or a soft cloth.
CAUTIONl Do not use a brush or other hard imple-
ment on the wheels.
Doing so could scratch the wheels.CAUTIONl Do not use any cleaner that contains an
abrasive substance or is acidic or alka-
line. Doing so could cause the coating on
the wheels to peel or become discoloured
or stained.
l Do not directly apply hot water using a
steam cleaner or by any other means.
l Contact with seawater and road deicer
can cause corrosion. Rinse off such sub-
stances as soon as possible.Window glass E00901600104
The window glass can normally be cleaned using
only a sponge and water.
Glass cleaner can be used to remove oil, grease,
dead insects, etc. After washing the glass, wipe dry
with a clean, dry, soft cloth. Never use the same
cloth to wipe the window glass as would be used to
wipe the paintwork; wax from the painted surfaces
could adhere to the glass and reduce its transparen-
cy and visibility.
CAUTIONl If your vehicle has rain sensor wipers,
place the wiper switch lever in the “”
(OFF) position to deactivate the rain sen-
sor before washing the windscreen. Oth-
erwise, the wipers will operate in the pres-
ence of water spray on the windscreen
and may get damaged as a result.NOTE
l To clean the inside of the tailgate window, al-
ways use a soft cloth and wipe the window
glass along the demister heater element so as
not to cause damage.Wiper blades E00901700017
Use a soft cloth and glass cleaner to remove grease,
dead insects, etc., from the wiper blades. Replace
the wiper blades when they no longer wipe proper-
ly. (Refer to page 8-16.)
Engine compartment E00902100265
Clean the engine compartment at the beginning and
end of winter. Pay particular attention to flanges,
crevices and peripheral parts where dust containing
road chemicals and other corrosive materials might
collect.
If salt and other chemicals are used on the roads in
your area, clean the engine compartment at least ev-
ery three months.
Never spray or splash water on the electrical com-
ponents in the engine compartment, as this may
cause damage.
Do not bring the nearby parts, the plastic parts and
so on into contact with sulphuric acid (battery elec-
trolyte) which may crack, stain or discolour them.
If they are in contact, wipe off with soft cloth, cha-
mois or the like and an aqueous solution of neutral
detergent then immediately rinse the affected parts
with plenty of water.
Vehicle care
7-05
7

Service precautions....................................................................... 8-02
Catalytic converter ........................................................................ 8-02
Bonnet ........................................................................................... 8-03
Engine oil ...................................................................................... 8-05
Engine coolant .............................................................................. 8-07
Washer fluid ................................................................................. 8-09
Brake fluid/Clutch fluid* .............................................................. 8-09
Battery .......................................................................................... 8-10
Tyres ............................................................................................. 8-11
Clutch pedal free play* ................................................................. 8-15
Brake pedal free play .................................................................... 8-16
Parking brake lever stroke ............................................................ 8-16
Wiper blades ................................................................................. 8-16
General maintenance .................................................................... 8-18
For cold and snowy weather ......................................................... 8-18
Fusible links .................................................................................. 8-19
Fuses ............................................................................................. 8-19
Replacement of lamp bulbs .......................................................... 8-23Maintenance8

Service precautionsE01000100458
Adequate care of your vehicle at regular intervals
serves to preserve the value and appearance as long
as possible.
Maintenance items as described in this owner’s man-
ual can be performed by the owner.
We recommend you to have the periodic inspection
and maintenance performed by a MITSUBISHI
MOTORS Authorized Service Point or another spe-
cialist. In the event a malfunction or other problem
is discovered, we recommend you to have it
checked and repaired. This section contains infor-
mation on inspection maintenance procedures that
you can do yourself. Follow the instructions and
cautions for each of the various procedures.WARNINGl When checking or servicing the inside of
the engine compartment, make sure the
engine is switched off and has had a
chance to cool down.
l If it is necessary to do work in the engine
compartment with the engine running, be
especially careful that your clothing, hair,
etc., does not become caught by the fans,
drive belts, or other moving parts.
l The fan may turn on automatically even
if the engine is not running; turn the igni-
tion key to “LOCK” position and remove
the key to ensure safety while you work
in the engine compartment.
l Do not smoke, cause sparks or allow open
flames around fuel or battery. The fumes
are flammable.WARNINGl Be extremely cautious when working
around the battery. It contains poisonous
and corrosive sulphuric acid.
l Do not get under your vehicle with just
the body jack supporting it. Always use
automotive jack stands.
l Improper handling of components and
materials used in the vehicle can endan-
ger your personal safety. We recommend
you to consult a specialist for necessary in-
formation.Catalytic converter E01000201140
For ordinary use, there are no particular precau-
tions except that of using unleaded petrol.
The exhaust gas scavenging devices used with the
catalytic converter are extremely efficient for the re-
duction of noxious gases. The catalytic converter is
installed in the exhaust system.
It is important to keep the engine properly tuned to
ensure proper catalyst operation and prevent possi-
ble catalyst damage.CAUTIONl Damage to the catalytic converter can re-
sult if your vehicle is not kept in proper
operating condition. In the event of an en-
gine malfunction particularly involving
engine misfire or other apparent loss of
performance, have your vehicle serviced
promptly. Continued operation of your ve-
hicle with a severe overheated condition
may result in possible damage to the con-
verter and vehicle.WARNINGl As with any vehicle, do not park or oper-
ate this vehicle in areas where combusti-
ble materials such as dry grass or leaves
can come in contact with a hot exhaust
since a fire could occur.
l Paint should not be applied to the catalyt-
ic converter.
Maintenance
8-02
8