2011 MITSUBISHI COLT Owner's Manual (in English)

WARNINGlKeep sparks, cigarettes, and flames away
from the battery because the battery
could explode.
l The battery electrolyte is extremely caus-
tic. Do not allow it to come in contact
with your eyes, skin, clothing, or the pain-
ted surfaces of the vehicle. Spilt electro-
lyte should be flushed immediately with
ample amounts of water.
Irritation to eyes or skin from contact
with electrolyte requires immediate medi-
cal attention.
l Ventilate when charging or using the bat-
tery in an enclosed space.CAUTIONl Never disconnect the battery with the ig-
nition switch in the “ON” position; doing
so could damage the vehicle’s electrical
components.
l Never short-circuit the battery; doing so
could cause it to overheat and be damaged.CAUTIONl Always wear protective eye goggles when
working near the battery.
l If the battery is to be quick-charged, first
disconnect the battery cables.
l In order to prevent a short circuit, be
sure to disconnect the negative (-) termi-
nal first.
l Keep it out of reach of children.
l Do not bring the nearby part, the plastic
parts and so on into contact with sulphu-
ric acid (battery electrolyte) which may
crack, stain or discolour them.
If they are in contact, wipe off with soft
cloth, chamois or the like and an aqueous
solution of neutral detergent then imme-
diately rinse the affected parts with plen-
ty of water.
NOTE
l Keep the terminals clean. After the battery is
connected, apply terminal protection grease.
To clean the terminals, use lukewarm water.
l Check to see if the battery is securely instal-
led and cannot be moved during travel. Also
check each terminal for tightness.
l When the vehicle is to be left unused for a
long period of time, remove the battery and
store it in a place where the battery fluid will
not freeze. The battery should be stored only
in a fully charged condition.
Tyres E01001300226WARNINGlDriving with tyres that are worn, dam-
aged or improperly inflated can lead to a
loss of control or blow out of the tyres
which can result in a collision with seri-
ous or fatal injury.
Maintenance
8-11
8

Tyre inflation pressuresE01001402494ItemTyre sizeNormalAt trailer towingFrontRearFrontRear
Normal tyre
175/65R14 82T
195/50R15 82H
205/45R16 83H2.2 bar (220 kPa),
2.5 bar (250 kPa) *2.2 bar (220 kPa),
2.5 bar (250 kPa) *2.2 bar (220 kPa)2.5 bar (250 kPa)205/45R16 83V2.4 bar (240 kPa),
2.5 bar (250 kPa) *2.4 bar (240 kPa),
2.5 bar (250 kPa) *2.4 bar (240 kPa)2.5 bar (250 kPa)Special low rolling resist-
ance tyre175/65R14 82T
185/55R15 82H2.4 bar (240 kPa),
2.5 bar (250 kPa) *2.4 bar (240 kPa),
2.5 bar (250 kPa) *2.4 bar (240 kPa)2.5 bar (250 kPa)Compact spare tyreT115/70D15
T115/70R154.2 bar (420 kPa)—* : Above 160 km/h (99 mph)

Check the tyre inflation pressure of all the tyres while they are cold; if insufficient or excessive, adjust to the specified value.
After the tyre inflation pressure has been adjusted, check the tyres for damage and air leaks. Be sure to put caps on the valves.
Maintenance
8-12
8

Wheel conditionE01001800407
1- Location of the tread wear indicator
2- Tread wear indicator
Check the tyres for cuts, cracks and other damage.
Replace the tyres if there are deep cuts or cracks.
Also check each tyre for pieces of metal or pebbles.
The use of worn tyres can be very dangerous be-
cause of the greater chance of skidding or hydro-
planing. The tread depth of the tyres must exceed
1.6 mm in order for the tyres to meet the minimum
requirement for use.
If there are tread wear indicators on the tyres, they
will appear in six places on the surface of the tyre
as the tyre wears, thereby indicating that the tyre
no longer meets the minimum requirement for use.
When these wear indicators appear, the tyres must
be replaced with new ones.
Check that the wheel nuts are tightened correctly.
Refer to the section entitled “For emergencies” for
information concerning replacement of the tyres.
NOTE
l The mark and the location of the tyre tread
wear indicators are different depending on
the tyre manufacturer.Replacing tyres and wheels E01007200038CAUTIONlAvoid using different size tyres from the
one listed and the combined use of differ-
ent types of tyres, as this can affect driv-
ing safety.
Refer to “Tyres and wheels” on page
9-12.
l Even if a wheel has the same rim size and
offset as the specified type of wheel, its
shape may prevent it from being fitted cor-
rectly. We recommend you to consult a
specialist before using wheels that you
have.Tyre rotation E01001900121
Tyre wear varies with vehicle conditions, road sur-
face conditions and individual driver’s driving hab-
its. To equalize the wear and help extend tyre life,
it is recommended to rotate the tyres immediately
after discovery of abnormal wear, or whenever the
wear difference between the front and rear tyres is
recognizable.
When rotating tyres, check for uneven wear and
damage. Abnormal wear is usually caused by incor-
rect tyre pressure, improper wheel alignment, out
of balance wheel, or severe braking. We recom-
mend you to have it checked to determine the
cause of irregular tread wear.Tyres that do not have arrows showing rotation directionTyres that have arrows showing rotation directionFrontFront
CAUTIONl A compact spare tyre can be fitted tempo-
rarily in place of a tyre that has been re-
moved during the tyre rotation. However,
it must not be included in the regular tyre
rotation sequence.
Maintenance
8-13
8

CAUTIONlIf the tyres have arrows (A) indicating
the correct direction of rotation, swap the
front and rear wheels on the left hand
side of the vehicle and the front and rear
wheels on the right hand side of the vehi-
cle separately. Keep each tyre on its origi-
nal side of the vehicle. When fitting the
tyres, make sure the arrows point in the
direction in which the wheels will turn
when the vehicle moves forward. Any
tyre whose arrow points in the wrong di-
rection will not perform to its full poten-
tial.Front
CAUTIONl Avoid the combined use of different types
of tyres.
This can affect vehicle performance and
safety.Snow tyres E01002000549
The use of snow tyres is recommended for driving
on snow and ice. To preserve driving stability,
mount snow tyres of the same size and tread pat-
tern on all 4 wheels.
Snow tyres worn more than 50% are no longer suit-
able for use as snow tyres.
Snow tyres which do not meet specifications must
not be used.CAUTIONl Observe permissable maximum speed for
your snow tyres and the legal speed limit.
NOTE
l The laws and regulations concerning snow
tyres (driving speed, required use, type, etc.)
vary. Find out and follow the laws and regu-
lations in the area you intend to drive.
l If flange nuts are used on your vehicle,
change to tapered nuts when steel wheels are
used.
Tyre chains E01002101491
If tyre chains have to be used, ensure that they are
fitted only on the drive wheels (front).
Use only tyre chains which are designed for use
with the tyres mounted on the vehicle: use of the in-
correct size or type of chain could result in damage
to the vehicle body.
Before fitting tyre chains, we recommend you to
consult a MITSUBISHI MOTORS Authorized Serv-
ice Point. The max. chain height is as follows.
ItemTyre sizeWheel sizeMax. chain height[mm]
Except for
Clear Tec
175/65R14 *1 *214x5.5 J
12
185/55R15
*315x6.0 JClear Tec175/65R1414x5.5 J185/55R1515x6.0 J*1: Vehicles with turbocharger have 15-inch
brakes, so 14-inch tyres and wheels cannot be
used on them.
*2 : Use only 175/65R14 snow tyres (M + S) with
the 1500 models of the vehicles without turbo-
charger.
*3 : Snow tyres (M + S) onlyCAUTIONl For vehicle with 195/50R15 or 205/45R16
tyres, chains should not be used. The clear-
ance between the chains and the body is
small, and the body might be damaged.
However, if chains must be used on vehi-
cles with 195/50R15 or 205/45R16 tyres,
because of the adverse road conditions
such as snow or ice, proceed as follows:
Change all the original tyres (including
wheels) to 175/65R14 tyres (14x5.5 J
wheels) or 185/55R15 M + S tyres (15x6.0
J wheels) and then use the chains on front
wheels.
Maintenance
8-14
8

The speed limit for tyre chain is 50 km/h (30 mph)
and remove the tyre chains as soon as possible on
snow free roads.WARNINGl DO NOT use a jack when fitting the
chains, as in thsee conditions, the tyres
may slip on the icy road causing the vehi-
cle to slip off the jack.CAUTIONl Practice fitting the chains before you
need them.
Don’t expect help from other people in
the cold.
l Choose a clear straight stretch of road
where you can pull over and still be seen
while you are fitting the chains.
l Do not fit chains before you need them.
This will wear out your tyres and the
road surface.
l After driving around 100-300 metres
,
stop and retighten the chains.
l Care should be taken with extremes of
steering lock to prevent possible contact
between the chains and the vehicle body.
l Drive carefully and do not exceed
50 km/h (30 mph). Remember, fitting
chains is not going to stop accidents from
happening.
l When tyre chains are installed, take care
that they do not damage the disc wheel or
body.CAUTIONl Do not install a tyre chain on an emergen-
cy wheel which is compact in size. If one
of the front wheels has punctured, re-
place it with one of the rear wheels and in-
stall the compact spare wheel in that
place before fitting a tyre chain.
l An aluminium wheel can be damaged by
a tyre chain while driving. When fitting a
tyre chain on an aluminium wheel, take
care that any part of the chain and fitting
cannot be brought into contact with the
wheel.
l Remove the wheel covers before instal-
ling a tyre chain, otherwise they may be
damaged by the tyre chain. (Refer to
“Wheel covers” on page 6-17.)
l When installing or removing the tyre
chains, take care that hands and other
parts of your body are not injured by the
sharp edges of the vehicle body.
l Install the chains only on the rear tyres
and tighten them as tightly as possible
with the ends securely fastened.
NOTE
l The laws and regulations concerning the use
of tyre chains vary. Find out and follow the
laws and regulations of the area you’re driv-
ing in.
In most countries, it is prohibited by law to
use tyre chains on roads without snow.
Clutch pedal free play* E01002200222
Press down the clutch pedal with your fingers until
initial resistance is felt.
This distance should be within the specified range.
A- Free play: 4 to13 mm
If the clutch pedal free play is not within the stand-
ard range, we recommend you to have it checked.
Maintenance
8-15
8

Brake pedal free playE01002300281
Stop the engine, depress the brake pedal several
times, and press down the pedal with your fingers
until initial resistance is felt. This distance should
be within the specified range.
A- Free play: 3 to 8 mm
If the brake pedal free play is not within the stand-
ard range, we recommend you to have it checked.
Parking brake lever stroke E01005800388
Pull the parking brake lever up to check the num-
ber of “clicks” that the ratchet makes. One click rep-
resents a lever movement of one notch. The lever
should move the specified number of notches for
normal brake application.
A- Parking brake lever stroke: 5 to 7 notches (Parking brake adjustment when pulled with
a force of 200 N)
If the parking brake lever stroke is out of the stand-
ard range, we recommend you to have it checked.
WARNINGl Continued operation of the vehicle with
the parking brake lever out of adjust-
ment may result in the vehicle moving
when unattended.Wiper blades E01002600473
If the blades are frozen to the windscreen or rear
window, do not operate the wipers until the ice has
melted and the blades are freed, otherwise the wip-
er motor may be damaged.
NOTE l Under icy conditions, do not cause high im-
pact on the wiper blade by slamming it on
the glass. In extremely low temperatures, the
plastic wiper blade is vulnerable to such
shock and may be damaged because of its
less plasticity.
Wiper blade rubber replacement
Windscreen wiper blade (driver’s side) 1. Lift the wiper arm off the windscreen.
2. Pull the wiper blade until its stopper (A) dis-
engages from the hook (B). Then, pull the
wiper blade further to remove it.
Maintenance
8-16
8

NOTEl Do not allow the wiper arm to fall onto the
windscreen; it could damage the glass.
3. Attach the retainers (C) to a new wiper blade.
4.Insert the wiper blade into the arm, starting
with the opposite end of the blade from the
stopper. Make sure the hook (B) is fitted cor-
rectly in the grooves in the blade.
NOTE l If retainers are not supplied with the new wip-
er blade, use the retainers from the old blade.
5. Push the wiper blade until the hook (B) en-
gages securely with the stopper (A).
Windscreen wiper blade (passenger’s side)
1. Lift the wiper arm off the windscreen.
2. Pull the wiper blade until its stopper (A) dis-
engages from the hook (B). Then, pull the
wiper blade further to remove it.
3. Slide a new wiper blade through the hook
(B) on the wiper arm.
NOTE
l Do not allow the wiper arm to fall onto the
windscreen; it could damage the glass.
4. Firmly insert the retainer (C) into the groove
(D) in the wiper blade.
Refer to the illustration to ensure that the re-
tainers are correctly aligned as you insert
them into the groove.
NOTE
l If retainers are not supplied with the new wip-
er blade, use the retainers from the old blade.
Rear window wiper blade
The rear window wiper uses a wiper arm and wiper
blade designed specially for that wiper. If replace-
ment becomes necessary, please consult a
MITSUBISHI MOTORS Authorized Service Point
or another specialist.
Maintenance
8-17
8

General maintenanceE01002700113
Fuel, engine coolant, oil and exhaust
gas leakage
Look under the body of your vehicle to check for
fuel, engine coolant, oil and exhaust gas leaks.WARNINGl If you see a suspicious fuel leak or if you
smell fuel, do not operate the vehicle; we
recommend you to call for assistance.
Exterior and interior lamp operation
Operate the combination lamp switch to check that
all lamps are functioning properly.
If the lamps do not illuminate, the probable cause
is a blown fuse or defective lamp bulb. Check the
fuses first. If there is no blown fuses, check the
lamp bulbs.
For information regarding the inspection and re-
placement of the fuses and the lamp bulbs, refer to
“ Fuses” on page 8-19 and “Replacement of lamp
bulbs” on page 8-23.
If the fuses and bulbs are all OK, we recommend
you to have your vehicle checked and repaired.
Meter, gauge and indicator/warning
lamps operation
Run the engine to check the operation of all meters,
gauges, and indicator/warning lamps.
If there is anything wrong, we recommend you to
have your vehicle inspected.
Hinges and latches lubrication
Check all latches and hinges, and lubricate if neces-
sary by first cleaning and then applying multipur-
pose grease.For cold and snowy weather E01002800172
Ventilation slots
The ventilation slots in front of the windscreen
should be brushed clear after a heavy snowfall so
that the operation of the heating and ventilation sys-
tems will not be impaired.
Weatherstripping
To prevent freezing of the weatherstripping on the
doors, bonnet, etc., they should be treated with sili-
cone grease or spray.
Additional equipment
It is a good idea to carry a shovel or a short-han-
dled spade in the vehicle during the winter so that
you can clear away snow if you get stranded. A
small hand-brush for sweeping snow off the vehi-
cle and a plastic scraper for the windscreen and
rear window are also useful.
Maintenance
8-18
8