2011 MITSUBISHI COLT light

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

Support the bonnet by inserting the support bar in
its slot.CAUTIONl Note that the support bar may disengage
the bonnet if the open bonnet is lifted by
a strong wind.
l Always insert the support bar into the
hole provided specifically for this pur-
pose. Supporting the bonnet at any other
location could result in the support bar
slipping out and lead to an accident.
To close
Unlatch the support bar (A) and clip it in its holder.
Slowly lower the bonnet to a position about 20 cm
above the closed position, then let it drop.
NOTE
l If this does not close the bonnet, release it
from a slightly higher position.
l Do not press down the bonnet hard with a
hand as it may damage the bonnet.
l Push the support bar (A) down completely in-
to its holder.
CAUTIONl Be careful that hands or fingers are not
trapped when closing the bonnet.
l Before driving, make sure that the bon-
net is securely locked. An incompletely
locked bonnet can suddenly open while
driving. This can be extremely dangerous.
Maintenance
8-04
8

ture is below the range shown in the illustra-
tion.
In this case, use engine oil conforming to the
following classification: • ACEA classification:“For service A3/ B3, A3/B4 or A5/B5”
• API classification: “For service SG” or higherEngine coolant E01000501390
To check the coolant level
A translucent coolant reserve tank is located in the
engine compartment.

Except for vehicles with turbocharger
The coolant level in this tank should be kept be-
tween the “LOW” and “FULL” marks when meas-
ured while the engine is cold.
FULLLOW
Vehicles with turbocharger
Check the coolant level in the reserve tank. The re-
serve tank lid is equipped with a dipstick.

Remove the dipstick and wipe it with a clean cloth.
Reinsert the dipstick as far as it goes. Remove the
dipstick and read the coolant level, which should al-
ways be within the range “F” (FULL) or “L”
(LOW) while the engine is cold.FULLLOW
To add coolant
The cooling system is a closed system and normal-
ly the loss of coolant should be very slight. A no-
ticeable drop in the coolant level could indicate leak-
age. If this occurs, we recommend you to have the
system checked as soon as possible.

Except for vehicles with turbocharger
If the level should drop below the “LOW” level on
the reserve tank, open the lid and add coolant to
“FULL” level.
Also, if the reserve tank is completely empty, re-
move the radiator cap (A) and add coolant until the
level reaches the filler neck.
Maintenance
8-07
8

Washer fluidE01000700702
Check the washer fluid level in the container.
If the level is low, replenish the container with wash-
er fluid.
NOTE
l The washer fluid container serves the wind-
screen and the rear window.
During cold weather
To ensure proper operation of the washers at low
temperatures, use a fluid containing an anti-freez-
ing agent.
Brake fluid/Clutch fluid* E01000800035
The brake fluid (A) and the clutch fluid (B) share
reservoir tank.
To check the fluid level
A- Brake fluid B- Clutch fluid
C- Partition
The fluid level must be between the “MAX” and
“MIN” marks on the reservoir.
The brake fluid level is monitored by a float. When
the fluid level falls below the “MIN” mark, the
brake fluid warning lamp lights up.
The brake fluid level falls slightly with wear of the
brake pads, but this does not indicate any abnormal-
ity.
The fluid in the master cylinder should be checked
when doing other work under the bonnet. 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 indicates leaks from the each system.
If this occurs, we recommend you to have the vehi-
cle checked.
Fluid type
Use brake fluid conforming to DOT4+ from a
sealed container.
The brake fluid is hygroscopic. Too much moisture
in the brake fluid will adversely affect the brake sys-
tem and clutch system, reducing the performance.CAUTIONl Take care in handling brake fluid as it is
harmful to the eyes, may irritate your
skin and also damage painted surfaces.
l Use only the specified brake fluid.
Do not mix or add different brands of
brake fluid to prevent chemical reactions.
Do not let any petroleum-based fluid
touch, mix with, or get into the brake fluid.
This will damage the seals.
l Keep the reservoir tank cap closed to pre-
vent the brake fluid from deteriorating ex-
cept maintenance.
l Clean the filler cap before removing and
close the cap securely after maintenance.
Maintenance
8-09
8

A
Accessory (Installation) 04
Accessory socket 5-37
Active stability control system (ASC) 4-30 Indication lamp 4-31
Additional equipment 8-18
Air conditioning Automatic air conditioning 5-07
Important operation tips for the air condition-
ing 5-11
Air purifier 5-12
Airbag 2-22
Front passenger’s airbag OFF indication
lamp 2-25
Front passenger’s airbag ON-OFF switch 2-25
Antenna 5-33
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) 4-27 Warning lamp 4-28
Audio Error codes 5-30
Handling of compact discs 5-32
LW/MW/FM electronic tuning radio with CD
player 5-12
Auto Stop & Go (AS&G) system 4-13
Automated manual transmission 4-19 Oil 9-16
Automatic air conditioning 5-07
B
Battery 8-10Charge warning lamp 3-19
Discharged battery (Emergency starting) 6-02
Specification 9-11
Bonnet 8-03
Brake Anti-lock brake 4-27
Brake assist system 4-27
Braking 4-25
Fluid 8-09,9-16
Parking brake 4-06
Parking brake lever stroke 8-16
Pedal free play 8-16
Warning lamp 3-17
Bulb capacity 8-23
C
Capacities 9-16
Cargo loads 4-36
Catalytic converter 8-02
Central door locks 1-07
Changing a fuse 8-21
Charge warning lamp 3-19
Chassis number 9-02
Check engine warning lamp 3-18
Child restraint 2-13
Child-protection rear doors 1-09
Cleaning Exterior of your vehicle 7-03
Genuine leather 7-02
Interior of your vehicle 7-02
Plastic, vinyl leather, etc 7-02
Clock 5-34
Clutch Fluid 8-09
Pedal free play 8-15
Coat hooks 5-43
Combination headlamps and dipper switch 3-20
Coming home light 3-22
Compact spare wheel 6-13
Cool box 5-39
Coolant (engine) 8-07,9-16
Cruise control 4-32
Cup holder 5-42
D
Dead Lock System 1-07
Demister (rear window) 3-29
Digital clock 5-34
Dipper (High/Low beam change) 3-21
Door ajar warning lamp 3-19
Doors Central door locks 1-07
Child-protection 1-09
Dead Lock System 1-07
Lock and unlock 1-05
Driving, alcohol and drugs 4-02
E
Economical driving 4-02
Electric power steering system 4-29
Electric remote-controlled outside rear-view mir-
rors 4-09
Electric window control 1-11
Electrical system 9-11
Electronic immobilizer (Anti-theft starting sys-
tem) 1-02
Emergency starting 6-02
Emergency stop signal system 4-26
Engine
Coolant 8-07,9-16
High coolant temperature warning lamp 3-19
Number 9-03
Oil 8-05
Oil and filter 9-16
Overheating 6-04
Specifications 9-09
Used engine oils safety instructions and disposal
information 05
Error codes 5-30
Exterior and interior lamp operation 8-18
Alphabetical index
1