4-16 Driving safety
4
Weight limitsNever exceed the vehicle capacity weight, maximum trailer
weight (A), maximum tongue weight (B) and Gross Axle
Weight Rating (GAWR).Vehicle capacity weightThe vehicle capacity weight is printed on the tire and loading
information placard as “combined weight of occupants and
cargo”.
This weight includes the weight of all occupants and the total
weight it can carry.
For detail information, refer to “Tire and loading information
placard” on page 4-9.
Maximum trailer weightRecommendations for towing up to this limit are as follows.Tongue weightThe tongue weight of any trailer is important because it affects
the vehicle capacity weight.
The vehicle capacity weight includes any cargo you may carry,
and the people who will be riding in the vehicle. If you tow a
trailer, you must include the tongue weight of the trailer in your
calculation of the vehicle capacity weight. Refer to “Tire and
loading information placard” on page 4-9, for more informa-
tion about vehicle capacity weight.
Do not exceed the tongue weight at 10 % of the loaded trailer
weight.
Example:
In case of your loaded weight is 3,500 lbs. (1,588 kg), the
tongue weight is 350 lbs. (160 kg).
Total Trailer WeightTrailer Brake and Towing kit*
requirements
Up to 1,500 lbs. (680 kg) Trailer brakes not required
1,500 lbs. (680 kg) to
2,000 lbs. (907 kg)Trailer brakes required
2,000 lbs. (907 kg) to
3,500 lbs. (1,588 kg)Trailer brakes and
Towing kit* required
*: Optional equipment
(including the large capacity radiator, full-size spare tire,
etc.)
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Driving safety
4-17
4
After you’ve loaded your trailer, weigh the trailer and then the
tongue, separately, to see if the weights are proper.
Keep the trailer tongue load at 10 % of the loaded trailer
weight for dead weight hitches. Tongue loads can be adjusted
by proper distribution of the load in the trailer. This can be
checked by separately weighing the loaded trailer and then the
tongue.Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)The GAWRs are printed on the certification label which is riv-
eted on the door sill on the driver’s side.
Refer to “Vehicle labeling” on page 9-2.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.NOTEMitsubishi recommends that sway control be used when-
ever you are towing, to improve towing stability.
For details, please consult 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 auto-
matic transaxle fluid, engine oil, rear axle oil, belt, cooling sys-
tem and brake system. Each of these is covered in this manual.
For details, please refer to the “Vehicle care maintenance” sec-
tion.
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 7-34.
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
4-19
4
Vehicle preparationBefore you start, check the trailer hitch, safety chains, tires and
mirror adjustment.TiresBe sure your vehicle’s tires are inflated to the cold inflation
pressure listed in the manual. You’ll find these numbers on the
tire and loading information placard at the sill of the driver’s
door.
Refer to “Tire inflation pressures” on page 7-24.Following distanceStay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as you would
when driving your vehicle without a trailer. This can help you
avoid situations that require heavy braking and sudden turns.PassingYou’ll need more passing distance up ahead when you’re tow-
ing a trailer. And, because the combined vehicle and trailer are
longer, you’ll need to go much farther beyond the passed vehi-
cle before you can return to your lane.Backing upHold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand. Then, to
move the trailer to the left, just move that hand to the left. To
move the trailer to the right, move your hand to the right.
Always back up slowly and, if possible, have someone guide
you.
Making turnsWhen you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns than nor-
mal to help prevent the trailer from striking shoulders, curbs,
road signs, trees or other objects.
Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well in advance.OverheatingTowing a trailer puts additional burden on the engine and tran-
saxle, which may cause overheating. Following are some sug-
gestions to reduce overheating:
CAUTION
!Making sharp turns while towing a trailer could
cause the trailer to come in contact with the vehicle.
Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid making sharp
turns while towing a trailer. Overheating Situation
Solution
Air conditioning on Turn off
Highway speeds Reduce speed
Going up hills Select lower gear
Stop-and-go city traffic When stopped, shift transaxle to
neutral and idle engine at higher
speed
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4-20 Driving safety
4
When towing at high altitudes, engine coolant and automatic
transaxle fluid 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 “P” (PARK) position for a few minutes before turning
the engine off.
If the needle in the engine coolant temperature gauge
approaches the overheating zone, refer to “Engine over-
heating” on page 6-5.
If the automatic transaxle fluid temperature warning light
illuminates, refer to “Automatic transaxle fluid tempera-
ture warning light” on page 3-42.Driving on hillsReduce speed and shift to a lower gear 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 transaxle to 3rd gear or a lower gear, under heavy loads or
hilly conditions.
ParkingAlways place chocks or blocks under both the vehicle and
trailer wheels when parking. Apply the parking brake firmly.
Move the selector lever to the “P” (PARK) position. 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. Move the selector lever to the “P” (PARK) position and
turn off the engine.
When restarting out after parking on a hill:
1. Make sure the selector lever is in the “P” (PARK) posi-
tion, and start the engine. Be sure to keep the brake pedal
depressed.
2. Move the selector lever to the 2nd gear, 1st gear or “R”
(REVERSE) position.
3. Release the parking brake and brake pedal and slowly pull
or back away from the chocks or blocks. Stop and apply
your brakes.
4. Have someone retrieve the chocks or blocks.
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Comfort controls
5-9
5
Air conditioning switch
N00731000276
Push the switch, and the air conditioning compressor will turn
on. The air conditioning indicator light (A) will come on.
Push the switch again and the air conditioning compressor will
stop and the indicator light goes off.
NOTEIf a problem is detected in the air conditioning compres-
sor, the air conditioning indicator light (A) blinks. Press
the air conditioning switch once to turn it off, then once
more to turn it back on. If the air conditioning indicator
light does not blink, there is no problem. If it does blink,
have it checked at an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer
or a repair facility of your choice.
Sometimes, for example after using a high-pressure car
wash, the condenser can get wet, and the air conditioning
indicator light (A) blinks temporarily. In this case there is
nothing wrong. Wait for a while, press the air conditioning
switch once to turn the system off, then once more to turn
it back on. Once the water evaporates, the blinking will
stop.
CAUTION
!Using the air conditioning slightly increases the
engine idle speed. Therefore, make sure your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal when shifting the tran-
saxle into drive.
(Green)
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Comfort controls
5-21
5
The air conditioning indicator (B) is displayed.
Push the switch again and the air conditioning compressor will
stop and the air conditioning indicator goes off.
NOTEIf a problem is detected in the air conditioning compres-
sor, the air conditioning indicator light (A) blinks. Press
the air conditioning switch once to turn it off, then once
more to turn it back on. If the air conditioning indicator
light (A) does not blink, there is no problem. If it does
blink, have it checked at an authorized Mitsubishi Motors
dealer or a repair facility of your choice.
Sometimes, for example after using a high-pressure car
wash, the condenser can get wet, and the air conditioning
indicator light (A) blinks temporarily. In this case there is
nothing wrong. Wait for a while, press the air conditioning
switch once to turn the system off, then once more to turn
it back on. Once the water evaporates, the blinking will
stop.
CAUTION
!Using the air conditioning slightly increases the
engine idle speed. Therefore, make sure your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal when shifting the tran-
saxle into drive.
BK0121600US.book 21 ページ 2010年4月12日 月曜日 午前10時39分
6-2 For emergencies
6If the vehicle breaks down
N00836300174
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.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
N00836400667
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 with automatic transaxles 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
6-3
6
3. You could be injured if the vehicles move. Set the parking
brake firmly on each vehicle. Put an automatic transaxle
in “P” (PARK) or a manual transaxle in “N” (Neutral).
Turn the ignition key to the “LOCK” position. NOTETurn off all lights, heater, and other electrical loads. This
will avoid sparks and help save both batteries.
4. Make sure your battery electrolyte is at the proper level.
(Refer to “Battery” on page 7-16.)5. Connect one end of one jumper cable to the positive (+)
terminal of the discharged battery (A), and the other end
to the positive (+) terminal of the booster battery (B).
NOTEOpen the terminal cover before connecting the jumper
cable to the positive terminal of the battery.
(Refer to “Battery” on page 7-16.)
Use the proper cables suitable for the battery size.
Otherwise heat damage to the cables could result.
Check the jumper cables for damage and corrosion before
use.
WA R N I N G
!Turn the ignition key to the “LOCK” position on
both vehicles. Make sure that the cables or your
clothes cannot be caught by the fan or drive belt.
Personal injury could result.
WA R N I N G
!If the electrolyte fluid is not visible, or looks frozen,
DO NOT ATTEMPT JUMP STARTING!!
The battery might split open or explode if the tem-
perature is below the freezing point or if it is not
filled to the proper level.
BK0121600US.book 3 ページ 2010年4月12日 月曜日 午前10時39分