2011 MITSUBISHI I-MIEV warning light

Inspection and maintenance
following rough road operation E00606700383
After
operating the vehicle in rough road condi-
tions, be sure to perform the following inspection
and maintenance procedures:
l Check that the vehicle has not been damaged
by rocks, gravel, etc.
l Carefully wash the vehicle with water.
Drive the vehicle slowly while lightly depress-
ing the brake pedal in order to dry out the
brakes. If the brakes still do not function prop-
erly, we recommend you to have the brakes
checked as soon as possible.
l Remove the insects, dried grass, etc. clog-
ging the radiator core.
l Check the inside of the vehicle. If water en-
try is found, dry the carpet etc.
l Inspect the headlamps, If the headlamp bulb
is flooded with water, we recommend you to
have it drained. Braking
E00607001830
All
the parts of the brake system are critical to safe-
ty. We recommend you to have the vehicle
checked at regular intervals according to the serv-
ice booklet. CAUTION
l
Avoid
driving habits that cause heavy
braking and never “ride” the brakes by
resting your foot on the brake pedal
while driving.
It causes brake overheating and fading.
Brake system
The
service brake is divided into two brake cir-
cuits. And your vehicle is equipped with power
brakes. If one brake circuit fails, the other is availa-
ble to stop the vehicle. If you should lose the pow-
er assist for some reason, the brakes will still work.
In these situations, even if the brake pedal moves
down to the very end of its possible stroke or re-
sists being depressed, keep depressing the brake ped-
al down harder and further than usual; stop driving
as soon as possible and have the brake system re-
paired. WARNING
l Do
not turn off the electric motor unit
while your vehicle is in motion. If you
turn off the electric motor unit while driv-
ing, the power assistance for the braking
system will stop working and your brakes
will not work effectively. WARNING
l If
the power assist is lost or if either
brake hydraulic system stops working
properly, have your vehicle checked im-
mediately.
Warning lamp
The
brake warning lamp illuminates to indicate a
fault in the braking system. Refer to “Brake warn-
ing lamp” on page 4-09.
When brakes are wet
Check the brake system while driving at a low
speed immediately after starting, especially when
the brakes are wet, to confirm they work normally.
A film of water can be formed on the brake discs
or brake drums 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 depress-
ing the brake pedal.
When driving downhill
It is important to take advantage of regenerative
braking by shifting to the “B” (BRAKE) position
while driving on steep downhill roads in order to
prevent the brakes from overheating. Starting and driving
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WARNING
l Do not leave any objects near the brake
pedal or let a floor mat slide under it; do-
ing so could prevent the full pedal stroke
that would be necessary in an emergency.
Make sure that the pedal can be operated
freely at all times. Make sure the floor
mat is securely held in place.
Brake pad and linings l Avoid hard braking situations.
New

brakes need to be broken-in by moder-
ate use for the first 200 km (125 miles).
l The disc brakes are provided with a warning
device which emits a shrieking metallic
sound while braking if the brake pads have
reached their wear limit. If you hear this
sound, have the brake pads replaced immedi-
ately. WARNING
l Driving
with worn brake pads will make
it harder to stop, and can cause an acci-
dent. Brake assist system
E00627000174
The brake assist system is a device assisting drivers
who

cannot depress the brake pedal firmly when it
is necessary to do so (such as in emergency stop sit-
uations) and provides greater braking force.

If the brake pedal is depressed suddenly, the brakes
will be applied with more force than usual. CAUTION
l
The
brake assist system is not a device de-
signed to exercise braking force greater
than its capacity. Make sure to always
keep a sufficient distance between vehi-
cles in front of you without relying too
much on the brake assist system.
NOTE l Once

the brake assist system is operational,
it maintains great braking force even if the
brake pedal is lightly released.
To stop its operation, completely remove
your foot from the brake pedal.
l The brake assist system may become opera-
tional when the brake pedal is fully de-
pressed even if it has not been depressed sud-
denly. l
When
the brake assist system is in use, you
may feel as if the depressed brake pedal is
soft, the pedal moves in small motions in con-
junction with the sound of the ABS opera-
tion, or the vehicle body and the steering
wheel vibrate. This occurs when the brake as-
sist system is operating normally and does
not indicate faulty operation. Continue to
firmly depress the brake pedal.
l You may hear an operation noise when the
brake pedal is depressed suddenly while sta-
tionary. This does not indicate a malfunction
and the brake assist system is operating nor-
mally. Starting and driving
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NOTE
l 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. Cleaning the exterior of your
vehicle E08400600010
If
the following is left on your vehicle, it may
cause corrosion, discolouration and stains, wash
the vehicle as soon as possible.
l Seawater, road deicing products.
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 E08400700011
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 and other sections
where dirt is likely to remain. WARNING
l Do
not wash the vehicle while charging
the traction battery.
Doing so could cause fire or an electric
shock.
l Before washing the vehicle, make sure
that the charging lid and the inner lid are
completely closed.
If the lid is open, the charging unit is ex-
posed to water, resulting in fire or an elec-
tric shock.
l Do not pour water inside the electric mo-
tor unit room. Doing so could cause fire
or an electric shock.
l When washing the vehicle, turn the elec-
tric motor switch to the “LOCK” position.
l Do not use a high pressure washing ma-
chine to clean the underneath of the vehi-
cle.
Doing so might cause the electric motor
unit problem or malfunction.
l When washing the underside of your vehi-
cle or wheel, be careful not to injure your
hands.
l Refrain from excessively using a car wash
as its brushes may scratch the paint sur-
face, causing it to lose its gloss. Scratches
will be especially visible on darker col-
oured vehicles.
l Never spray or splash water on the electri-
cal components in the bonnet room.
Exercise caution also when washing the
underbody; be careful not to spray water
into the bonnet room.
l Some types of hot water washing equip-
ment apply high pressure and heat to the Vehicle care and Maintenance
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WARNING
vehicle. They may cause heat distortion
and damage to the vehicle resin parts and
may result in flooding of the vehicle inte-
rior.
Therefore; • Maintain a distance of approx. 70 cmor more between the vehicle body and
the washing nozzle.
• When washing around the door glass, hold the nozzle at a distance of more
than 70 cm and at right angles to the
glass surface.
l After 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 wiper arms are secured in placewith tape.
• If your vehicle is equipped with a rear spoiler, consult a car wash operator be-
fore using the car wash. 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 E08400800012
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. CAUTION
l
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. CAUTION
l
Do
not use petrol or paint thinners to re-
move road tar or other contamination to
the painted surface.
l Do not apply wax to sections that have a
black mat paint coating, as doing so
could cause uneven discolouration, spots
or stains. If wax gets on such areas, wipe
it off using lukewarm water and a soft
cloth.
Polishing E08400900013
The vehicle should only be polished if the paint-
work

has become stained or lost its lustre. Do not
polish parts with a mat coating and the plastic bump-
ers. Doing so could cause stains or damage the finish.
Damaged paint E08401000011
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 caused by gravels,
etc. The paint code number for your vehicle can be
found on the vehicle information code plate. (Refer
to “Vehicle information code plate” on page 9-02.)
Cleaning plastic parts E08401100012
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. Vehicle care and Maintenance
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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.
If the level should drop below the “LOW” level on
the reserve tank, open the reserve tank cap (E) and
add coolant. WARNING
l Do
not open the reserve tank cap (E)
while it is hot. The coolant system is un-
der pressure and any hot coolant escap-
ing could cause severe burns.
Anti-freeze
The
coolant contains an ethylene glycol anti-corro-
sion agent. Some parts of the electric motor are
cast aluminium alloy, and periodic changing of the
electric motor coolant is necessary to prevent corro-
sion of these parts.

Use “DIA QUEEN SUPER LONG LIFE COOL-
ANT PREMIUM” or equivalent*.
*: similar high quality ethylene glycol based non-
silicate, non-amine, non-nitrate and non-borate cool-
ant with long life hybrid organic acid technology

MITSUBISHI Genuine Coolant has excellent pro-
tection against corrosion and rust formation of all
metals including aluminium and can avoid block-
ages in the radiator, heater, etc. Because of the necessity of this anti-corrosion
agent,

the coolant must not be replaced with plain
water even in summer. The required concentration
of anti-freeze differs depending on the expected am-
bient temperature.

Above -35 °C: 50 % concentration of anti-freeze
Below -35 °C: 60 % concentration of anti-freeze CAUTION
l
Do
not use alcohol or methanol anti-
freeze or any engine coolants mixed with
alcohol or methanol anti-freeze. The use
of an improper anti-freeze can cause cor-
rosion of the aluminium components.
l Do not use water to adjust the concentra-
tion of coolant.
l Concentrations exceeding 60 % will re-
sult in a reduction of both the anti-freeze
and cooling performance.
l Do not top up with water only.
Water by itself reduces the rust-protec-
tive and anti-freeze qualities of the cool-
ant and has a lower boiling point. It can
also cause damage to the cooling system if
it should freeze. Do not use tapwater, as it
can cause corrosion and rust formation.
During cold weather
If
the temperatures in your area drop below freez-
ing, there is the danger that the coolant in the elec-
tric motor, on board charger/DC-DC converter or
radiator could freeze and cause severe damage to
the electric motor, on board charger/DC-DC con-
verter and/or radiator. Add a sufficient amount of
anti-freeze to the coolant to prevent it from freezing. The concentration should be checked before the
start

of cold weather and anti-freeze added to the
system if necessary. Vehicle care and Maintenance
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Washer fluid
E08402200010
Check
if the fluid level is between the “FULL” and
“1/2” on the washer fluid reservoir.
If the level is low, replenish the container with wash-
er fluid.
FULL NOTE
l The

washer fluid container serves the wind-
screen, 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
E08406100017
To check the fluid level
The

brake fluid level must be between the “MAX”
and “MIN” marks on the reservoir. The brake fluid level is monitored by a float. When
the

brake fluid level falls below the “MIN” mark,
the brake fluid warning lamp lights up.
The fluid level falls slightly with wear of the brake
pads, but this does not indicate any abnormality.
The brake fluid in the master cylinder should be
checked

when doing other work under the bonnet.
The brake system should also be checked for leak-
age at the same time.
If the brake fluid level falls markedly in a short
length of time, it indicates leaks from the brake sys-
tem.
If this occurs, we recommend you to have the vehi-
cle checked.
Fluid type
Use brake fluid conforming to DOT3 or DOT4
from a sealed container. The brake fluid is hygro-
scopic. Too much moisture in the brake fluid will
adversely affect the brake system, reducing the per-
formance. CAUTION
l
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. Vehicle care and Maintenance
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