2011 MITSUBISHI I-MIEV warning

Towing the vehicle by a tow truck
CAUTION
l
This vehicle must not be towed by a tow
truck using sling lift type equipment
(Type A) as illustrated. Using a sling lift
will damage the bumper and front end.
l If the transmission is malfunctioning or
damaged, transport the vehicle with the
driving wheels on a carriage (Type B, D
or E) as illustrated.
l If you tow the vehicle with only the front
wheels or only the rear wheels raised off
the ground (Type B or C) after starting
the electric motor unit, the Active Stabili-
ty Control (ASC) system may operate, re-
sulting in an accident.
l If you tow the vehicle with the driving
wheels on the ground (Type C) as illustra-
ted, make sure that the towing speed and
distance given below are never exceeded,
causing damage to the transmission.

Towing speed: 30 km/h (19 mph)
Towing distance: 30 km (19 miles)

For the towing speed and the towing dis-
tance, follow the local driving laws and
regulations.
Towing with rear wheels raised off the ground
(Type B)
Place
the selector lever in the “N” (NEUTRAL) po-
sition.
Turn the electric motor switch to the “ACC” posi-
tion and secure the steering wheel in a straight-
ahead position with a rope or tie-down strap. Towing with front wheels raised off the ground
(Type C)
Release the parking brake.
Place

the selector lever in the “N” (NEUTRAL) po-
sition.
Turn the electric motor switch to the “ACC” posi-
tion.
Emergency towing
If towing service is not available in an emergency,
your vehicle may be temporarily towed by a rope
secured to the towing hook.
In case of your vehicle is to be towed by another
vehicle, pay careful attention to the following points.
If your vehicle is to be towed by another vehicle
1. The front towing hook (A) is located asshown in the illustration. Secure the tow rope
to the front towing hook. NOTE
l Using

any part other than the designated tow-
ing hook (A) could result in damage to the ve-
hicle body. l
Using
a wire rope or metal chain can result
in damage to the vehicle body. It is best to
use a non-metallic rope. If you use a wire
rope or metal chain, wrap it with cloth at any
point where it touches the vehicle body.
l Take care that the tow rope is kept as horizon-
tal as possible. An angled tow rope can dam-
age the vehicle body.
2. Start the electric motor unit. If the electric motor unit does not start, turn
the electric motor switch to the “ACC” posi-
tion. CAUTION
l
If
the vehicle is towed with the electric mo-
tor switch in the “ON” position without
starting the electric motor unit, the auxili-
ary battery may be flat during towing. In
this case, the brake performance may be
very poor. Steering is also very heavy.
Therefore, start the electric motor unit as
much as possible for towing.
l Do not leave the electric motor switch in
the “LOCK” position. The steering wheel
will lock, causing loss of control.
3. Place
the selector lever in the “N” (NEU- TRAL) position.
4. Turn on the hazard warning lamps if required by law. (Follow the local driving laws and
regulations.)
5. During towing make sure that close contact is maintained between the drivers of both ve-
hicles, and that the vehicles travel at low
speed. For emergencies
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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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Service precautions
E08401700018
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 a problem is discov-
ered, we recommend you to have it checked and re-
paired. Follow the instructions and cautions for
each of the various procedures. WARNING
l Do
not touch any components in the elec-
tric motor unit room other than the re-
serve tank. There are no components re-
quiring inspection other than the reserve
tank. Never remove or disassemble the
component which generates high voltage,
high voltage wire (orange) and its connec-
tor. Doing so could result in serious in-
jury that may risk your life.
These components are affixed with the la-
bel indicating precautions for handling.
Follow the instructions on the label.
: Components which generates high voltage. 1- Service plug
2-

Air conditioner compressor
3- Inverter
4- On board charger/DC-DC converter
5- Electric motor (Electric motor unit)
6- Traction battery
7- Heater WARNING
l Never
touch the service plug (A) under
the front seat. Doing so could result in se-
rious injury that may risk your life, in-
cluding an electric shock. The service
plug (A) is used to shut off high voltage
from the traction battery for repair of the
vehicle at a MITSUBISHI MOTORS Au-
thorized Service Point or another special-
ist. WARNING
l When
checking or servicing the inside of
the bonnet room and coolant reserve
tank, make sure the electric motor unit is
switched off and has had a chance to cool
down.
l If it is necessary to do work in the bonnet
room with the electric motor running, be
especially careful that your clothing, hair,
etc., does not become caught by the fan,
or other moving parts.
l The fan can turn on automatically even if
the electric motor is not running. Turn
the electric motor switch to the “LOCK”
position to be safe while you work in the
bonnet room.
l Do not smoke, cause sparks or allow open
flames around the auxiliary battery. Vehicle care and Maintenance
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WARNING
l Be extremely cautious when working
around the auxiliary battery. It contains
poisonous and corrosive sulphuric acid.
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. CAUTION
l
The
components inside the electric motor
unit room might be very hot to touch.
To avoid being burnt, make sure all com-
ponents have sufficiently cooled before be-
ginning an inspection.
These components are affixed with the la-
bel indicating precautions for handling.
Follow the instructions on the label.
l When replacing the auxiliary battery, re-
move the connected positive (+) and nega-
tive (-) terminals after turning the electric
motor switch to the “LOCK” position
and waiting at least 1 minute. If the auxil-
iary battery terminal is removed just af-
ter the electric motor switch is turned to
the “LOCK” position, this may cause dam-
age to components of the electric motor
unit. Bonnet
E08402000018
To open 1. Pull

the release lever towards you to unlock
the bonnet.
LHD (Passenger’s side)
RHD (Driver’s side) 2. Raise
the bonnet while pressing the safety
lock (A). NOTE
l Only

open the bonnet when the wipers are in
the parked position. In any other position,
the wipers could damage the paint or bonnet.
3. Support the bonnet by inserting the support bar (B) into its slot on the underside of the
bonnet arm (C). 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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During cold weather
E08402600014
The
capacity of the auxiliary battery is reduced at
low temperatures. This is an inevitable result of its
chemical and physical properties. This is why a
very cold auxiliary battery, particularly one that is
not fully charged will only deliver a fraction of the
starting current which is normally available.
We recommend you to have the auxiliary battery
checked before the start of cold weather and, if nec-
essary, have it charged or replaced.
This does not only ensure reliable starting, but an
auxiliary battery which is kept fully charged also
has a longer life.
Disconnection and connection E08402700015
To disconnect the auxiliary battery cable, stop the
electric

motor unit, first disconnect the negative (-)
terminal and then the positive (+) terminal. When
connecting the auxiliary battery, first connect the
positive (+) terminal and then the negative (-) termi-
nal.
NOTE
l Open the terminal cover (A) before discon-
necting or connecting the positive (+) termi-
nal of the auxiliary battery.
l Loosen the nut (B), and then disconnect the
auxiliary battery cable from the positive (+)
terminal. WARNING
l Keep sparks, cigarettes, and flames away
from the auxiliary battery because the
auxiliary battery could explode.
l When installing the auxiliary battery,
start connection with the positive (+) ter-
minal. If connection is started from the
negative (-) terminal, sparks will occur if
the positive (+) terminal touches any oth-
er parts, and this may cause the auxiliary
battery to explode.
l The auxiliary battery electrolyte is ex-
tremely caustic. Do not allow it to come
in contact with your eyes, skin, clothing,
or the painted surfaces of the vehicle.
Spilt electrolyte should be flushed imme-
diately 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 aux-
iliary battery in an enclosed space. CAUTION
l
Keep it out of reach of children.
l When

replacing the auxiliary battery, re-
move the connected positive (+) and nega-
tive (-) terminals after turning the electric
motor switch to the “LOCK” position
and waiting at least 1 minute. If the auxil-
iary battery terminal is removed just af-
ter the electric motor switch is turned to
the “LOCK” position, this may cause dam-
age to components of the electric motor
unit.
l Never short-circuit the auxiliary battery.
This could cause it to overheat and be dam-
aged.
l If the auxiliary battery is to be quick-
charged, first disconnect the battery ca-
bles.
l In order to prevent a short circuit, be
sure to disconnect the negative (-) termi-
nal first.
l Always wear protective eye goggles when
working near the auxiliary battery.
l Do not bring the nearby parts, 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. Vehicle care and Maintenance
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