
The regulations concerning towing may differ from
country  to  country.  It  is  recommended  that  you
obey the regulations of the area where you are driv-
ing your vehicle.Towing the vehicle by a tow truckCAUTIONl 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 On 4WD vehicles, be sure to shift the trans-
fer shift lever to “2H” position and trans-
port  the  vehicle  with  the  driving  wheels
on a carriage (Type C, D or E) as illustra-
ted.  Never  try  to  tow  with  the  transfer
shift  lever  in  “4H”  or  “4L”  positions  and
with  the  front  or  rear  wheels  on  the
ground (Type B or Type C) as illustrated.
This  could  result  in  driving  system  dam-
age  or  the  vehicle  may  jump  at  the  car-
riage.  If  you  cannot  shift  the  transfer
shift  lever  to  “2H”  position  or  the  trans-
mission  is  malfunctioning  or  damaged,
transport  the  vehicle  with  all  the  wheels
on a carriage (Type D or E) as illustrated.
l If  vehicles  equipped  with  the  Active  Sta-
bility & Traction Control system (ASTC)
are  towed  with  the  ignition  switch  in  the
“ON”  position  and  only  the  front  wheels
or  only  the  rear  wheels  raised  off  the
ground,  the  active  Traction  Control  Sys-
tem may operate, resulting in an accident.
l On  2WD  vehicles,  if  the  transmission  is
malfunctioning  or  damaged,  transport
the  vehicle  with  the  driving  wheels  on  a
carriage (Type C, D or E) as illustrated.CAUTIONl If you tow a vehicle with automatic trans-
mission  with  the  driving  wheels  on  the
ground (Type B) as illustrated, make sure
that  the  towing  speed  and  distance  given
below  are  never  exceeded,  causing  dam-
age to the transmission.
 
Towing speed: 50 km/h (30 mph)
Towing distance: 50 km (30 miles)
 
For  the  towing  speed  and  the  towing  dis-
tance,  follow  the  local  driving  laws  and
regulations.
Towing with front wheels off the ground (Type B)
Place  the  gearshift  lever  in  the  “N”  (Neutral)  posi-
tion  (manual  transmission)  or  the  selector  lever  in
the “N” (NEUTRAL) position (automatic transmis-
sion).
Release the parking brake.
CAUTIONl Never  tow  an  automatic  transmission  ve-
hicle  with  the  front  wheels  up  (and  the
rear  wheels  on  the  ground)  (Type  B)
when the automatic transmission fluid lev-
el  is  low.  This  may  cause  serious  and  ex-
pensive damage to the transmission.
For emergencies
6-21
6     

Towing with rear wheels off the ground (Type C)
Place  the  gearshift  lever  in  the  “N”  (Neutral)  posi-
tion  (manual  transmission)  or  the  selector  lever  in
the “N” (NEUTRAL) position (automatic transmis-
sion).  Turn  the  ignition  key  to  the  “ACC”  position
and secure the steering wheel in a straight-ahead po-
sition  with  a  rope  or  tie-down  strap.  Never  place
the  ignition  switch  in  the  “LOCK”  position  when
towing.
Emergency towing
If  towing  service  is  not  available  in  an  emergency,
your  vehicle  may  be  temporarily  towed  by  a  cable
or chain secured to the towing hook.
If  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  hooks  (A)  and  rear  towing
hook (B) are located as shown in the illustra-
tion. Secure the tow rope to the towing hook.
 
Front (2WD vehicles with 15 inch wheels)Front  (2WD  vehicles  with  16  inch  wheels  and
4WD vehicles)Rear*
NOTE
l Using any part other than the designated tow-
ing hooks could result in damage to the vehi-
cle 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.
l Secure  the  tow  rope  to  the  same  side  towing
hook, to keep the tow rope as straight as pos-
sible.
2. Keep the engine running. If the engine is not running, turn the ignition
key  to  the  “ACC”  or  “ON”  position  to  un-
lock the steering wheel.CAUTIONl When  the  engine  is  not  running,  the
brake  booster  and  power  steering  pump
do  not  operate.  This  means  higher  brake
depression  force  and  higher  steering  ef-
fort are required. Therefore, vehicle oper-
ation is more difficult than usual.
l Do not leave the key in the “LOCK” posi-
tion. The steering wheel will lock, causing
loss of control.
3. Place the gearshift lever in the “N” (Neutral)
position  (manual  transmission)  or  the  selec-
tor lever in the “N” (NEUTRAL) position (au-
tomatic transmission).
4. On  4WD  vehicles,  the  transfer  shift  lever  to
“2H” position.
5. Turn on the hazard warning lamps if required by  law.  (Follow  the  local  driving  laws  and
regulations.)
6. 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
6-22
6    

WARNINGlTo  prevent  entry  of  exhaust  gas  from  the
towing vehicle, set your air selection lever
to the recirculation position.CAUTIONl Avoid  sudden  braking,  sudden  accelera-
tion  and  sharp  turning;  such  operation
could  cause  damage  to  the  towing  hooks
or the tow rope.
People  in  the  vicinity  could  be  injured  as
a result.
l When towing or being towed down a long
slope,  the  brakes  may  overheat  reducing
the  effectiveness.  In  this  situation,  have
your vehicle transported by a tow truck.
l When  the  vehicle  with  automatic  trans-
mission  is  to  be  towed  by  another  vehicle
with  the  all  wheels  on  the  ground,  make
sure  that  the  towing  speed  and  distance
given  below  are  never  exceeded,  causing
damage to the transmission.
 
Towing speed: 50 km/h (30 mph)
Towing distance: 50 km (30 miles)
 
For  the  towing  speed  and  the  towing  dis-
tance,  follow  the  local  driving  laws  and
regulations.
If your vehicle tows another vehicle (vehicles with
rear towing hook only)
The rear towing hook is located as shown in the il-
lustration.  Secure  the  tow  rope  to  the  rear  towing
hook.
NOTE
l Using any part other than the designated tow-
ing  hook  could  result  in  damage  to  the  vehi-
cle body.CAUTIONl On  vehicles  with  super  select  4WD,  when
you  are  going  to  tow  another  vehicle,
move the transfer shift lever to “4H” posi-
tion.
Selecting “2H” drive may increase the dif-
ferential oil temperature, resulting in pos-
sible damage to the driving system.
Further,  the  drive  train  will  be  subjected
to excessive loading possibly leading to oil
leakage, component seizure, or other seri-
ous faults.NOTE
l Your  vehicle  should  only  be  used  to  tow  an-
other  vehicle  if  the  weight  of  the  other  vehi-
cle is less than the weight of your vehicle.
For emergencies
6-23
6      

Operation under adverse drivingconditions E00801702140
If your vehicle becomes stuck in sand,
mud or snow
If  the  vehicle  becomes  stuck  in  snow,  sand,  or
mud, it can often be moved with a rocking motion.
Move  the  selector  lever  alternately  between  the
“L”  (LOW)  and  “R”  (REVERSE)  position  (with
manual  transmission,  between  1 st
  and  Reverse),
while applying slight pressure to the accelerator ped-
al.
Avoid racing the engine or spinning the wheels. Pro-
longed  efforts  to  free  a  stuck  vehicle  may  result  in
overheating and transmission failure. Allow the en-
gine  to  idle  for  a  few  minutes  to  let  the  transmis-
sion cool between rocking attempts.
If the vehicle remains stuck after several rocking at-
tempts, seek other assistance.WARNINGl When attempting to rock your vehicle out
of  a  stuck  position,  be  sure  that  the  area
around  the  vehicle  is  clear  of  people  and
physical objects. The rocking motion may
cause  the  vehicle  to  suddenly  launch  for-
ward or backward, causing injury or dam-
age to nearby people or objects.
On 2WD vehicles, it is recommended to start the ve-
hicle with parking brake partially, but not complete-
ly, applied by slightly pulling the parking brake lev-
er.
After  the  vehicle  has  become  free,  do  not  forget  to
release the parking brake.
NOTE
l Depress the accelerator pedal gradually when
starting the vehicle.
On a flooded road l Avoid  flooded  roads.  Water  could  enter  the
brake  discs,  resulting  in  temporarily  ineffec-
tive brakes. In such cases, lightly depress the
brake pedal to see if the brakes operate prop-
erly.  If  they  do  not,  lightly  depress  the  pedal
several  times  while  driving  in  order  to  dry
the brake pads.
l When driving in rain or on a road with many
puddles  a  layer  of  water  may  form  between
the tyres and the road surface.
This  reduces  a  tyre’s  frictional  resistance  on
the road, resulting in loss of steering stability
and braking capability.
 
To cope with this, observe the following items: (a)Drive your vehicle at slow speed. (b)Do  not  drive  on  worn  tyres.  Always
maintain  the  specified  tyre  inflation
pressures.
On a snow-covered or frozen road
l When  driving  on  a  snow-covered  or  frozen
road,  it  is  recommended  that  you  use  snow
tyres or tyre chains.
Refer to the “Snow tyres” and “Tyre chains”
sections.
l Avoid  high-speed  operation,  sudden  acceler-
ation, abrupt brake application and sharp cor-
nering.
l Depressing  the  brake  pedal  during  travel  on
snowy  or  icy  roads  may  cause  tyre  slippage
and  skidding.  When  traction  between  the
tyres and the road is reduced the wheels may
skid  and  the  vehicle  cannot  readily  be
brought  to  a  stop  by  conventional  braking
techniques.  Braking  will  differ,  depending
upon  whether  you  have  anti-lock  brake  sys-
tem  (ABS).  If  you  do  have  ABS,  brake  by
pressing  the  brake  system  pedal  hard,  and
keeping  it  pressed.  If  you  do  not  have  ABS,
pump  the  brake  pedal  with  short  rapid  jabs,
each  time  fully  applying  and  fully  releasing
for greatest effect.
l Allow  extra  distance  between  your  vehicle
and the vehicle in front of you, and avoid sud-
den braking.
l Accumulation  of  ice  on  the  braking  system
can cause the wheels to lock. Pull away from
a  standstill  slowly  after  confirming  safety
around the vehicle.CAUTIONl Do  not  press  the  accelerator  pedal  rapid-
ly.  If  the  wheels  break  free  of  the  ice,  the
vehicle  could  suddenly  start  moving  and
possibly cause an accident.
On a bumpy or rutted road
l Drive  as  slow  as  possible  when  driving  on
bumpy or rutted roads.
For emergencies
6-24
6   

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.
• If your vehicle is equipped with the pil-
lar antenna, it can be retracted.
• If  your  vehicle  is  equipped  with  the
roof antenna, it can be removed.
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 E00901000687
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.CAUTIONl On  vehicles  with  a  sunroof,  be  careful
when waxing the area around the sunroof
opening, not to put any wax on the weath-
erstrip  (black  rubber).  If  stained  with
wax,  the  weatherstrip  cannot  maintain  a
weatherproof seal with the sunroof.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 E00901200155
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.
(Refer to “Vehicle labeling” on page 9-02.)
Cleaning plastic parts E00901300446
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
7-04
7    

CAUTIONlDo  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.
l Do 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* E00901500116
1.Remove dirt using a sponge while sprinkling
water on the vehicle.
2. Use  neutral  detergent  on  any  dirt  that  cannot
be removed easily with water.
Rinse  off  the  neutral  detergent  after  washing
the vehicle.
3. Dry  the  vehicle  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.
l 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 E00901600058
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.
NOTE l To  clean  the  inside  of  the  rear  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 “Wiper blades” on page 8-17.)Cleaning the sunroof* E00901800180
Clean  the  inside  of  the  sunroof  with  a  soft  cloth.
Hard  deposits  should  be  wiped  away  with  a  cloth
dipped  in  warm,  neutral  detergent  solution.  Wipe
away the solution with a sponge dipped in fresh wa-
ter.
NOTE l The  surface  treatment  on  the  inside  of  the
glass may be removed if hard cloth or organ-
ic solvent (benzine, kerosene, thinner, etc.) is
used.
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.
Vehicle care
7-05
7   

Service precautions....................................................................... 8-02
Catalytic converter ........................................................................ 8-02
Bonnet ........................................................................................... 8-03
Engine oil ...................................................................................... 8-04
Engine coolant .............................................................................. 8-05
Automatic transmission fluid*......................................................8-06
Washer fluid ................................................................................. 8-07
Brake fluid .................................................................................... 8-07
Clutch fluid* ................................................................................. 8-08
Power steering fluid ...................................................................... 8-09
Battery .......................................................................................... 8-09
Tyres ............................................................................................. 8-11
Clutch pedal free play* ................................................................. 8-15
Brake pedal free play .................................................................... 8-16
Parking brake lever stroke ............................................................ 8-16
Wiper blades ................................................................................. 8-17
General maintenance .................................................................... 8-18
For cold and snowy weather ......................................................... 8-19
Fusible links .................................................................................. 8-19
Fuses ............................................................................................. 8-20
Replacement of lamp bulbs .......................................................... 8-23Maintenance8 

WARNINGlDo not open the radiator cap while the en-
gine is hot.
The coolant system is under pressure and
any  hot  coolant  escaping  could  cause  se-
vere burns.
Anti-freeze
The engine coolant contains an ethylene glycol anti-
corrosion agent. The cylinder head and water pump
housing  are  cast  aluminium  alloy,  and  periodic
changing of the engine coolant is necessary to pre-
vent corrosion of these parts.
 
Use  “DIA  QUEEN  SUPER  LONG  LIFE  COOL-
ANT” or equivalent.
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,  cylinder  head,  engine
block, 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.
Ambient
temperature
( minimum) °C-15-20-25-30-35-50Anti-freeze
concentra- tion %303540455060CAUTIONl 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 For  effective  anti-corrosion  and  anti-
freeze  performance,  keep  the  anti-freeze
concentration  within  the  range  of  30  to
60 %.
Concentrations  exceeding  60  %  will  re-
sult  in  a  reduction  of  both  the  anti-freeze
and  cooling  performance  thus  adversely
affecting the engine.
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  en-
gine or radiator could freeze and cause severe dam-
age  to  the  engine  and/or  radiator.  The  concentra-
tion should be checked before the start of cold weath-
er and anti-freeze added to the system if necessary.
Add  a  sufficient  amount  of  anti-freeze  to  the  cool-
ant 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.
Automatic transmission fluid* E01000600974
The proper amount of automatic transmission fluid
is essential to the life and operation of the automat-
ic  transmission.  Either  insufficient  fluid  or  exces-
sive  fluid  could  cause  transmission  trouble.  The
transmission fluid filler port cap is equipped with a
dipstick.  Use  the  following  procedure  to  check  the
fluid level.
Procedure for checking the fluid level 1.Check  the  fluid  level  after  the  vehicle  has
been driven enough to warm up the transmis-
sion fluid.
2. Park  the  vehicle  on  a  flat,  level  surface  and
apply the parking brake.
3. With  the  engine  idling  and  the  brake  pedal
fully depressed, move the transmission selec-
tor  lever  through  all  the  positions  from  the
"P”  (PARK)  to  “L”  (LOW)  (with  4A/T),  the
“P”  (PARK)  to  “D”  (DRIVE)  (with  5A/T),
stopping momentarily at each position.
4. Move  the  selector  lever  to  the  “P”  (PARK)
position.
5. Remove the dipstick and wipe it with a clean
lint-free cloth.
6. Reinsert the dipstick as far as it goes.
Maintenance
8-06
8