2011 MITSUBISHI LANCER RALLIART Owners Manual

3-290 Features and controls
3Assist grip
N00559000029
These grips are to support the body by hand while seated in the
vehicle.
Coat hook
(if so equipped)
N00553600108
There is a coat hook on the rear seat assist grip of the driver’s
side.
CAUTION
!
Do not use the assist grips when getting into or out
of the vehicle.
The assist grips could detach and cause an accident.
WA R N I N G
!
Do not put a hanger or any heavy or pointed object
on the coat hook. If the curtain airbag was activated,
any such item could be propelled away with great
force and could prevent the curtain airbag from
inflating correctly. Hang clothes directly on the coat
hook (without using a hanger). Make sure there are
no heavy or sharp objects in the pockets of clothes
that you hang on the coat hook.
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4
Driving safety
Fuel economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4- 2
Driving, alcohol and drugs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4- 2
Vehicle preparation before driving. . . . . . . . . . . . .4- 3
Safe driving techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4- 4
Driving during cold weather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4- 5
Braking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4- 6
Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4- 7
Loading information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4- 8
Cargo loads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4- 12
Trailer towing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4- 13
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4-2 Driving safety
4Fuel economy
N00628800107
Fuel economy is dependent on many factors. Your personal
driving habits can have a significant effect on your fuel use.
Several recommendations for achieving the greatest fuel econ-
omy are listed below.

Whenever accelerating from a stop, always accelerate
slowly and smoothly.

When parked for even a short period, do not idle the
engine. Shut it off.

Plan your trips to avoid unnecessary stops.

Keep your tires inflated to the recommended pressures.

For freeway driving, maintain a speed of approximately
50 mph (80 km/h) when traffic, roadway and weather con-
ditions safely permit.

Keep your air filter clean and your vehicle lubricated
according to the recommendations in this manual.

Always keep your vehicle well maintained. A poorly
maintained engine wastes fuel and costs money.

Do not overload your vehicle.
Driving, alcohol and drugs
N00628900052
Drunk driving is one of the most frequent causes of accidents.
Your driving ability can be seriously impaired even with blood
alcohol levels far below the legal minimum. If you have been
drinking, don’t drive. Ride with a designated non-drinking
driver, call a cab or a friend, or use public transportation.
Drinking coffee or taking a cold shower will not make you
sober.
Similarly, prescription and nonprescription drugs affect your
alertness, perception and reaction time. Consult with your doc-
tor or pharmacist before driving while under the influence of
any of these medications.
WA R N I N G
!
NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE.
Your perceptions are less accurate, your reflexes are
slower and your judgment is impaired.
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Driving safety
4-3
4 Vehicle preparation before driving
N00629000568
For a safer and more enjoyable trip, always observe the follow-
ing: Seat belts and seats
Before starting the vehicle, make certain that you and all
passengers are seated and wearing their seat belts properly
(with children in the rear seat, in appropriate restraints),
and that all the doors are locked.

Move the driver’s seat as far backward as possible, while
still keeping good visibility, and good control of the steer-
ing wheel, brakes, accelerator, and controls. Check the
instrument panel indicators and multi-information display
for any possible problem.

Move the front passenger seat as far back as possible.

Make sure that infants and small children are properly
restrained in accordance with all laws and regulations.Floor matAlways properly position floor mat and assure it does not inter-
fere with operation of the pedals.
Always use retaining clip on the driver’s floorboard to secure
the Mitsubishi genuine floor mat. When used, this clip will
help prevent the floor mat from moving forward and possibly
interfering with the operation of the pedals.
To prevent the floor mat from moving forward and possibly
interfering with the operation of the pedals, Mitsubishi genuine
floor mats are recommended.
WA R N I N G
!
Always properly position floor mat and assure it
does not interfere with operation of the pedals.
Always use retaining clip on the driver’s floorboard
to secure the Mitsubishi genuine floor mat.
Always install the mat with the correct side facing
down.
Never install a second mat over an existing floor
mat.
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4-4 Driving safety
4
Defrosters Check these by selecting the defroster mode, and set the blower
switch on high. You should be able to feel the air blowing
against the windshield.
(Refer to “Defrosting or defogging the windshield and door
windows” on page 5-10, 5-20, 5-29, 5-39, 5-49.)Tires Check all the tires for heavy tread wear or uneven wear pat-
terns. Look for stones, nails, glass, or other objects stuck in the
tread. Look for any tread cuts or sidewall cracks. Check the
wheel nuts for tightness, and the tires (including spare tire) for
proper pressures. Replace your tires before they are heavily
worn out.
As your vehicle is equipped with a tire pressure monitoring
system, there is a risk of damage to the tire inflation pressure
sensors when the tire is replaced on the rim. Tire replacement
should, therefore, be performed only by an authorized Mitsub-
ishi Motors dealer.Lights Have someone watch while you turn all the exterior lights on
and off. Also check the turn signal indicators and high-beam
indicators on the instrument panel. Fluid leaks Check the ground under the vehicle after parking overnight, for
fuel, water, oil, or other leaks. Make sure all the fluid levels are
correct. Also, if you can smell fuel, you need to find out why
immediately and have it fixed.
Safe driving techniques
N00629200111
Even this vehicle’s safety equipment, and your safest driving,
cannot guarantee that you can avoid an accident or injury.
However, if you give extra attention to the following areas, you
can better protect yourself and your passengers:

Drive defensively. Be aware of traffic, road and weather
conditions. Leave plenty of stopping distance between
your vehicle and the vehicle ahead.

Before changing lanes, check your mirrors and use your
turn signal light.

While driving, watch the behavior of other drivers, bicy-
clists, and pedestrians.

Always obey applicable laws and regulations. Be a polite
and alert driver. Always leave room for unexpected
events, such as sudden braking.

If you plan to drive in another country, obey their vehicle
registration laws and make sure you will be able to get the
right fuel.
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Driving safety
4-5
4 Driving during cold weather
N00629400344

Check the battery, including terminals and cables. During
extremely cold weather, the battery will not be as strong.
Also, the battery power level may drop because more
power is used for cold starting and driving.
Before driving the vehicle, check to see if the engine runs
at the proper speed and if the headlights are as bright as
normally. Charge or replace the battery if necessary. Dur-
ing extreme cold weather, it is possible that a very low
battery could freeze.

Warm the engine sufficiently. After starting the engine,
allow a short warm-up time to distribute oil to all cylin-
ders and turbocharger. Then drive your vehicle slowly.

Stay at low speeds at first so that the transaxle, transfer
case and rear axle oil have time to spread to all the lubri-
cation points.

Manual transaxle can be harder to shift in cold weather
conditions. This is normal and shifting will get easier as
the transaxle warms up.
Check the engine antifreeze.
If there is not enough coolant because of a leak or from
engine overheating, add Dia Queen Super Long Life
Coolant Premium or equivalent.
Please read this section in conjunction with the “Engine
coolant” on page 7-12.
[For RALLIART vehicles sold in U.S.A.]

Mitsubishi Motors recommends that the standard equip-
ment tires be replaced with winter tires when the vehicle
is going to be used in winter.
The standard equipment tires provided with this vehicle
are summer tires and use a high-grip compound that pro-
vides superior grip.
The road grip, however, is reduced in winter.
When replacing the standard equipment tires with winter
tires, all four tires must be replaced using radial identical-
size winter tires.
NOTE
As your vehicle is equipped with a tire pressure monitor-
ing system, there is a risk of damage to the tire inflation
pressure sensors when the tire is replaced on the rim. Tire
replacement should, therefore, be performed only by an
authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer.
WA R N I N G
!
The battery gives off explosive hydrogen gas. Any
spark or flame can cause the battery to explode,
which could cause serious injury or death.
Always wear protective clothes and a face mask
when working with your battery, or let a skilled
mechanic do it.
WA R N I N G
!
Never open the radiator cap when the radiator is
hot. You could be seriously burned.
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4-6 Driving safety
4

If you use new wheels with new tire inflation pressure
sensors, their ID codes must be programmed into the tire
pressure monitoring system. Refer to “Whenever the tires
and wheels are replaced with new ones” on page 3-163.
Braking
N00629500446
All the parts of the brake system are critical to safety. Have the
vehicle serviced by an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or
a repair facility of your choice at regular intervals according to
the “WARRANTY AND MAINTENANCE MANUAL”.When brakes are wetCheck the brake system while driving at a low speed immedi-
ately after starting, especially when the brakes are wet, to con-
firm 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
depressing the brake pedal.When driving in cold weatherOn snowy roads, ice can form on the braking system, making
the brakes less effective. While driving in such conditions, pay
close attention to preceding and following vehicles and to the
condition of the road surface. From time to time, lightly
depress the brake pedal and check how effective the brakes are.When driving downhillIt is important to take advantage of the engine braking by shift-
ing to a lower gear while driving on steep downhill roads in
order to prevent the brakes from overheating.
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Driving safety
4-7
4 Parking
N00629600287
Parking on a hillWhen parking on a hill, set the parking brake, and turn the
front wheels toward the curb on a downhill, or away from the
curb on an uphill.
If necessary, apply chocks to wheels.For vehicles with manual transaxlePlace the gearshift lever into the “R” (Reverse) position when
parking on a downhill slope, into the 1st position when parking
on an uphill slope.For vehicles with continuously variable transmission
(CVT) or Twin Clutch SSTBe sure that the parking brake is firmly set when parked and
that the selector lever (CVT) or gearshift lever (Twin Clutch
SST) is in the “P” (PARK) position.
When parking on a hill, it is important to set the parking brake
before moving the selector lever (CVT) or gearshift lever
(Twin Clutch SST) to the “P” (PARK) position. This prevents
loading the parking brake against the transaxle gear. When this
happens, it is difficult to move the selector lever (CVT) or
gearshift lever (Twin Clutch SST) out of the “P” (PARK) posi-
tion.Parking with the engine runningNever leave the engine running while you take a short
sleep/rest. Also, never leave the engine running in a closed or
poorly ventilated place.
Where you parkYour front bumper can be damaged if you scrape it over curbs
or parking stop blocks. Be careful when traveling up or down
steep slopes where your bumper can scrape the road.When leaving the vehicleWhen leaving the vehicle unattended, always carry the key and
lock all doors.
Always try to park your vehicle in a well lit area.
WA R N I N G
!
Leaving the engine running risks injury or death
from accidentally moving the gearshift lever (man-
ual transaxle or Twin Clutch SST) or the selector
lever (CVT) or from the accumulation of toxic
exhaust fumes in the passenger compartment.
WA R N I N G
!
Do not park your vehicle in areas where combustible
materials such as dry grass or leaves can come in
contact with a hot exhaust, since a fire could occur.
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