2011 MITSUBISHI LANCER SPORTBACK wheel

Features and controls
3-129
3 All-wheel drive system
(if so equipped)
N00516400046
All-wheel drive vehicles are propelled by engine power distrib-
uted constantly and appropriately to all four wheels.
Not only does this ensure enhanced handling on dry, paved
roads but also permits better traction when driving on slippery,
wet or snow-covered roads and when moving out of mud.
These vehicles, however, are not designed for off-road use,
and are unsuitable for driving on bumpy ground that may
cause excessive strain. All-wheel drive vehicles should be
driven only under the same conditions as are suitable for ordi-
nary front-wheel drive vehicles.
Cautions on handling of all-wheel drive
vehicles
N00530800158
Tires and wheelsSince driving torque can be applied to the four wheels, the
driving performance of the vehicle when operating in all-wheel
drive is greatly affected by the condition of the tires.
Pay close attention to the tires.

Install only the specified tires on all wheels. Refer to
“Tires and wheels” on page 9-9.

Be sure all four tires and wheels are the same size and
type.
When it is necessary to replace any of the tires or wheels,
replace all four.

All tires should be rotated before the wear difference
between the front and rear tires is recognizable.
Good vehicle performance cannot be expected if there is a dif-
ference in wear between tires. Refer to “Tire rotation” on page
7-37.

Check the tire inflation pressure regularly.
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3-130 Features and controls
3
To w i n g
CAUTION
!
Always use tires of the same size, type, and brand
that have no wear differences. Using tires of differ-
ent size, type, brands or degree of wear, will increase
the differential oil temperature and result in possi-
ble damage to the driving system. Further, the drive
train will be subjected to excessive loading, possibly
leading to oil leakage, component seizure, or other
serious failures.
CAUTION
!
Do not tow all-wheel drive vehicles with the front or
rear wheels on the ground (Type A or Type B) as
illustrated. This could result in damage to the driv-
etrain, or unstable towing.
If you tow all-wheel drive vehicles, use Type C or
Type D equipment.
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Features and controls
3-131
3
Jacking up all-wheel drive vehicles
ACD (Active center differential system)
(if so
equipped)N00538500050
The ACD is a system that improves acceleration performance
and straight-ahead stability by regulating the differential limit-
ing action and power drive distribution of the center differen-
tial.NOTE
If the parking brake lever is pulled up while the vehicle is
moving, the center differential is designed to switch to a
free state condition which will allow the rear wheel to
lock easier.
WA R N I N G
!
Do not start or run the engine while the vehicle is on
the jack. The jack could slip out of position and
result in an accident.
CAUTION
!
Do not over-rely on the ACD. Even the ACD cannot
prevent the natural laws of physics from acting on
the vehicle. This system, like any other system, has
limits and cannot help you to maintain traction and
control of the vehicle in all circumstances. Reckless
driving can lead to accidents. It is the driver’s
responsibility to drive carefully. This means taking
into account the traffic, road and environmental
conditions.
Be sure to use tires that are the same specified size,
type, and brand, and have no difference in the
amount of wear for all four wheels. Otherwise, the
ACD may not work properly.
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3-134 Features and controls
3
NOTE
If the ambient temperature drops and the viscosity of the
AWC control fluid increases, the warning may be dis-
played.
At this time, ACD control is temporarily suspended, but
this will not affect normal driving.
After the vehicle is driven for a while, if the engine is
restarted after the AWC control fluid warms up or the
ambient temperature increases, the ACD control will start
operating again if the warning display goes out.
Limited-slip differential
(if so equipped)
N00517400085
A limited-slip differential is applied for rear wheel differential.
The features of this limited-slip differential are described
below:
Just as with a conventional differential, the wheel on one side
is allowed to turn at a different speed from the wheel on the
other side when the vehicle is cornering. The difference
between the limited-slip differential and a conventional differ-
ential is that if the wheel on one side of the vehicle loses trac-
tion, a greater amount of torque is applied to the wheel on the
other side to improve traction.NOTE
Even if there is a difference in the amount of traction the
wheels can get, if both of them are spinning, the limited-
slip differential will not be effective.
CAUTION
!
The system may be malfunctioning.
Park your vehicle in a safe place and stop the engine.
Restart the engine and check whether the warn-
ing display goes out.
If the warning display goes out, there is no
abnormal condition. If the warning display does
not go out or appears frequently, it is not necessary
to stop the vehicle immediately, but we recommend
that you have your vehicle inspected.
CAUTION
!
Never start the engine while one of the front or rear
wheels is jacked up and the others in contact with
the ground; doing so may cause the vehicle to jump
forward.
Continuously attempting to extract the vehicle from
snow, mud, etc. while using high engine rpm may
damage the limited-slip differential.
Using a compact spare wheel will adversely affect
the limited-slip differential; replace the compact
spare wheel with a standard size wheel as soon as
possible.
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3-138 Features and controls
3Brake assist system
N00567300050
The brake assist system is a device assisting drivers who can-
not depress the brake pedal firmly such as in emergency stop
situations and provides greater braking force.
If the brake pedal is depressed suddenly, the brakes will be
applied with more force than usual.
NOTE
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.

The brake assist system may become operational when the
brake pedal is fully depressed even if it has not been
depressed suddenly.

When the brake assist system is in use while driving, you
may feel as if the depressed brake pedal is soft, the pedal
moves in small motions in conjunction with the operation
noise, or the vehicle body and the steering wheel vibrate.
This occurs when the brake assist system is operating nor-
mally and does not indicate faulty operation. Continue to
depress the brake pedal.

You may hear an operation noise when the brake pedal is
depressed suddenly while stationary. This does not indi-
cate a malfunction and the brake assist system is operating
normally.
CAUTION
!
The brake assist system is not a device designed to
exercise braking force greater than its capacity.
Make sure to always keep a sufficient distance
between vehicles in front of you without relying too
much on the brake assist system.
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Features and controls
3-139
3 Anti-lock braking system
N00517900282
The anti-lock braking system helps prevent the wheels from
locking up when braking. This helps you keep control of your
vehicle and its direction. Driving hints
When using the anti-lock brakes (sudden braking), steer-
ing is slightly different from normal driving conditions.
Use the steering wheel carefully.

Always keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of
you. Even if your vehicle is equipped with the anti-lock
braking system, leave a greater braking distance when:
• Driving on gravel or snow-covered roads.
• Driving on uneven road surfaces.

Operation of anti-lock braking system is not restricted to
situations where brakes are applied suddenly. This system
may also prevent the wheels from locking when you drive
over manholes, steel roadwork plates, road markings, or
any uneven road surface.

When the anti-lock braking system is in use, you may feel
the brake pedal vibrating and hear a unique sound. You
may also feel as if the pedal resists being pressed.
In this situation, simply hold the brake pedal down
firmly. Do not pump the brake, which will result in
reduced braking performance.
NOTE
After your vehicle is driven a short distance after starting
the engine, you will hear the sound coming from the
engine compartment. These are the normal sounds the
anti-lock braking system makes when performing a self-
check. It does not indicate a malfunction.

The anti-lock braking system can be used after the vehicle
has reached a speed over approximately 6 mph (10 km/h).
It stops working when the vehicle slows below approxi-
mately 3 mph (5 km/h).
CAUTION
!
The anti-lock braking system cannot prevent acci-
dents. It is your responsibility to take safety precau-
tions and to drive carefully.
To prevent failure of the anti-lock braking system,
be sure all four wheels and tires are the same size
and the same type.
Never install a limited-slip differential as the anti-
lock braking system may not function normally.
Please consult an authorized Mitsubishi Motors
dealer.
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3-142 Features and controls
3
After driving on icy roads
N00529200051
After driving on snow or icy roads, remove any snow and ice
which may have been left around the wheels. On vehicles that
have an anti-lock braking system, be careful not to damage the
wheel speed sensors (A) or the cables located at each wheel.
FrontRear
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Features and controls
3-143
3 Power steering system
N00518000277
The power steering system operates while the engine is run-
ning. It helps reduce the effort needed to turn the steering
wheel.
The power steering system has mechanical steering capability
in case the power assist is lost. If the power assist is lost for
some reason, you will still be able to steer your vehicle. If the
power assist is lost, you will notice it takes much more effort to
steer and that there is much more “free play” in the steering
wheel. If this happens, take your vehicle to an authorized Mit-
subishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your choice.
Hydraulic power steering system (HPS)
(if so
equipped)
N00547100049
The hydraulic power steering system (HPS) uses a hydraulic
pressure pump to assist the turning of the steering wheel.Electric power steering system (EPS)
(if so
equipped)
N00547200040
The electric power steering system (EPS) uses an electric
motor to assist the turning of the steering wheel.NOTE
During repeated full-lock turning of the steering wheel
(for example, while you are manoeuvring the vehicle into
a parking space), a protection function may be activated to
prevent overheating of the power steering system. This
function will make the steering wheel gradually harder to
turn. In this event, limit your turning of the steering wheel
for a while. When the system has cooled down, the steer-
ing action will return to normal.

If you turn the steering wheel while the vehicle is station-
ary with the headlights on, the headlights may become
dim. This behaviour is not abnormal. The headlights will
return to their original brightness after a short while.
WA R N I N G
!
Do not stop the engine while the vehicle is moving.
Stopping the engine would make the steering wheel
extremely hard to turn, possibly resulting in an acci-
dent.
CAUTION
!
Do not leave the steering wheel turned all the way in
one direction. This can cause damage to the power
steering system.
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