2011 MITSUBISHI LANCER SPORTBACK Owners Manual

6-22 For emergencies
6
Towing the vehicle by a tow truck
Towing manual transaxle vehicles with rear wheels off
the ground (Type B)Place the gearshift lever in the “Neutral” position.
Turn the ignition switch to the “ACC” position and secure the
steering wheel in a straight-ahead position with a rope or tie-
down strap. Never place the ignition switch in the “LOCK”
position when towing.Towing with front wheels off the ground (Type C)Release the parking brake.
Place the gearshift lever in the “Neutral” position (manual tran-
saxle) or the selector lever in the “N” (NEUTRAL) position
(CVT).
CAUTION
!
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.
Do not tow all-wheel drive vehicles with the front or
rear wheels on the ground (Type B or Type C) as
illustrated. This could result in the driving system
damage or vehicle may jump at the carriage.
If you tow all-wheel drive vehicles, use Type D or
Type E equipment.
Do not tow continuously variable transmission
(CVT) vehicles with the driving wheels on the
ground (Type B) as illustrated. If the vehicle is
towed like this, the continuously variable transmis-
sion (CVT) fluid may not reach all parts of the
transmission, thus damaging it.
If you tow CVT vehicles, use Type C, D or E equip-
ment.
If the manual transaxle is malfunctioning or dam-
aged, transport the vehicle with the driving wheels
on a carriage (Type C, D or E) as illustrated.

[For front-wheel drive vehicle equipped with the
active stability control (ASC)]
If the vehicle is towed with the ignition switch in the
“ON” position and only the front wheels or only the
rear wheels raised off the ground, the ASC may
operate, resulting in an accident. When towing the
vehicle with only the front wheels or only the rear
wheels raised, keep the ignition switch in the
“LOCK” or “ACC” position.
WA R N I N G
!
To prevent entry of exhaust gas from the towing
vehicle, set the selection switch to the recirculation
position.
CAUTION
!
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For emergencies
6-23
6 Operation under adverse driving conditions
N00837200705
If your vehicle becomes stuck in sand, mud or
snow If your vehicle becomes stuck in snow, sand, or mud, it can
often be moved by a rocking motion. Rock your vehicle back
and forth to free it.
Do not rev the engine or spin the wheels. Constant efforts to
free a stuck vehicle can cause overheating and transaxle fail-
ure. Let the engine idle for a few minutes to cool the transaxle
before trying again.
If your vehicle is still stuck after several rocking attempts, call
for a commercial tow truck service.
On wet roads
WA R N I N G
!
When trying to rock your vehicle out of a stuck posi-
tion, make sure that there are no people nearby. The
rocking motion can make your vehicle suddenly
lurch forward or backward, and injure any
bystanders.
CAUTION
!
Avoid flooded roads. Water is often deeper than it
looks, and you could be seriously hurt by driving
into flood water.
When driving in rain, on water-covered roads, or
through a car wash, water could get into the brake
discs and make them fail temporarily. In such cases,
lightly press the brake pedal to see if they are work-
ing properly. If they are not, press the pedal lightly
several times while driving to dry the brake pads or
linings, then check them again.
When driving in rain, a layer of water may form
between the tires and the road surface (aquaplan-
ing). This loosens your tires’ grip on the road, mak-
ing it difficult to steer or brake properly. When
driving on a wet road:
• Drive your vehicle at a safe speed.
• Do not drive on worn tires.
• Always keep the tires at the correct inflation pres-
sures.
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6-24 For emergencies
6
On snowy or icy roads
When driving on a road covered with snow or ice, use
snow tires. Tire chains cannot be used on your vehicle.
There may be state or local regulations about using snow
tires. Always check the regulations in your local area
before using them. Refer to the section entitled “Snow
tires” on page 7-39 and “Tire chains” on page 7-39.

Drive slowly. Do not make sudden starts or stops, sharp
turns, or slam on the brakes.

Allow extra distance between your vehicle and the vehicle
in front of you, and avoid sudden braking.

If a skid occurs when the accelerator pedal is depressed,
take your foot off the pedal. Steer gently in the direction
of the skid.

Your vehicle is equipped with an anti-lock braking system
(ABS). Hold the brake pedal down firmly and keep it
depressed. Do not pump the brake pedal which will result
in reduced braking performance.

After parking on snowy or icy road, it may be difficult to
move your vehicle due to freeze-up of the brake. Depress
the accelerator pedal little by little to move the vehicle
after confirming safety of the vehicle.
On a bumpy or rutted roadDrive as slow as possible when driving on bumpy or rutted
roads or over potholes etc.
CAUTION
!
Do not depress the accelerator pedal rapidly. The
vehicle could start moving when it breaks free from
the ice, possibly resulting in an accident.
CAUTION
!
Driving on bumpy, rutted roads or over potholes can
damage the tires and wheels.
Wheels with low-profiles tires or under-inflated tires
are especially at risk for damage.
The vehicle’s body, bumper, muffler and other parts
may be damaged if the vehicle is:
• driven over a step (for example, at the entrance or
exit of a parking lot);
• parked too closely against a curb or parking block,
or by the side of a road with curbstones;
• driven on a steep slope;
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7
Vehicle care and maintenance
Service precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 2
Catalytic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 3
Engine hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 4
View of the engine compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 7
Engine oil and oil filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 8
Engine coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 11
Air cleaner filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 14
Manual transaxle oil (if so equipped) . . . . . . . . . .7- 17
Continuously variable transmission (CVT) fluid
(if so equipped) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 17
Twin Clutch Sportronic shift transmission
(Twin Clutch SST) fluid (if so equipped) . . . . . .7- 18
Transfer oil (All-wheel drive models) . . . . . . . . . .7- 18
Rear axle oil (All-wheel drive models) . . . . . . . . .7- 19
AWC control fluid (if so equipped) . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 19
Washer fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 21
Brake fluid/Clutch fluid (if so equipped) . . . . . . . .7- 21
Power steering fluid (if so equipped) . . . . . . . . . . .7- 22
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 23
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 29
Clutch pedal free play (if so equipped) . . . . . . . . .7- 39Brake pedal free play. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 40
Parking brake lever stroke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 40
Parking brake break-in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 41
Wiper blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 41
Emission-control system maintenance . . . . . . . . . 7- 42
General maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 44
For cold and snowy weather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 47
Fusible links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 48
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 48
Replacement of light bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 58
Vehicle care precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 93
Cleaning the inside of your vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 93
Cleaning the outside of your vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 95
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7-2 Vehicle care and maintenance
7Service precautions
N00937300299
Taking regular care of your vehicle will preserve its value and
appearance as long as possible.
You can do some of the maintenance work yourself, and the
rest should only be performed by an authorized Mitsubishi
Motors dealer or a repair facility of your choice.
If you discover a malfunction or other problem, have it cor-
rected by an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair
facility of your choice.
This section describes the maintenance inspections that you
can do yourself, if you so desire. Follow the instructions and
precautions for each procedure.
Have you purchased the Mitsubishi Motors Diamond Care Pro-
tection Plan? The Plan supplements your new vehicle warran-
ties. See your authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer for details.
WA R N I N G
!
When checking or servicing the inside of the engine
compartment, be sure the engine is stopped and has
had a chance to cool down.
If you need to work in the engine compartment with
the engine running, be especially careful that your
clothing, hair, etc. does not get caught in the fan,
drive belts, or other moving parts.
The fan can turn on automatically even if the engine
is not running. Turn the ignition switch to the
“LOCK” position to be safe while you work in the
engine compartment.
Do not smoke or allow open flames around fuel or
the battery. The fumes are flammable.

Be extremely careful when working around the bat-
tery. It contains poisonous and corrosive sulfuric
acid.
Do not get under your vehicle while it is on a jack.
Always use properly rated automotive jack stands.
Handling your vehicle’s parts and materials in the
wrong way can injure you. Ask an authorized Mit-
subishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your
choice if you have questions.
WA R N I N G
!
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Vehicle care and maintenance
7-3
7 Catalytic converter
N00937400405
The catalytic converter requires you to use unleaded fuel only.
Leaded gasoline will destroy the emission-control effective-
ness of the converter.
Normally, the catalytic converter does not require maintenance.
However, it is important to keep the engine properly tuned for
the converter to continue to work properly. To reduce the possibility of catalytic converter damage:

Use UNLEADED GASOLINE ONLY of the type of rec-
ommended in “Fuel selection”.

Do not drive with an extremely low fuel level. Running
out of gas could damage the catalytic converter.

Do not try to start the engine by pushing or towing the
vehicle. If the battery is weak or run down, use jumper
cables to properly start the engine.

Do not idle the engine with any spark plug wires discon-
nected or removed, such as when performing diagnostic
tests.

Do not idle the engine for a long time if it is idling
roughly or otherwise obviously malfunctioning.

To prevent the catalytic converter from being damaged
from unburned gas, do not race the engine when turning
off the ignition switch.

Stop driving the vehicle if you think the performance is
noticeably low, or the engine has a malfunction. If you are
not able to stop driving immediately, slow down and drive
for only a short time. Have an inspection made by an
authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of
your choice as soon as possible.

In unusual situations involving major engine problems, a
burning odor may indicate severe and abnormal catalytic
converter overheating. If this occurs, stop in a safe place,
shut the engine off and let the vehicle cool. Once the
engine is cool, immediately take your vehicle to an autho-
rized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your
choice for service.
CAUTION
!
Damage to the catalytic converter can result if your
vehicle is not kept in proper operating condition. If
the engine malfunctions or misfires, or if your vehi-
cle performance suffers, have it serviced promptly.
Running your vehicle when it is overheated may
result in damage to the converter and vehicle.
WA R N I N G
!
Do not park or run your vehicle in areas where com-
bustible materials such as dry grass or leaves can
come in contact with a hot exhaust, since a fire could
occur.
Do not put undercoat paint on the catalytic con-
verter.
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7-4 Vehicle care and maintenance
7Engine hood
N00937500523
To openUse the engine hood release lever (located under the instrument
panel near the driver’s door) to unlock the engine hood.
Pull the lever toward you to release the engine hood latch.
CAUTION
!
For vehicles equipped with turbocharger, to avoid
the risk of being burned, do not touch the air outlets
(A) and air scoop (B) on the engine hood when the
engine compartment is hot (when the engine is run-
ning or immediately after the vehicle has been
driven).
WA R N I N G
!
Never use the release lever to unlatch the engine
hood while the vehicle is in motion.
Do not drive your vehicle unless the engine hood is
locked.
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Vehicle care and maintenance
7-5
7
Release the safety lever and lift the engine hood. NOTE
To prevent damage to the engine hood and wipers, make
sure the wipers are at resting position when you open the
engine hood. Support the engine hood with the hood prop. Insert the hood
prop securely in the opening under the hood marked with an
arrow.
CAUTION
!
Always insert the support prop into the hole spe-
cially made for it. Propping the engine hood at any
other place could cause the prop to slip out and lead
to an accident.
The hood prop can fall out if the hood is lifted by a
strong wind.
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