2011 MITSUBISHI LANCER SPORTBACK traction control

3-104 Features and controls
3
NOTE
Shift ranges can only be selected in a forward direction
from 1st to 6th. To reverse or park the vehicle, move the
selector lever to the “R” (REVERSE) or “P” (PARK)
position.

To maintain good running performance, the transmission
may refuse to perform an upshift when the selector lever
or sportronic steering wheel paddle shifter is moved to the
“+ (SHIFT UP)” position at certain vehicle speeds. Also,
to prevent over-revving of the engine, the transmission
may refuse to perform a downshift when the shift lever or
sportronic steering wheel paddle shifter is moved to the “-
(SHIFT DOWN)” position at certain vehicle speeds.
When this happens, a buzzer sounds to indicate that a
downshift is not going to take place.
Move the selector lever gently between the manual and
main gates and between positions in the manual gate. And
do not operate sportronic steering wheel paddle shifter
violently. Excessive force could damage the selector lever
or sportronic steering wheel paddle shifter.
Sports mode display
N00538800170
In sports mode, the currently selected shift range is displayed
on the information screen in the multi-information display.

By rapidly moving the selector lever or sportronic
steering wheel paddle shifter to the “- (SHIFT
DOWN)” side twice, it is possible to skip one shift
range (i.e., 3rd to 1st or 4th to 2nd). Since sudden
engine braking or acceleration can cause a loss of
traction, downshifts must be made carefully in
accordance with the vehicle’s speed.
On vehicles with a sportronic steering wheel paddle
shifter, shift ranges may not change when the lateral
paddle shifters are operated at the same time.
CAUTION
!
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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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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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3-144 Features and controls
3
Electronic power steering system warning displayTy p e 1
Ty p e 2
If there is a malfunction in the system, the warning display will
appear on the information screen in the multi-information dis-
play.If the warning display appears while driving 1. Stop the vehicle in a safe place and turn off the engine.
2. Wait approximately 30 seconds and then restart the engine
to check whether the warning display goes out; if it then
remains off, there is no problem.
If the warning display does not go out, or it appears again
while driving, have the vehicle inspected at an authorized
Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your
choice.
Active stability control (ASC)
N00559100091
The active stability control (ASC) takes overall control of the
anti-lock braking system, traction control function and skid
control function to help maintain the vehicle’s control and trac-
tion. Please read this section in conjunction with the page on
the anti-lock braking system, traction control function and skid
control function.
Anti-lock braking system → P. 3 - 1 3 9
Traction control function → P.3-145
Skid control function → P.3-145
CAUTION
!
If the warning display appears during driving, it
may become harder to turn the steering wheel.
CAUTION
!
Do not over-rely on the ASC. Even the ASC 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
responsibillty to drive carefully, This means taking
into account the traffic, road and environmental
conditions.
Be sure to use the same specified type and size of tire
on all four wheels. Otherwise, the ASC may not
work properly.
Do not install any aftermarket limited-slip differen-
tial (LSD) on your vehicle. The ASC may stop func-
tioning properly.
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Features and controls
3-145
3
NOTE
An operation noise may be emitted from the engine com-
partment in the following situations. The sound is associ-
ated with checking the operations of the ASC. At this
time, you may feel a shock from the brake pedal if you
depress it. These do not indicate a malfunction.
• When the ignition switch is set to the “ON” position.
• When the vehicle is driven for a while after the engine is
turned on.

When the ASC is activated, you may feel a vibration in
the vehicle body or hear a whining sound from the engine
compartment.
This indicates that the system is operating normally. It
does not indicate a malfunction.

When the anti-lock braking system warning light is illu-
minated, the ASC is not active.
Traction control function
N00559200047
On slippery surfaces, the traction control function prevents the
drive wheels from spinning excessive, thus helping the vehicle
to start moving from a stopped condition. It also provides suffi-
cient driving force and steering performance as the vehicle
turns while pressing the acceleration pedal.Skid control function
N00546800023
The skid control function is designed to help the driver main-
tain control of the vehicle on slippery roads or during rapid
steering maneuvers. It works by controlling the engine output
and the brake on each wheel.NOTE
The skid control function operates at speeds of about 9
mph (15 km/h) or higher.
CAUTION
!
When driving a vehicle on a snowy or icy road, be
sure to install snow tires and drive the vehicle at
moderate speeds.
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3-146 Features and controls
3
“ASC OFF” switch
N00559400212
The ASC is automatically activated when the ignition switch is
turned to the “ON” position. You can deactivate the system by
pressing down the “ASC OFF” switch for 3 seconds or longer.
When the ASC is deactivated, the display/indicator will turn
on. To reactivate the ASC, momentarily press the “ASC OFF”
switch ; the display/indicator is turned off.
NOTE
Using the “ASC OFF” switch turns off both the skid con-
trol function and the traction control function.

When moving out of mud, sand or fresh snow, pressing
the accelerator pedal may not allow the engine speed to
increase. In such situations, temporarily turning off ASC
with the “ASC OFF” switch will make it easier to move
out your vehicle.

If you continue to press the “ASC OFF” switch after the
ASC is turned off, the “mistaken operation protection
function” will activate and the ASC will turn back on.
CAUTION
!
For safety reasons, the “ASC OFF” switch should be
operated when your vehicle is stopped.
Be sure to keep the ASC on while driving in normal
circumstances.
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Features and controls
3-147
3
ASC operation display or ASC OFF display
N00546500105
NOTE
The combination of items shown on the display varies
depending on the vehicle model.
NOTE
The display/indicator may come on when you start the
engine. This means that the battery voltage momentarily
dropped when the engine was started. It does not indicate
a malfunction, provided that the display goes out immedi-
ately.

When a spare tire has been put on your vehicle, the grip-
ping ability of the tire will be lower, making it more likely
that the display/indicator will blink.
-ASC operation display/ASC indicator
The display/indicator will blink when the ASC is operat-
ing.
-ASC OFF display/ASC OFF indicator
This display/incicator will turn on when the ASC is
turned off with the “ASC OFF” switch.
CAUTION
!
When display/indicator blinks, ASC is operating,
which means that the road is slippery or that your
vehicle’s wheels are beginning to slip. If this hap-
pens, drive slower.
If the temperature in the braking system continues
to increase due to continuous brake control on a
slippery road surface, the display/indicator will
blink. To prevent the brake system from overheat-
ing, the brake control of the traction control func-
tion will be temporarily suspended. The engine
control of the traction control function and normal
brake operation will not be affected. Park your vehi-
cle in a safe place. When the temperature in the
braking system has come down, the display/indi-
cator will be turned off and the traction control
function will start operating again.
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