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Vehicle care precautions
............................................................... 7-02
Cleaning the interior of your vehicle ............................................7-02
Cleaning the exterior of your vehicle ...........................................7-03Vehicle care
7
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Vehicle care precautions
E00900100548
In
order to maintain the value of your vehicle, it is
necessary to perform regular maintenance using the
proper procedures.
Always maintain your vehicle in compliance with
environmental pollution control regulations.
Carefully select the materials used for washing,
etc., to be sure that they do not contain corrosives.
If in doubt, we recommend you to consult a special-
ist for selection of these materials. CAUTION
l
Cleaning
products can be dangerous. Al-
ways follow the instructions of the clean-
ing product supplier.
l To avoid damage, never use the following
to clean your vehicle:
• Petrol
• Paint Thinner
• Benzine
• Kerosene
• Turpentine
• Naphtha
• Lacquer Thinner
• Carbon Tetrachloride
• Nail Polish Remover
• Acetone Cleaning the interior of your
vehicle E00900200220
After
cleaning the interior of your vehicle with wa-
ter, cleaner or similar, wipe and dry in a shady, well-
ventilated area. CAUTION
l
Do
not use organic substances (solvents,
benzine, kerosene, alcohol, petrol, etc.) or
alkaline or acidic solutions.
These chemicals can cause discolouring,
staining or cracking of the surface.
If you use cleaners or polishing agents,
make sure their ingredients do not in-
clude the substances mentioned above.
Plastic, vinyl leather, fabric and
flocked parts E00900300319
1. Gently
wipe off with a sponge, gauze or oth-
er soft cloth soaked with a 3% aqueous solu-
tion of neutral detergent.
2. Dip cloth in fresh water and wring it out well. Using this cloth, wipe off the detergent
thoroughly. NOTE
l Do
not use cleaners, conditioners, and protec-
tants containing silicons or wax.
Such products, when applied to the instru-
ment panels or other parts, may cause reflec-
tions on the windscreen and obscure vision.
Also, if such products get on the switches of
the electrical accessories, it may lead to fail-
ure of these accessories.
Upholstery E00900500076
1. To
maintain the value of your new vehicle,
handle the upholstery carefully and keep the
interior clean.
Use a vacuum cleaner and brush to clean the
seats. If stained, vinyl and synthetic leather
should be cleaned with an appropriate clean-
er. Cloth fabrics can be cleaned with either
upholstery cleaner or a 3% aqueous solution
of neutral detergent in lukewarm water.
2. Clean the carpeting with a vacuum cleaner and remove any stains with carpet cleaner.
Oil and grease can be removed by lightly dab-
bing with a clean colourfast cloth and stain re-
mover.
Genuine leather* E00900600804
1. Gently
wipe off with gauze or other soft
cloth soaked with a 5 % aqueous solution of
neutral detergent.
2. Dip cloth in fresh water and wring it out well. Using this cloth, wipe off the detergent
thoroughly.
3. Apply leather protecting agent to the genuine leather surface. Vehicle care
7-02
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NOTE
l If
genuine leather is wet with water or is wash-
ed in water, wipe off water as quickly as pos-
sible with a dry, soft cloth. If left damp, mil-
dew may grow.
l The genuine leather surface may be damaged
if a nylon brush or synthetic fibre is rubbed
hard against it.
l Organic solvents such as benzine, kerosene,
alcohol and petrol, acid or alkaline solvents
may discolour the genuine leather surface.
Be sure to use neutral detergents.
l Remove dirty patches or oil substances quick-
ly as they can stain genuine leather.
l The genuine leather surface may harden and
shrink if it is exposed to direct sun for long
hours. When your vehicle is parked, place it
in the shade as much as possible.
l When the temperature of the vehicle interior
rises in summer, vinyl products left on the
genuine leather seat may deteriorate and
stick to the seat. Cleaning the exterior of your
vehicle E00900700108
If
the following is left on your vehicle, it may
cause corrosion, discolouration and stains, wash
the vehicle as soon as possible.
l Seawater, road deicing products.
l Soot and dust, iron powder from factories,
chemical substance (acids, alkalis, coal-tar,
etc.).
l Droppings from birds, carcasses of insects,
tree sap, etc.
Washing E00900902276
Chemicals contained in the dirt and dust picked up
from
the road surface can damage the paint coat
and body of your vehicle if left in prolonged contact.
Frequent washing and waxing is the best way to pro-
tect your vehicle from this damage. This will also
be effective in protecting it from environmental el-
ements such as rain, snow, salt air, etc.
Do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight. Park the
vehicle in the shade and spray it with water to re-
move dust. Next, using an ample amount of clean
water and a car washing brush or sponge, wash the
vehicle from top to bottom.
Use a mild car washing soap if necessary. Rinse
thoroughly and wipe dry with a soft cloth. After
washing the vehicle, carefully clean the joints and
flanges of the doors, bonnet and other sections
where dirt is likely to remain. CAUTION
l
When
washing the under side of your ve-
hicle or wheel, be careful not to injure
your hands.
l If your vehicle has rain sensor wipers,
place the wiper switch lever in the “OFF”
position to deactivate the rain sensor be-
fore washing the vehicle. Otherwise, the
wipers will operate in the presence of wa-
ter spray on the windscreen and may get
damaged as a result.
l Refrain from excessively using a car wash
as its brushes may scratch the paint sur-
face, causing it to lose its gloss. Scratches
will be especially visible on darker col-
oured vehicles.
l Never spray or splash water on the electri-
cal components in the engine compart-
ment. Doing so could have an adverse ef-
fect on the engine startability.
Exercise caution also when washing the
underbody; be careful not to spray water
into the engine compartment.
l Some types of hot water washing equip-
ment apply high pressure and heat to the
vehicle. They may cause heat distortion
and damage to the vehicle resin parts and
may result in flooding of the vehicle inte-
rior.
Therefore;
• Maintain a distance of approx. 70 cmor more between the vehicle body and
the washing nozzle. Vehicle care
7-03 7
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CAUTION
• When washing around the door glass,
hold the nozzle at a distance of more
than 70 cm and at right angles to the
glass surface.
l After 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.
• The antenna is removed.
• The wiper arms are secured in placewith tape.
• If your vehicle is equipped with a rear spoiler or roof rails, consult a car
wash operator before using the car
wash.
• If your vehicle has rain sensor wipers, place the wiper switch lever in the
“OFF” position to deactivate the rain
sensor. 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 E00901000863
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. CAUTION
l
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. CAUTION
l
Do
not use petrol or paint thinners to re-
move road tar or other contamination to
the painted surface.
l Do not apply wax to sections that have a
black mat paint coating, as doing so
could cause uneven discolouration, spots
or stains. If wax gets on such areas, wipe
it off using lukewarm water and a soft
cloth.
Polishing E00901100066
The vehicle should only be polished if the paint-
work
has become stained or lost its lustre. Do not
polish parts with a mat coating and the plastic bump-
ers. Doing so could cause stains or damage the finish.
Damaged paint E00901200054
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 caused by gravels,
etc. The paint code number for your vehicle can be
found on the vehicle information code plate in the
engine compartment.
Cleaning plastic parts E00901300707
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
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CAUTION
l
Do 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 E00901400098
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* E00901500347
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. CAUTION
l
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 E00901600117
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 a cloth that
is used for cleaning a painted surface to clean a win-
dow. Wax from the painted surface could get on
the glass and lower glass transparency 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
E00901700062
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 8-15.)
Engine compartment E00902100308
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.
If they are in contact, wipe off with soft cloth, cha-
mois or the like and an aqueous solution of neutral
detergent then immediately rinse the affected parts
with plenty of water. Vehicle care
7-05 7
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Page 311 of 378

Service precautions
....................................................................... 8-02
Catalytic converter ........................................................................ 8-02
Bonnet...........................................................................................8-03
Engine oil ......................................................................................8-04
Engine coolant .............................................................................. 8-06
Washer fluid ................................................................................. 8-07
Brake fluid/Clutch fluid* .............................................................. 8-07
Battery .......................................................................................... 8-08
Tyres............................................................................................. 8-11
Parking brake break-in..................................................................
8-15
Wiper blade rubber replacement...................................................8-15
General maintenance .................................................................... 8-17
For cold and snowy weather......................................................... 8-17
Fusible links.................................................................................. 8-18
Fuses............................................................................................. 8-18
Replacement of lamp bulbs .......................................................... 8-24Maintenance
8
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Service precautions
E01000100878
Adequate
care of your vehicle at regular intervals
serves to preserve the value and appearance as long
as possible.
Maintenance items as described in this owner’s man-
ual can be performed by the owner.
We recommend you to have the periodic inspection
and maintenance performed by a MITSUBISHI
MOTORS Authorized Service Point or another spe-
cialist.
In the event a malfunction or a problem is discov-
ered, we recommend you to have it checked and re-
paired. This section contains information on inspec-
tion maintenance procedures that you can do your-
self. Follow the instructions and cautions for each
of the various procedures. WARNING
l When
checking or servicing the inside of
the engine compartment, make sure the
engine is switched off and has had a
chance to cool down.
l If it is necessary to do work in the engine
compartment with the engine running, be
especially careful that your clothing, hair,
etc., does not become caught by the fan,
drive belts, or other moving parts.
l The fan may turn on automatically even
if the engine is not running. Turn the igni-
tion switch to the “LOCK” position or
put the operation mode in OFF to be safe
while you work in the engine compart-
ment. WARNING
l Do
not smoke, cause sparks or allow open
flames around fuel or battery. The fumes
are flammable.
l Be extremely cautious when working
around the battery. It contains poisonous
and corrosive sulphuric acid.
l Do not get under your vehicle with just
the body jack supporting it. Always use
automotive jack stands.
l Improper handling of components and
materials used in the vehicle can endan-
ger your personal safety. We recommend
you to consult a specialist for necessary in-
formation. Catalytic converter
E01000200765
The
exhaust gas scavenging devices used with the
catalytic converter are extremely efficient for the re-
duction of noxious gases. The catalytic converter is
installed in the exhaust system.
It is important to keep the engine properly tuned to
ensure proper catalyst operation and prevent possi-
ble catalyst damage. WARNING
l As
with any vehicle, do not park or oper-
ate this vehicle in areas where combusti-
ble materials such as dry grass or leaves
can come in contact with a hot exhaust
since a fire could occur.
l Paint should not be applied to the catalyt-
ic converter.
NOTE l Use
fuel of the type recommended in “Fuel
selection” on page 02. Maintenance
8-02
8
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