
Operation under adverse driving
conditions E00801702531
On a flooded road l Avoid
flooded roads. Water could enter the
brake discs, resulting in temporarily ineffec-
tive brakes. In such cases, lightly depress the
brake pedal to see if the brakes operate prop-
erly. If they do not, lightly depress the pedal
several times while driving in order to dry
the brake pads.
l When driving in rain or on a road with many
puddles a layer of water may form between
the tyres and the road surface.
This reduces a tyre’s frictional resistance on
the road, resulting in loss of steering stability
and braking capability.
To cope with this, observe the following items:
(a) Drive your vehicle at slow speed.
(b) Do not drive on worn tyres.
(c) Always maintain the specified tyre inflation pressures.
On a snow-covered or frozen road l The
use of snow tyres or tyre chains is recom-
mended for driving on snow and ice.
Refer to the “Snow tyres” and “Tyre chains”
sections.
l Avoid high-speed driving, sudden accelera-
tion, sudden braking, and sharp turns. l
Depressing
the brake pedal during travel on
snowy or icy roads may cause tyre slippage
and skidding. Tyres may slip if the ability of
the tyres to grip the road surface lessens.
This may make it more difficult to stop the
vehicle with normal braking operations. For
vehicles with an anti-lock brake system
(ABS), firmly depress and hold down the
brake pedal.
l Allow extra distance between your vehicle
and the vehicle in front of you, and avoid sud-
den braking.
l Accumulation of ice on the braking system
can cause the wheels to lock. Pull away from
a standstill slowly after confirming safety
around the vehicle. CAUTION
l
Do
not press the accelerator pedal rapid-
ly. If the wheels break free of the ice, the
vehicle could suddenly start moving and
possibly cause an accident.
On a bumpy or rutted road l Drive
as slow as possible when driving on
bumpy or rutted roads. CAUTION
l
The
impact on tyres and/or wheels when
driving on a bumpy or rutted road can
damage the tyre and/or wheel. For emergencies
6-22
6
OGWE12E1

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
7
OGWE12E1

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
OGWE12E1

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
OGWE12E1

CAUTION
l
Do not use alcohol or methanol anti-
freeze or any engine coolants mixed with
alcohol or methanol anti-freeze. The use
of an improper anti-freeze can cause cor-
rosion of the aluminium components.
l Do not use water to adjust the concentra-
tion of coolant.
l Concentrations exceeding 60 % will re-
sult in a reduction of both the anti-freeze
and cooling performance thus adversely
affecting the engine.
l Do not top up with water only.
Water by itself reduces the rust-protec-
tive and anti-freeze qualities of the cool-
ant and has a lower boiling point. It can
also cause damage to the cooling system if
it should freeze. Do not use tapwater, as it
can cause corrosion and rust formation.
During cold weather
If
the temperatures in your area drop below freez-
ing, there is the danger that the coolant in the en-
gine or radiator could freeze and cause severe dam-
age to the engine and/or radiator. Add a sufficient
amount of anti-freeze to the coolant to prevent it
from freezing.
The concentration should be checked before the
start of cold weather and anti-freeze added to the
system if necessary. Washer fluid
E01000700832
Open
the washer fluid reservoir cap and check the
level of washer fluid with the dipstick.
If the level is low, replenish the container with wash-
er fluid.
EMPTY
FULL NOTE
l The
washer fluid container serves the wind-
screen, rear window and headlamps (if so
equipped).
During cold weather
To ensure proper operation of the washers at low
temperatures, use a fluid containing an anti-freez-
ing agent. Brake fluid/Clutch fluid*
E01000800631
The
brake fluid and the clutch fluid share the reser-
voir tank.
To check the fluid level
The fluid level must be between the “MAX” and
“MIN” marks on the reservoir. The fluid level is monitored by a float. When the
fluid
level falls below the “MIN” mark, the brake
fluid warning lamp lights up.
The fluid level falls slightly with wear of the brake
pads, but this does not indicate any abnormality.
The fluid in the master cylinder should be checked
when doing other work under the bonnet. The
brake system should also be checked for leakage at
the same time.
If the fluid level falls markedly in a short length of
time, it indicates leaks from the brake system.
If this occurs, we recommend you to have the vehi-
cle checked. Maintenance
8-07 8
OGWE12E1

Fluid type
Use
brake fluid conforming to DOT3 or DOT4
from a sealed container. The brake fluid is hygro-
scopic. Too much moisture in the brake fluid will
adversely affect the brake system, reducing the per-
formance. CAUTION
l
Take
care in handling brake fluid as it is
harmful to the eyes, may irritate your
skin and also damage painted surfaces.
l Use only the specified brake fluid.
Do not mix or add different brands of
brake fluid to prevent chemical reactions.
Do not let any petroleum-based fluid
touch, mix with, or get into the brake fluid.
This will damage the seals.
l Keep the reservoir tank cap closed to pre-
vent the brake fluid from deteriorating ex-
cept maintenance.
l Clean the filler cap before removing and
close the cap securely after maintenance. Battery
E01001202131
The
condition of the battery is very important for
quick starting and to keep the vehicle’s electrical
system working properly. Regular inspection and
care are especially important in cold weather.
NOTE
l After replacing the battery, the electronic con-
trol system data for the automatic transmis-
sion, etc., will be erased. As a result, shift
shocks may occur.
Shift shocks will become smoother after sev-
eral changes in speed.
Checking battery electrolyte level The electrolyte level must be between the specified
limit
on the outside of the battery. Replenish with
distilled water as necessary.
The inside of the battery is divided into several com-
partments; remove the cap from each compartment
and fill to the upper mark. Do not top up beyond
the upper mark because spillage during driving
could cause damage. Check the electrolyte level at least once every 4
weeks, depending on the operating conditions.
If
the battery is not used, it will discharge by itself
with time.
Check it once every 4 weeks and charge with low
current as necessary.
Removing and installing the upper cov-
er and duct E01010700079
To replenish with the distilled water, remove the up-
per cover and duct. WARNING
l Turn
the ignition switch to the “LOCK”
position or put the operation mode in OFF.
Make sure that your clothes cannot be
caught by the fan or drive belt. Personal
injury could result. Maintenance
8-08
8
OGWE12E1

CAUTION
l
Drive carefully and do not exceed
50 km/h (30 mph).
Remember that preventing accidents is
not the purpose of tyre chains.
l When tyre chains are installed, take care
that they do not damage the disc wheel or
body.
l Do not install a tyre chain on an emergen-
cy wheel which is compact in size. If one
of the front wheels has punctured, re-
place it with one of the rear wheels and in-
stall the temporary spare wheel in that
place before fitting a tyre chain.
l An aluminium wheel can be damaged by
a tyre chain while driving. When fitting a
tyre chain on an aluminium wheel, take
care that any part of the chain and fitting
cannot be brought into contact with the
wheel.
l Remove the wheel covers before instal-
ling a tyre chain, otherwise they may be
damaged by the tyre chain. (See page
6-17.)
l When installing or removing the tyre
chains, take care that hands and other
parts of your body are not injured by the
sharp edges of the vehicle body.
NOTE l The
laws and regulations concerning the use
of tyre chains vary. Always follow local laws
and regulations.
In most countries, it is prohibited by law to
use tyre chains on roads without snow. Parking brake break-in
E01008300225
Break-in
the parking brake linings whenever the
brake performance of the parking brake is insuffi-
cient or whenever the parking brake linings and/or
discs are replaced, in order to assure the best brake
performance.
This procedure is described in the vehicle service
manual and can be carried out by a MITSUBISHI
MOTORS Authorized Service Point. Wiper blade rubber replacement
E01002600327
Windscreen wiper blades 1.
Lift the wiper arm off the windscreen.
2. Pull the wiper blade until its stopper (A) dis- engages from the hook (B). Pull the wiper
blade further to remove it. NOTE
l Do
not let the wiper arm drop onto the wind-
screen. This could damage the glass.
3. Attach the retainers (C) to a new wiper blade. Maintenance
8-15 8
OGWE12E1

Engine compartment
In
the engine compartment, the fuse block is loca-
ted as shown in the illustration. 1- Push the knob.
2-
Remove the cover.
Fuse load capacity E01007700642
The fuse capacity and the names of electrical sys-
tems
protected by the fuses are indicated on the in-
side of the fuse lid (LHD vehicles), the inside of
the glove box (RHD vehicles) and inside of the
fuse block cover (inside of the engine compartment).
Passenger compartment fuse location table
NOTE
l Spare fuses are provided on the lid of the
fuse block in the engine compartment. Al-
ways use a fuse of the same capacity for re-
placement.
Passenger compartment fuse location (LHD)
Main fuse block Sub fuse blockPassenger compartment fuse location (RHD)
Sub fuse block Main fuse block No. Symbol Electrical system Capaci-
ties
1 Heater
30 A*1
2 Stop lamps
(Brake lamps) 15 A
3 Rear fog lamp 10 A
4 Windscreen wipers 30 A
5 Option 10 A
*1 : Fusible link Maintenance
8-20
8
OGWE12E1