2012 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE light

For emergencies
6-23
6
On wet roads 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 7-28 and “Tire chains” on page 7-29.

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

Pressing the brake pedal when driving on snowy or icy
roads can make your tires slip and skid. When a skid
occurs, take your foot off the accelerator. Steer gently into
the skid. As your vehicle is equipped with an anti-lock
braking system (ABS), brake by pressing the brake pedal
firmly and keep it depressed.

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

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.
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,
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.
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.
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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- 6
Engine oil and oil filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 7
Engine coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 10
Air cleaner filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 11
Automatic transaxle fluid (if so equipped) . . . . . .7- 12
Manual transaxle oil (if so equipped) . . . . . . . . . .7- 14
Washer fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 14
Brake fluid/Clutch fluid (if so equipped) . . . . . . . .7- 15
Power steering fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 16
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 16
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 20
Clutch pedal free play (if so equipped) . . . . . . . . .7- 29
Brake pedal free play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 30
Parking brake lever stroke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 30
Wiper blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 31
Emission-control system maintenance. . . . . . . . . .7- 31
General maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 33
For cold and snowy weather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 37Fuse links. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 37
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 38
Replacement of light bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 47
Vehicle care precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 71
Cleaning the inside of your vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 72
Cleaning the outside of your vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 73
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Vehicle care and maintenance
7-5
7
Support the engine hood with the hood prop. Insert the hood
prop securely in the opening under the hood marked with an
arrow.
To closeUnlatch the prop from the engine hood and put it back in its
retainer.
Slowly lower the engine hood about 8 inches (20 cm), then let
it drop from its own weight. NOTE
If this does not close the engine hood properly, drop it
again from a slightly higher position.
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.
CAUTION
!
Be careful not to trap your hands or fingers when
closing the engine hood.
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Vehicle care and maintenance
7-15
7 Brake fluid/Clutch fluid
(if so equipped)
N00938700229
The brake fluid and the clutch fluid share the reservoir tank.To check the fluid levelThe fluid level must be between the “MAX” and “MIN” marks
on the reservoir.
The fluid level is monitored by a float. When the brake 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 engine hood. The brake system should
also be checked for leaks at the same time.If the fluid level falls markedly in a short length of time, it indi-
cates leaks from the brake system.
If this occurs, have the vehicle checked by an authorized
Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your choice.
Fluid typeUse the brake fluid conforming to DOT 3 or DOT 4. The reser-
voir cap must be tightly sealed to keep dirt and water out.
CAUTION
!
Do not let any petroleum-based fluid touch, mix
with, or get into the brake fluid. This will damage
the seals.
Be careful when handling brake fluid. It can damage
painted surfaces.
Use only the listed brake fluid. Different brands of
brake fluid have different additives, and these can
cause a chemical reaction. Do not mix brands of
brake fluid.
Keep the reservoir tank cap closed to keep the brake
fluid from evaporating.
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7-20 Vehicle care and maintenance
7Tires
N00939200478
It is important to familiarize yourself with the following terms:

Cold tire pressure:
• The measured pressure after the vehicle has been parked
for at least three hours,
or
• The measured pressure when the vehicle is driven less
than 1 mile (1.6 km) after having been parked for three
hours.

Maximum inflation pressure: the maximum permissible
cold tire inflation pressure for this tire.

Recommended inflation pressure: the inflation pressure
for optimum tire performance.
Intended outboard sidewall:
• The sidewall that contains a whitewall, bears white let-
tering or bears manufacturer, brand, and/or model name
molding that is higher or deeper than the same molding
on the other sidewall of the tire,
or
• The outward facing sidewall of an asymmetrical tire that
has a particular side that must always face outward
when mounted on a vehicle.

Passenger car tire: a tire intended for use on passenger
cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, and trucks, that
have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,000
pounds or less.

Light truck (LT) tire: a tire designated by its manufacturer
as primarily intended for use on lightweight trucks or mul-
tipurpose passenger vehicles.

Tread: portion of a tire that comes into contact with the
road.

Tread rib: a tread section running circumferentially
around a tire.

Tread separation: pulling away of the tread from the tire
carcass.

Carcass: the tire structure, except tread and sidewall rub-
ber which, when inflated, bears the load.

Sidewall: portion of a tire between the tread and bead.

Section width: the linear distance between the exteriors of
the sidewalls of an inflated tire, excluding elevations due
to labeling, decoration, or protective bands.

Bead: the part of the tire that is made of steel wires,
wrapped or reinforced by ply cords and that is shaped to
fit the rim.

Ply: a layer of rubber-coated parallel cords.
WA R N I N G
!
Driving with tires that are worn, damaged or
improperly inflated is dangerous.
These type tire conditions will adversely affect vehi-
cle performance.
These type tire conditions can also cause a tread sep-
aration or blowout which may result in an accident
causing serious injury or death.
Tires, including spare tire, degrade over time with
age even when they are not being used. It is recom-
mended that tires over 6 years generally be replaced
even if damage is not obvious.
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Vehicle care and maintenance
7-21
7

Cord: the strands forming the plies in the tire.

Rim: a metal support for a tire or a tire and tube assembly
upon which the tire beads are seated.

Rim diameter: nominal diameter of the bead seat.

Groove: the space between two adjacent tread ribs.Tire Markings
Size Designation
EXAMPLE:P215/65R15

NOTE

European/Japanese metric tire sizing is based on
European/Japanese design standards. Tires designed
to these standards have the tire size molded into the
sidewall beginning with the section width. The letter
“P” is absent from this tire size designation. Exam-
ple: 215/65R15 96H.

LT (Light Truck) -metric tire sizing is based on
U.S.A. design standards. The size designation for
LT-metric tires is the same as for P-metric tires
except for the letters “LT” that are molded into the
sidewall preceding the size designation. Example:
LT235/85R16.


Temporary spare tires are high pressure compact
spares designed for temporary emergency use only.
Tires designed to this standard have the letter “T”
molded into the sidewall preceding the size designa-
tion. Example: T145/80D18 103M.
PPassenger car tire size based on U.S.A. design
standards
215 Section width in millimeters (MM.)
65Aspect ratio in percent (%)
Ratio of section height to section width of tire.
RConstruction code
• “R” means radial construction.
• “D” means diagonal or bias construction.
15 Rim diameter in inches (in)
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7-32 Vehicle care and maintenance
7
NOTE
To meet government regulations and promote cleaner air,
your vehicle is equipped with an onboard diagnostic sys-
tem (OBD). The engine electronic control module that
controls OBD functions stores various data (especially
about the exhaust emissions). This data will be erased if
the battery cable is disconnected, which could make a
rapid diagnosis difficult. Do not disconnect the battery
cable when the engine malfunction indicator (“SERVICE
ENGINE SOON” or “Check engine light”) is on.Spark plugs
N00940900039
Spark plugs must fire properly for good engine performance
and emission-control.
Do not reuse them by cleaning or regapping. Change them at
the mileage listed in the “WARRANTY AND MAINTE-
NANCE MANUAL”.
Your vehicle may be equipped with iridium tipped spark plugs,
which are identified by marks on the ceramic. They do not
require replacement as frequently as the conventional type
spare plug and will last much longer.NOTE
Use the spark plugs listed under “Engine specifications”
on page 9-7 or plugs that are exactly the same. Other
plugs could cause engine damage, performance problems
or radio noise.
Fuel hoses
N00941000037
Check the hose surfaces for any heat and mechanical damage,
hard and brittle rubber, cracking, tears, cuts and abrasions. Pay
special attention to the hoses closest to high heat sources such
as the exhaust manifold. Check all the hose connections, such
as clamps and couplings, to make sure they are secure and that
there are no leaks. If you see any wear or damage, replace the
hoses immediately.Fuel system (tank, pipe line and connection, and
fuel tank filler cap)
N00941300085
Check these regularly for damage or leaks in the fuel lines and
connections. Check the fuel tank filler cap for damage or loose-
ness. Pay special attention to the fuel lines closest to high heat
sources such as the exhaust manifold.
WA R N I N G
!
If you see a fuel leak or if you smell fuel, do not run
the engine. Any spark (including from the ignition),
flame or smoking material could cause an explosion
or fire. Call an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer
or a repair facility of your choice for assistance.
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7-36 Vehicle care and maintenance
7
Exhaust system
N00942200078
The best way to keep carbon monoxide gas from entering
inside your vehicle is to have the engine exhaust system prop-
erly serviced.
Have a competent mechanic inspect the complete exhaust sys-
tem and nearby body areas for broken, damaged, deteriorated,
or mispositioned parts if you notice any of the following:

A change in the sound of the exhaust system

The smell of exhaust fumes inside the vehicle

The underside or rear of the vehicle is damaged
Also check the exhaust system each time the vehicle is raised
for lubrication, oil changes, or required service. Any open
seams or loose connections could let dangerous exhaust fumes
seep into the cargo area and passenger compartments. Check for any of the following conditions:
Check for holes or exhaust gas leaks caused by corrosion
or damage.

Check the joints and connections for looseness or exhaust
gas leaks.

Check the rubber hangers and brackets for damage.
Timing belt
N00942300053
The timing belt should be replaced with a new one at the mile-
age listed in the “WARRANTY AND MAINTENANCE
MANUAL”.Hood lock release mechanism and safety catch
N00942500042
The hood lock release mechanism and hood safety catch should
be checked, cleaned, and oiled when needed for easy move-
ment and to stop rust and wear. Use Multipurpose Grease
NLGI Grade 2 sparingly for all sliding parts of the hood latch
and release lever. Work the grease into the hood lock mecha-
nism until all the movable surfaces are covered.
Also, put a light coat of the same grease on the safety catch
wherever moving parts touch.
WA R N I N G
!
Carbon monoxide gas from your vehicle’s exhaust is
poisonous. Breathing these fumes can cause uncon-
sciousness or death.
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