2012 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE Owners Manual

7-26 Vehicle care and maintenance
7
Tread wear indicators
N00939800054
Tread wear indicators are built into the original equipment tires
on your vehicle to help you know when your tires should be
replaced. Many states have laws requiring that you replace
your tires at this point.
These indicators are molded into the bottom of the tread
grooves and will appear when the tire tread is worn down to
1/16 inch (1.6 mm).
When the bands appear next to one another in two or more
places, replace your tires. NOTE
Tire wear indicators can have different marks and loca-
tions depending on the tire manufacturer.
Tire rotation
N00939900390
To even out the wear on your tires and make them last longer,
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation recommends that you rotate
your tires at the mileage listed in the “WARRANTY AND
MAINTENANCE MANUAL”.
However, the timing for tire rotation may vary according to
your vehicle condition, road surface conditions, and your own
personal driving habits. Any time you notice unusual wear,
rotate your tires as soon as possible.
When rotating tires, check for uneven wear, damage, and wheel
alignment. Abnormal wear is usually caused by a wrong tire
pressure, wheels that are not aligned properly, wheels that are
out-of-balance, or severe braking.
Check with an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair
facility of your choice to find out the reason for uneven tread
wear.
The first tire rotation is the most important one. It will allow all
your tires to wear evenly.
1- Location of the tread wear indicator
2- Tread wear indicator
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Vehicle care and maintenance
7-27
7
CAUTION
!
A compact spare tire can be installed temporarily in
place of a tire that has been removed during the tire
rotation. However, it must not be included in the
regular tire rotation sequence.Tires that do not have arrows showing rotation direction
Tires that have arrows showing rotation directionFront
Front
CAUTION
!
If the tires have arrows (A) indicating the correct
direction of rotation, swap the front and rear tires
on the left-hand side of the vehicle and the front and
rear tires on the right-hand side of the vehicle sepa-
rately. Keep each tire on its original side of the vehi-
cle. When installing the tires, make sure the arrows
point in the direction in which the wheels will turn
when the vehicle moves forward. Any tire whose
arrow points in the wrong direction will not perform
to its full potential.
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7-28 Vehicle care and maintenance
7
Snow tires
N00940000362
In some areas of the country, snow tires are required for winter
driving. If snow tires are required in your area, you must
choose snow tires of the same size and type as the original tires
provided with your vehicle. Snow tires should also be installed
on all four wheels. Otherwise your safety and vehicle handling
can be reduced.
Even where laws may permit it, snow tires should not be oper-
ated at sustained speeds over 75 mph (120 km/h).
CAUTION
!
Avoid the combined use of different types of tires.
Using different types of tires can affect vehicle per-
formance and safety.
Front
CAUTION
!
Change to tapered nuts when using snow tires with
steel wheels.
As your vehicle is equipped with a tire pressure
monitoring system, use only Mitsubishi genuine
wheels.
Other wheels do not permit correct installation of
tire inflation pressure sensors and can cause air
leakage and sensor failure, which would not be cov-
ered by your vehicle’s warranty.
See an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer when
you replace a tire or wheel.
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Vehicle care and maintenance
7-29
7
Tire chains
N00940100015
Clutch pedal free play
(if so equipped)
N00940200045
To check the clutch pedal free play (A), turn off the engine and
press the pedal until you feel resistance.
Clutch pedal free play:
.2 to .5 inch (6 to 13 mm)
CAUTION
!
Tire chains cannot be used on your vehicle. The
clearance between the chains and the body is not
sufficient to allow proper clearance, and the vehicle
body might be damaged.
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7-30 Vehicle care and maintenance
7Brake pedal free play
N00940300176
To check the brake pedal free play (A), turn off the engine and
press the brake pedal several times with your foot. Then press
the pedal down with your fingers until you first feel resistance.
Brake pedal free play:
.1 to .3 inch (3 to 8 mm)
If the free play is not within these limits, take your vehicle to
an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of
your choice for adjustment.
Parking brake lever stroke
N00940400063
Check the parking brake lever travel occasionally. To check
this, pull the lever up slowly and count the number of clicks of
the ratchet.
Parking brake lever stroke:
5 to 7 notches
Also check to see if the lever stays gripped by the ratchet after
pulling.
WA R N I N G
!
Continued operation of the vehicle with the parking
brake lever out of adjustment may result in the vehi-
cle moving when unattended.
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Vehicle care and maintenance
7-31
7 Wiper blades
N00940700011
Check the wiper blades occasionally. Clean them regularly to
remove deposits of salt and road film. Use a sponge or cloth
and a mild detergent or non-abrasive cleaner to clean the blades
and glass areas.
Replace the blades if they continue to streak or smear.NOTE
Do not run the wipers on dry glass for a long time. This
wears out the rubber and can scratch the glass.During cold weatherIf the blades are frozen to the windshield or rear window, do
not operate the wipers until the ice has melted and the blades
are freed, otherwise the wiper motor may be damaged.
Emission-control system maintenance
N00940800201
Your vehicle is equipped with an emission-control system that
meets all the requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protec-
tion Agency and Environment Canada. The emission-control
system is made of:

a positive crankcase ventilation system

an evaporative emission-control system

an exhaust emission-control system
The maintenance services listed in the “WARRANTY AND
MAINTENANCE MANUAL” must be performed at the times
or mileages listed to keep the emission-control system working
properly. These, and all the other “general” maintenance ser-
vices listed in this manual, need to be performed to keep your
vehicle running properly and reliably.
You may need more frequent maintenance if you drive your
vehicle in harsh conditions such as dusty areas or do a lot of
start-and-stop driving.
To be sure the emission-control system works properly, have
your vehicle inspected and maintained by an authorized
Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your choice fol-
lowing the schedule in the “WARRANTY AND MAINTE-
NANCE MANUAL”.
You should also have an inspection and service any time you
suspect a malfunction.
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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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Vehicle care and maintenance
7-33
7
Evaporative emission control system (except
evaporative emission canister)
N00941400116
If the fuel-vapor vent line is clogged or damaged, the fuel-
vapor mixture will escape, polluting the air.
Have the system checked at an authorized Mitsubishi Motors
dealer at the mileage specified in the “WARRANTY AND
MAINTENANCE MANUAL”.
General maintenance
N00941500159
The next pages list the maintenance service recommended by
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation. In addition to the general
maintenance that needs to be performed at the times listed,
there are other parts which do not usually need regular mainte-
nance.
But, if any of these parts stops working properly, your vehicle
performance could suffer. Have these items checked if you
notice a problem with them.
See your authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer for assistance, if
you have any questions.Disc brake pads
N00941600020
Good brakes are essential to safe driving. Check the brake pads
for wear. For good braking performance, replace the brake pads
with the same type pads as the originals.Brake hoses
N00941700047
Brake hoses and tubing should be checked for:

Severe surface cracking, scuffing or worn spots. If the
fabric casing of the hose is showing through any cracks or
worn spots in the rubber hose cover, the hose should be
replaced. The brakes can fail if the hose wears through.

Improper installation may cause twisting, or wheel, tire or
chassis interference.
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