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Driving safety
4-5
4 Vehicle preparation before driving
N00629000630
For a safer and more enjoyable trip, always observe the follow-
ing: Seat belts and seats Before starting the vehicle, make certain that you and all
passengers are seated and wearing their seat belts properly
(with children in the rear seat, in appropriate restraints),
and that all the doors are locked.
Move the driver’s seat as far backward as possible, while
still keeping good visibility, and good control of the steer-
ing wheel, brakes, accelerator, and controls. Check the
instrument panel indicators for any possible problem.
Move the front passenger seat as far back as possible.
Make sure that infants and small children are properly
restrained in accordance with all laws and regulations.Defrosters Check these by selecting the defroster mode, and set the blower
switch on high. You should be able to feel the air blowing
against the windshield.
(Refer to “Defrosting or defogging the windshield and door
windows” on page 5-12, 5-19.)
Tires Check all the tires for heavy tread wear or uneven wear pat-
terns. Look for stones, nails, glass, or other objects stuck in the
tread. Look for any tread cuts or sidewall cracks. Check the
wheel nuts for tightness, and the tires (including spare tire) for
proper pressures. Replace your tires before they are heavily
worn out.
As your vehicle is equipped with a tire pressure monitoring
system, there is a risk of damage to the tire inflation pressure
sensors when the tire is replaced on the rim. Tire replacement
should, therefore, be performed only by an authorized Mitsub-
ishi Motors dealer.Lights Have someone watch while you turn all the exterior lights on
and off. Also check the turn signal indicators and high-beam
indicators on the instrument panel. Fluid leaks Check the ground under the vehicle after parking overnight, for
fuel, water, oil, or other leaks. Make sure all the fluid levels are
correct. Also, if you can smell fuel, you need to find out why
immediately and have it fixed.
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6-10 For emergencies
6
NOTEThe chocks shown in the illustration do not come with
your vehicle. It is recommended that you purchase chocks
or blocks and keep them in the vehicle for use if needed.
If chocks or blocks are not available, use stones or any
other objects that are large enough to hold the wheel in
position.
6. Get the jack, bar and wheel nut wrench ready.
Refer to “Tools and jack” on page 6-7.Spare tire information
N00849600243
Compact spare tireThe compact spare tire is designed to save space in the trunk.
Its lighter weight makes it easier to use if a flat tire occurs.
WA R N I N G
!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.
CAUTION
!While the compact spare tire is stowed, the inflation
pressure should be checked at least once a month to
assure that it remains at the recommended inflation
pressure. See the tire and loading information plac-
ard attached to the driver’s door sill. Refer to “Tire
and loading information placard” on page 9-3.
Driving with an improperly inflated tire can cause
an accident. If you have no choice but to drive with
an under-inflated tire, keep your speed down and
avoid sudden steering or braking, if possible. Inflate
the tire to the correct pressure as soon as possible.
Refer to “Tire inflation pressures” on page 7-23.The compact spare tire should be used only tempo-
rarily. While the compact spare tire is being used,
the tire pressure monitoring system will not function
properly. Have the tire replaced or repaired at an
authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair
facility of your choice as soon as possible.If your vehicle has aluminum type wheels, you can
use the same wheel nuts on the compact spare tire
wheel.Do not go over 50 mph (80 km/h) when driving with
the compact spare tire.Avoid fast starting and braking when driving with
the compact spare tire. Do not drive through automatic car washes and over
obstacles that could possibly damage the underside
of your vehicle. Because the compact spare tire is
smaller than the original tire, there is less clearance
between the ground and your vehicle. Because the compact spare tire is designed only for
your vehicle, do not use it on any other vehicle.
CAUTION
!
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For emergencies
6-11
6
To remove the spare tire
N00849700202
1. Lift up the luggage floor board.
2. Remove the jack storage box.
3. To remove the spare tire, remove the installation clamp
(A) by turning it counterclockwise.NOTEThe clamp cannot be used when a normal tire is stowed.
Do not put the compact spare tire on a different
wheel, and do not put standard tires, snow tires,
wheel covers or trim rings on the compact spare
wheel. Otherwise, you could damage these parts or
other parts on your vehicle.
CAUTION
!
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6-12 For emergencies
6
NOTEPut the spare tire under the vehicle body near the jack.
This makes it safer if the jack slips out of position.
To change a tire
N00849800317
1. On vehicles with wheel covers, first remove the covers
(refer to “Wheel covers” on page 6-19). Then loosen the
wheel nuts with the wheel nut wrench. Do not remove the
wheel nuts yet.
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For emergencies
6-15
6
6. Clean out any mud, etc. on the hub surface (F), hub bolts
(G) or in the installation holes (H) in the wheel, and then
mount the spare tire.
WA R N I N G
!Mount the spare wheel with the valve stem (I) facing
outboard. If you cannot see the valve stem (I), you
have installed the wheel backwards.
Operating the vehicle with the spare wheel installed
backwards can cause vehicle damage and result in
an accident.
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For emergencies
6-17
6
• Compact spare wheel
Install the wheel nuts with their tapered ends facing
inward, then tighten by hand until the wheel is no longer
loose.
NOTEFlange nuts can be temporarily used on the compact spare
or steel wheel, but return them to the original wheel and
tire as soon as possible.
If all four wheels are changed to steel wheels, use tapered
nuts.8. Lower the vehicle slowly by rotating the wheel nut
wrench counterclockwise until the tire touches the
ground.
CAUTION
!Never apply oil to either the wheel bolts or the nuts
or they will tighten too much.Compact spare wheel
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For emergencies
6-19
6
To store the flat tire or spare tire, jack, bar and
wheel nut wrench
N00850000058
Reverse the removing procedure when storing the flat tire or
spare tire, jack, bar and wheel nut wrench.
Refer to “To remove the spare tire” on page 6-11.Wheel covers
(if so equipped)
N00849400111
To remove Wrap the tip of the bar with a cloth, insert it deeply into the
notch provided in the wheel cover, and pry the cover away
from the wheel.
Using the same procedure at the other wheel cover notches,
work the wheel cover away from the wheel to remove it com-
pletely.
CAUTION
!While the compact spare tire is stowed, the inflation
pressure should be checked at least once a month to
assure that it remains at the recommended inflation
pressure. See the tire and loading information plac-
ard attached to the driver’s door sill. Refer to “Tire
and loading information placard” on page 9-3.Driving with an improperly inflated tire can cause
an accident. If you have no choice but to drive with
an under-inflated tire, keep your speed down and
avoid sudden steering or braking. Inflate the tire to
the correct pressure as soon as possible. Refer to
“Tire inflation pressures” on page 7-23.The compact spare tire should only be used tempo-
rarily. When the compact spare tire is used, the tire
pressure monitoring system will not work properly.
See an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer as soon
as possible to replace or repair the original tire.After changing the tire and driving the vehicle about
620 miles (1,000 km), retighten the wheel nuts to
make sure that they have not come loose.If the steering wheel vibrates when driving after
changing the tire, have the tire checked for balance
at an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a
repair facility of your choice.Do not mix one type of tire with another or use a dif-
ferent size from the one listed. This would cause
early wear and poor handling.
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Vehicle care and maintenance
7-19
7 Tires
N00939200537
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.
BK0139500US.book 19 ページ 2011年4月19日 火曜日 午後1時48分