2012 MITSUBISHI iMiEV Owners Manual

7-14 Vehicle care and maintenance
7
NOTE
Be sure to install the plastic nut in the correct direction.Checking 12V starter battery electrolyte level
N00901500056
Before checking the 12V starter battery electrolyte level,
remove the 12V starter battery’s upper cover.
The electrolyte level must be between the limits shown on the
outside of the 12V starter battery. Fill it with distilled water as
needed. The inside of the 12V starter battery is divided into
several compartments. Take the cap off of each compartment
and fill to the mark.
Do not fill above the top line because a spill during driving
could cause damage.
CAUTION
!
Be sure to install the 12V starter battery upper
cover. Otherwise, the battery electrolyte may spill
and cause a malfunction.
When installing the 12V starter battery upper cover
and plastic nut do not touch the cooling fan or other
moving parts under the hood.
Be especially careful that the cables, your clothing
or hair, etc., do not get caught in the cooling fan or
other moving parts.
WA R N I N G
!
If the 12V starter battery goes flat, be sure to check
the 12V starter battery electrolyte level before con-
necting booster cables.
After checking the 12V starter battery electrolyte
level, make sure the caps are fitted securely.
If any of the caps cannot be re-secured to the 12V
starter battery, replace the 12V starter battery.
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Vehicle care and maintenance
7-15
7
During cold weather
N00901600057
The 12V starter battery is weaker in cold temperatures. This
has to do with its chemical and physical properties and is why a
very cold 12V starter battery, especially one with a low charge,
will have a hard time starting your vehicle.
It is recommended that you have your 12V starter battery and
charging system checked by a certified i-MiEV dealer before
the start of cold weather. If necessary, have it charged. This
will guarantee more reliable starting, and longer 12V starter
battery life.

Electrolyte (battery acid) is made of corrosive
diluted sulfuric acid. If it spills on nearby parts, it
can crack, stain, or discolor them. And if gets on
your skin or in your eyes, it can cause burns or
blindness. Please observe the following handling
instructions:
• If electrolyte gets on plastic parts or other nearby
parts, wipe it off with a soft cloth or chamois
soaked in a solution of water and neutral detergent
then immediately rinse the affected parts with
plenty of water.
• If electrolyte gets on your hands or clothes, rinse
thoroughly with water. If electrolyte gets in your
eyes, flush them with water immediately and get
immediate medical attention.WA R N I N G
!
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7-16 Vehicle care and maintenance
7
Disconnection and connection
N00901700058
To disconnect the 12V starter battery cable, stop the electric
motor. Disconnect the negative (-) terminal first, then the posi-
tive (+) terminal. To reconnect the 12V starter battery, first
connect the positive (+) terminal and then the negative (-) ter-
minal, before starting the vehicle. NOTE
Remove the 12V starter battery upper cover before dis-
connecting the terminal of 12V starter battery. Refer to
“Removing and installing the 12V starter battery upper
cover” on page 7-13.

Open the terminal cover (A) before disconnecting or con-
necting the positive (+) terminal of the 12V starter battery.
Loosen the nut (B), and then disconnect the 12V starter
battery cable from the positive (+) terminal.
WA R N I N G
!
Never disconnect the 12V starter battery while the
electric motor unit is running, or you could damage
the vehicle’s electrical parts.
Never short-circuit the 12V starter battery. This
could cause it to overheat and be damaged.
Keep sparks, cigarettes, and flames away from the
12V starter battery because the 12V starter battery
could explode.
When installing the 12V starter battery, start con-
nection with the positive (+) terminal. If connection
is started from the negative (-) terminal, sparks will
occur if the positive (+) terminal touches any other
parts, and this may cause the 12V starter battery to
explode.
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Vehicle care and maintenance
7-17
7
NOTE
Before cleaning the 12V starter battery, tighten all the
filler port caps to keep dirt and moisture out.

Check each 12V starter battery terminal for corrosion. If
necessary, clean the terminals with a solution of baking
soda and water. Grease the posts and clamps after clean-
ing or tightening them.

Check to see that the 12V starter battery is securely
installed and cannot be moved. Also check each terminal
for tightness.

If you will not be driving your vehicle for a long period of
time, remove the 12V starter battery and store it in a place
where the 12V starter battery fluid will not freeze. Mem-
ory data for settings made by the user may be erased when
the 12V starter battery is removed. If this happens, reset
the settings again using the relevant procedures. The 12V
starter battery only should be stored with a full charge.
WA R N I N G
!
Open doors and windows in any closed space where
you may be charging or working with the 12V
starter battery.
Always wear protective clothing and goggles when
working with the 12V starter battery, or have a
skilled automobile technician do it.
If you are quick-charging your 12V starter battery,
first disconnect the 12V starter battery cables.
In order to prevent a short circuit, be sure to discon-
nect the negative (-) terminal first, and reconnect it
last.
If the electrolyte level is very low, have the 12V
starter battery checked at a certified i-MiEV dealer.
12V starter battery terminals and related accesso-
ries contain lead and lead compounds. Wash hands
after handling.
CAUTION
!
When replacing the 12V starter battery, remove the
connected positive (+) and negative (-) terminals
after turning the electric motor switch to the
“LOCK” position and waiting at least 1 minute. If
the 12V starter battery terminal is removed just
after the electric motor switch is turned to the
“LOCK” position, this may cause damage to compo-
nents of the electric motor unit.
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7-18 Vehicle care and maintenance
7Tires
N00939200540
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 degrade over time with age even when they are
not being used. It is recommended that tires over 6
years generally be replaced even if damage is not
obvious.
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Vehicle care and maintenance
7-19
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.
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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7-20 Vehicle care and maintenance
7
Service DescriptionEXAMPLE: 95H
Maximum Load
Maximum load indicates the maximum load this tire is
designed to carry.Maximum Pressure
Maximum Pressure indicates the maximum permissible
cold tire inflation pressure for this tire.
Tire Identification Number (TIN)
The TIN may be found on one or both sides of the tire but
the date code may only be on one side. Look for the TIN
on the outboard side of tires as mounted on the vehicle. If
the TIN is not found on the outboard side then you will
find it on the inboard side of the tire.
EXAMPLE: DOT MA L9 ABCD 1504

95Load index
A numerical code associated with the maxi-
mum load a tire can carry.
HSpeed symbol
A symbol indicating the range of speeds at
which a tire can carry a load corresponding to
its load index under certain operating condi-
tions.
The maximum speed corresponding to the
speed symbol should only be achieved under
specified operating conditions. (i.e. tire pres-
sure, vehicle loading, road conditions and
posted speed limits)
WA R N I N G
!
Overloading of your tire is dangerous. Over-
loading can cause tire failure, affect vehicle
handling, and increase your stopping distance.
Use tires of the recommended load capacity for
your vehicle. Never overload them.
DOTDepartment of Transportation
This symbol certifies that the tire is in compli-
ance with the U.S. Department of Transporta-
tion tire safety standards, and is approved for
highway use.
MACode representing the tire manufacturing
location. (2 digits)
L9
ABCDCode representing the tire size. (2 digits)
Code used by tire manufacturer. (1 to 4 digits)
15Number representing the week in which the
tire was manufactured. (2 digits)
04Number representing the year in which the
tire was manufactured. (2 digits)
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Vehicle care and maintenance
7-21
7
Treadwear, Traction and Temperature GradesTreadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear
rate of the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course. For example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and one-half (1
1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100. The relative perfor-
mance of tires depends upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly from the norm due to
variations in driving habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B and
C. Those grades represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet pave-
ment as measured under controlled conditions on specified
government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction performance.
Temperature
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B and C, represent-
ing the tire’s resistance to the generation of heat and its ability
to dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditions on a
specified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained high tempera-
ture can cause the material of the tire to degenerate and reduce
tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire fail-
ure. The grade C corresponds to a level of performance which
all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehi-
cle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher
levels of performance on the laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.
Tire inflation pressures
N00939300860
Proper tire inflation pressure is essential for the safe and satis-
factory operation of your vehicle. The wrong tire pressure will
cause problems in three major areas:

Safety
Too little pressure increases flexing in the tire and can
cause tire failure. Too much pressure can cause a tire to
lose its ability to cushion shock. Objects on the road and
potholes could then cause tire damage that may result in
tire failure.

Economy
The wrong tire pressure can cause uneven wear patterns in
the tire tread. These abnormal wear patterns will reduce
the tread life, and the tire will have to be replaced sooner.
Too little pressure also makes it harder for the tire to roll,
and this uses up more power.

Ride comfort and vehicle stability
The superior riding experience built into your vehicle
partly depends on the correct tire pressure. Too much
pressure gives an uncomfortable and jarring ride. Too lit-
tle pressure feels as if your vehicle is slow to respond.
Unequal tire pressures can make steering your vehicle
uneven and unpredictable.
The correct tire pressure for your vehicle is listed on the plac-
ard attached to the sill of the driver’s door.
(Refer to “Tire and loading information placard” on page 9-4.)
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