2012 MITSUBISHI iMiEV Owners Manual

7-46 Vehicle care and maintenance
7
2. While holding down the tab (B), pull out the connector. 3. Remove the screws (C) and then remove the bulb holder
(D).
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Vehicle care and maintenance
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7
4. Pull the bulb out of the socket.
5. To install the bulb, perform the removal steps in reverse.
License plate lights
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1. When removing the light unit (A), push it toward the left
side of the vehicle body.
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7-48 Vehicle care and maintenance
7
2. Use a flat blade screwdriver into the tab (B) and pry gen-
tly to remove the lens.3. Pull the bulb out of the socket.
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Vehicle care and maintenance
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4. To install the bulb, perform the removal steps in reverse.NOTE
When installing the light, insert tab (C) first then align and
insert tab (D).
Vehicle care precautions
N00945100195
In order to maintain the value of your vehicle, perform regular
maintenance using the proper materials and procedures. Be
sure to use only those materials and procedures that meet your
local environmental pollution control regulations. Choose the
materials you will use carefully, to be sure that they do not con-
tain corrosives. If you are not sure, contact a certified i-MiEV
dealer for help in choosing these materials.
CAUTION
!
Cleaning products can be dangerous. Some are poi-
sonous. Others are highly flammable. Some are dan-
gerous if you breathe their fumes in a closed space.
When you use anything in a container to clean your
vehicle, be sure to follow the instructions. Always
open your vehicle doors or windows when you’re
cleaning the inside. Never use the following chemi-
cals to clean your vehicle:
• Gasoline
• Carbon Tetrachloride
• Benzine
• Kerosene
• Naphtha
• Acetone
• Turpentine
• Paint Thinner
• Lacquer Thinner
• Nail Polish Remover
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7-50 Vehicle care and maintenance
7
These can all be dangerous, and they all can damage your vehi-
cle.
Cleaning the inside of your vehicle
N00945200079
After washing the inside of your vehicle with any cleaner, wipe
it dry in a shady, well ventilated area. NOTE
Always read the instructions on the cleaner label.Plastic, vinyl leather, fabric and flocked parts
N00945300214
1. Lightly wipe these off with a soft cloth soaked in a mild
soap and water solution.
2. Dip cloth in fresh water and wring out well. Using this
cloth, wipe off the detergent thoroughly.
CAUTION
!
Do not use organic substances (solvents, benzine,
kerosene, alcohol, gasoline, etc.) or alkaline or acidic
solutions.
These chemicals can cause discoloring, staining or
cracking of the surface.
If you use cleaners or polishing agents, make sure
their ingredients do not include the substances men-
tioned above.
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Vehicle care and maintenance
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NOTE
Do not use cleaners, conditioners, and protectants contain-
ing silicones or wax.
Such products, when applied to the instrument panels or
other parts, may cause reflections on the windshield and
obscure vision.
Also, if such products get on the switches of the electrical
accessories, it may lead to failure of these accessories.Upholstery
N00945500144
1. To maintain the value of your new vehicle, maintain the
upholstery carefully and keep the interior clean.
Use a vacuum cleaner and brush to clean the seats. If
stained, vinyl and synthetic leather should be cleaned with
an appropriate cleaner. Cloth fabrics can be cleaned with
either upholstery cleaner or a mild soap and water solu-
tion.
2. Clean the carpeting with a vacuum cleaner and remove
any stains with carpet cleaner. Oil and grease can be
removed by lightly dabbing with a clean white cloth and
spot remover. NOTE
If fuzzing is difficult to remove from the seat upholstery,
draw a suitable defuzzing brush over the surface in one
direction.Genuine leather
(if so equipped)
N00945600275
1. To clean, lightly wipe the leather with a soft cloth soaked
in a mild soap and water solution.2. To rinse, dip the cloth in fresh water, wring it out well, and
wipe off all the soap.
3. To preserve and protect, use a leather protecting agent on
the genuine leather surface.
NOTE
If genuine leather is wet with water, wipe it with a dry,
soft cloth. If left damp, mildew may grow.

The genuine leather surface can be damaged if brushed
with a nylon or synthetic fiber brush.

Organic solvents such as benzine, kerosene, alcohol, gaso-
line, acid or alkaline solvents can discolor the genuine
leather surface and should not be used.

The genuine leather surface may harden and shrink if it is
exposed to the direct sunlight for long hours. When your
vehicle is parked, place it in the shade as much as possi-
ble.
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7-52 Vehicle care and maintenance
7Cleaning the outside of your vehicle
N00945700061
To protect your vehicle’s finish, wash it often and thoroughly.
If desired, you may wax your vehicle using a nonabrasive auto-
mobile wax. Foreign material
N00945800046
Industrial pollution, road tar, bird droppings, tree sap, insect
remains, sea water and other foreign matters can damage the
finish on your vehicle.
Generally, the longer any foreign material stays on the finish,
the worse the damage. Wash your vehicle as soon as possible
whenever the finish gets soiled.Wa s h i n g
N00945900627
Chemicals contained in the dirt and dust picked up from air,
rain, snow or road surfaces can damage the paint and body of
your vehicle if left on.
Frequent washing and waxing is the best way to protect your
vehicle from this damage.
Do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight. Park the vehicle in
the shade and spray it with water to remove dust. Next, using
plenty of clean water and a car washing mitt or sponge, wash
the vehicle from top to bottom.
Use a mild car washing soap if necessary. Rinse thoroughly
and wipe dry with a chamois or soft cloth. After washing the
vehicle, carefully clean the joints and flanges of the doors,
hood, etc., where dirt is likely to remain.
WA R N I N G
!
Do not wash the vehicle while charging the main
drive lithium-ion battery.
Doing so could cause a fire or an electric shock.
Before washing the vehicle, make sure that the
charging lid and the inner lid are completely closed.
If the lid is open, the charging unit is exposed to
water, resulting in a fire or an electric shock.
Do not pour water inside the electric motor unit
room. Doing so could cause a fire or an electric
shock.
CAUTION
!
When washing the vehicle, turn the electric motor
switch to the “LOCK” position.
Do not use a high pressure washing machine to clean
the underneath of the vehicle.
Doing so might cause the electric motor unit prob-
lem or malfunction.
When washing the underside of your vehicle or the
wheels, wear a pair of gloves to protect your hands.
Never spray or splash water on the electrical parts
in under the hood. This may damage them. Be care-
ful also when washing the underbody. Do not spray
water up under the hood.
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Vehicle care and maintenance
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7
During cold weather Salt and other chemicals spread on winter roads in some geo-
graphical areas can have a detrimental effect on the vehicle
underbody. You should flush the underbody with a high pres-
sure hose every time you wash the outside of your vehicle.
Take special care to remove mud or other debris which could
trap and hold salt and moisture.After washing your vehicle, wipe off all waterdrops from the
rubber parts around the doors to prevent the doors from freez-
ing.
NOTE
When the door is frozen, opening it by force may tear off
or crack the rubber gasket installed around the door. Pour
warm water to melt the ice. Be sure to thoroughly wipe off
the water after opening the door. To prevent freezing of
the weatherstripping on the doors, hood, etc., treat with
silicone lubricant.Waxing
N00946000247
Wax your vehicle once or twice a year, or when water does not
bead up on the paint.
Use a soft cloth to put a small amount of wax on the painted
surfaces. After the wax has dried, polish with a dry soft cloth.
Do not wax your vehicle in direct sunlight.
You should wax when the painted surfaces are cool.

Avoid automatic car washers that use rotating
brushes. These brushes may scratch the paint sur-
face and make it dull.
Scratches are more noticeable on darker colored
vehicles.
Some hot water washing equipment uses high pres-
sure and heat to clean your vehicle. This heated
water may damage your vehicle’s resin parts. It can
flood the interior of the vehicle. Therefore, be sure
of the following:
• Keep the washing nozzle at least 28 inches (70 cm)
away from the vehicle body.
• When washing around the door glass, hold the
nozzle at a distance of more than 28 inches (70 cm)
and at right angles to the glass surface.

Make sure to do the following when using an auto-
matic car wash, with help from either this manual or
the car wash operator, to avoid damaging your vehi-
cle:
• Fold the outside mirrors.
• Remove the antenna.
• Tape the wiper arm assembly.CAUTION
!
CAUTION
!
Waxes containing high abrasive compounds should
not be used. These waxes remove rust and stain
effectively from the paintwork, but are harmful to
the finish on the paint and the plate, because they
also remove clearcoat.
They are also harmful to other glossy surfaces such
as the grille, trim, moldings, etc.
Do not use gasoline, kerosene, benzine or paint thin-
ners to remove road tar or other dirt from the vehi-
cle surface.
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