Vehicle care and maintenance
7-27
7 General maintenance
N00941500289
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 a certified i-MiEV dealer for assistance, if you have any
questions.Disc brake pads, rear drum brake linings and
rear wheel cylinders
N00941600033
Good brakes are essential to safe driving. Check the brake pads
and brake linings for wear and check the rear wheel cylinders
for leaks. 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.
Ball joint, steering linkage seals and drive shaft
boots
N00941800077
Check the following parts for damage and grease leaks:
Ball joint boots of the front suspension and steering link-
age
Bellows on both ends of the drive shaftHood lock release mechanism and safety catch
N00942500114
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.
BK0140800US.book 27 ページ 2011年9月29日 木曜日 午後3時28分
7-40 Vehicle care and maintenance
7
Front turn signal lights/Front fog lights (if so
equipped)/Daytime running lights
(if so equipped)
N00943400312
1. To create enough work space, turn the steering wheel all
the way in the same direction to the side you wish to
replace.
2. Remove the clip (A) and bolts (B), then lift the cover (C).3. Turn the socket counterclockwise to remove it.
D- Front turn signal light
E- Front fog light
F- Daytime running light
BK0140800US.book 40 ページ 2011年9月29日 木曜日 午後3時28分
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.
BK0140800US.book 52 ページ 2011年9月29日 木曜日 午後3時28分
Vehicle care and maintenance
7-55
7
Cleaning plastic parts
N00946300211
Use a sponge or chamois to clean these parts.
If a vehicle wax sticks to a gray or black rough surface of the
bumper, molding or lights, the surface may appear white in
color. In this case, wipe it off using lukewarm water and a soft
cloth or chamois. Chrome parts
N00946400065
To prevent spots and corrosion of chrome parts, wash with
water, dry thoroughly, and apply a nonabrasive automotive
wax. If the chrome is severely damaged or pitted, use a com-
mercially available chrome polish.
Aluminum wheels (if so equipped)
N00946500196
1. Remove dirt using a wet sponge.
2. Use a mild detergent on any dirt that cannot be removed
easily with water.
Rinse off the detergent after washing the wheel.
3. Dry the wheel thoroughly using a chamois leather or a soft
cloth.Window glass
N00946600067
The window glass can usually be cleaned using only a sponge
and water. Glass cleaner can be used to remove wax, oil,
grease, dead insects, etc. After washing the glass, wipe it dry
with a clean, dry, soft cloth.
CAUTION
!Do not use a scrubbing brush or other rough scrub-
ber as these may damage the plastic surface. Do not use wax containing compounds (polishing
powder) which may damage the plastic surface. Do not let the plastic parts get soiled with gasoline,
oil, brake fluids, greases, paint thinner, and sulfuric
acid (battery electrolyte). These fluids, etc., may
crack, stain or discolor the plastic parts.
If any of these get on the plastic parts, wipe them up
with a soft cloth or chamois and a mild solution of
soap and water. Then rinse them immediately with
water.
CAUTION
!Do not use a brush or other hard implement on the
wheels.
Doing so could scratch the wheels.Do not use any cleaner that contains an abrasive
substance or is acidic or alkaline. Doing so could
cause the coating on the wheels to peel or become
discolored or stained.Do not directly apply hot water using a steam
cleaner or by any other means.Contact with seawater or road salt used for de-icing
can cause corrosion. Rinse off such substances as
soon as possible.
BK0140800US.book 55 ページ 2011年9月29日 木曜日 午後3時28分
8-2 Customer assistance/Reporting Safety Defects
8Consumer information (For vehicles sold in
U.S.A.)
N01047100171
This information is provided in compliance with the require-
ments of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
Department of Transportation. It provides the purchasers
and/or prospective purchasers with information on reporting
safety defects. Uniform tire quality gradingDOT quality grades - All passenger vehicle tires must conform
to Federal Safety Requirements in addition to these grades. The
specific grade rating in each grade category is shown on the
side wall of the tires on your vehicle. Treadwear 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 AA, A, B, C 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 A, B, CThe 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.
WA R N I N G
!The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking traction tests, and does not
include acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning, or
peak traction characteristics.
WA R N I N G
!The temperature grade for this tire is established for
a tire that is properly inflated and not overloaded.
Excessive speed, underinflation, or excessive load-
ing, either separately or in combination, can cause
heat buildup and possible tire failure.
BK0140800US.book 2 ページ 2011年9月29日 木曜日 午後3時28分
9
Specifications
Vehicle labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9- 2
Vehicle dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9- 6
Vehicle weights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9- 6
Charging system specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9- 7
Electric motor specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9- 8
12V starter battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9- 8
Tires and wheels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9- 9
Refill capacities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9- 10
BK0140800US.book 1 ページ 2011年9月29日 木曜日 午後3時28分
9-6 Specifications
9Vehicle dimensions
N01147500538
Vehicle weights
N01147600861
GVWR: maximum total weight (load) limit specified for the
vehicle
GAWR: maximum weight (load) limit specified for the front or
rear axle
Seating capacity: the number of maximum occupants
Overall length 144.8 in (3,675 mm) Overall width 62.4 in (1,585 mm) Overall height 63.6 in (1,615 mm)Wheel base 100.4 in (2,550 mm)
Gross vehicle weight rating
(GVWR)3,329 lb (1,510 kg)Gross axle weight rating
(GAWR)
Front 1,488 lb (675 kg)Rear 1,962 lb (890 kg)
Vehicle capacity weight 661 lb (300 kg)Seating capacity 4 persons
BK0140800US.book 6 ページ 2011年9月29日 木曜日 午後3時28分
Specifications
9-9
9 Tires and wheels
N01147900734
PCD: Pitch Circle Diameter (installation holes)NOTEContact a certified i-MiEV dealer for details on the combination used on your vehicle.
These tires satisfy vehicle loading conditions described in this owner’s manual.
Item
Front
Rear
Tire 145/65R15 72H 175/60R15 81HWheel
Size 15x4J 15x5JPCD 3.93 in (100 mm)Offset 1.37 in (35 mm)
BK0140800US.book 9 ページ 2011年9月29日 木曜日 午後3時28分