
Features and controls
3-37
3
Operation of the transmission
N00514500359
Waiting
N00515000087
For short waiting periods, such as at traffic signals the vehicle
can be left in selector lever position and held stationary with
the service brake.
For longer waiting periods with the electric motor unit running,
place the selector lever in the “N” (NEUTRAL) position and
apply the parking brake, while holding the vehicle stationary
with the service brake.
Parking
N00515100075
To park the vehicle, first bring it to a complete stop, fully
engage the parking brake, and then move the selector lever to
the “P” (PARK) position.
If you are going to leave the vehicle unattended, always switch
off the electric motor unit and carry the key.NOTEOn a slope, be sure to apply the parking brake before
moving the selector lever to the “P” (PARK) position. If
you move the selector lever to the “P” (PARK) position
before applying the parking brake, it may be difficult to
disengage the selector lever from the “P” (PARK) position
when next you drive the vehicle, requiring application of a
strong force to the selector lever to move from the “P”
(PARK) position.
CAUTION
!Before selecting a position with the electric motor
unit running and the vehicle stationary, fully
depress the brake pedal to prevent the vehicle from
creeping.
The vehicle will begin to move as soon as the trans-
mission is engaged, the brakes should only be
released when you are ready to drive away.Depress the brake pedal with the right foot at all
times.
Using the left foot could cause driver movement
delay in case of an emergency.Operating the accelerator pedal while the other foot
is resting on the brake pedal will affect braking effi-
ciency and may cause premature wear of brake
pads.
CAUTION
!Never hold the vehicle stationary on a hill with the
accelerator. Always apply the parking brake and/or
service brake.
BK0140800US.book 37 ページ 2011年9月29日 木曜日 午後3時28分

Features and controls
3-39
3 Service brake
N00517500305
Brake pedalOveruse of the brake can cause poor brake response and pre-
mature wear of the brake pads.
Power brakes
N00517600410
Your vehicle is equipped with power brakes for more braking
force with reduced brake pedal effort.
Your brakes are designed to operate at full capacity, even if the
power assist is lost.
If the power assist is lost, the effort needed to press the brake
pedal is greater.
If you should lose the power assist for some reason, the brakes
will still work.
If the power brake unit or either of the two brake hydraulic sys-
tems stop working properly, the rest of the brake system will
still work, but the vehicle will not slow down as quickly.
You will know this has happened if you find you need to
depress the brake pedal down further, or harder when slowing
down or stopping, or if the brake warning light comes on.
WA R N I N G
!Do not leave any objects near the brake pedal or let
a floor mat slide under it; doing so could prevent the
full pedal stroke that would be necessary in an emer-
gency. Make sure that the pedal can be operated
freely at all times. Make sure the floor mat is
securely held in place.
CAUTION
!It is important not to drive the vehicle with your foot
resting on the brake pedal when braking is not
required. This practice can result in very high brake
temperatures, premature pad wear, and possible
damage to the brakes.
WA R N I N G
!Never turn off the electric motor switch while driv-
ing. Doing so will result in a loss of power assist for
the brakes and steering, increasing the effort
required to steer and brake the vehicle.
BK0140800US.book 39 ページ 2011年9月29日 木曜日 午後3時28分

3-40 Features and controls
3
Brake pad wear alarm
N00532500162
The disc brakes have an alarm that makes a metallic squeal
when the brake pads have worn down enough to need service.
If you hear this sound, have the brake pads replaced at a certi-
fied i-MiEV dealer.
Brake assist system
N00567300063
The brake assist system is a device assisting drivers who can-
not depress the brake pedal firmly such as in emergency stop
situations and provides greater braking force.
If the brake pedal is depressed suddenly, the brakes will be
applied with more force than usual.
WA R N I N G
!Driving with worn brake pads will make it harder to
stop, and can cause an accident.
CAUTION
!The brake assist system is not a device designed to
exercise braking force greater than its capacity.
Make sure to always keep a sufficient distance
between vehicles in front of you without relying too
much on the brake assist system.
BK0140800US.book 40 ページ 2011年9月29日 木曜日 午後3時28分

6-22 For emergencies
6Operation under adverse driving conditions
N00837200747
If your vehicle becomes stuck in sand, mud or
snow If your vehicle becomes stuck in snow, sand, or mud, it can
often be moved by a rocking motion. Rock your vehicle back
and forth to free it.
Do not spin the wheels. Constant efforts to free a stuck vehicle
can cause transmission failure.
If your vehicle is still stuck after several rocking attempts, call
for a commercial tow truck service.
On wet roads
WA R N I N G
!When trying to rock your vehicle out of a stuck posi-
tion, make sure that there are no people nearby. The
rocking motion can make your vehicle suddenly
lurch forward or backward, and injure any
bystanders.
CAUTION
!Do not drive on a flooded road. If you drive on a
flooded road, not only the electric motor unit stops
but also a failure like electric leakage or short circuit
may occur.
If you inevitably had to run on a flooded road and
the vehicle was exposed to water, be sure to have
your vehicle inspected by a certified i-MiEV dealer.When driving in rain, on water-covered roads, or
through a car wash, water could get into the brake
discs and make them fail temporarily. In such cases,
lightly press the brake pedal to see if they are work-
ing properly. If they are not, press the pedal lightly
several times while driving to dry the brake pads or
linings, then check them again. When driving in rain, a layer of water may form
between the tires and the road surface (aquaplan-
ing). This loosens your tires’ grip on the road, mak-
ing it difficult to steer or brake properly. When
driving on a wet road:
• Drive your vehicle at a safe speed.
• Do not drive on worn tires.
• Always keep the tires at the correct inflation pres-
sures.
BK0140800US.book 22 ページ 2011年9月29日 木曜日 午後3時28分

7-12 Vehicle care and maintenance
7Brake fluid
N00938700261
To check the fluid levelThe brake fluid level must be between the “MAX” and “MIN”
marks on the reservoir.
The brake fluid level falls slightly with wear of the brake pads,
but this does not indicate any abnormality.
The brake fluid in the master cylinder should be checked when
doing other work under the hood. The brake system should also
be checked for leaks at the same time.
If the brake fluid level falls markedly in a short length of time,
it indicates a leak in the brake system.
If this occurs, have the vehicle checked by a certified i-MiEV
dealer.
Fluid typeUse the recommended brake fluid conforming to DOT 3 or
DOT 4. The reservoir cap must be tightly sealed to keep dirt
and water out.
CAUTION
!Do not let any petroleum-based fluid touch, mix
with, or get into the brake fluid. This will damage
the seals.Be careful when handling brake fluid. It can damage
painted surfaces.Use only the listed brake fluid. Different brands of
brake fluid have different additives, and these can
cause a chemical reaction. Do not mix brands of
brake fluid.Keep the reservoir tank cap closed to keep the brake
fluid from evaporating.
BK0140800US.book 12 ページ 2011年9月29日 木曜日 午後3時28分

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

Alphabetical index
2
C
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements 1-9
Capacities 9-10
Card holder 3-123
,3-129
Cargo loads 4-13
Certification label 9-5
Charging
Quick charging 1-33
Regular charging 1-20
,1-32
Charging indicator 3-72
Charging Timer 1-48
Charging troubleshooting guide 1-38
Chassis number 9-3
Child restraint 2-23
Child safety locks for rear door 3-15
Cleaning
Inside of your vehicle 7-50
Outside of your vehicle 7-52
Clock 5-41
Cold
Cautions and actions to deal with intense cold 1-12
Combination headlights and dimmer switch 3-76
Consumer information 8-2
Coolant 7-7
,9-10
Cruising range 1-5
Cruising range indicator 3-61
,3-67
Cup holder 3-130
D
Dash lights brightness indicator 3-61
,3-66
Daytime running lights
Bulb capacity 7-36
Replacement 7-40
Defogger (rear window) 3-89
Dimensions 9-6
Dimmer (high/low beam change) 3-81
Dinghy towing 4-14
Disc brake pads 7-27
Dome light (Front)/Reading lights
Bulb capacity 7-37
Switch 3-125
Dome light (Rear)
Bulb capacity 7-37
Switch 3-127
Door-ajar warning light and buzzer 3-74
Doors
Lock 3-12
Power door locks 3-14
Driver’s seat belt reminder/warning light 2-17
Driving during cold weather 4-7
Driving, alcohol and drugs 4-3
E
Economical driving 4-2
Electric motor
Number 9-4
BK0140800US.book 2 ページ 2011年9月29日 木曜日 午後3時28分