Page 288 of 442
Driving safety
4-7
4 Driving during cold weather
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Check the 12V starter battery, including terminals and
cables. During extremely cold weather, the 12V starter
battery will not be as strong and its power level may drop.
Before driving the vehicle, check to see if the headlights
are as bright as normal. Charge or replace the 12V starter
battery if necessary. During extreme cold weather, it is
possible that a very low 12V starter battery could freeze. Check the antifreeze.
If there is not enough coolant because of a leak, add high-
quality ethylene glycol antifreeze and water. Use Dia
Queen Super Long Life Coolant Premium or an equiva-
lent. The recommended blend is about 50 % water and 50
% anti-freeze. Use a higher concentration (not over 60 %)
when the outside temperature is -31 °F (-35 °C) or lower.
When the electric motor unit is working very hard (for
example, during mountain driving and/or when the out-
side temperature is high), use a 50 % concentration. This
blend will provide adequate protection from corrosion and
boiling.
WA R N I N G
!The 12V starter battery gives off explosive hydrogen
gas. Any spark or flame can cause the 12V starter
battery to explode, which could cause serious injury
or death.
Always wear protective clothes and a face mask
when working with your 12V starter battery, or let a
skilled mechanic do it.
WA R N I N G
!Never open the coolant reservoir cap while it is hot.
You could be seriously burned.
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Page 390 of 442
Vehicle care and maintenance
7-27
7 General maintenance
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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
Page 398 of 442
Vehicle care and maintenance
7-35
7 Replacement of light bulbs
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Before replacing a bulb, be sure the light is off. Do not touch
the glass part of the new bulb with your bare fingers; the oil
from your skin will stay on the glass and dim or destroy the
bulb when it gets hot.NOTEIf you are unsure of how to carry out the work as required,
it is recommended that these procedures be carried out by
a certified i-MiEV dealer.
Be careful not to scratch the vehicle body when removing
a light and lens.
When it rains, or when the vehicle has been washed, the
inside of the lens sometimes becomes temporarily foggy.
This is the same phenomenon as when window glass mists
up on a humid day, and does not indicate a functional
problem.
When the light is switched on, the heat will remove the
fog. However, if water collects inside the light, please
have it checked by a certified i-MiEV dealer.
CAUTION
!Never use a fuse with a capacity greater than the one
listed or any substitute, such as wire, foil etc. This
would cause the circuit wiring to heat up and could
cause a fire. If the replacement fuse blows again after a short
time, have the electrical system checked by a certi-
fied i-MiEV dealer to find and correct the cause.
CAUTION
!Bulbs are extremely hot immediately after being
turned off.
When replacing a bulb, wait for it to cool sufficiently
before touching it. You could otherwise be burned.
BK0140800US.book 35 ページ ２０１１年９月２９日 木曜日 午後３時２８分