2012 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT traction control

Features and controls
3-89
3 4-wheel drive operation
N00530600156
Your vehicle has been designed primarily for use on pavement.
But its unique 4 -wheel drive system allows you to occasion-
ally travel on unpaved roads, to campgrounds, picnic sites, and
similar locations.
Not only does this ensure better handling on dry, paved roads
but also permits better traction when driving on slippery, wet or
snow-covered roads and when moving out of mud.
But it is not suitable for heavy off road use or towing in rough
conditions.
It is particularly important to note that 4-wheel drive may not
give sufficient hill climbing ability and engine braking on steep
slopes. You should try to avoid driving on steep slopes.
Also, you must exercise caution when driving on sand and mud
and when driving through water because sufficient traction
may not be available in certain circumstances.
Please avoid driving the vehicle through areas where the tires
may get stuck in deep sand or mud.
NOTE
Driving on rough roads can be hard on a vehicle. Before
you leave the pavement, be sure all scheduled mainte-
nance and service has been done, and that you have
inspected your vehicle. Pay special attention to the condi-
tion of the tires, and check the tire pressures.

Mitsubishi Motors is not responsible to the operator for
any damage or injury caused or liability incurred by
improper and negligent operation of a vehicle. All tech-
niques of vehicle operation depend on the skill and experi-
ence of the operator and other participating parties. Any
deviation from the recommended operating instructions
above is at their own risk.
WA R N I N G
!
Do not over-rely on the 4-wheel drive vehicles. Even
4-wheel drive vehicles have limits to the system and
ability to maintain control and traction. Reckless
driving may lead to accidents. Always drive care-
fully, taking account of the road conditions.
Improperly operating this vehicle on or off-pave-
ment can cause an accident or rollover in which you
and your passengers could be seriously injured or
killed.
• Follow all instructions and guidelines in the
owner’s manual.
• Keep your speed low and do not drive faster than
conditions.
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Features and controls
3-105
3 Active stability control (ASC)
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The Active stability control (ASC) takes overall control of the
anti-lock braking system, traction control function and skid
control function to help maintain the vehicle’s control and trac-
tion. Please read this section in conjunction with the page on
the anti-lock braking system, traction control function and skid
control function.
Anti-lock braking system → P. 3 - 9 9
Traction control function → P. 3 - 1 0 6
Skid control function → P. 3 - 1 0 6
NOTE
An operation noise may be emitted from the engine com-
partment in the following situations. The sound is associ-
ated with checking the operations of the ASC. At this
time, you may feel a shock from the brake pedal if you
depress it. These do not indicate a malfunction.
• When the ignition switch is turned to the “ON” position
or the operation mode is put in ON.
• When the vehicle is driven for a while after the engine is
turned on.

When the ASC is activated, you may feel a vibration in
the vehicle body or hear a whining sound from the engine
compartment.
This indicates that the system is operating normally. It
does not indicate a malfunction.

When the anti-lock braking system warning light is illu-
minated, the ASC is not active.
CAUTION
!
Do not over-rely on the ASC. Even the ASC cannot
prevent the natural laws of physics from acting on
the vehicle. This system, like any other system, has
limits and cannot help you to maintain traction and
control of the vehicle in all circumstances. Reckless
driving can lead to accidents. It is the driver’s
responsibillty to drive carefully, This means taking
into account the traffic, road and environmental
conditions.
Be sure to use the same specified type and size of tire
on all four wheels. Otherwise, the ASC may not
work properly.
Do not install any aftermarket limited slip differen-
tial (LSD) on your vehicle. The ASC may stop func-
tioning properly.
BK0140300US.book 105 ページ ２０１１年６月２８日　火曜日　午後５時１８分

3-106 Features and controls
3
Traction control function
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On slippery surfaces, the traction control function prevents the
drive wheels from spinning excessive, thus helping the vehicle
to start moving from a stopped condition. It also provides suffi-
cient driving force and steering performance as the vehicle
turns while pressing the acceleration pedal.Skid control function
N00559300051
The skid control function is designed to help the driver main-
tain control of the vehicle on slippery roads or during rapid
steering maneuvers. It works by controlling the engine output
and the brake on each wheel.NOTE
The skid control function operates at speeds of about 9
mph (15 km/h) or higher.
ASC OFF switch
N00559400241
The ASC is automatically activated when the ignition switch is
turned to the “ON” position or the operation mode is put in
ON. You can deactivate the system by pressing down the “ASC
OFF” switch for 3 seconds or longer.
When the ASC is deactivated, the display/indicator will turn
on. To reactivate the ASC, momentarily press the “ASC OFF”
switch ; the display/indicator is turned off.
CAUTION
!
When driving a vehicle on a snowy or icy road, be
sure to install snow tires and drive the vehicle at
moderate speeds.
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Features and controls
3-107
3
NOTE
Using the “ASC OFF” switch turns off both the stability
control function and the traction control function.

When moving out of mud, sand or fresh snow, pressing
the accelerator pedal may not allow the engine speed to
increase. In such situations, temporarily turning off ASC
with the “ASC OFF” switch will make it easier to move
out your vehicle.

If you continue to press the “ASC OFF” switch after the
ASC is turned off, the “mistaken operation protection
function” will activate and the ASC will turn back on.
ASC operation display or ASC OFF display
N00546500075
NOTE
The combination of items shown on the display varies
depending on the vehicle model.
CAUTION
!
For safety reasons, the “ASC OFF” switch should be
operated when your vehicle is stopped.
Be sure to keep the ASC on while driving in normal
circumstances.
-ASC operation display/ASC indicator
The display/indicator will blink when the ASC is operat-
ing.
-ASC OFF display/ASC OFF indicator
This display/incicator will turn on when the ASC is
turned off with the “ASC OFF” switch.
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3-108 Features and controls
3
NOTE
The display/indicator may turn on when you start the
engine. This means that the battery voltage momentarily
dropped when the engine was started. It does not indicate
a malfunction, provided that the display goes out immedi-
ately.

When a compact spare tire has been put on your vehicle,
the gripping ability of the tire will be lower, making it
more likely that the display/indicator will blink.
ASC warning display
N00546600076
If an abnormal condition occurs in the system, the following
display/indicator will turn on.
Warning display type 1
Warning display type 2NOTE
The combination of items shown on the display varies
depending on the vehicle model.
CAUTION
!
When display/indicator blinks, ASC is operating,
which means that the road is slippery or that your
vehicle’s wheels are beginning to slip. If this hap-
pens, drive slower with less accelerator input.
If the temperature in the braking system continues
to increase due to continuous brake control on a
slippery road surface, the display/indicator will
blink. To prevent the brake system from overheat-
ing, the brake control of the traction control func-
tion will be temporarily suspended.
The engine control of the traction control function
and normal brake operation will not be affected.
Park your vehicle in a safe place. When the temper-
ature in the braking system has come down, the
display/indicator will be turned off and the traction
control function will start operating again.
-ASC indicator
-ASC OFF display/ASC OFF indicator
BK0140300US.book 108 ページ ２０１１年６月２８日　火曜日　午後５時１８分

3-196 Features and controls
3Headlight leveling switch
(if so equipped)
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The direction of the headlight beam (the direction in which the
light shines) alters according to the number of people and the
load in the vehicle. Lower the headlight angle if it is too high
due to the number of people and/or the load in the vehicle so
that the headlights’ glare does not distract the drivers of
approaching vehicles. First set the light switch to the “ ”
position, then turn the headlight leveling switch knob to lower
the beam. The greater the number on the headlight leveling
switch knob, the lower the beam will point.
Set the switch to the appropriate position so that the headlight
beam is level with the road.
NOTE
Start adjusting when the knob is at the “0” position (when
the beam is at its highest).

Keep the knob in the “0” position except when using the
knob to lower the headlight beam angle.

Always return the knob to the “0” position when the load
is removed and the people have left the vehicle.
WA R N I N G
!
To avoid distraction while driving, always perform
headlight adjustments before vehicle operation.
BK0140300US.book 196 ページ ２０１１年６月２８日　火曜日　午後５時１８分

7-26 Vehicle care and maintenance
7
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

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 rel-
ative performance of tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions 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 pavement 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, repre-
senting the tire’s resistance to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the material of the tire to degen-
erate and reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead
to sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger car tires must meet under
the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades
B and A represent higher levels of performance on the labo-
ratory test wheel than the minimum required by law.
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 loca-
tion. (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)BK0140300US.book 26 ページ ２０１１年６月２８日　火曜日　午後５時１８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.
BK0140300US.book 2 ページ ２０１１年６月２８日　火曜日　午後５時１８分