2013 MITSUBISHI iMiEV battery

Vehicle care precautions
............................................................... 8-02
Cleaning the interior of your vehicle ............................................8-02
Cleaning the exterior of your vehicle ...........................................8-03
Service precautions ....................................................................... 8-06
Bonnet...........................................................................................8-07
Coolant/Hot water heater fluid ..................................................... 8-09
Washer fluid ................................................................................. 8-11
Brake fluid .................................................................................... 8-11
Auxiliary battery ........................................................................... 8-12
Tyres............................................................................................. 8-14
Wiper blades ................................................................................. 8-17
General maintenance .................................................................... 8-19
For cold and snowy weather......................................................... 8-20
Fusible links.................................................................................. 8-20
Fuses............................................................................................. 8-20
Replacement of lamp bulbs .......................................................... 8-23Vehicle care and Maintenance
8
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NOTE
l If
genuine leather is wet with water or is wash-
ed in water, wipe off water as quickly as pos-
sible with a dry, soft cloth. If left damp, mil-
dew may grow.
l The genuine leather surface may be damaged
if a nylon brush or synthetic fibre is rubbed
hard against it.
l Organic solvents such as benzine, kerosene,
alcohol and petrol, acid or alkaline solvents
may discolour the genuine leather surface.
Be sure to use neutral detergents.
l Remove dirty patches or oil substances quick-
ly as they can stain genuine leather.
l The genuine leather surface may harden and
shrink if it is exposed to direct sun for long
hours. When your vehicle is parked, place it
in the shade as much as possible. Cleaning the exterior of your
vehicle E08400600010
If
the following is left on your vehicle, it may
cause corrosion, discolouration and stains, wash
the vehicle as soon as possible.
l Seawater, road deicing products.
l Soot and dust, iron powder from factories,
chemical substance (acids, alkalis, coal-tar,
etc.).
l Droppings from birds, carcasses of insects,
tree sap, etc.
Washing E08400700011
Chemicals contained in the dirt and dust picked up
from

the road surface can damage the paint coat
and body of your vehicle if left in prolonged contact.
Frequent washing and waxing is the best way to pro-
tect your vehicle from this damage. This will also
be effective in protecting it from environmental el-
ements such as rain, snow, salt air, etc.
Do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight. Park the
vehicle in the shade and spray it with water to re-
move dust. Next, using an ample amount of clean
water and a car washing brush or sponge, wash the
vehicle from top to bottom.
Use a mild car washing soap if necessary. Rinse
thoroughly and wipe dry with a soft cloth. After
washing the vehicle, carefully clean the joints and
flanges of the doors, bonnet and other sections
where dirt is likely to remain. WARNING
l Do
not wash the vehicle while charging
the traction battery.
Doing so could cause fire or an electric
shock.
l 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 ex-
posed to water, resulting in fire or an elec-
tric shock.
l Do not pour water inside the electric mo-
tor unit room. Doing so could cause fire
or an electric shock.
l When washing the vehicle, turn the elec-
tric motor switch to the “LOCK” position.
l Do not use a high pressure washing ma-
chine to clean the underneath of the vehi-
cle.
Doing so might cause the electric motor
unit problem or malfunction.
l When washing the underside of your vehi-
cle or wheel, be careful not to injure your
hands.
l Refrain from excessively using a car wash
as its brushes may scratch the paint sur-
face, causing it to lose its gloss. Scratches
will be especially visible on darker col-
oured vehicles.
l Never spray or splash water on the electri-
cal components in the bonnet room.
Exercise caution also when washing the
underbody; be careful not to spray water
into the bonnet room.
l Some types of hot water washing equip-
ment apply high pressure and heat to the Vehicle care and Maintenance
8-03 8
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CAUTION
l
Do not use a scrubbing brush or other
hard tools as they may damage the plastic
part surface.
l Do not use wax containing compound (pol-
ishing powder) which may damage the
plastic part surface.
l Do not bring the plastic parts into contact
with petrol, light oil, brake fluids,
greases, paint thinners, and sulphuric
acid (battery electrolyte) which may
crack, stain or discolour the plastic parts.
If they touch the plastic parts, wipe them
off with soft cloth, chamois or the like
and an aqueous solution of neutral deter-
gent then immediately rinse the affected
parts with water.
Chrome parts E08401200013
In order to prevent spots and corrosion of chrome
parts,

wash with water, dry thoroughly, and apply a
special protective coating. This should be done
more frequently in winter.
Aluminium wheels E08401300014
1. Remove
dirt using a sponge while sprinkling
water on the vehicle.
2. Use neutral detergent on any dirt that cannot be removed easily with water.
Rinse off the neutral detergent after washing
the vehicle.
3. Dry the vehicle thoroughly using a chamois leather or a soft cloth. CAUTION
l
Do
not use a brush or other hard imple-
ment on the wheels.
Doing so could scratch the wheels.
l Do not use any cleaner that contains an
abrasive substance or is acidic or alka-
line. Doing so could cause the coating on
the wheels to peel or become discoloured
or stained.
l Do not directly apply hot water using a
steam cleaner or by any other means.
l Contact with seawater and road deicer
can cause corrosion. Rinse off such sub-
stances as soon as possible.
Window glass E08401400015
The window glass can normally be cleaned using
only a sponge and water.
Glass

cleaner can be used to remove oil, grease, in-
sect carcasses, etc. After washing the glass, wipe it
dry with a clean, dry, soft cloth. Never use a cloth
that is used for cleaning a painted surface to clean a
window. Wax from the painted surface could get
on the glass and lower glass transparency and visi-
bility.
NOTE
l To clean the inside of the rear window, al-
ways use a soft cloth and wipe the window
glass along the demister heater element so as
not to cause damage. Wiper blades
E08401500016
Use a soft cloth and glass cleaner to remove grease,
dead

insects, etc., from the wiper blades. Replace
the wiper blades when they no longer wipe proper-
ly. (Refer to page 8-17.)
Bonnet room E08401600017
Clean the bonnet room at the beginning and end of
winter.

Pay particular attention to flanges, crevices
and peripheral parts where dust containing road
chemicals and other corrosive materials might col-
lect.
If salt and other chemicals are used on the roads in
your area, clean the engine compartment at least ev-
ery three months.
Never spray or splash water on the electrical com-
ponents in the bonnet room, as this may cause dam-
age.
Do not bring the nearby parts, the plastic parts and
so on into contact with sulphuric acid (battery elec-
trolyte) which may crack, stain or discolour them.
If they are in contact, wipe off with soft cloth, cha-
mois or the like and an aqueous solution of neutral
detergent then immediately rinse the affected parts
with plenty of water. Vehicle care and Maintenance
8-05 8
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Service precautions
E08401700050
Adequate
care of your vehicle at regular intervals
serves to preserve the value and appearance as long
as possible.
Maintenance items as described in this owner’s man-
ual can be performed by the owner.
We recommend you to have the periodic inspection
and maintenance performed by a MITSUBISHI
MOTORS Authorized Service Point or another spe-
cialist.
In the event a malfunction or a problem is discov-
ered, we recommend you to have it checked and re-
paired. Follow the instructions and cautions for
each of the various procedures. WARNING
l Do
not touch any components in the elec-
tric motor unit room other than the re-
serve tank. There are no components re-
quiring inspection other than the reserve
tank. Never remove or disassemble the
component which generates high voltage,
high voltage wire (orange), its connector,
EV charging cable, charge connector,
plug and an outlet. Doing so could result
in a serious injury that may risk your life.
These components are affixed with the la-
bel indicating precautions for handling.
Follow the instructions on the label. Take
your vehicle to a MITSUBISHI
MOTORS Authorized Service Point for
any necessary maintenance. High voltage components and wiring cables are lo-
cated as shown in the figure below.
1- Regular charge port
2-

Inverter
3- Traction battery
4- Heater
5- Air conditioner compressor
6- High voltage connector
7- Service plug
8- Electric motor (Electric motor unit)
9- On board charger/DC-DC converter
10- Quick charge port WARNING
l Never
touch the service plug (A) under
the front seat. Doing so could result in se-
rious injury that may risk your life, in-
cluding an electric shock. The service
plug (A) is used to shut off high voltage
from the traction battery for repair of the
vehicle at a MITSUBISHI MOTORS Au-
thorized Service Point or another special-
ist. WARNING
l When
the ready indicator is illuminated,
and the charging indicator is illuminated
or blinking, never perform maintenance
because the high voltage system is operat-
ing.
l When servicing the vehicle, make sure
that the electric motor switch is in the
“LOCK” position and the charging cable
is disconnected. Failure to do so could re-
sult in an electric shock.
l When checking or servicing the inside of
the bonnet room and coolant reserve
tank, make sure the electric motor unit is
switched off and has had a chance to cool
down. Vehicle care and Maintenance
8-06
8
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WARNING
l If it is necessary to do work in the bonnet
room with the electric motor running, be
especially careful that your clothing, hair,
etc., does not become caught by the fan,
or other moving parts.
l The fan can turn on automatically even if
the electric motor is not running. Turn
the electric motor switch to the “LOCK”
position to be safe while you work in the
bonnet room.
l Do not smoke, cause sparks or allow open
flames around the auxiliary battery.
l Be extremely cautious when working
around the auxiliary battery. It contains
poisonous and corrosive sulphuric acid.
l Improper handling of components and
materials used in the vehicle can endan-
ger your personal safety. We recommend
you to consult a specialist for necessary in-
formation. CAUTION
l
The
components inside the electric motor
unit room might be very hot to touch.
To avoid being burnt, make sure all com-
ponents have sufficiently cooled before be-
ginning an inspection.
These components are affixed with the la-
bel indicating precautions for handling.
Follow the instructions on the label. CAUTION
l
When
replacing the auxiliary battery, re-
move the connected positive (+) and nega-
tive (-) terminals after turning the electric
motor switch to the “LOCK” position
and waiting at least 2 minutes. If the aux-
iliary battery terminal is removed just af-
ter the electric motor switch is turned to
the “LOCK” position, this may cause dam-
age to components of the electric motor
unit. If the electric motor unit warning
lamp illuminates, do not replace the auxil-
iary battery. Contact a MITSUBISHI
MOTORS Authorized Service Point. Bonnet
E08402000018
To open 1. Pull

the release lever towards you to unlock
the bonnet.
LHD (Passenger’s side)
RHD (Driver’s side) 2. Raise
the bonnet while pressing the safety
lock (A). Vehicle care and Maintenance
8-07 8
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The brake fluid in the master cylinder should be
checked
when doing other work under the bonnet.
The brake system should also be checked for leak-
age at the same time.
If the brake fluid level falls markedly in a short
length of time, it indicates leaks from the brake sys-
tem.
If this occurs, we recommend you to have the vehi-
cle checked.
Fluid type
Use brake fluid conforming to DOT3 or DOT4
from a sealed container. The brake fluid is hygro-
scopic. Too much moisture in the brake fluid will
adversely affect the brake system, reducing the per-
formance. CAUTION
l
Take
care in handling brake fluid as it is
harmful to the eyes, may irritate your
skin and also damage painted surfaces.
l Use only the specified brake fluid.
Do not mix or add different brands of
brake fluid to prevent chemical reactions.
Do not let any petroleum-based fluid
touch, mix with, or get into the brake fluid.
This will damage the seals.
l Keep the reservoir tank cap closed to pre-
vent the brake fluid from deteriorating ex-
cept maintenance.
l Clean the filler cap before removing and
close the cap securely after maintenance. Auxiliary battery
E08402300011
The

condition of the auxiliary battery is very impor-
tant to keep the vehicle’s electrical system working
properly. Regular inspection and care are especial-
ly important in cold weather.
Removing and installing the auxiliary
battery upper cover E08402400012
To remove 1. Turn
the plastic nut (A) anticlockwise, and
then remove the auxiliary battery upper cov-
er (B). NOTE
l Be

careful not to lose the removed plastic nut. To install
1. Install
the auxiliary battery upper cover (B)
onto the auxiliary battery, and then push the
plastic nut (A) in the direction shown by the
arrows to secure the cover. CAUTION
l
Be sure to install the auxiliary battery up-
per

cover. Otherwise, the battery electro-
lyte may spill and cause a malfunction.
l When installing the auxiliary battery up-
per cover and plastic nut do not touch the
cooling fan or other moving parts in the
bonnet room.
Be especially careful that the cables, your
clothing or hair, etc., do not get caught in
the cooling fan or other moving parts.
NOTE l Be

sure to install the plastic nut in the correct
direction. Vehicle care and Maintenance
8-12
8
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Checking auxiliary battery electrolyte
level
E08402500013Before checking the auxiliary battery electrolyte lev-
el, remove the auxiliary battery’s upper cover.
The
electrolyte level must be between the specified
limit on the outside of the auxiliary battery. Replen-
ish with distilled water as necessary.
The inside of the auxiliary battery is divided into
several compartments; remove the cap from each
compartment and fill to the upper mark. Do not top
up beyond the upper mark because spillage during
driving could cause damage.
Check the electrolyte level at least once every 4
weeks, depending on the operating conditions.
If the auxiliary battery is not used, it will discharge
by itself with time.
Check it once every four weeks and charge with
low current if necessary. During cold weather
E08402600014
The

capacity of the auxiliary battery is reduced at
low temperatures. This is an inevitable result of its
chemical and physical properties. This is why a
very cold auxiliary battery, particularly one that is
not fully charged will only deliver a fraction of the
starting current which is normally available.
We recommend you to have the auxiliary battery
checked before the start of cold weather and, if nec-
essary, have it charged or replaced.
This does not only ensure reliable starting, but an
auxiliary battery which is kept fully charged also
has a longer life.
Disconnection and connection E08402700015
To disconnect the auxiliary battery cable, stop the
electric

motor unit, first disconnect the negative (-)
terminal and then the positive (+) terminal. When
connecting the auxiliary battery, first connect the
positive (+) terminal and then the negative (-) termi-
nal.
NOTE
l Open the terminal cover (A) before discon-
necting or connecting the positive (+) termi-
nal of the auxiliary battery.
l Loosen the nut (B), and then disconnect the
auxiliary battery cable from the positive (+)
terminal. WARNING
l Keep sparks, cigarettes, and flames away
from the auxiliary battery because the
auxiliary battery could explode.
l When installing the auxiliary battery,
start connection with the positive (+) ter-
minal. If connection is started from the
negative (-) terminal, sparks will occur if
the positive (+) terminal touches any oth-
er parts, and this may cause the auxiliary
battery to explode.
l The auxiliary battery electrolyte is ex-
tremely caustic. Do not allow it to come
in contact with your eyes, skin, clothing,
or the painted surfaces of the vehicle.
Spilt electrolyte should be flushed imme-
diately with ample amounts of water.
Irritation to eyes or skin from contact
with electrolyte requires immediate medi-
cal attention.
l Ventilate when charging or using the aux-
iliary battery in an enclosed space. Vehicle care and Maintenance
8-13 8
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CAUTION
l
Keep it out of reach of children.
l When
replacing the auxiliary battery, re-
move the connected positive (+) and nega-
tive (-) terminals after turning the electric
motor switch to the “LOCK” position
and waiting at least 1 minute. If the auxil-
iary battery terminal is removed just af-
ter the electric motor switch is turned to
the “LOCK” position, this may cause dam-
age to components of the electric motor
unit.
l Never short-circuit the auxiliary battery.
This could cause it to overheat and be dam-
aged.
l If the auxiliary battery is to be quick-
charged, first disconnect the battery ca-
bles.
l In order to prevent a short circuit, be
sure to disconnect the negative (-) termi-
nal first.
l Always wear protective eye goggles when
working near the auxiliary battery.
l Do not bring the nearby parts, the plastic
parts and so on into contact with sulphu-
ric acid (battery electrolyte) which may
crack, stain or discolour them.
If they are in contact, wipe off with soft
cloth, chamois or the like and an aqueous
solution of neutral detergent then imme-
diately rinse the affected parts with plen-
ty of water. NOTE
l Keep

the terminals clean. After the auxiliary
battery is connected, apply terminal protec-
tion grease. To clean the terminals, use luke-
warm water.
l Check to see if the auxiliary battery is secure-
ly installed and cannot be moved during trav-
el. Also check each terminal for tightness.
l When the vehicle is to be left unused for a
long period of time, remove the auxiliary bat-
tery and store it in a place where the battery
fluid will not freeze. The auxiliary battery
should be stored only in a fully charged con-
dition.
l It is necessary to adjust the electronic control-
led unit when the auxiliary battery is re-
moved for a long period of time.
Consult a MITSUBISHI MOTORS Author-
ized Service Point. Tyres
E08402800016 WARNING
l Driving
with tyres that are worn, dam-
aged or improperly inflated can lead to
loss of control or blowout of the tyres
which can result in a collision with seri-
ous or fatal injury. Vehicle care and Maintenance
8-14
8
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