2014 MITSUBISHI iMiEV Owners Manual

Assist grip 5-56 Features and controls
5
N00559000058
These grips are to support the body by hand while seated in the vehicle.Assist grip
CAUTION Do not use the assist grips when getting into or out of the vehicle.The assist grips coul
d detach and cause an
accident.
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6
Driving safetyEconomical driving ..........................................................................6-2 Driving, alcohol and drugs ..
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Floor mat ..........................................................................................6-2Vehicle preparation before driving ..................................................6-3 Safe driving techniques ....................................................................6-4 Driving during cold weather ............................................................6-5Braking ............................................................................................6-5 Parking .............................................................................................6-6 Loading information ........................................................................6-7Cargo loads ....................................................................................6-10 Trailer towing ................................................................................6-10 Dinghy towing ............
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Economical driving 6-2 Driving safety
6
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For economical driving,
there are some tech-
nical requirements that
have to be met. In
order to achieve longer life of the vehicle andthe most economical
operation, we recom-
mend you to have the vehicle checked at reg- ular intervals according to the “WARRANTYAND MAINTENANCE MANUAL”. Avoid driving with the
accelerator pedal fully
depressed, such as for unnecessarily sudden starts, accelerati
on and deceleration.
Smoothly depress the
accelerator pedal.
Observe the speed limit and keep the speed as constant as possi
ble while driving.
Parking for a long period with the ready indi- cator illuminated will shorten the cruisingrange. At higher the vehicle speed the more main drive lithium-ion battery
is consumed. Avoid
driving at full speed. Even a slight release of the accelerator pedal wi
ll save a significant
amount of main drive lithium-ion battery charge. Check the tire inflation pressures at regular intervals Low tire inflat
ion pressure increases
road resistance. In addi
tion, low tire pressures
adversely affect tire we
ar and driving stabil-
ity. Do not drive with unnecessary articles in the luggage compartment. Too much cooling/heating can affect the cruising range, so maintain an appropriatetemperature to exte
nd the cruising range.
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Drunk driving is one of the most frequent causes of accidents.
Your driving ability ca
n be seriously impaired
even with blood alcohol levels far below thelegal minimum. If you
have been drinking,
don’t drive. Ride with a designated non- drinking driver, call a cab or a friend, or usepublic transportation. Drinking coffee or tak- ing a cold shower will not make you sober. Similarly, prescription and nonprescriptiondrugs affect your aler
tness, perception and
reaction time. Consul
t with your doctor or
pharmacist before dr
iving while under the
influence of any of
these medications.
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The original equipmen
t floor mat provided
with your vehicle was
specifically designed
for your vehicle. Always properly position the floor mat and assure it does not interfere with operation of the pedals. Always use theretaining clip on the driver’s floorboard to secure the floor mat. When used, this clip will help prevent the floor mat from moving for-ward and possibly interfering with the opera- tion of the pedals. To prevent the floor mat
Economical driving Starting and acceleration Idling Speed
Tire inflation pressure Cargo loads Air conditioning Driving, alcohol and drugs
WA R N I N G NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE. Your perceptions ar
e less accurate, your
reflexes are slower and your judgment is impaired.
Floor mat
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Vehicle preparatio
n before driving
Driving safety 6-3
6
from moving forward
and possibly interfering
with the operation of the pedals, Mitsubishigenuine floor mats are recommended.
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1. Place the floor mat to fit the shape of thefloorboard. 2. Align the floor mat with the installation holes over the retaining clips. 3. Secure the floor mat with retaining clips.
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For a safer and more enjoyable trip, always observe the following:  Before starting the ve
hicle, make certain
that you and all passengers are seated andwearing their seat belts properly (with children in the rear seat, in appropriate restraints), and that all the doors and therear hatch are locked.
To install the floor mat
NOTE
 The shape of the mat and the number of retaining clips may
vary depending on the
vehicle model.
WA R N I N G If a floor mat is the
wrong size or is not
properly installed, it can interfere with theoperation of the pedals. Interference withthe pedals can cause unintended accelera- tion and/or increased stopping distances resulting in a cras
h and injury. Always
make sure the floor mat does not interfere with the accelerator or brake pedal. Always use the reta
ining clip on the
driver’s floorboard to secure the floor mat. Always install the mat with the correct side facing down. Never install a second
mat over or under
an existing floor mat. Do not use a floor mat designed for another model vehicle even if it is aMitsubishi genuine floor mat. Before driving, be sure to check the fol- lowing:• Periodically check that the floor mat isproperly secured with the retaining clips. If you remove the floor mat while clean- ing the inside of you
r vehicle or for any
other reason, always check the condition of the floor mat after it has been rein- stalled.• While the vehicle is stopped with theelectric motor unit off, check that thefloor mat is not interfering with the ped- als by depressing the pedals fully.
Vehicle preparation before driving Seat belts and seats
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Safe driving techniques 6-4 Driving safety
6
 Move the driver’s seat as far backward as possible, while still
keeping good visibil-
ity, and good control of the steering wheel, brakes, accele
rator, and controls.
Check the instrument panel indicators forany possible problem.  Move the front passe
nger seat as far back
as possible.  Make sure that infa
nts and small children
are properly restrained in accordance with all laws and regulations.
Check these by selecti
ng the defroster mode,
and set the blower swit
ch on high. You should
be able to feel the air blowing against the windshield. (Refer to “Defrosting or defogging the wind- shield and door windows” on page 7-9.) Check all the tires for heavy tread wear or uneven wear patterns.
Look for stones, nails,
glass, or other objects
stuck in the tread. Look
for any tread cuts or sidewall cracks. Check the wheel nuts for tightness, and the tires for proper pressures. Replace your tires beforethey are heavily worn out.
As your vehicle is equi
pped with a tire pres-
sure monitoring system, there is a risk ofdamage to the tire inflation pressure sensors when the tire is replaced on the rim. Tire replacement should, th
erefore, be performed
only by a certified i-MiEV dealer. Have someone watch while you turn all the exterior lights on and off. Also check the turn signal indicators and
high-beam indicators on
the instrument panel. Check the ground under the vehicle after parking overnight, for wa
ter, oil, or other
leaks. Make sure all the fluid levels are cor- rect.
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Even this vehicle’s safety equipment, andyour safest driving, cannot guarantee that youcan avoid an accident or injury. However, if you give extra attention to the following areas, you can better protect yourself andyour passengers:
 Drive defensively. Be aware of traffic, road and weather conditions. Leave plentyof stopping distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead.  Before changing lanes, check your mir- rors and use your turn signal light.  While driving, watch the behavior of other drivers, bicyc
lists, and pedestrians.
 Always obey applicable
laws and regula-
tions. Be a polite and alert driver. Always leave room for unexpected events, such as sudden braking.
Defrosters Tires
Lights Fluid leaks Safe driving techniques
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Driving during cold weather
Driving safety 6-5
6
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 Check the 12V starter battery, including terminals and cables. During extremely cold weather, the 12V starter battery willnot be as strong and its power level may drop. Before driving the vehicle, check to see ifthe headlights are as bright as normal. Charge or replace th
e 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 aleak, add high-quality ethylene glycol antifreeze and water. Use Mitsubishi Motors Genuine Super Long Life CoolantPremium or an equivalent. The recom- mended blend is about 50 % water and 50 % anti-freeze. Use a higher concentration(not over 60 %) when the outside temper- ature is -31 °F (-35 °C) or lower. When the electric motor unit is working very hard (for example,
during mountain driv-
ing and/or when the outside temperatureis high), use a 50 % concentration. This blend will provide adequate protection from corrosion and boiling.
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All the parts of the brake system are critical to safety. Have the vehicle serviced by a certi- fied i-MiEV dealer at regular intervalsaccording to the “WARRANTY AND MAINTENANCE MANUAL”.
Check the brake system while driving at a low speed immediately
after starting, espe-
cially when the brakes are wet, to confirmthey work normally. A film of water can be formed on the brake discs and prevent normal braking after driv-ing in heavy rain or through large puddles, or after the vehicle is washed. If this occurs, dry the brakes out by drivi
ng slowly while lightly
depressing the brake pedal. On snowy roads, ice can form on the braking system, making the brakes less effective. While driving in such
conditions, pay close
attention to preceding and following vehicles and to the condition of the road surface. From time to time, lightly depress the brake pedaland check how effective the brakes are. Put the selector lever to “B” (REGENERA- TIVE BRAKE MODE) or “ECO” (ECO MODE) position according to the grade of the slope and vehicle sp
eed. This will allow
Driving during cold weather
WA R N I N GThe 12V starter batter
y gives off explosive
hydrogen gas. Any spark or flame cancause the 12V starter battery to explode, which could cause serious injury or death. Always wear protecti
ve clothes and a face
mask when working wi
th your 12V starter
battery, or let a skil
led mechanic do it.
WA R N I N GNever open the coolan
t reservoir cap while
it is hot. You could be seriously burned.
Braking
When brakes are wet When driving in cold weather When driving downhill
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Parking 6-6 Driving safety
6
effective use of the re
generative brake and
prevent the service brake from overheating.If the brake pedal is continuously or fre- quently depressed on downhill roads, the ser- vice brake could overheat and the brakeperformance will be reduced.
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When parking on a hill, set the parking brake, and turn the front wheels toward the curb on a downhill, or away from the curb on an uphill.If necessary, apply
chocks to wheels.
Never leave the electric motor unit running while you take a short sleep/rest.
Your front bumper can be damaged if you scrape it over curbs or parking stop blocks. Be careful when traveling up or down steep slopes where your bumper can scrape theroad. Always remove the key from the electric motor switch and lock all doors and the lift- gate when leaving
the vehicle unattended.
Always try to park your vehicle in a well litarea. More effort could be required to turn the steering wheel. Refer to “Electric power steering system(EPS)” on page 5-27.
NOTE
 When the main drive lithium-ion battery level is full or nearly full, or the main drivelithium-ion battery temperature is too high or too low, the regenerative braking force may be reduced. Refer to “Regenerative braking”on page 3-3.  If the red needle in the energy usage indica- tor does not move to the left of the neutral point (A) while the accelerator pedal is released, the regenera
tive brake will not
work. Refer to “Ener
gy usage indicator” on
page 5-35. In the such case, before approach- ing a long downhill road, reduce speed toprevent the service brake from overheating.
Parking Parking on a hill
NOTE
 On a slope, be sure to apply the parking brake before moving the selector lever to the“P” (PARK) position. If you move the selec- tor lever to the “P” (PARK) position before applying the parking br
ake, it may be diffi-
cult to disengage the
selector lever from the
“P” (PARK) position when next you drive the vehicle, requiring a
pplication of a strong
force to the selector lever to move from the “P” (PARK) position.
Parking with the electric motor unit running
WA R N I N G Leaving the electric motor unit running when you are not alert risks injury ordeath from accidental
ly moving the selec-
tor lever.
Where you park When leaving the vehicle Do not keep the steering wheel fully turned for a long time
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Loading information Driving safety 6-7
6
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It is very importa
nt to know how much
weight your vehicle can carry. This weight is called the vehicle capacity weight andincludes the weight of all occupants, cargo and non-factory-installed options. The tire and loading information placard located onthe driver’s door sill of your vehicle will show how much weight it may properly carry. It is important to famil
iarize yourself with the
following terms before loading your vehicle:  Vehicle maximum load on the tire: load on an individual tire that is determined bydistributing to each axle its share of the maximum loaded vehicle weight and dividing by two. Vehicle normal load on the tire: load on an individual tire that is determined by dis- tributing to each axle its share of the curbweight, accessory weight, and normal occupant weight and dividing by two.
 Maximum loaded vehi
cle weight: the sum
of -(a) Curb weight; (b) Accessory weight; (c) Vehicle capacity weight; and(d) Production options weight.  Curb weight: the weight of a motor vehi- cle with standard equipment including themaximum capacity of
oil, and coolant.
 Accessory weight: the combined weight (in excess of those st
andard items which
may be replaced) of automatic transmis- sion, power steering, power brakes, powerwindows, power seats,
radio, and heater,
to the extent that these items are available as factory- installe
d equipment (whether
installed or not).  Vehicle capacity weight: the rated cargo and luggage load plus 150 lbs (68 kg)
*
times the vehicle’s designated seating capacity.  Production options weight: the combined weight of those installed regular produc- tion options weighing over 5 lbs (2.3 kg) in excess of those standard items whichthey replace, not prev
iously considered in
curb weight or accessory weight, includ- ing heavy duty brakes,
ride levelers, roof
rack, heavy duty battery, and special trim.  Normal occupant weight: 150 lbs (68 kg)
*
times the number of specified occupants.(In your vehicle the number is 2)
 Occupant distribution: distribution of occupants in a vehicle as specified. (Inyour vehicle the distribution is 2 in front seat)
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The tire and loading information placard is located on the driver’s door sill. This placard shows the maximum number of occupants permitted to
ride in your vehicle as
well as “the combined
weight of occupants
and cargo” (C), which
is called the vehicle
capacity weight. This
placard also tells you
Loading information
WA R N I N GNever overload your ve
hicle. Overloading
can damage your vehicl
e, adversely affect
vehicle performance, including handlingand braking, cause tire failure, and result in an accident.
* : 150 lbs (68 kg) is the weight of one per- son as defined by U.
S.A. and Canadian
regulations.
Tire and loading information placard
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