Safe driving techniques 6-4 Driving safety
6
Replace your tires before they are heavily worn out. As your vehicle is equipped 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, therefore, be performedonly by an authorized Mitsubishi Motors 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 fuel, water, oil, orother leaks. Make sure all the fluid levels are correct. Also, if you can smell fuel, you need to find out why immediately and have itfixed.
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Even this vehicle’s safety equipment, andyour safest driving, cannot guarantee that you
can avoid an accident or injury. However, if you give extra attention to the following areas, you can better protect yourself and your passengers: Drive defensively. Be aware of traffic, road and weather conditions. Leave plenty of 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, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Always obey applicable laws and regula- tions. Be a polite and alert driver. Always leave room for unexpected events, such assudden braking. If you plan to drive in another country, obey their vehicle registration laws andmake sure you will be able to get the right fuel.
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Check the battery, including terminals and cables. During extremely cold weather,the battery will not be as strong. Also, the battery power level may drop because more power is used for cold starting anddriving. Before driving the vehicle, check to see if the engine runs at the proper speed and ifthe headlights are as bright as normally.Charge or replace the battery if necessary. During extreme cold weather, it is possi- ble that a very low battery could freeze. Warm the engine sufficiently. After start- ing the engine, allow a short warm-up time to distribute oil
to all cylinders and
turbocharger. Then drive your vehicleslowly.
Lights Fluid leaks Safe driving techniques
Driving during cold weather
WA R N I N G The battery gives off explosive hydrogen gas. Any spark or flame can cause the bat-tery to explode, which could cause serious injury or death. Always wear protective clothes and a facemask when working with your battery, or let a skilled mechanic do it.
Braking
Driving safety 6-5
6
Stay at low speeds at first so that the transaxle, transfer case and rear axle oil have time to spread to all the lubrication points. Manual transaxle can be harder to shift in cold weather conditions. This is normal and shifting will get easier as the transaxlewarms up. Check the engine antifreeze. If there is not enough coolant because of aleak or from engine overheating, add Mit-subishi Motors Genuine Super Long Life Coolant Premium or equivalent. Please read this section in conjunctionwith the “Engine coolant” on page 9-8.
[For RALLIART vehicles sold in U.S.A.] Mitsubishi Motors recommends that the standard equipment tires be replaced with winter tires when the vehicle is going to be used in winter.The standard equipment tires provided with this vehicle are summer tires and use a high-grip compound that provides supe-rior grip. The road grip, however, is reduced in win- ter.When replacing the standard equipmenttires with winter tires, all four tires must be replaced using radial identicalsize win- ter tires.
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All the parts of the brake system are criticalto safety. Have the vehicle serviced by anauthorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your choice at regular inter- vals according to the “WARRANTY ANDMAINTENANCE MANUAL”. Check the brake system while driving at a low speed immediately after starting, espe-cially when the brakes are wet, to confirm they work normally. A film of water can be formed on the brakediscs or brake drums and prevent normal braking after driving in heavy rain or through large puddles, or after the vehicle is washed.If this occurs, dry the brakes out by driving 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
WA R N I N GNever open the radiator cap when the radiator is hot. You could be seriously burned.
NOTE
As your vehicle is equipped with a tire pres- sure monitoring system, there is a risk of damage to the tire inflation pressure sensorswhen the tire is replaced on the rim. Tire replacement should, therefore, be performed only by an authorized Mitsubishi Motorsdealer. If you use new wheels w
ith new tire inflation
pressure sensors, their ID codes must be pro- grammed into the tire pressure monitoringsystem. Refer to “Whenever the tires and wheels are replaced with new ones” on page 5-108.
Braking When brakes are wet When driving in cold weather
Parking 6-6 Driving safety
6
time to time, lightly depress the brake pedal and check how effective the brakes are. It is important to take advantage of the engine braking by shifting to a lower gear while driving on steep downhill roads in order to prevent the brakes from overheating.
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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. Place the gearshift lever into the “R” (Reverse) position when parking on a down-hill slope, into the 1s
t position when parking
on an uphill slope.
Be sure that the parking brake is firmly set when parked and that the selector lever (CVT) or gearshift lever (Twin Clutch SST) is in the “P” (PARK) position.When parking on a hill, it is important to set the parking brake before moving the selector lever (CVT) or gearshift lever (Twin ClutchSST) to the “P” (PARK) position. This pre-vents loading the parking brake against the transaxle gear. When this happens, it is diffi- cult to move the selector lever (CVT) or gear-shift lever (Twin Clutch SST) out of the “P” (PARK) position. Never leave the engi
ne running while you
take a short sleep/rest. Also, never leave theengine running in a closed or poorly venti- lated place.
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 the road. When leaving the vehicle unattended, always carry the key and lock all doors.Always try to park your vehicle in a well lit area.
When driving downhill Parking Parking on a hill For vehicles with manual trans- axle
For vehicles with continuously variable transmission (CVT) or Twin Clutch SST Parking with the engine run- ning
WA R N I N G Leaving the engine running risks injury or death from accidentally moving the gear- shift lever (manual transaxle or Twin Clutch SST) or the selector lever (CVT) or from the accumulation of toxic exhaustfumes in the passenger compartment.
Where you park
WA R N I N G Do not park your vehicle in areas where combustible materials such as dry grass or leaves can come in contact with a hotexhaust, since a fire could occur.
When leaving the vehicle
If the vehicle breaks down 8-2 For emergencies
8
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If your vehicle breaks down on the road, move to the shoulder and turn on the hazardwarning flashers. If there is no shoulder, or the shoulder is not safe, drive in the right lane slowly, with the hazard lights flashing, untilyou come to a safe stopping place. Keep the flashers flashing. If the engine stops, there will be no power assist to the steering and brakes, making these difficult to use. The brake booster will not work, so the brakes will not grip well. The brake pedalwill be harder to press than usual. Since there is no power steering assist, the steering wheel will be hard to turn.
Get help from your passengers, bystanders, etc. to push the vehicl
e and move it to a safe
zone.
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If the engine cannot be started because the battery is weak or dead, you can start it withthe battery from another vehicle using jumper cables. 1. Take off any metal jewelry such as watch bands or bracelets that might make an accidental electrical contact.
2. Position the vehicles close enough together so that the jumper cables can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren’t touching each other. 3. You could be injured if the vehicles move. Set the parking brake firmly on each vehi- cle. Put an automatic transaxle, CVT or Twin Clutch SST in “P” (PARK) or amanual transaxle in “N” (Neutral). Turn the ignition key to the “LOCK” position.
If the vehicle breaks down If the engine stops/fails When the engine fails at the intersection
Jump-starting the engine
WA R N I N G When using jumper cables to start a vehi- cle, follow the procedures and be very cau- tious. CAUTION Do not try to start your vehicle by pushing or towing. Vehicles with continuously variable transmission (CVT) or Twin Clutch SST cannot be started this way. Pushing or towinga vehicle that has a manual transaxle may overheat and damage the catalytic converter. Also, there is more ri
sk of an accident when
a vehicle is being pushed or towed.
CAUTION Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12- volt battery. If the other system isn’t 12-volt, both systems can be damaged.WA R N I N G Turn the ignition key to the “LOCK” posi- tion on both vehicles. Make sure that the cables or your clothes cannot be caught by the fan or drive belt. Personal injurycould result. NOTE
Turn off all lights, heater, and other electrical loads. This will avoid sparks and help save both batteries.
Engine overheating 8-4 For emergencies
8
8. Start the engine in the vehicle providing the boost. Let the engine idle a few min- utes, then start the engine in the vehicle with the low battery. 9. After the engine is started, disconnect the cables in the reverse order from the wayyou connected them.
10. For vehicles equipped with turbocharger,
install the battery upper cover and thenthe air duct. (Refer to “Removing and installing the battery upper cover” on page 9-14.)
If you drive your vehicle with a low battery charge, after the engine has been started by using jumper cables, the engine may misfire. This can cause the anti-lock braking systemwarning light to blink on and off. This is only due to the low battery voltage. It is not a problem with the brake system. If this hap-pens, fully charge the battery and ensure the charging system is operating properly.
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When the engine has overheated, the infor- mation screen in the multi-information dis-play will be interrupted and the engine coolant temperature warning display will appear. The screen will then change to theengine coolant temperature display screen and “ ” will flash. If this happens: 1. Stop the vehicle in a safe place. Turn on the hazard warning flashers. 2. With the engine still running, carefullyraise the engine hood to vent the engine compartment. 3. Check that the cooling fan is running. Ifthe fan is not turning, stop the engine immediately and contact an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facil-ity of your choice for assistance. 4. If you see steam or spray coming from under the hood, turn off the engine.
NOTE
If the engine is started with the air duct removed, the noise produced as air is drawn into the engine will be greater than when the duct is installed.WA R N I N G Charging your battery while it is still in your vehicle might cause the battery tocatch fire and explode. If you have to charge it while in the vehicle, disconnect the negative terminal. Keep sparks, cigarettes and flames away from the battery because the battery may explode. Keep your work area well vented when charging or using the battery in an enclosed space.
Remove all the caps before charging the battery. Electrolyte (battery acid) is corrosive diluted sulphuric acid. If electrolyte comesin contact with your hands, eyes, clothes, or the painted surface of your vehicle, thoroughly flush with water. If electrolytegets in your eyes, flush them immediately and thoroughly with water, and get prompt medical attention. Always wear protective clothing and gog- gles when working near the battery. Keep the battery out of the reach of chil- dren.
As your vehicle has anti-lock brakes
WA R N I N G
Engine overheating
WA R N I N G To avoid personal injury, keep hands, hair, jewelry and clothes away from the cooling fan. The cooling fan can start at any time.
Operation under adverse driving conditions 8-16 For emergencies
8
the engine idle for a few minutes to cool the transaxle before trying again. If your vehicle is still stuck after several rock- ing attempts, call for a commercial tow truckservice.
When driving on a road covered with snow or ice, use snow tires. Tire chains cannot be used on your vehicle. There may be state or local regulations aboutusing snow tires. Always check the regu- lations in your local area before using them. Refer to the section entitled “Snowtires” on page 9-24 and “Tire chains” on page 9-24. Drive slowly. Do not make sudden starts or stops, sharp turns, or slam on the brakes. Allow extra distance between your vehi- cle and the vehicle in front of you, and avoid sudden braking. If a skid occurs when the accelerator pedal is depressed, take your foot off the pedal. Steer gently in the direction of the skid.
Your vehicle is equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS), hold the brake pedal down firmly and keep it depressed. Do not pump the brake pedal which willresult in reduced braking performance. After parking on snowy or icy road, it may be difficult to move your vehicle dueto freeze-up of the brake. Depress the accelerator pedal little by little to move the vehicle after confirming safety of thevehicle. Drive as slow as possible when driving on bumpy or rutted roads or over potholes etc.
WA R N I N G When trying to rock your vehicle out of a stuck position, make sure that there are no people nearby. The rocking motion canmake your vehicle suddenly lurch forward or backward, and injure any bystanders.
On wet roads
CAUTION Avoid flooded roads. Water is often deeper than it looks, and you could be seriously hurt by driving into flood water. When driving in rain, on water-covered roads, or through a car wash, water could get into the brake discs and make them fail tem-porarily. In such cases, lightly press the brake pedal to see if they are working prop- erly. 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 (aquaplaning). This loosens your tires’ grip on the road, making 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 infla-tion pressures.
On snowy or icy roads
CAUTION
CAUTION Do not depress the accelerator pedal rapidly. The vehicle could start moving when it breaks free from the ice, possibly resulting inan accident.
On a bumpy or rutted road
CAUTION Driving on bumpy, rutted roads or over pot- holes can damage the tires and wheels.Wheels with low-profiles tires or under- inflated tires are especially at risk for dam- age.
Brake fluid/Clutch fluid (if so equipped) Vehicle care and maintenance 9-13
9
Check the washer fluid level at regular inter- vals and add washer fluid to reservoir if nec- essary. Open the reservoir cap and check the fluidlevel with the dipstick. When freezing weather is anticipated, flush out the water in the reservoir by operating thepump. Fill the reservoir with windshield anti- freeze (not radiator antifreeze), and operate the system for a few seconds to flush out theresidual water.
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The brake fluid and the clutch fluid share thereservoir tank. The fluid level must be between the “MAX” and “MIN” marks on the reservoir. The fluid level falls slightly with wear of the brake pads, but this does not indicate any abnormality. The fluid in the master cylinder should be checked when doing other work under the engine hood. The brake
system should also be
checked for leaks at the same time.
If the fluid level falls markedly in a short length of time, it indicates leaks from the brake system. If this occurs, have the vehicle checked by anauthorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your choice. Use the recommended brake fluid conform- ing to DOT 3 or DOT 4. The reservoir cap must be tightly sealed to keep dirt and water out.
During cold weather
Brake fluid/Clutch fluid
(if so
equipped)To check the fluid level
MAX MIN
Fluid type
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 addi-tives, and these can cause a chemical reac- tion. Do not mix bra
nds of brake fluid.
Keep the reservoir tank cap closed to keep the brake fluid from evaporating.
General maintenance 9-26 Vehicle care and maintenance
9
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Spark plugs must fire properly for good engine performance and emission-control.Do not reuse them by cleaning or regapping. Change them at the mileage listed in the “WARRANTY AND MAINTENANCEMANUAL”.
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Check the hose surfaces for any heat andmechanical damage, hard and brittle rubber,cracking, tears, cuts and abrasions. Pay spe- cial attention to the hoses closest to high heat sources such as the exhaust manifold. Checkall the hose connections, such as clamps and couplings, to make sure they are secure and that there are no leaks. If you see any wear ordamage, replace the hoses immediately.
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Have the valve clearance checked at anauthorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer at themileage specified in the “WARRANTY AND MAINTENANCE MANUAL”. If the engine sounds abnormally loud, haveadjustments made by an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer.
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Check these regularly for damage or leaks in the fuel lines and connections. Check the fuel tank filler cap for damage or looseness. Pay special attention to the fuel lines closest to
high heat sources such as the exhaust mani- fold.
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If the fuel-vapor vent line is clogged or dam- aged, the fuel-vapor mixture will escape, pol- luting the air.Have the system checked at an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer at the mileage spec- ified in the “WARRANTY AND MAINTE-NANCE MANUAL”.
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The next pages list the maintenance servicerecommended by Mitsubishi Motors Corpo- ration. In addition to the general maintenance that needs to be performed at the times listed,
NOTE
To meet government regulations and pro- mote cleaner air, your vehicle is equipped with an onboard diagnostic system (OBD). The engine electronic control module that controls OBD functions stores various data(especially about the exhaust emissions). This data will be erased if the battery cable is disconnected, which could make a rapiddiagnosis difficult. Do not disconnect the battery cable when the engine malfunction indicator (“SERVICE ENGINE SOON” or“Check engine light”) is on.
Spark plugs
NOTE
Use the spark plugs listed under “Engine specifications” on page 11-5 or plugs that are exactly the same. Other plugs could causeengine damage, performance problems or radio noise.
Fuel hoses Intake valve clearance Fuel system (tank, pipe line and connection, and fuel tank filler cap)
WA R N I N G If you see a fuel leak or if you smell fuel, do not run the engine. Any spark (includ- ing from the ignition), flame or smokingmaterial could cause an explosion or fire. Call an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your choicefor assistance.
Evaporative emission control system (except evaporative emission canister) General maintenance