How to change a tire 8-10 For emergencies
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5. Remove the wheel nuts with the wheel nut wrench, then take the wheel off.
6. Clean out any mud, etc. on the hub sur- face (F), hub bolts (G) or in the installa- tion holes (H) in the wheel, and then mount the spare tire.
WA R N I N G Stop jacking up the vehicle as soon as the tire is raised off the ground. It is danger- ous to raise the vehicle any higher. Never get under the vehicle or put any portion of your body under the vehicle while it is supported by the jack. Do not bump the raised vehicle or leave it sitting on the jack for a long time. Both are very dangerous. Do not use a jack except the one that came with your vehicle. The jack should not be used for any pur- pose other than to change a tire. No one should be in your vehicle when using the jack. Do not start or run the engine while your vehicle is on the jack. Do not turn the raised wheel. The tires that are still on the ground could turn andmake your vehicle fall off the jack. CAUTION Handle the wheel carefully when changing the tire, to avoid scratching the wheel sur- face.
WA R N I N G Mount the spare wheel with the valve stem (I) facing outboard. If you cannot see the valve stem (I), you have installed the wheel backwards.Operating the vehicle with the spare wheel installed backwards can cause vehicle damage and result in an accident.
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.
Engine hood
Vehicle care and maintenance 9-3
9
To reduce the possibility of catalytic con- verter damage: Use UNLEADED GASOLINE ONLY of the type of recommended in “Fuel selec- tion”. Do not drive with an extremely low fuel level. Running out of gas could damage the catalytic converter. Do not try to start the engine by pushing or towing the vehicle. If the battery is weak or run down, use jumper cables to properly start the engine.
Do not idle the engine with any spark plug wires disconnected or removed, such as when performing diagnostic tests. Do not idle the engine for a long time if it is idling roughly or otherwise obviously malfunctioning. To prevent the catalytic converter from being damaged from unburned gas, do not race the engine when turning off the igni- tion switch. Stop driving the vehicle if you think the performance is less than normal, the engine is running oddly or there is any other engine trouble, such as with theignition, etc. If you
are not able to stop
driving immediately, slow down and drive for only a short time. Have an inspectionmade by an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your choice as soon as possible. In unusual situations involving major engine problems, a burning odor may indicate severe and abnormal catalyticconverter overheating. If this occurs, stop in a safe place, shut the engine off and let the vehicle cool. Once the engine is cool,immediately take your vehicle to a dealer or a repair facility of your choice for ser- vice.
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Use the engine hood release lever (locatedunder the instrument panel near the driver’s door) to unlock the engine hood.
CAUTION Damage to the catalytic converter can result if your vehicle is not kept in proper operating condition. If the engine malfunctions or mis- fires, or if your vehicle performance suffers, have it serviced promptly. Running yourvehicle when it is overheated may result in damage to the converter and vehicle.WA R N I N G Do not park or run your vehicle in areas where combustible materials such as dry grass or leaves can come in contact with a hot exhaust, since a fire could occur. Do not put undercoat paint on the cata- lytic converter.
Engine hood
CAUTION For vehicles with turbocharger, to avoid the risk of being burned, do not touch the air out- let (A) and air scoop (B) on the engine hood when the engine compartment is hot (whenthe engine is running or immediately after the vehicle has been driven).
To open
Battery 9-16 Vehicle care and maintenance
9
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The battery is weaker in cold temperatures. This has to do with its chemical and physical properties and is why a very cold battery,especially one with a low charge, will have a hard time starting your vehicle. It is recommended that you have your batteryand charging system checked by an autho- rized Mitsubishi Motors
dealer or a repair
facility of your choice before the start of coldweather. If necessary, have it charged. This will guarantee more reliable starting, and lon- ger battery life.
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To disconnect the battery cable, stop theengine. Disconnect the negative (-) terminalfirst, then the positive (+) terminal. To recon- nect the battery, first connect the positive (+) terminal and then the negative (-) terminal,before starting the vehicle.
NOTE
For vehicles equipped with a turbocharger, the battery upper cover does not need to be removed to check the battery electrolyte level.
During cold weather Disconnection and connection
NOTE
For vehicles equipped with turbocharger, remove the battery upper cover before dis- connecting the terminal of battery. Refer to “Removing and installing the battery upper cover” on page 9-14. Open the terminal cover (A) before discon- necting or connecting the positive (+) termi-nal of the battery.WA R N I N G Never disconnect the battery while the engine is running, or you could damagethe vehicle’s electrical parts. Never short-circuit the battery. This could cause it to overheat and be damaged. Keep sparks, cigarettes, and flames away from the battery because the battery could explode.
Electrolyte (battery acid) is made of corro- sive diluted sulfuric acid. If it spills on nearby parts, it can crack, stain, or dis- color them. And if gets on your skin or in your eyes, it can cause burns or blindness.Please observe the following handling instructions:• If electrolyte gets on plastic parts orother nearby parts, wipe it off with a soft cloth or chamois soaked in a solution ofwater and neutral detergent then imme- diately rinse the affected parts with plenty of water.• If electrolyte gets on your hands orclothes, rinse thoroughly with water. Ifelectrolyte gets in your eyes, flush them with water immediately and get immedi- ate medical attention.
Open doors and windows in any closed space where you may be charging orworking with the battery. Always wear protective clothing and gog- gles when working with the battery, or have a skilled automobile technician do it. If you are quick-charging your battery, first disconnect the
battery cables.
In order to prevent a short circuit, be sure to disconnect the negative (-) terminal first, and reconnect it last. If the electrolyte level is very low, have the battery checked at an authorized Mitsubi- shi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your choice.WA R N I N G
Parking brake break-in
Vehicle care and maintenance 9-25
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slowly and count the number of clicks of the ratchet. Parking brake lever stroke: 3 to 5 notches Also check to see if the lever stays gripped by the ratchet after pulling.
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Break-in the parking brake linings wheneverthe brake performance of the parking brake is insufficient or whenever the parking brake linings and/or discs are replaced, in order toassure the best brake performance. This procedure is described in the vehicle ser- vice manual and can be carried out by anauthorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer.
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Check the wiper blades occasionally. Cleanthem regularly to remove deposits of salt androad film. Use a sponge or cloth and a mild detergent or non-abrasive cleaner to clean the blades and glass areas.Replace the blades if they continue to streak or smear. If the blades are frozen to the windshield or rear window, do not operate the wipers until the ice has melted and the blades are freed,otherwise the wiper motor may be damaged.
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Your vehicle is equipped with an emission-control system that meets all the requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
and Environment Canada. The emission-con- trol system is made of: a positive crankcase ventilation system an evaporative emission-control system an exhaust emission-control system
The maintenance services listed in the “WARRANTY AND MAINTENANCE MANUAL” must be performed at the times or mileages listed to keep the emission-con-trol system working properly. These, and allthe other “general” maintenance services listed in this manual, need to be performed to keep your vehicle running properly and reli-ably. You may need more frequent maintenance if you drive your vehicle in harsh conditions such as dusty areas or
do a lot of start-and-
stop driving. To be sure the emission-control system works properly, have your vehicle inspected and maintained by an authorized MitsubishiMotors dealer or a repair facility of your choice following the schedule in the “WAR- RANTY AND MAINTENANCE MAN-UAL”. You should also have an inspection and ser- vice any time you suspect a malfunction.
Parking brake break-in
Wiper blades
NOTE
Do not run the wipers on dry glass for a long time. This wears out the rubber and can scratch the glass.
During cold weather Emission-control system maintenance