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.
Service precautions 9-2 Vehicle care and maintenance
9
N00937301397
Taking regular care of your vehicle will pre- serve its value and appearance as long as pos-sible. You can do some of the maintenance work yourself, and the rest should only be per- formed by an authorized Mitsubishi Motorsdealer or a repair facility of your choice.If you discover a malfunction or other prob- lem, have it corrected by an authorized Mit- subishi Motors dealer or a repair facility ofyour choice. This section describes the maintenance inspections that you can do yourself, if you sodesire. Follow the instructions and precau- tions for each procedure.
Have you purchased the Mitsubishi Motors Diamond Care Protection Plan? The Plan supplements your new vehicle warranties. See your authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealerfor details.
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The catalytic converter requires you to useunleaded fuel only. Leaded gasoline will destroy the emission-control effectiveness of the converter. Normally, the catalytic converter does not require maintenance. However, it is important to keep the engine properly tuned for the con- verter to continue to work properly.
Service precautions
WA R N I N G When checking or servicing the inside of the engine compartment, be sure theengine is stopped and has had a chance to cool down. If you need to work in the engine compart- ment with the engine running, be espe-cially careful that your clothing, hair, etc. does not get caught in
the fan, drive belts,
or other moving parts.
The fan can turn on automatically even if the engine is not running. Turn the igni- tion switch to the “LOCK” position to be safe while you work in the engine com- partment. Do not smoke or allow open flames around fuel or the battery. The fumes are flamma-ble. Be extremely careful when working around the battery. It contains poisonous and corrosive sulfuric acid. Do not get under your vehicle while it is on a jack. Always use properly rated automotivejack stands. Handling your vehicle’s parts and materi- als in the wrong way can injure you. Ask an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your choice if youhave questions. WA R N I N G
Catalytic converter
Engine oil and oil filter 9-6 Vehicle care and maintenance
9
N00937701955
It is normal for an engi
ne to use oil. You may
need to add oil between the recommended oil change intervals. Before starting the engine,check the engine oil level. Refill if necessary. To check the oil level, remove the dipstick, wipe it off, and gently insert it all the way into the crankcase. Slowly remove it again.The oil level must not go above the line on the dipstick. If the level does not reach the line, which shows the smallest amount of oil required,remove the oil filler cap on the engine valve cover, and fill to within the “Good” range.
Except for vehicles with turbocharger Vehicles with turbocharger
6- Engine oil level dipstick 7- Radiator cap8- Engine oil filler cap 9- Battery Engine oil and oil filter To check and refill engine oil
Except for vehicles with engine cover
Good
Vehicles with engine cover
Good
CAUTION Overfilling the crankcase will cause oil aera- tion and loss of oil pressure, which coulddamage the engine. For vehicles with turbocharger, engine oil must be properly maintained to avoid engine and/or turbocharger damage. To better pro- tect your engine and turbocharger, use fullysynthetic engine oil.WA R N I N G Used engine oil is poisonous, and can dam- age your skin. Prolonged and repeatedcontact may cause serious skin disorders, including dermatitis and cancer. Don’t let used oil touch your skin. Wash thoroughlyafter working with it. Keep used oil out of the reach of children.
Good
Engine coolant 9-8 Vehicle care and maintenance
9
N00955100042
The oil filter should be replaced at the time or mileage specified in the “WARRANTY AND MAINTENANCE MANUAL”.Only use high quality replacement filters on this vehicle. The manufacturer’s specifica- tions for Genuine Mitsubishi oil filtersrequire that the filter can withstand a pressure
of 256 psi (1.8 MPa). A Genuine Mitsubishi oil filter is the best replacement filter. Follow the installation
instructions printed on
the filter.
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The coolant reserve tank (A) lets you quicklysee when you need to add coolant. When the engine is cold, the level in the reserve tank should be between the “FULL” and “LOW”marks. The radiator usually stays full so there is no reason to remove
the radiator cap (B)
except when you check the coolant freeze point or replace the antifreeze coolant.
Vehicles with turbocharger
NOTE
Select engine oil of the proper SAE viscosity number according to the atmospheric tem-perature. SAE 0W-30 and 0W-40 engine oil are rec- ommended to use to improve engine start- ability on a very cold weather condition.
To replace the oil filter
Engine coolant To check the coolant level
* - Front of the vehicle
To add coolant Use “Mitsubishi Motors Genuine Super Long Life Coolant Premium” or an equivalent
*.
Except for vehicles with turbocharger
FULL LOW
Vehicles with turbocharger
FULL LOW
Air cleaner filter
Vehicle care and maintenance 9-9
9
Mitsubishi Motors Genuine Coolant provides excellent protection against corrosion and rust formation on all metals, including alumi-num, and prevents blockages in some parts of engine. If you need to add co
olant often, or if the
level in the reserve tank does not drop whenthe engine cools, the cooling system should be pressure-tested for leaks. Take your vehi- cle to an authorized
Mitsubishi Motors dealer
or a repair facility of your choice for testing.
The radiator cap must be tight sealed to pre- vent losing coolant which may result in engine damage. Only use a Genuine Mitsubi-shi Parts radiator cap, or an approved equiva- lent. Do not overfill the reserve tank.
Your vehicle uses a special radiator cap that stays sealed and lets the coolant flow from the reserve tank back to the radiator when the engine cools down. If you needto change the cap, use the exact same kind. Check the coolant freeze point in the radi- ator with the proper gauge, and only when it is safe. If you add antifreeze, the con- tents of the reserve tank must be protectedagainst freezing. Keep the front of the radiator and con- denser clean. If the temperature of the engine coolant does not rise after th
e engine is warmed-
up, take your vehicle to an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facil-ity of your choice to have the thermostat checked, and replaced if necessary.
N00937901423
The air cleaner filter w
ill get dirty and dusty
from use and not filter properly. Replace it with a new filter using the schedule in the“WARRANTY AND MAINTENANCE MANUAL”.
* : similar high quality ethylene glycol
based non-silicate, non-amine, non-nitrate and non-borate coolant with long life hybrid organic acid technologyCAUTION Do not use alcohol or methanol antifreeze or any engine coolants that contain them. Using the wrong antifreeze can corrode aluminum parts. The required concentration of anti-freeze dif- fers depending on the expected ambient tem-perature. Above -31 °F (-35 °C) : 50 % concentration of anti-freeze Below -31 °F (-35 °C) : 60% concentration of anti-freezeYou can check the concentration level with a gauge from an automotive supply store, or your authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer orservice station can check it for you.
Do not use water to adjust the concentration of coolant. Do not top off the tank with plain water only. Water by itself boils at a lower temperatureand does not stop rust or freezing. If the water freezes, it will damage your cooling system. Do not use tapwater. It can causecorrosion and rust.
Radiator cap
WA R N I N G Wait for the engine to cool down before opening the radiator cap. Otherwise hotsteam or boiling coolant could spray up from the radiator and scald you.
Points to remember
CAUTION
Air cleaner filter
Transfer oil (All-wheel drive models) 9-12 Vehicle care and maintenance
9
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation does not rec- ommend the addition of any fluid additives tothe transmission.
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Whenever the transfer oil level is checked,add oil as necessary to maintain the properlevel. Fill or change the oil according to the table.
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Whenever the oil level is checked, add oil as necessary to maintain the proper level. Fill or change oil according to the table.
N00915300026
Remove the lid on the trunk room right sidetrim. Check the fluid level in the reservoir 90 min-utes or more after turning the ignition switch to the “LOCK” position. Check to make certain that the AWC controlfluid level is always between the “MAX” and “MIN” level markings on the fluid reservoir and refill the fluid, if necessary.
N00938600273
The windshield washer fluid reservoir is inthe engine compartment.
Special additives
Transfer oil (All-wheel drive models) Oil type Lubri- cant
Mitsubishi Motors Genuine LSD
gear oil or equivalent
Rear axle oil (All-wheel drive models)
Oil type Lubri- cant
Mitsubishi Motors Genuine LSD
gear oil or equivalent
AWC control fluid
(if so
equipped)To check the fluid level
Fluid type
Lubricant DIAMOND ATF SP IIIWasher fluid
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.
N00938700186
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.
Power steering fluid (if so equipped) 9-14 Vehicle care and maintenance
9
N00939000388
Check the fluid level in the reservoir while the engine is idling. Check to make certain that the power steering fluid level is always between the “MAX” and“MIN” level markings on the fluid reservoirand refill the fluid, if necessary.
N00939100783
The condition of the battery is very importantfor quick starting and to keep the vehicle’selectrical system working properly. Check the battery regularly.
N00901300012
1. Remove the clips (A), and then removethe air duct (B). 2. Turn the plastic nuts (C) counterclock- wise, and then remove the battery uppercover (D).
Power steering fluid
(if so
equipped)To check the fluid level
Fluid type
Lubricant
Mitsubishi Motors Genuine
Power Steering Fluid
Battery
WA R N I N G An SRS airbag sensor is located in the front of the engine compartment near the battery. When checking or replacing the battery,or when working around this area, do not strike or damage this sensor.
Removing and installing the battery upper cover (vehicles with turbocharger)
WA R N I N G Turn the ignition key to the “LOCK” posi- tion on vehicle. Make sure that your clothes cannot be caught by the fan or drive belt. Personal injury could result.
To remove