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.
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.
