
Vehicle preparation before driving
Driving safety 6-3
6
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For a safer and more enjoyable trip, always observe the following: Before starting the vehicle, make certain that you and all passengers are seated and wearing their seat belts properly (with children in the rear seat, in appropriaterestraints), and that all the doors are locked.
Move the driver’s seat as far backward as possible, while still keeping good visibil- ity, and good control of the steering wheel, brakes, accelerator, and controls.Check the instrument panel indicators and multi-information display for any possible problem. Move the front passenger seat as far back as possible. Make sure that infants and small children are properly restrained in accordance withall laws and regulations.
Check these by selecting the defroster mode, and set the blower switch 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 7-6, 7-12, 7-17, 7-22, 7-27.) 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(including spare tire) for proper pressures.
WA R N I N G If a floor mat is the wrong size or is not properly installed, it can interfere with the operation of the pedals. Interference with the pedals can cause unintended accelera- tion and/or increased stopping distancesresulting in a crash and injury. Always make sure the floor mat does not interfere with the accelerator or brake pedal. Always use the retaining clip on the driver’s floorboard to secure the floormat. 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 ev
en if it is a Mit-
subishi 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 your 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 the engine off, check that the floor mat is not interfering with the pedals by depressingthe pedals fully.
Vehicle preparation before driving Seat belts and seats
Defrosters Tires

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

How to change a tire 8-8 For emergencies
8
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1. Lift up the luggage floor board. For front-wheel drive vehicles, pull the luggage floor board (A) rearward to release the hooks (B), and then lift it up. 2. To remove the spare tire, remove the installation clamp (C) by turning it coun-terclockwise.
Do not go over 50 mph (80 km/h) when driv- ing with the compact spare tire. Avoid fast starting and braking when driving with the compact spare tire. Do not drive through automatic car washes and over obstacles that could possibly dam-age the underside of your vehicle. Because the compact spare tire is smaller than the original tire, there is less clearance betweenthe ground and your vehicle. Because the compact spare tire is designed only for your vehicle, do not use it on any other vehicle. Do not put the compact spare tire on a differ- ent wheel, and do not put standard tires, snow tires, wheel covers or trim rings on thecompact spare wheel. Otherwise, you could damage these parts or other parts on your vehicle. Do not use snow chain with your compact spare tire. Using a chain could cause damageto your vehicle and loss of the chains.CAUTION
To remove the compact spare tire
NOTE
The clamp cannot be used for a normal size tire. Store a normal size tire under the lug- gage floor board. Put the spare tire under the vehicle body near the jack. This makes it safer if the jack slips out of position.

How to change a tire 8-12 For emergencies
8
9. Tighten the nuts in the order shown in the illustration until each nut has been tight- ened to the torque listed here. 65 to 80 ft-lb (88 to 108 N•m)
10. Lower the jack all the way and remove it.
11. Check the tire inflation pressure. The rec-
ommended tire pressure for your vehicle is listed on the tire and loading informa- tion placard attached to the driver’s doorsill as shown in the illustration. Refer to “Tire inflation pressures” on page 9-21.
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Reverse the removing procedure when stor-ing the flat tire or spare tire, jack, bar and wheel nut wrench. Refer to “To remove the compact spare tire”on page 8-8 and “Tools and jack” on page 8-5.
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Wrap the tip of the bar with a cloth, insert it deeply into the notch provided in the wheelcover, and pry the cover away from the wheel.
CAUTION Never use your foot or a pipe extension to apply added force to the wheel nut wrench when tightening the wheel nuts. If you do so, you can over-tighten the wheel nuts anddamage the wheel, wheel nuts and hub bolts.
CAUTION Driving with an improperly inflated tire can cause an accident. If
you have no choice but
to drive with an under-inflated tire, keep your speed down and avoid sudden steering or braking, if possible. Inflate the tire to thecorrect pressure as soon as possible. Refer to “Tire inflation pressures” on page 9-21. After changing the tire and driving the vehi- cle about 620 miles (1,000 km), retighten the wheel nuts to make sure that they have notcome loose.
If the steering wheel vibrates when driving after changing the tire, have the tire checked for balance at your nearest authorized Mit- subishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your choice. Do not mix one type of tire with another or use a different size from the one listed. Thiswould cause early wear and poor handling.
To store the flat tire or spare tire, jack, bar and wheel nut wrench Wheel covers
(if so equipped)
To remove
CAUTION

Tires 9-20 Vehicle care and maintenance
9
EXAMPLE: DOT MA L9 ABCD 1504
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlledconditions on a specified government test course. For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and one- half (1
1/2) times as well on the gov-
ernment course as a tire graded 100. The relative performance of tiresdepends upon the actual conditions of their use, however, and may depart significantly from the norm due tovariations in driving habits, service practices and differences in road characteristics and climate. The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B and C. Thosegrades represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on speci- fied government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor traction perfor- mance. The temperature grades are A (the highest), B and C, representing the tire’s resistance to the generation ofheat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled condi- tions on a specified indoor laboratorytest wheel. Sustained high tempera- ture can cause the material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, andexcessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The grade C cor- responds to a level of performancewhich all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehi- cle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of performance on the laboratory testwheel than the minimum required by law.
DOT
Department of Transporta- tion This symbol certifies thatthe tire is in compliance with the U.S. Department of Transportation tire safetystandards, and is approved for highway use.
MA
Code representing the tire manufacturing location. (2 digits)
L9 ABCD
Code representing the tire size. (2 digits)Code used by tire manufac- turer. (1 to 4 digits)
15
Number representing the week in which the tire wasmanufactured. (2 digits)
04
Number representing the year in which the tire was manufactured. (2 digits)
Treadwear, Traction and Temper- ature Grades Treadwear Tr a c t i o n
Temperature

Tires 9-22 Vehicle care and maintenance
9
Keep your tires inflated to the recom- mended pressures. (See the tire and load- ing information placard attached to the sill of the driver’s door.) Stay within the recommended load limits. Make sure that the weight of any load in your vehicle is evenly distributed. Drive at safe speeds. After filling your tires to the correct pres- sure, check them for damage and airleaks. Be sure to reinstall the caps on thevalve stems.
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The following maintenance steps are recom- mended: Check tire pressures regularly.
Have regular maintenance done on the wheel balance and front and rear suspen- sion alignment. Rotate your tires regularly as described in the “Tire rotation” section on page 9-23.
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Tread wear indicators are built into the origi- nal equipment tires on your vehicle to help you know when your tires should be replaced.Many states have laws requiring that you replace your tires at this point. These indicators are molded into the bottomof the tread grooves and will appear when the tire tread is worn down to 1/16 inch (1.6 mm).
Replacing tires and wheels
CAUTION Avoid using different size tires and wheels from the ones listed, and avoid the combined use of different types of tires and wheels.Using different size or type tires and wheels may affect driving safety. Refer to “Tires and wheels” on page 11-5.
For All-wheel drive vehicles, always use tires of the same size, same type, and same brand, and which have no wear differences. Using tires that differ in size, type, brand or the degree of wear, will increase the differen-tial oil temperature, resulting in possible damage to the driving system. Further, the drive train will be subjected to excessiveloading, possibly leading to oil leakage, component seizure, or other serious prob- lems. Even if a wheel has the same rim size and offset as the specified type of wheel, itsshape may prevent it from being fitted cor- rectly. Consult an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of yourchoice before using wheels that you have. Only Mitsubishi Motors genuine wheels should be used, because your vehicle is equipped with a tire pressure monitoring sys- tem.Use of another type of wheel risks air leaks and sensor damage, as it will not be possible to install the tire pressure sensor properly.
Tire maintenance
CAUTION
Tr e a d w e a r i n d i c a t o r s 1- Location of the tread wear indicator 2- Tread wear indicator

Clutch pedal free play (if so equipped) 9-24 Vehicle care and maintenance
9
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In some areas of the country, snow tires are required for winter driving. If snow tires arerequired in your area, you must choose snow tires of the same size and type as the original tires provided with your vehicle. Snow tiresshould also be installed on all four wheels. Otherwise your safety and vehicle handling can be reduced.Even where laws may permit it, snow tiresshould not be operated at sustained speeds over 75 mph (120 km/h).
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To check the clutch pedal free play (A), turn off the engine and press the pedal until you feel resistance. Clutch pedal free play: .2 to .4 inch (4 to 9 mm)
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To check the brake pedal free play (A), turnoff the engine and press the brake pedal sev-eral times with your foot. Then press the pedal down with your fingers until you first feel resistance. Brake pedal free play: .1 to .3 inch (3 to 8 mm) If the free play is not within these limits, take your vehicle to an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your choice for adjustment.
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Check the parking brake lever travel occa-sionally. To check this, pull the lever up
Snow tires
CAUTION If flange nuts are used on your vehicle, change to tapered nuts when using snow tireswith steel wheels. Only Mitsubishi Motors genuine wheels should be used, because your vehicle is equipped with a tire pressure monitoring sys- tem.Use of another type of wheel risks air leaks and sensor damage, as it will not be possible to install the tire pressure sensor properly.
Tire chains
CAUTION Tire chains cannot be used on your vehicle. The clearance between the chains and the body is not sufficient to allow proper clear- ance, and the vehicle body might be dam-aged.
Clutch pedal free play
(if so
equipped)
Brake pedal free play Parking brake lever stroke

Engine specifications Specifications 11-5
11
Seating capacity: the number of maximum occupants
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Battery is a 12 volt type.
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Engine specifications
Item
2.0 liter
2.4 liter
Except for vehicles with tur-
bocharger
Vehicles with turbocharger
Engine model 4B11 4B12Engine displacement 121.9 CID (1,998 cm³) 144.0 CID (2,360 cm³)No. of cylinders and cylinder arrange- ment
4 in-line
Bore 3.39 in (86.0 mm) 3.46 in (88.0 mm)Stroke 3.39 in (86.0 mm) 3.82 in (97.0 mm)Compression ratio 10.0 9.0 10.5Thermostat valve opening temperature 189 °F (87 °C) 180 °F (82 °C) 189 °F (87 °C)Spark plugs
NGK DIFR6C11 DILKR7B6 DIFR5C11
Spark plug gap
.040 to .043 in (1.0 to 1.1 mm)
.020 to .023 in (0.5 to 0.6 mm)
.040 to .043 in (1.0 to 1.1 mm)
Firing order 1-3-4-2Battery
75D23L
Tires and wheels Tire
Size
P205/60R16
91H
215/45R18
89W,
P215/45R18
89V
Wheel
Size
16 x 6 1/2J, 16 x 6 1/2JJ
18 x 7J, 18 x
7JJ
PCD
4.5 in (114.3 mm)
Off- set
1.81 in (46 mm)