2014 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE check engine

6-32 For emergencies
6Operation under adverse driving conditions
N00837200750
If your vehicle becomes stuck in sand, mud or
snowIf your vehicle becomes stuck in snow, sand, or mud, it can
often be moved by a rocking motion. Rock your vehicle back
and forth to free it.
Do not rev the engine or spin the wheels. Constant efforts to
free a stuck vehicle can cause overheating and transaxle fail-
ure. Let the engine idle for a few minutes to cool the transaxle
before trying again.
If your vehicle is still stuck after several rocking attempts, call
for a commercial tow truck service.
On wet roads
WA R N I N G
!
When trying to rock your vehicle out of a stuck posi-
tion, make sure that there are no people nearby. The
rocking motion can make your vehicle suddenly
lurch forward or backward, and injure any
bystanders.
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 temporarily. In such cases,
lightly press the brake pedal to see if they are work-
ing properly. 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 (hydroplan-
ing). This loosens your tires’ grip on the road, mak-
ing 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 inflation pres-
sures.
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7-2 Vehicle care and maintenance
7Service precautions
N00937300387
Taking regular care of your vehicle will preserve its value and
appearance as long as possible.
You can do some of the maintenance work yourself, and the
rest should only be performed by an authorized Mitsubishi
Motors dealer or a repair facility of your choice.
If you discover a malfunction or other problem, have it cor-
rected by an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair
facility of your choice.
This section describes the maintenance inspections that you
can do yourself, if you so desire. Follow the instructions and
precautions for each procedure.
Have you purchased the Mitsubishi Motors Diamond Care Pro-
tection Plan? The Plan supplements your new vehicle warran-
ties. See your authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer for details.
WA R N I N G
!
When checking or servicing the inside of the engine
compartment, be sure the engine is stopped and has
had a chance to cool down.
If you need to work in the engine compartment with
the engine running, be especially 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 ignition switch to the
“OFF” position or put the operation mode in OFF to
be safe while you work in the engine compartment.
Do not smoke or allow open flames around fuel or
the battery. The fumes are flammable.

Be extremely careful when working around the bat-
tery. It contains poisonous and corrosive sulfuric
acid.
Do not get under your vehicle while it is on a jack.
Always use properly rated automotive jack stands.
Handling your vehicle’s parts and materials in the
wrong way can injure you. Ask an authorized
Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your
choice if you have questions.
WA R N I N G
!
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7-4 Vehicle care and maintenance
7Catalytic converter
N00937400450
The catalytic converter requires you to use unleaded fuel only.
Leaded gasoline will destroy the emission-control effective-
ness of the converter.
Normally, the catalytic converter does not require maintenance.
However, it is important to keep the engine properly tuned for
the converter to continue to work properly.To reduce the possibility of catalytic converter damage:

Use UNLEADED GASOLINE ONLY of the type of rec-
ommended in the “Fuel selection”.

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 discon-
nected 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 stopping
the engine.

Stop driving the vehicle if you think the performance is
noticeably low, or the engine has a malfunction such as
with the ignition, etc. If you are not able to stop driving
immediately, slow down and drive for only a short time.
Have your vehicle checked at 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 catalytic
converter 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 service.
CAUTION
!
Damage to the catalytic converter can result if your
vehicle is not kept in proper operating condition. If
the engine malfunctions or misfires, or if your vehi-
cle performance suffers, have it serviced promptly.
Running your vehicle 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 com-
bustible 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 catalytic con-
verter.
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7-8 Vehicle care and maintenance
7Engine oil and oil filter
N00937700945
To check and refill engine oilIt is normal for an engine 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 reinsert it all the way. Slowly pull the dipstick straight
out and check the oil level by checking the upper surface of the
dipstick. The oil level must not go above the line on the dip-
stick.NOTE
If it is difficult to verify the oil level, wipe off the dipstick
and reinsert it. Wait a moment and then recheck the oil
level by checking the upper surface of the dipstick.
If the level does not reach the line which shows the minimum
amount of oil required, remove the oil filler cap on the engine
valve cover, and fill to within the “Good” range.
CAUTION
!
Overfilling will cause oil aeration and loss of oil
pressure, which could damage the engine.
WA R N I N G
!
Used engine oil is poisonous, and can damage your
skin. Prolonged and repeated contact may cause
serious skin disorders, including dermatitis and can-
cer. Do not let used oil touch your skin and wash
thoroughly after working with it.
Keep used oil out of the reach of children.
Good
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Vehicle care and maintenance
7-11
7
To replace the oil filterThe oil filter should be replaced at the time or mileage speci-
fied in the “WARRANTY AND MAINTENANCE MAN-
UAL”.
Only use high quality replacement filters on this vehicle. The
manufacturer’s specifications for Genuine Mitsubishi oil filters
require 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.
Engine coolant
N00937800597
To check the coolant levelThe engine coolant reserve tank (A) lets you quickly see when
you need to add coolant. When the engine is cold, the level of
the coolant 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.
FULL
LOW
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7-12 Vehicle care and maintenance
7
To add coolantMitsubishi Motors Genuine Coolant provides excellent protec-
tion against corrosion and rust formation on all metals, includ-
ing aluminum, and prevents clogs in some parts of the engine.
If you need to add coolant often, or if the level in the reserve
tank does not drop when the engine cools, the cooling system
should be pressure-tested for leaks. Take your vehicle to an
authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your
choice for testing.
Radiator capThe radiator cap must be sealed tight to prevent losing coolant,
which may result in engine damage. Only use a Genuine
Mitsubishi Parts radiator cap, or an approved equivalent.Points to remember
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 need to
change the cap, use the exact same kind.

Check the coolant freeze point in the radiator with the
proper gauge, and only when it is safe. If you add anti-
freeze, the contents of the reserve tank must be protected
against freezing.

Keep the front of the radiator and condenser clean.
Use “Mitsubishi Motors Genuine Super Long Life Coolant Pre-
mium” or equivalent*.
*: similar high quality ethylene glycol based non-silicate, non-
amine, non-nitrate and non-borate coolant with long life
hybrid organic acid technology
CAUTION
!
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 differs
depending on the expected ambient temperature.
Above -31 °F (-35 °C) : 50 % concentration of anti-
freeze
Below -31 °F (-35 °C) : 60 % concentration of anti-
freeze
You can check the concentration level with a gauge
from an automotive supply store, or your authorized
Mitsubishi Motors dealer or service station can
check it for you.

Do not use water to adjust the concentration of cool-
ant.
Do not top off the tank with plain water only. Water
by itself boils at a lower temperature and does not
stop rust or freezing. If the water freezes, it will
damage your cooling system. Do not use tapwater. It
can cause corrosion and rust.
WA R N I N G
!
Wait for the engine to cool down before opening the
radiator cap. Otherwise hot steam or boiling coolant
could spray up from the radiator and scald you.
CAUTION
!
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Vehicle care and maintenance
7-13
7

If the engine coolant temperature does not rise after the
engine is warmed-up, take your vehicle to an authorized
Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your
choice to have the thermostat checked, and replaced if
necessary.
Air cleaner filter
N00937900413
The air cleaner filter will 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”.
1. Unclamp the cover. Open up the top of the cover and take
out the air cleaner filter.
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7-14 Vehicle care and maintenance
7
2. Replacing the air cleaner filter and put the cover back on
in its original position.NOTE
Genuine Mitsubishi Motors Parts are recommended when
replacing the air cleaner filter.

Make sure that the connector is properly reconnected.

After replacing the air cleaner filter, make sure that the
hinges at the bottom of cover are firmly set.
Manual transaxle oil
(if so equipped)
N00938200181
Whenever the manual transaxle oil level is checked, add oil to
maintain the proper level, if necessary.
Refill or change with the oil according to the table below.Oil type
CAUTION
!
Take care not to scratch the engine air flow sensor
when removing the air cleaner cover.
LubricantMitsubishi Motors Genuine NEW
MULTI GEAR OIL ECO API Clas-
sification GL-4
Viscosity range SAE 75W-80
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