CAUTIONmay become unstable if brakes are appliedsuddenly; consequently, avoid driving at
high speeds or applying the brakes suddenly. Furthermore, the vehicle should be brought
to a stop in a safe location and to have it
checked.
• The brake warning lamp does not illumi-
nate when the parking brake is applied ordoes not turn off when the parking brake is released.
• The ABS warning lamp and brake warn-
ing lamp illuminate at the same time
For details, refer to “ABS warning lamp”
on page 7-29.
• The brake warning lamp remains illumi-
nated during driving.
l The vehicle should be brought to a halt in
the following manner when brake perform- ance has deteriorated.
• Depress the brake pedal harder than usual.
Even if the brake pedal moves down to
the very end of its possible stroke, keep it
pressed down hard.
• Should the brakes fail, use regenerative
braking to reduce your speed and careful- ly pull the parking brake lever.
Depress the brake pedal to operate the
stop lamp to alert the vehicles behind you.Check engine warning lamp
E00502602938
This lamp is a part of an on-
board diagnostic system
which monitors the emis-
sions, engine control system. If a problem is detected in one of these systems, this
lamp illuminates or flashes.
Although your vehicle will usually be driva-
ble and not need towing, we recommend you
to have the system checked as soon as possi- ble.
This lamp will also illuminate when the oper-
ation mode of the power switch is put in ON,
and goes off after the Plug-in Hybrid EV
System has started. If it does not go off after the Plug-in Hybrid EV System has started,
we recommend you to have the vehicle checked.
CAUTIONl Prolonged driving with this lamp on may
cause further damage to the emission control
system. It could also affect fuel economy and drivability.
l If the lamp does not illuminate when the op-
eration mode is put in ON, we recommend
you to have the system checked.CAUTIONl If the lamp illuminates while the Plug-in Hy-
brid EV System is operating, avoid driving
at high speeds and have the system inspected by a MITSUBISHI MOTORS Authorized
Service Point as soon as possible.NOTEl The engine electronic control module ac-
commodating the onboard diagnostic system has various fault data (especially about the
exhaust emission) stored.
This data will be erased if a auxiliary battery
cable is disconnected which will make a rap- id diagnosis difficult. Do not disconnect a
auxiliary battery cable when the check engine
warning lamp is ON.
Auxiliary battery charge warn-
ing lamp
E00502702287
This warning lamp will illu- minate when there is a fault with the charging system of
the auxiliary battery.
Warning lamps
6-43OGGE14E5Instruments and controls6
When the operation mode of the power
switch is put in ON, if the brake fluid is low,
this warning is displayed.
The warning lamp in the instrument cluster also illuminates.CAUTIONl If this warning stays illuminated and does
not go out while driving, there is a danger of ineffective braking. In this case, immediate-
ly park your vehicle in a safe place and we recommend you to have it checked.
l If the brake warning display is displayed and
the brake warning lamp and the ABS warn- ing lamp are illuminated at the same time,
the braking force distribution function will
not operate, so the vehicle may be destabi- lised during sudden braking. Avoid sudden
braking and high-speed driving, stop the ve-
hicle in a safe place, and we recommend you to have it checked.
l The vehicle should be brought to a halt in
the following manner when brake perform-
ance has deteriorated.
• Depress the brake pedal harder than usual.
Even if the brake pedal moves down to
the very end of its possible stroke, keep it pressed down hard.
• Should the brakes fail, use regenerative
brake to reduce your speed and carefully
pull the parking brake lever.
Depress the brake pedal to operate the
stop lamp to alert the vehicles behind you.Oil pressure warning display
E00524901309
If the engine oil pressure drops while the
Plug-in Hybrid EV System is operating, thewarning display is displayed on the informa-
tion screen in the multi information display.
CAUTIONl If the vehicle is driven while the engine oil
is low, or the oil level is normal but the warning is displayed, the engine may burn
out and be damaged.
l If the warning is displayed while the Plug-in
Hybrid EV System is operating, immediately
park your vehicle in a safe place and check
the engine oil level.
l If the warning is displayed while the engine
oil level is normal, have it inspected.Combination headlamps
and dipper switch E00506003429
HeadlampsNOTEl Do not leave the lights on for a long time
while the Plug-in Hybrid EV System is sta-tionary (not operating). A run-down auxili- ary battery could result.
l When it rains, or when the vehicle has been
washed, the inside of the lens sometimes be-
comes foggy, but this does not indicate a
functional problem.
When the lamp is switched on, the heat will remove the fog. However, if water gathers
inside the lamp, we recommend you to have it checked.
Combination headlamps and dipper switch
6-45OGGE14E5Instruments and controls6
Economical drivingE00600102220
For economical driving, there are some tech- nical requirements that have to be met. Theprerequisite for low fuel consumption is a
properly adjusted engine. In order to achieve longer life of the vehicle and the most eco- nomical operation, we recommend you tohave the vehicle checked at regular intervals in accordance with the service standards.
Fuel economy and generation of exhaust gas
and noise are highly influenced by personal
driving habits as well as the particular operat- ing conditions. The following points shouldbe observed in order to minimize wear of
brakes, tyres and engine as well as to reduce
environmental pollution.
Starting and acceleration
Avoid driving when the accelerator pedal ispushed way down, such as for unnecessarily sudden starts, acceleration and deceleration.
Smoothly depress the accelerator pedal.
Observe the speed limit and keep the speed
as constant as possible while driving.
Idling
Parking for a long period with the ready indi-
cator illuminated will shorten the cruising
range.
Speed
The higher the vehicle speed, the more drive
battery is consumed. Avoid driving at full speed. Even a slight release of the accelerator
pedal will save a significant amount of drive battery.
Tyre inflation pressure
Check the tyre inflation pressures at regular intervals. Low tyre inflation pressure increa-ses road resistance and fuel consumption. In addition, low tyre pressures adversely affect
tyre wear and driving stability.
Cargo loads
Do not drive with unnecessary articles in the
luggage compartment. Especially during city
driving where frequent starting and stopping is necessary, the increased weight of the ve-
hicle will greatly affect fuel consumption. Al- so avoid driving with unnecessary luggage or carriers, etc., on the roof; the increased air re- sistance will increase fuel consumption.
Air conditioning
Too much cooling/heating can affect the cruising range, so maintain an appropriatetemperature to extend the cruising range.
Driving, alcohol and drugs
E00600200070
Driving after drinking alcohol is one of the
most frequent causes of accidents.
Your driving ability can be seriously im- paired even with blood alcohol levels far be-
low the legal minimum. If you have been drinking, don’t drive. Ride with a designated non-drinking driver, call a cab or a friend, or
use public transportation. Drinking coffee or
taking a cold shower will not make you so- ber.
Similarly, prescription and nonprescription
drugs affect your alertness, perception and re- action time. Consult with your doctor or
pharmacist before driving while under the in- fluence of any of these medications.WARNINGl NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE.
Your perceptions are less accurate, your
reflexes are slower and your judgment is impaired.Safe driving techniques
E00600301775
Driving safety and protection against injury
cannot be fully ensured. However, we recom- mend that you pay extra attention to the fol-
lowing:
Economical driving
7-02OGGE14E5Starting and driving7
NOTElDriving on rough roads can be hard on a ve-
hicle. Before you leave paved roads, be sure all scheduled maintenance and service has
been done, and that you have inspected your vehicle. Pay special attention to the condi- tion of the tyres, and check the tyre pres-
sures.
l MITSUBISHI
MOTORS is not responsible
to the operator for any damage or injury caused or liability incurred by improper and
negligent operation of a vehicle. All techni- ques of vehicle operation depend on the skill and experience of the operator and other par-
ticipating parties. Any deviation from the recommended operating instructions above
is at their own risk.
l Note that the stopping distance required of a
4-wheel drive vehicle differs very little from
that of a 2-wheel drive vehicle. When driv-
ing on a snow-covered road or a slippery, muddy surface, make sure that you keep a
sufficient distance between your vehicle and the one ahead of you.
l The driving posture should be more upright;
adjust the seat to a good position for easy
steering and pedal operation. Be sure to wear
the seat belt.
l After driving on rough roads, check each
part of the vehicle and wash it thoroughlywith water. Refer to the “Inspection andmaintenance following rough road opera-
tion” section and “Maintenance” section.Climbing/descending sharp
grades
Your vehicle may not provide sufficient hill
climbing ability and regenerative brake on steep slope. Avoid driving on steep slopes
even though the vehicle is a 4-wheel drive vehicle.
Inspection and maintenance
following rough roadoperation E00606701407
After operating the vehicle in rough road
conditions, be sure to perform the following inspection and maintenance procedures:
l Check that the vehicle has not been dam-
aged by rocks, gravel, etc.
l Carefully wash the vehicle with water.
Drive the vehicle slowly while lightly
depressing the brake pedal in order to dry out the brakes. If the brakes still do
not function properly, we recommend you to have the brakes checked as soon
as possible.
l Remove the insects, dried grass, etc.
clogging the radiator core.
l Check the inside of the vehicle. If water
entry is found, dry the carpet etc.
l Inspect the headlamps. If the headlamp
bulb is flooded with water, we recom-
mend you to have it drained.Cautions on handling of 4-
wheel drive vehicles E00606801844
Tyres and wheels
Since the driving torque can be applied to the
4 wheels, the driving performance of the ve- hicle when operating in 4-wheel drive is
greatly affected by the condition of the tyres.
Pay close attention to the tyres.
l Install only the specified tyres on all
wheels. Refer to “Tyres and wheels” on page 12-08.
l Be sure all 4 tyres and wheels are the
same size and type.
When it is necessary to replace any of
the tyres or wheels, replace all 4 tyres.
l All tyres should be rotated before the
wear difference between the front and
rear tyres is recognizable.
Good vehicle performance cannot be expec- ted if there is a difference in wear between tyres. Refer to “Tyre rotation” on page 11-11.
Inspection and maintenance following rough road operation
7-20OGGE14E5Starting and driving7
WARNINGlEven if the Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Sys-
tem (AVAS) sounds, pay special attention
to pedestrians.
Pedestrians may not notice the oncoming vehicle, which may cause an accident re-
sulting in serious personal injury or death.CAUTIONl Always confirm the indication lamp goes off
before driving.
If the indication lamp blinks, the operation
mode is put in OFF, and the operation mode is put in OFF once again. It is normal if the
indication lamp goes off. If the indication
lamp blinks again, have the vehicle inspec-
ted at a MITSUBISHI MOTORS Authorized Service Point as soon as possible.AVAS OFF switch
E00631701049
If the operation mode is put in ON, the
AVAS is automatically turned on.
The AVAS should be turned on while normal
driving.
When driving on the freeway etc., it is possi- ble to turn off the AVAS by pressing the
AVAS OFF switch.
If pressing the AVAS OFF switch, the audi- ble alarm does not sound and the indicationlamp illuminates.
If pressing the AVAS OFF switch once
again, the AVAS is activated and the indica- tion lamp goes off.WARNINGl Never turn the Acoustic Vehicle Alerting
System (AVAS) off if there is a possibility
that pedestrians pass by.NOTEl If the operation mode is put in OFF, while
the AVAS has been turned off, and the oper-
ation mode is put in ON once again, the
AVAS is activated.
l If the AVAS OFF switch is continuously
pressed after the AVAS is turned off, the in-
correct operation prevention function works
and the system turns on again.Braking
E00607002967
All the parts of the brake system are critical
to safety. We recommend you to have the ve- hicle checked at regular intervals according
to the service booklet.CAUTIONl Avoid driving habits that cause heavy brak-
ing and never “ride” the brakes by resting
your foot on the brake pedal while driving.
It causes brake overheating and fade.
Brake system
The service brake is divided into two brake
circuits. And your vehicle is equipped with
power brakes. If one brake circuit fails, the other is available to stop the vehicle. If you
should lose the power assist for some reason, the brakes will still work. In these situations,
even if the brake pedal moves down to the very end of its possible stroke or resists being
depressed, keep depressing the brake pedal
down harder and further than usual; stop
driving as soon as possible and have the brake system repaired.
Braking
7-24OGGE14E5Starting and driving7
WARNINGlDo not turn off the Plug-in Hybrid EV
System while your vehicle is in motion. If
you turn off the Plug-in Hybrid EV Sys- tem while driving, the power assistancefor the braking system will stop working
and your brakes will not work effectively.
l If the power assist is lost or if either brake
hydraulic system stops working properly,
have your vehicle checked immediately.
Warning display
The brake warning lamp illuminates to indi-
cate a fault in the braking system. A warning
is also displayed on the multi information display. Refer to “Brake warning lamp and Brake warning display” on pages 6-42, 6-44.
When brakes are wet
Check the brake system while driving at a
low speed immediately after starting, espe- cially when the brakes are wet, to confirmthey work normally.
A film of water can be formed on the brake
discs and prevent normal braking after driv-
ing 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.
When driving downhillWARNINGl Do not leave any objects near the brake
pedal or let a floor mat slide under it; do- ing so could prevent the full pedal stroke
that would be necessary in an emergency. Make sure that the pedal can be operated freely at all times. Make sure that thefloor mat is securely held in place.CAUTIONl Put the selector lever to “B” position accord-
ing to the grade of a slope or the speed in along downward slope, and use the regenera-
tive brake together.
If you depress the brake pedal and slowing down is repeated frequently, the foot brake
may be overheated and effectiveness may worsen.CAUTIONl Effectiveness of the regenerative brake be-
comes weak when the drive battery is close
to full charge and loses its effect at the full
charge.
In this case, since the foot brake is effective,
use the foot brake and slow down your vehi-
cle speed beforehand.
The energy usage indicator stops swaying in the charge zone closer to full charge.
Refer to “Energy usage indicator” on page 6-02
In such case, drive at low speed in advance.
And if needed use the foot brake to slow
down the vehicle speed before the vehicle speed increases.
The regenerative brake comes to be effective if the drive battery remaining power is con-
sumed.
Brake pad
l Avoid hard braking situations.
New brakes need to be broken-in by
moderate use for the first 200 km
(124 miles).
l The disc brakes are provided with a
warning device which emits a shrieking
metallic sound while braking if the brake pads have reached their wear limit. Ifyou hear this sound, have the brake padsreplaced immediately.
Braking
7-25OGGE14E5Starting and driving7
Warning lampWarning displayCAUTIONlIf the warning is displayed, the hill start as-
sist will not operate. Start off carefully.
l Park your vehicle in a safe place and stop
the Plug-in Hybrid EV System.
Restart the Plug-in Hybrid EV System and check whether the display/indicator goes
out, in which case the hill start assist is
working normally again.
If they remain displayed or reappear fre- quently, it is not necessary to stop the vehi-cle immediately, but the vehicle should be inspected by a MITSUBISHI MOTORS Au-
thorized Service Point as soon as possible.Brake assist system
E00627001546
The brake assist system is a device assisting drivers who cannot depress the brake pedalfirmly when it is necessary to do so (such as
in emergency stop situations) and provides
greater braking force.
If the brake pedal is depressed suddenly, the brakes will be applied with more force thanusual.CAUTIONl The brake assist system is not a device de-
signed to exercise braking force greater than its capacity. Make sure to always keep a suf-
ficient distance between vehicles in front of
you without relying too much on the brake
assist system.NOTEl Once the brake assist system is operational,
it maintains great braking force even if the
brake pedal is lightly released.
To stop its operation, completely remove
your foot from the brake pedal.NOTEl When the brake assist system is in use, you
may feel as if the depressed brake pedal issoft, the pedal moves in small motions inconjunction with the sound of the ABS oper- ation, or the vehicle body and the steering
wheel vibrate. This occurs when the brake
assist system is operating normally and does not indicate faulty operation. Continue to
firmly depress the brake pedal.
l You may hear an operation noise when the
brake pedal is depressed suddenly while sta-
tionary. This does not indicate a malfunction
and the brake assist system is operating nor- mally.
l When the anti-lock brake system warning
lamp or the Active Stability Control warning lamp illuminate, the brake assist system is
not functioning.Emergency stop signal
system E00626001060
This is a device that reduces the possibility ofrear end collisions by the rapid and automatic blinking of the hazard warning lamps to alert
vehicles approaching from behind during sudden braking. When the emergency stop
signal system operates, the hazard warning indication lamp in the instrument cluster
blinks rapidly at the same time.
Brake assist system
7-27OGGE14E5Starting and driving7
CAUTIONlIf the ABS warning or ASC warning is dis-
played, the emergency stop signal system may not operate. Refer to “ABS warning lamp/display” on page 7-29.
Refer to “ASC warning display” on page
7-33.NOTEl [Activating condition for the emergency stop
signal system]
It activates when all of the following condi-
tions are met.
• The vehicle speed is approximately
55 km/h (34 mph) or higher.
• The brake pedal has been depressed, and
the system judges that it was sudden brak- ing from the vehicle deceleration and theoperating condition of the anti-lock brake
system (ABS).
[Deactivating condition for the emergency
stop signal system]
It deactivates when one of the following conditions is met.
• The brake pedal is released.
• The hazard warning flasher switch is
pressed.
• The system judges that it was not sudden
braking from the vehicle deceleration and
the operating condition of the anti-lock
brake system (ABS).Anti-lock brake system
(ABS) E00607102489
Environmental conditions can have an effect
on braking. During sudden braking when there is snow, ice, oil, water etc. on the road
surface, a skid may occur. In this situation, steering control and braking effectiveness is
reduced and the stopping distance is in-
creased. The vehicle may also go into an un- controlled spin.
The ABS helps prevent the wheels from lock-
ing during braking, thus maintaining direc-
tional stability, ensuring controllability and
providing optimum braking force.
Operating hints
l Always maintain the same distance from
the vehicle in front of you as you would for a vehicle not equipped with ABS.
Compared with vehicles not fitted with ABS, your vehicle may require a longer
stopping distance in the following cases: • Driving on gravel or snow-covered
roads.
• Driving with snow traction device
(tyre chains) installed.
• Driving on roads where the road sur-
face is pitted or has other differences in surface height.
• Driving on bumpy roads or other poor
driving surfaces.
l Operation of ABS is not restricted to sit-
uations where brakes are applied sud-
denly. This system may also operate to
prevent wheel lock when you are driving over manholes, steel road-work plates,
or the vehicle is driven over steps or lev-
el differences in the road, road markings, or other surfaces which are difficult for
the wheels to grip.
l When the ABS is activated, you may
feel the brake pedal pulsation and the vi-
brations of the vehicle body and steering
wheel. You may also hear a characteris-
tic noise. At this time, you may feel as if the pedal attempts to resist being de-
pressed.
This is a normal result of the ABS oper- ation, and does not indicate a problem.
If this situation occurs, depress the brake pedal more firmly in order tooperate the ABS. Do not pump the
brake. This will result in reduced braking performance.
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
7-28OGGE14E5Starting and driving7