CAUTIONlOperating the accelerator pedal while the
other foot is resting on the brake pedal will affect braking efficiency and may cause pre-
mature wear of brake pads.
l Use the selector lever in the correct shift po-
sition in accordance with driving conditions.Never coast downhill backward with the
driving shift position {“D” (DRIVE) or
sports mode} or coast forward with the “R” (REVERSE) position.
The engine stops and the brake pedal effort or the steering wheel handling weight in-creasing could lead to an accident.
l Do not race the engine with brake pedal
pressed when the vehicle is stationary.
This can damage the automatic transmission.Passing acceleration
E00604500329
To gain extra acceleration in “D” (DRIVE)
position, push the accelerator to the floor.The automatic transmission will automatical- ly downshift.
NOTEl In “Sports mode”, downshifts do not take
place when the accelerator is depressed all
the way to the floor.Waiting
E00604600304
For short waiting periods, such as at traffic
signals, the vehicle can be left in gear and held stationary with the service brake.
For longer waiting periods with the engine
running, place the selector lever in the “N” (NEUTRAL) position..CAUTIONl Never hold the vehicle stationary on a hill
using the accelerator pedal (without using the brake pedal). Always apply the parking
brake and/or service brakes.
l Unexpected acceleration may occur if the se-
lector lever is in a position other than “P”
(PARK) or “N” (NEUTRAL). Prior to mov-
ing off after having stopped the vehicle, make sure that the selector lever is in the
“D” (DRIVE) position.Parking
E00604700262
To park the vehicle, first bring it to a com-
plete stop, fully engage the parking brake,and then move the selector lever to the “P”
(PARK) position.
If you are going to leave the vehicle unatten-
ded, always switch off the engine and remove the ignition key.
NOTEl On a slope, be sure to apply the parking
brake before moving the selector lever to the
“P” (PARK) position. If you move the selec- tor lever to the “P” (PARK) position before applying the parking brake, it may be diffi-
cult to disengage the selector lever from the
“P” (PARK) position when next you drive the vehicle, requiring application of a strong
force to the selector lever to move from the
“P” (PARK) position.When the automatic transmis-
sion makes no speed change
E00604800683
If the transmission does not change speeds
while driving, or your vehicle does not pick up enough speed when starting on an uphillslope, it may be that there is something un-
usual happening in the transmission, causing a safety device to activate. We recommendyou to have your vehicle checked as soon as
possible. 1. If your vehicle has difficulty moving up-
hill, shift the selector lever into 2 nd
gear
of the “Sports mode”.
This method might not work depending
on the type of transmission malfunction.
2. Once the vehicle is moving on a level
road, move the selector lever back to“D” (DRIVE).
Automatic transmission Sports Mode 4A/T, 5A/T
6-24OKTE15E3Starting and driving6
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.
WARNINGl Do not turn off the engine while your ve-
hicle is in motion. If you turn off the en-
gine while driving, the power assistance for 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 lamp
The brake warning lamp illuminates to indi-
cate a fault in the braking system. Refer to “Brake warning lamp” on page 5-08.
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 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.
When driving downhill
It is important to take advantage of the en- gine braking by shifting to a lower shift posi-tion while driving on steep downhill roads in
order to prevent the brakes from overheating.
WARNINGl 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 operatedfreely at all times. Make sure the floor
mat is securely held in place.Brake pads and linings
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.
If you hear this sound, have the brake pads replaced.
WARNINGl Driving with worn brake pads will make
it harder to stop, and can cause an acci-
dent.Brake assist system*
E00627000392
The brake assist system is a device assistingdrivers 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.
Brake assist system*
6-44OKTE15E3Starting and driving6
Avoid racing the engine or spinning thewheels. Prolonged efforts to free a stuck ve-
hicle may result in overheating and transmis- sion failure. Allow the engine to idle for a
few minutes to let the transmission cool be-
tween rocking attempts.
If the vehicle remains stuck after several rocking attempts, seek other assistance.WARNINGl When attempting to rock your vehicle out
of a stuck position, be sure that the area
around the vehicle is clear of people and
physical objects. The rocking motion may cause the vehicle to suddenly launch for-ward or backward, causing injury or
damage to nearby people or objects.
On 2WD vehicles, it is recommended to start
the vehicle with parking brake partially, but
not completely, applied by slightly pulling the parking brake lever.
After the vehicle has become free, do not for-
get to release the parking brake.
NOTEl Depress the accelerator pedal gradually
when starting the vehicle.On a flooded road
l Avoid flooded roads. Water could enter
the brake discs, resulting in temporarily
ineffective brakes. In such cases, lightly
depress the brake pedal to see if the brakes operate properly. If they do not,
lightly depress the pedal several times while driving in order to dry the brake
pads.
l When driving in rain or on a road with
many puddles a layer of water may form between the tyres and the road surface.
This reduces a tyre’s frictional resistance
on the road, resulting in loss of steering stability and braking capability.
To cope with this, observe the following
items:
(a)Drive your vehicle at slow speed. (b)Do not drive on worn tyres. Al-
ways maintain the specified tyre
inflation pressures.On a snow-covered or frozen
road
l When driving on a snow-covered or fro-
zen road, it is recommended that you use snow tyres or tyre chains.
Refer to the “Snow tyres” and “Tyre
chains” sections.
l Avoid high-speed operation, sudden ac-
celeration, abrupt brake application and
sharp cornering.
l Depressing the brake pedal during travel
on snowy or icy roads may cause tyre
slippage and skidding. When traction be-
tween the tyres and the road is reduced the wheels may skid and the vehicle can-
not readily be brought to a stop by con- ventional braking techniques. Brakingwill differ, depending upon whether you
have anti-lock brake system (ABS). If you do have ABS, brake by pressing the brake system pedal hard, and keeping it
pressed. If you do not have ABS, pump
the brake pedal with short rapid jabs, each time fully applying and fully re-
leasing for greatest effect.
l Allow extra distance between your vehi-
cle and the vehicle in front of you, and avoid sudden braking.
Operation under adverse driving conditions
8-26OKTE15E3For emergencies8
The fluid level falls slightly with wear of thebrake pads, but this does not indicate any ab-
normality.
If the brake fluid level falls markedly in a
short length of time, it indicates leaks from the brake system.
If this occurs, we recommend you to have the
vehicle checked.
Fluid type
Use brake fluid conforming to DOT3 or DOT4. The brake fluid is hygroscopic. Too
much moisture in the brake fluid will ad- versely affect the brake system, reducing the
brake performance.
In addition, the brake fluid reservoir is equip- ped with a special cap to prevent the entrance
of air, and this cap should not be removed.
CAUTIONl Take care in handling brake fluid as it is
harmful to the eyes, may irritate your skin
and also damage painted surfaces.
l Use only the specified brake fluid.
Do not mix or add different brands of brake fluid to prevent chemical reactions.
Do not let any petroleum-based fluid touch, mix with, or get into the brake fluid.
This will damage the seals.CAUTIONl Keep the reservoir tank cap closed to pre-
vent the brake fluid from deteriorating ex- cept maintenance.
l Clean the filler cap before removing and
close the cap securely after maintenance.Clutch fluid*
E01001001435
To check the fluid level
The clutch fluid in the master cylinder should
be checked when performing other under- hood service. In addition, the system shouldbe checked for leakage at the same time.
Check to make certain that the clutch fluid level is always between the “MAX” and
“MIN” level markings on the fluid reservoir.
A rapid fluid loss indicates a leak in the
clutch system which should be inspected by a
MITSUBISHI MOTORS Authorized Service
Point or another specialist and repaired im- mediately.
Fluid type
Brake fluid conforming to DOT 3 or DOT 4 should be used.
The reservoir cap must be fully tightened to avoid contamination from foreign matter or
moisture.
DO NOT ALLOW PETROLEUM-BASED FLUID TO CONTACT, MIX WITH, OR
OTHERWISE CONTAMINATE THE BRAKE FLUID. SEAL DAMAGE WILLRESULT.
Clutch fluid*
10-09OKTE15E3Maintenance10 LHD RHD