traction control MITSUBISHI ASX 2009 1.G Owners Manual

4-wheel drive operation
E00606600887
Your
vehicle has been designed primarily for use
on paved roads.
But its unique 4-wheel drive system allows you to
occasionally travel on unpaved roads, to camp-
grounds, picnic sites, and similar locations.
Not only does this ensure better handling on dry,
paved roads but also permits better traction when
driving on slippery, wet or snow-covered roads and
when moving out of mud.
But it is not suitable for heavy off road use or tow-
ing in rough conditions.
It is particularly important to note that 4-wheel
drive may not give sufficient hill climbing ability
and engine braking on steep slopes. You should try
to avoid driving on steep slopes.
Also, you must exercise caution when driving on
sand and mud and when driving through water be-
cause sufficient traction may not be available in cer-
tain circumstances.
Please avoid driving the vehicle through areas
where the tyres may get stuck in deep sand or mud. WARNING
l Do
not over-rely on the 4-wheel drive ve-
hicles. Even 4-wheel drive vehicles have
limits to the system and ability to main-
tain control and traction. Reckless driv-
ing may lead to accidents. Always drive
carefully, taking account of the road con-
ditions.
l Improperly operating this vehicle on or
off-paved roads can cause an accident or
rollover in which you and your passen-
gers could be seriously injured or killed. WARNING
• Follow
all instructions and guidelines in the owner’s manual.
• Keep your speed low and do not drive faster than conditions allow you to.
NOTE l Driving

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 pressures.
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 rec-
ommended 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 suf-
ficient 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 thoroughly
with water. Refer to the “Inspection and main-
tenance following rough road operation” sec-
tion and “Maintenance” section. CAUTION
l
Setting
the drive mode-selector to “4WD
LOCK” to drive on dry paved road will
increase fuel consumption, with possible
noise generation.
Turning sharp corners
When
turning a sharp corner in “4WD LOCK” po-
sition at low speed, a slight difference in steering
may be experienced similar to as if the brakes were
applied. This is called tight corner braking and re-
sults from each of the 4 tyres being at a different
distance from the corner. The phenomenon is typi-
cal of 4-wheel drive vehicles. If this occurs, either
straighten out the steering wheel, or change to
“2WD” or “4WD AUTO” mode.
On snowy or icy roads
Set the drive mode-selector to “4WD AUTO” or
“4WD LOCK” in accordance with the road condi-
tions, and then gradually depress the accelerator ped-
al for a smooth start.
NOTE
l The use of snow tyres is recommended.
l Maintain a safe distance between vehicles,
avoid sudden braking, and use engine brak-
ing (downshifting). Starting and driving
4-31 4

Electric power steering system
(EPS) E00629200037
The
electric power steering system (EPS) uses an
electric motor to assist the turning of the steering
wheel.
NOTE
l During repeated full-lock turning of the steer-
ing wheel (for example, while you are ma-
noeuvring the vehicle into a parking space),
a protection function may be activated to pre-
vent overheating of the power steering sys-
tem. This function will make the steering
wheel gradually harder to turn. In this event,
limit your turning of the steering wheel for a
while. When the system has cooled down,
the steering action will return to normal.
l If you turn the steering wheel while the vehi-
cle is stationary with the headlamps on, the
headlamps may become dim. This behaviour
is not abnormal. The headlamps will return
to their original brightness after a short while.
Electric power steering system warn-
ing display Type 1 Type 2
When there is a malfunction in the system, the warn-
ing display will appear on the information screen in
the multi-information display.
CAUTION
l
If
the warning display appears during
driving, it may become harder to turn the
steering wheel.
If the warning display appears while driving 1. Stop
the vehicle in a safe place and turn off
the engine.
2. Wait approximately 30 seconds and then re- start the engine to check whether the warning
display goes out; if it then remains off, there
is no problem.
If the warning display does not go out, or it
appears again while driving, we recommend
you to have your vehicle inspected. Active stability control (ASC)*
E00616700331
The

Active Stability Control (ASC) takes overall
control of the anti-lock brake system, traction con-
trol function and stability control function to help
maintain the vehicle’s control and traction. Please
read this section in conjunction with the page on
the anti-lock brake system, traction control func-
tion and stability control function.

Anti-lock brake system (ABS) ® p. 4-38
Traction control function ® p. 4-41
Stability control function ® p. 4-41 CAUTION
l
Do
not over-rely on the ASC. Even the
ASC cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle.
This system, like any other system, has
limits and cannot help you to maintain
traction and control of the vehicle in all
circumstances. Reckless driving may lead
to accidents. It is the driver’s responsibil-
ity to drive carefully. This means taking
into account the traffic, road and environ-
mental conditions.
l Be sure to use the same specified type and
size of tyre on all 4 wheels. Otherwise, the
ASC may not work properly.
l Do not install any aftermarket limited-
slip differential (LSD) on your vehicle.
The ASC may stop functioning properly. Starting and driving
4-40
4

NOTE
l An
operation noise may be emitted from the
engine compartment in the following situa-
tions. The sound is associated with checking
the operations of the ASC. At this time, you
may feel a shock from the brake pedal if you
depress it. These do not indicate a malfunc-
tion. • When the ignition switch is turned to the“ON” position or the operation mode is
put in ON.
• When the vehicle is driven for a while af- ter the engine is turned on.
l When the ASC is activated, you may feel a
vibration in the vehicle body or hear a whin-
ing sound from the engine compartment.
This indicates that the system is operating nor-
mally. It does not indicate a malfunction.
l When the anti-lock brake system warning
lamp is illuminated, the ASC is not active.
Traction control function E00619000087
On slippery surfaces, the traction control function
prevents

the drive wheels from spinning excessive,
thus helping the vehicle to start moving from a stop-
ped condition. It also provides sufficient driving
force and steering performance as the vehicle turns
while pressing the acceleration pedal. CAUTION
l
When
driving a vehicle on a snowy or icy
road, be sure to install snow tyres and
drive the vehicle at moderate speeds. Stability control function
E00619100017
The

stability control function is designed to help
the driver maintain control of the vehicle on slip-
pery roads or during rapid steering manoeuvres. It
works by controlling the engine output and brake
on each wheel.
NOTE
l The stability control function operates at
speeds of about 15 km/h (9 mph) or higher.
“ASC OFF” switch E00619200353
The ASC is automatically activated when the igni-
tion

switch is turned to the “ON” position or the op-
eration mode is put in ON. You can deactivate the
system by pressing down the “ASC OFF” switch
for 3 seconds or longer.
When the ASC is deactivated, the display/indica-
tor

will turn on. To reactivate the ASC, momentari-
ly press the “ASC OFF” switch; the display/indi-
cator is turned off. CAUTION
l
For
safety reasons, the “ASC OFF”
switch should be operated when your ve-
hicle is stopped.
l Be sure to keep the ASC on while driving
in normal circumstances.
NOTE l When

moving out of mud, sand or fresh
snow, pressing the accelerator pedal may not
allow the engine speed to increase. In such sit-
uations, temporarily turning off the ASC
with the “ASC OFF” switch will make it eas-
ier to move out your vehicle.
l Using the “ASC OFF” switch turns off both
the stability control function and the traction
control function.
l If you continue to press the “ASC OFF”
switch after the ASC is turned off, the “mis-
taken operation protection function” will ac-
tivate and the ASC will turn back on.
ASC operation display or ASC OFF
display E00619300426 ASC operation display/ASC indicator
The

display/indicator will blink when the
ASC is operating. ASC OFF display/ASC OFF indicator
This

display/incicator will turn on when
the ASC is turned off with the “ASC
OFF” switch. Starting and driving
4-41 4

NOTE
l The
combination of items shown on the dis-
play varies depending on the vehicle model. CAUTION
l
When display/indicator blinks, ASC is
operating,
which means that the road is
slippery or that your vehicle’s wheels are
beginning to slip. If this happens, drive
slower with less accelerator input.
l If the temperature in the braking system
continues to increase due to continuous
brake control on a slippery road surface,
the display/indicator will blink. To pre-
vent

the brake system from overheating,
the brake control of the traction control
function will be temporarily suspended.
The engine control of the traction control
function and normal brake operation will
not be affected. Park your vehicle in a
safe place. When the temperature in the
braking system has come down, the dis-
play/indicator

will be turned off and the
traction control function will start operat-
ing again.
NOTE l The display/indicator may turn on when
you

start the engine. This means that the bat-
tery voltage momentarily dropped when the
engine was started. It does not indicate a mal-
function, provided that the display goes out
immediately. l
When
a compact spare tyre has been put on
your vehicle, the gripping ability of the tyre
will be lower, making it more likely that the display/indicator will blink.
ASC warning display E00619400443
If an abnormal condition occurs in the system, the
following display/indicator will turn on. -
ASC indicator -
ASC OFF display/ASC OFF indica-
tor
Warning display type 1 Warning display type 2
NOTE
l The

combination of items shown on the dis-
play varies depending on the vehicle model. CAUTION
l
The system may be malfunctioning.
Park

your vehicle in a safe place and stop
the engine.
Restart the engine and check whether the
display/indicator goes out. If they go out,
there is no abnormal condition. If they do
not go out or appear frequently, it is not
necessary to stop the vehicle immediately,
but we recommend you to have your vehi-
cle inspected.
Towing E00624400050 CAUTION
l
When
towing the vehicle with only the
front wheels or only the rear wheels
raised off the ground, do not place the ig-
nition switch in the “ON” position or do
not put the operation mode in ON. Plac-
ing the ignition switch in the “ON” posi-
tion or putting the operation mode in ON
could cause the ASC to operate, resulting
in an accident.
Note that the correct towing method de-
pends on the transmission type and the ve-
hicle’s drive configuration.
For details, refer to “Towing” on page
6-19. Starting and driving
4-42
4