MITSUBISHI CARISMA 2000 1.G Owners Manual

STARTING AND DRIVING
5–21
3 - THIRD/2 - SECOND
(Except for vehicles with Sports
mode)
This position is for extra power when driving
up moderately steep hills, and for engine
braking when descending moderately steep
gradients.
L - LOW
(Except for vehicles with Sports
mode)
This position is for driving up very steep hills
and for engine braking at low speeds when
descending steep gradients.
WARNING
This position can be used for maxi-
mum engine braking.
Be very careful not to shift into “L”
suddenly. Sudden engine braking
may cause the tyres to skid.
Select this position according to the
road conditions and vehicle speed.
I04J053a
A/T mode changeover switch
(Except for vehicles with Sports
mode)
EI04JADa
Two drive modes, “AUTO” and “HOLD”, can
be selected.
Each time you press the switch, the “AUTO”
and “HOLD” modes will switch alternately.
When the “HOLD” mode is selected, the
“HOLD” indicator illuminates on the instru-
ment panel.
AUTOSelect this position for normal driving.
In this position, your vehicle runs with econ-
omical fuel consumption when the acceler-
ator pedal is depressed moderately, and
runs powerfully when the pedal is depressed
heavily.
I04J020a
HOLDSelect the “HOLD” mode when starting your
vehicle on a slippery road surface for
example snow, and the vehicle will start
smoothly.
If you start your vehicle with the selector
lever in other than the “L” position, the ve-
hicle starts in 2nd gear.
When the vehicle speed reaches between
20 to 50 km/h, the gear is fixed in the highest
gear of the selected lever position.
(For example, if you select “D” position, the
vehicle starts in 2nd gear. As the vehicle
speed increases, the gear is shifted up and
when the vehicle speed exceeds approxi-
mately 50 km/h, the gear enters the 4th and
held in the 4th.) Therefore, you can drive like
driving the vehicle with manual transmission
by fully using the selector lever positions.
In the “HOLD” mode, depressing the accel-
erator pedal fully also causes the kick-down
operation.

STARTING AND DRIVING
5–22
I04S040a
Sports mode
(Vehicles with Sports mode)
EI04S-Oa
Whether the vehicle is stationary or in mo-
tion, sports mode is selected by pushing the
selector lever from the “D” (DRIVE) position
into the manual gate (A). To return to “D”
range operation, push the selector lever
back into the main gate (B).
In sports mode, gear shifts can be made
rapidly simply by moving the selector lever
backwards and forwards. In contrast to a
manual transmission, the sports mode al-
lows gear shifts with the accelerator pedal
depressed.
+ (UP): Push the lever forward once to shift
up one gear.
– (DOWN): Pull the lever backwards once to
shift down one gear.
CAUTION
(1) Upward shifts do not take place
automatically in sports mode.
The driver must execute upward
shifts in accordance with prevail-
ing road conditions, taking care
to keep the engine speed below
the red zone.
(2) By rapidly moving the selector
lever backwards (DOWN) twice, it
is possible to skip one gear, i.e.,
3rd to 1st or 4th to 2nd. Since
sudden engine braking and/or
rapid accelera-tion can cause a
loss of traction, however, down-
shifts must be made carefully in
accordance with the vehicle’s
speed.
NOTE
(1) In sports mode, only the 4 forward gears
can be selected. To reverse or park the
vehicle, move the selector lever to the
“R” (REVERSE) or “P” (PARK) position
as required.
(2) To maintain the required levels of ve-
hicle performance and safety, the sys-
tem may not execute certain gear shifts
when the selector lever is operated,
such as 4th gear at low speed.
(3) In sports mode, downward shifts are
made automatically when the vehicle
slows down. When the vehicle stops,
1st gear is automatically selected.
(4) When driving away on a slippery road,
push the selector lever forward into the
+(UP) position. This causes the trans-
mission to shift into the 2nd gear which
is better for smooth driving away on a
slippery road. Push the selector lever to
the – (DOWN) side to shift back to the
1st gear.
(5) Move the selector lever gently between
the manual and main gates and be-
tween positions in the manual gate.
Undue force could damage the selector
lever.

STARTING AND DRIVING
5–23
I04S037a
Sports mode indicator lampsIn sports mode, the currently selected gear
is indicated by green lamp on the instrument
panel.
NOTE
When sports mode is selected, the “D” indi-
cator lamp goes off.
Operation of the automatic
transmission INVECS-II
EI04DLH
CAUTION
(1) Before selecting a gear with the
engine running and the vehicle
stationary, fully depress the
brake pedal to prevent the vehicle
from creeping.
The vehicle will begin to move as
soon as the gear is engaged, es-
pecially when the engine speed is
high, at fast idle or with the air
conditioning operating, the
brakes should only be released
when you are ready to drive away.
(2) Depress the brake pedal with the
right foot at all times.
Using the left foot could cause
driver movement delay in case of
an emergency.
(3) To prevent sudden acceleration,
never race the engine when shift-
ing from the “P” (PARK) or “N”
(NEUTRAL).
CAUTION
(4) Operating the accelerator pedal
while the other foot is resting on
the brake pedal will affect braking
efficiency and may cause pre-
maturewear of brake pads.
Do not race the engine with brake
pedal pressed.
This can damage the trans-
mission.

STARTING AND DRIVING
5–24
Possible driving speed
(Except for vehicles with Sports
mode)
EI04IMLf
In order to avoid damaging the engine due
to excessively high rpm, do not exceed the
possible driving speed when the selector
lever is set to the “3” (THIRD) position, the “2”
(SECOND) position or the “L” (LOW) posi-
tion.
km/hDrive range1600
“L”
(LOW)45
“2”
(SECOND)100
“3”
(THIRD)155
Passing accelerationEI04F-O
For quick acceleration when passing,
depressing the accelerator pedal all the way
to the floor will cause the transmission to
automatically shift from 4th gear to 3rd gear,
from 3rd gear to 2nd gear or from 2nd gear
to 1st gear, in accordance with the driving
speed, without having to move the selector
lever from the “D” (DRIVE), “3” (THIRD) or “2”
(SECOND) positions.
NOTE
In sports mode, downshifts do not take place
when the accelerator is depressed all the
way to the floor.
Uphill/downhill drivingEI04O-Ia
DRIVING UPHILL
The transmission may not upshift to a higher
gear if the computer determines the current
speed cannot be maintained once a higher
gear is engaged.
For smoother vehicle performance, if you re-
lease the throttle while climbing a steep
grade, the transmission may not upshift. This
is normal, as the computer is temporarily
preventing shifting. After reaching the top of
the hill, normal gear shift function will re-
sume.
DRIVING DOWNHILL
When travelling down steep grades, the
computer may automatically select a lower
gear. This function assists engine braking ef-
forts, reducing the need for using the brakes.

STARTING AND DRIVING
5–25
WaitingEI04G-Ee
For short waiting periods, such as at traffic
lights, the vehicle can be left in gear and held
stationary with the service brake.
For longer waiting periods with the engine
running, the selector lever should be placed
in the “N” (NEUTRAL) position.
CAUTION
(1)Never hold the vehicle stationary
while in gear on a hill with the accel-
erator, always apply the parking
brake and/or service brake.
(2)Unexpected acceleration may occur
if the selector lever is in a position
other than “P” (PARK) or “N” (NEU-
TRAL).
Prior to moving off after having
stopped the vehicle, make sure that
the selector lever is in “D” (DRIVE)
or “Sports mode” position.
ParkingEI04H-Be
To park the vehicle, first bring it to a complete
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 unat-
tended, always switch off the engine and re-
move the ignition key.
NOTE
On a slope, be sure to apply the parking
brake before moving the selector lever to the
“P” (PARK) position. If you move the selector
lever to the “P” (PARK) position without first
applying the parking brake, a stronger than
normal resistance force may be encoun-
tered. In this situation, move the selector
lever strongly when you next wish to drive.
I27A052a
Parking brakeEI07A-Jn
To park the vehicle, first bring it to a complete
stop, fully engage the parking brake and
then move the gear shift lever to 1st (on an
uphill) or Reverse (on a downhill) position, for
vehicles with a manual transmission or set
the selector lever to “P” (PARK) position on
automatic transmission vehicles.
To apply
1-Pull the lever up without pushing the
button at the end of the hand grip.

STARTING AND DRIVING
5–26
I07A045a
To release
1-Pull the lever up slightly.
2-Push the button at the end of the hand
grip.
3-Push the lever downward.
NOTETo prevent the parking brake from being re-
leased unintentionally, the lever must be
pulled upward slightly before it can be
pushed downward. Simply pressing the but-
ton does not enable the lever to be pushed
downward.
When parking on a hill, apply the parking
brake and turn the front wheels towards the
kerb on a downhill grade, away from the kerb
on an uphill grade.
CAUTION
Before driving, be sure that the park-
ing brake is fully released and the
brake warning lamp is off.
If a vehicle is driven without releasing
the parking brake, the brake will be
overheated, resulting in ineffective
braking and possible brake failure.
ParkingEI22A-Al
Parking on a slope
Fully engage the parking brake, and then
move the gearshift lever to 1st (on an uphill)
or reverse (on a downhill) position on manual
transmission vehicle. On automatic trans-
mission vehicle, move the selector lever to
“P” position. When parking on a hill, apply
chocks to wheels for greater safety.
Parking with the engine running
Do not keep the engine running in a closed
or poorly ventilated place. Carbon monoxide
gas is odorless and extremely poisonous
and dangerous.
Where you park
Do not park in a place where there are in-
flammable objects such as dry grass,
leaves, etc... because the exhaust system
with catalyst produces very high tempera-
tures. This may cause a fire.
When leaving the vehicle
Always remove the key from the ignition
switch and lock all doors when leaving the
vehicle unattended.
Always try to park your vehicle in a well lit
area.

STARTING AND DRIVING
5–27
Braking EI23AAFc
All the parts of the brake system are critical
to safety. Have the vehicle serviced by an
authorized MITSUBISHI dealer at regular
intervals according to the service booklet.
Brake system
(1)The service brake is divided into two
brake circuits so that when one brake
circuit fails, the other is available to
stop the vehicle. If this occurs, howev-
er, the brake pedal must be depressed
further than usual; stop driving as
soon as possible and have the brake
system repaired at the nearest autho-
rized MITSUBISHI dealer.
(2)The brake boosting force is lost after
the brake pedal is depressed once or
twice while the engine is off. If this oc-
curs, the brake will require greater
force than usual. This is especially im-
portant when the vehicle is being
towed.
Warning lamp
The brake warning lamp lets you know if
your brake system is working properly.
Read “Brake warning lamp” on page 4–8 .
When brakes are wet
Check the brake system while driving at a
low speed immediately after starting, es-
pecially when the brakes are wet, to con-
firm they work normally.
A film of water can form on the brake discs
and prevent normal functioning after driv-
ing in heavy rain or through large puddles,
or after the vehicle is washed. If this oc-
curs, 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 gear
while driving on steep downhill roads in or-
der to prevent the brakes from overheat-
ing.
Brake pads
(1)With new brake pads, avoid where
possible sudden full application of the
brakes for the first 200 km of driving.
(2)The disc brakes are provided with a
warning device which emits a shriek-
ing metallic sound while braking if the
brake pads have reached their limit. If
you hear this sound, have the brake
pads replaced by your MITSUBISHI
dealer.
CAUTION
(1) Do not leave any objects or place
a thick floor mat around the brake
pedal; doing 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.
(2) Avoid driving habits that cause
heavy braking and never “ride”
the brakes by resting your foot on
the brake pedal while driving.
It causes brake overheating and
fade.

STARTING AND DRIVING
5–28
Anti–lock brake system
(ABS)*
EI24ACA
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. I n 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
locking during braking, thus maintaining
directional stability, ensuring controllability
and providing optimum braking force.
Driving hints
(1) With ABS fitted, steering during sudden
braking (when the ABS functions) differs
slightly from when the brakes are not
being applied.
Steer the vehicle carefully in these
conditions.(2) 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 tyre chains installed.

Driving on roads where the road
surface is pitted or has other differ-
ences in surface height.

Driving on bumpy roads or other
poor driving surfaces.
(3) Operation of ABS is not restricted to
situations where brakes are applied
suddenly. This system may also oper-
ate to prevent wheel lock when you are
driving over manholes, steel road–work
plates, or the vehicle is driven over
steps or level differences in the road,
road markings, or other surfaces which
are difficult for the wheels to grip.
(4) When the ABS is activated, you may
feel the brake pedal pulsating and hear
a characteristic noise. Also at this time,
it may feel as if the pedal attempts to re-
sist being depressed.
In this situation, to let the ABS work
for you, just hold the brake pedal
down more firmly. Do not pump the
brake. This will result in reduced
braking performance.
CAUTION
(1) Even the ABS can not prevent the
natural laws of physics from act-
ing on the vehicle. It cannot for in-
stance avoid accidents that may
result from excessive speed on
bend or following another vehicle
too closely, or aquaplaning. It
should remain the driver’s task to
observe safety precautions to
judge speeds and brake applica-
tions correctly in such condi-
tions.
(2) Be sure to use tyres of the same
type and size on four wheels.
If tyre types or sizes are mixed,
ABS may not function normally.
(3) Never install a limited slip differ-
ential, which is not MITSUBISHI
Genuine parts, as the ABS may
not function normally.
Please consult an authorized
MITSUBISHI dealer.

STARTING AND DRIVING
5–29
I24A040a
Warning lamp
The ABS warning lamp should illuminate
when the ignition switch is turned ”ON”, and
should go off in a few seconds.
CAUTION
If the warning lamp stays on or does
not illuminate when you start the ve-
hicle, it indicates that the ABS is not
functioning and that only the stan-
dard brake system is in operation. (In
this condition the standard hydraulic
brake system will still function.)
Please contact your nearest author-
ized MITSUBISHI dealer for inspec-
tion.
If the lamp illuminates while
driving
(1) Since there will always be a possibility of
the vehicle becoming unstable when
brakes are applied rapidly, ensure that
brakes are applied gently and that high–
speed driving is not attempted; further-
more, bring the vehicle to halt in a safe
location.
Restart the engine and check to see
whether the lamp goes out after a few
minutes driving; if it then remains off dur-
ing driving, there is no problem.
However, if the lamp does not go out, or
if it lights up again when the vehicle is
driven, have the vehicle checked by an
authorized MITSUBISHI dealer as soon
as possible.
(2) After starting the engine using jumper
cables, if you attempt to drive the ve-
hicle before the battery is sufficiently
charged, the engine will run irregularly
and the ABS warning lamp will illumi-
nate indicating that the vehicle should
not be driven.
This situation, however, is caused
merely by insufficient battery voltage
and is not an abnormal situation.
If such a situation occurs, run the engine
at idle for some time to charge the bat-
tery.
Front
I24A053a
NOTE
(1) Immediately after the vehicle starts
moving after engine start up, a whining
sound of a motor will be heard from the
engine compartment, and if the brake
pedal is depressed at that moment, a
pulsating is felt. These sound and shock
are due to the self–diagnosis operation
of the ABS and does not indicate a mal-
function.

STARTING AND DRIVING
5–30
Rear
I24A052a
(2) After driving on snowy roads, remove
any snow and ice which may have be-
come adhered to the wheel areas.
When doing this, be careful not to dam-
age the wheel speed sensors (A) and
cables located at each wheel.
(3) The ABS becomes operative after the
vehicle has accelerated to a speed in
excess of approximately 10 km/h. It
stops operating when the vehicle de-
celerates to a speed below approxi-
mately 5 km/h.
G09A017a
Steering wheel height
adjustment
EG09A-Ci
To adjust the steering wheel height, release
the tilt lock lever while holding the steering
wheel by hand, and raise or lower the steer-
ing wheel to the desired height.
After adjustment, securely lock the lever by
pulling it upward.
1-Locked
2-Released
WARNING
(1) After adjusting to the desired
height, check to be sure that the
lever is locked.
(2) Do not attempt to adjust the steer-
ing wheel while you are driving
the vehicle.
(3) When releasing the tilt lock lever,
move it to the release position (2)
and hold the steering wheel by
hand to prevent it falling to the
lowest position.