brakes MITSUBISHI CARISMA 2000 1.G Owners Manual

INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
4–8
Rear fog lamp indication lamp - amber
ED74A-B
This lamp illuminates while the rear fog lamp is on.
Door-ajar warning lamp - redED56A-Ca
This lamp illuminates when a door or the tailgate is
either open or incompletely closed.
CAUTION
Before moving your vehicle, check that the
warning lamp is OFF.
Brake warning lamp - redED23AAKb
With the ignition switch “ON”, the brake warning lamp
illuminates under the following conditions:
(1) When the parking brake lever has been en-
gaged.
(2) When the brake fluid level in the reservoir falls to
a low level.
CAUTION
(1) In the situations listed below, brake per-
formance may be compromised, if brakes
are applied suddenly; consequently,
avoid driving at high speeds or applying
the brakes suddenly. Furthermore, the ve-
hicle should be brought to a stop in a safe
location and your nearest authorized MIT-
SUBISHI dealer should be contacted.

The brake warning lamp does not il-
luminate when the parking brake is ap-
plied or does not turn off when the
parking brake is released.

The brake warning lamp remains il-
luminated during driving.
(2) The vehicle should be brought to a halt in
the following manner when brake per-
formance has deteriorated.

Depress the brake pedal harder than
usual.

Should the brakes fail, use engine
braking to reduce your speed and
slowly pull the parking brake lever to
park your vehicle.
Depress the brake pedal to operate the
stop lamp (brake lamp) to alert the ve-
hicles behind you.

STARTING AND DRIVING
5–6
The catalytic converter itself gets hot quickly,
and may be damaged if overheated. The fol-
lowing points should be noted in order to pre-
vent the ignition of unburned petrol within the
catalytic converter.
(1) In case of the petrol-powered vehicles,
use UNLEADED PETROL ONLY of the
type of recommended in “Fuel usage”
on page 5–3.
(2) Do not drive with an extremely low fuel
level; running out of fuel could cause
damage to the catalytic converter.
(3) Do not switch OFF the ignition switch
while driving.
(4) Do not try to start the engine by pushing
the vehicle. If the battery is weak or dis-
charged, use another battery to start the
engine.
(5) In case of the petrol-powered vehicles,
do not idle the engine with any spark
plug wires disconnected or removed
such as performing diagnostic tests.
(6) Do not idle the engine for prolonged
periods during very rough idle or mal-
functioning operating conditions.
(7) Do not race the engine when turning off
the ignition switch. This will prevent the
catalytic converter from being damaged
due to unburnt fuel.(8) Stop driving the vehicle if you think the
performance is noticeably low, or that
there is unnecessary engine rotation or
any other engine trouble, such as with
the ignition, etc.
If it is impractical to stop driving immedi-
ately, reduce the speed and drive for
only a short time. Have an inspection
made by your nearest authorized MIT-
SUBISHI dealer as soon as possible.
(9) In unusual situations involving grossly
malfunctioning engine operation, a
burnt smell may indicate severe and ab-
normal catalyst overheating.
If this occurs, the vehicle should be
stopped in a safe place, the engine
switched off and the vehicle allowed to
cool. Once the engine is cool, a service,
including a tune-up to manufacturer’s
specifications, should be obtained im-
mediately.Economical drivingEC19ABC
For economical driving, there are some
technical requirements that have to be met.
The prerequisite for low fuel consumption is
a properly adjusted engine. In order to
achieve longer life of the vehicle and the
most economical operation, have the vehicle
serviced by an authorized MITSUBISHI
dealer at regular intervals in accordance with
the service standards.
Fuel economy and generation of exhaust
gas and noise are highly influenced by per-
sonal driving habits as well as the particular
operating conditions. The following points
should be observed in order to minimize
wear of brakes, tyres and engine as well as
to reduce environmental pollution.
(1)Starting
Avoid rapid acceleration and sudden
starts; such operation will result in
higher fuel consumption.
(2)Shifting
Shift only at an appropriate speed and
engine speed. Always use the highest
gear possible.

STARTING AND DRIVING
5–8
NOTE
Fitting of a towing bar requires specialized
skills and equipment. Contact an authorized
MITSUBISHI dealer for details.
If you are going to tow a trailer, pay careful
attention to the following points.
Maximum towable weight with brake
and maximum trailer-nose weight
Never exceed the maximum towable weight
with brake and the maximum trailer-nose
weight as listed in the specifications. (Refer
to pages from 10–6 to 10–9)
If you tow a trailer at an altitude of more than
1000m above sea-level, reduce your weight
by 10% of the gross combination weight for
every increase of 1000m above sea-level,
as the engine output is lowered owing to de-
crease in atmospheric pressure.C21A015a
Towing bar mounting
specifications
See the following table for fixing points (A) for
the towing bar.
mm
12345
1,0908051908580
678910
30518515535
1112131415
288187.5439501940
161718
4709401,002
C21A014a
Operating hints
(1) Do not let the clutch slip (vehicles with a
manual transmission only) and do not
increase the engine speed more than
necessary when starting.
(2)Be sure that the driving speed does not
exceed the 100 km/h for trailer oper-
ation.
It is also recommended that you obey
the local regulations in case driving
speed with a trailer is limited to less than
100 km/h.
(3)To prevent shocks from the overrun
brake, depress the brake pedal lightly at
first and then more strongly.
(4) To make full use of engine braking,
change to a lower gear before descend-
ing a slope.
(5) The body, brakes, clutch, and chassis
will be under additional strain when tow-
ing a trailer.

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
5–27
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
5–35
Driving hints
(1) TCL does not actively apply brakes. Al-
ways decelerate the vehicle sufficiently
before entering corners or bends.
(2) On snowy or icy roads, drive slowly
using tyre chains or snow tyres.
(3) When the TCL indication lamp illumi-
nates, SLIP control is being operated,
and it means that the road is slippery or
your vehicle is excessively accelerating.
In this situation, release foot from the ac-
celerator pedal and maintain moderate
speed.
(4) Never mix or use tyres of different size
since the TCL system could function in-
correctly and make safe driving difficult.
I26A127a
Indication lamp
1. When the ignition switch is turned
“ON”, the TCL indication lamp illumi-
nates and goes out after a few sec-
onds.
2. When SLIP control is exerted while
driving, the TCL indication lamp will il-
luminate.
CAUTION
(1) If the TCL indication lamp stays
on or does not illuminate when
the ignition switch is turned
”ON”, it indicates that any mal-
function may occur in the system.
(2) If the TCL indication lamp flashes
when you drive the vehicle, it indi-
cates that any malfunction oc-
curs in the system.
When either (1) or (2) happens,
have your vehicle checked at an
authorized MITSUBISHI dealer.

FOR EMERGENCIES
8–2
If the vehicle breaks downEN40B-Bc
If the vehicle breaks down on the road, move
it to the shoulder and use the hazard warning
flashers.
If the engine stops/fails
Vehicle operation and control are affected if
the engine stops. Before moving the vehicle
to a safe area be aware of the following:
1. The brake booster becomes inoperat-
ive and the pedal effort will increase.
Press down the brake pedal harder
than usual.
2. Since the power steering pump is no
longer operative, the steering wheel
feels heavy when turning it. Turn the
wheel with more effort than usual.
Operation under adverse
driving conditions
EI43ABAa
If your vehicle is stuck: in sand,
mud or snow
If the vehicle becomes stuck in snow, sand,
or mud, it can often be moved by a rocking
motion. Move the gearshift lever or selector
lever alternately between the 1st and Re-
verse position (with manual transmission),
the “L” (LOW) and “R” (REVERSE) position
(with INVECS–II 4A/T), and the Sport mode
and “R” (REVERSE) position (with INVECS–
II Sport Mode 4A/T) while applying slight
pressure to the accelerator pedal.
Avoid racing the engine or spinning the
wheels. Prolonged efforts to free a stuck ve-
hicle may result in overheating and trans-
mission 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.
WARNING
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 ve-
hicle to suddenly launch forward or
backward causing injury or damage
to nearby people or objects.
On a flooded road
(1) 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.
(2) 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 resis-
tance 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 a slow speed.
(b) Do not drive on worn tyres. Always
maintain the specified tyre inflation
pressures.