check engine MITSUBISHI CARISMA 2000 1.G Owners Manual

INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
4–6
D50A532d
A: Petrol-powered vehicle
B: Diesel-powered vehicle
Indication and warning lampsED50AMFe1-Turn - signal indication lamps/Hazard warning lamps
2-Automatic transmission indication lamp
(vehicles with A/T only, “N” indicator lamp is used also as A/T
warning lamp.)
Page 5–18
3-High - beam indication lamp
4-Low fuel warning lamp
5-Front fog lamp indication lamp*
6-Rear fog lamp indication lamp
7-Door ajar warning lamp
8-ABS warning lamp*
Page 5–28
9-Brake warning lamp
10 -HOLD indication lamp (vehicle with automatic transmission IN-
VECS-II 4A/T only)
Page 5–20
11-Supplemental restraint (SRS) warning lamp
Page 3–36
12 -Oil pressure warning lamp13 -Charge warning lamp
14 -TCL indication lamp*
Page 5–34
15 -Check engine indication lamp
16 -Cruise control indication lamp*
Page 5–35
17 -Diesel preheat indication lamp
(diesel-powered vehicles only)
18 -Overheating warning lamp
(diesel-powered vehicles only)
NOTE
To find information concerning the indication or warning lamps
marked by the symbol “
Page xx”, refer to the specified pages. For
the other indication and warning lamps, refer to the subsequent
pages.

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.

INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
4–9
Charge warning lamp - redED54A–Ra
This lamp illuminates when the ignition key is turned
“ON”, and goes off after the engine has started.
CAUTION
If it illuminates while the engine is running,
there is a problem in the charging system. In
this case, immediately park your vehicle in a
safe place and contact your nearest author-
ized MITSUBISHI dealer.

Abnormality in the charging system

Broken alternator belt
Check engine indication lamp - amberED85AAKa
This lamp is a part of an onboard diagnostic system
which monitors the emissions, engine and automatic
transmission control systems.
If a problem is detected in one of these systems, this
lamp illuminates or flashes. Although your vehicle will
usually be drivable and not need towing, have the sys-
tem checked as soon as possible at an authorized
MITSUBISHI dealer.
This lamp will also illuminate for a few seconds when
the ignition key is turned to the “ON” position. If it does
not go off after a few seconds, take the vehicle to an
authorized MITSUBISHI dealer.
CAUTION
(1) Prolonged driving with this lamp on may
cause further damage to the emission
control system. It could also affect fuel
economy and drivability.
(2) If the lamp does not illuminate when the
ignition key is turned to the “ON” posi-
tion, have the system checked at an auth-
orized MITSUBISHI dealer.

INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
4–10
CAUTION
(3) If the lamp illuminates or flashes while the
engine is running, avoid driving at high
speeds and have the system checked at
an authorized MITSUBISHI dealer.
During vehicle operation with the lamp il-
luminated or flashing, the vehicle may not
accelerate when you depress the acceler-
ator pedal.
When the vehicle is stationary with the
lamp illuminated or flashing, you must de-
press the brake pedal more firmly than
usual since the engine idling speed is
higher than usual and the vehicle with an
automatic transmission has a stronger
tendency to creep forward.
NOTE
The engine electronic control module accommodat-
ing the onboard diagnostic system has various fault
data (especially about the exhaust emission) stored.
This data will be erased if a battery cable is discon-
nected, which will make rapid diagnosis difficult. Do
not disconnect a battery cable when the check engine
indication lamp is ON.
Oil pressure warning lamp - redED25A-Ai
This lamp illuminates when the ignition key is turned
“ON”, and goes off after the engine has started. If it il-
luminates while the engine is running, the oil pressure
is too low.
If the warning lamp illuminates while the engine is run-
ning, turn the engine off and contact your nearest
authorized MITSUBISHI dealer for inspection.
CAUTION
(1) If this lamp illuminates when the engine
oil level is not low, contact your nearest
authorized MITSUBISHI dealer for inspec-
tion.
(2) This warning lamp does not indicate the
amount of oil in the crankcase. This must
be determined by checking the oil level on
the dipstick, while the engine is switched
off.
(3) If you continue driving with low engine oil
level or with this warning lamp illumi-
nated, engine seizure may occur.
NOTE
The oil pressure warning lamp should not be treated
as an indication of the engine’s oil level. The oil level
must be checked using the dipstick.

STARTING AND DRIVING
5–7
(3)City traffic
Frequent starting and stopping in-
creases the average fuel consumption.
Use roads with smooth traffic flow
whenever possible. When driving on
congested roads, avoid use of a low
gear at high engine speeds.
(4) Idling
The vehicle consumes fuel even during
idling. Avoid extended idling whenever
possible.
(5)Speed
The higher the vehicle speed, the more
fuel consumed. Avoid driving at full
speed. Even a slight release of the ac-
celerator pedal will save a significant
amount of fuel.
(6)Tyre inflation pressure
Check the tyre inflation pressures at
regular intervals. Low tyre inflation pres-
sure increases road resistance and fuel
consumption. In addition, low tyre pres-
sures adversely affect tyre wear and
driving stability.(7)Load
Do not drive with unnecessary articles in
the luggage compartment. Especially
during city driving where frequent start-
ing and stopping is necessary, the in-
creased weight of the vehicle will greatly
affect fuel consumption. Also avoid driv-
ing with unnecessary luggage, etc., on
the roof; the increased air resistance will
increase fuel consumption.
(8)Cold engine starting
Starting of a cold engine consumes
more fuel.
Unnecessary fuel consumption is also
caused by keeping a hot engine run-
ning. After the engine is started, com-
mence driving as soon as possible.
(9)Air conditioning*
The use of the air conditioning will in-
crease the fuel consumption.Trailer towingEC21AMFg
In order to tow a trailer with your vehicle, a
trailer towing device that meets all relevant
regulations in your area has to be mounted.
The regulations concerning the towing of a
trailer may differ from country to country. You
are advised to obey the regulations in each
area.
CAUTION
Danger of accident!
A towing bar should be fitted by an
authorized MITSUBISHI dealer.

STARTING AND DRIVING
5–13
I27A036a
Starting the engine
(Petrol-powered vehicles)
This vehicle is equipped with an electroni-
cally controlled fuel injection system which
is automatically controlled. When starting
the engine, do not depress the accelerator
pedal.
Normal conditions
The starting procedure is as follows :
1. Insert the ignition key and fasten the
seat belt.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Depress and hold the brake pedal.
4. Place the gearshift lever (manual
transmission) in the “N” (Neutral) or
the selector lever (automatic trans-
mission) in the “P” (PARK) position.
5. Fully depress the clutch pedal (man-
ual transmission).
6. After turning the ignition key to the
“ON” position, make certain that all
warning lamps are functioning proper-
ly before starting the engine.
7. Turn the ignition key to the “START”
position without depressing the accel-
erator pedal, and release it when the
engine starts.
NOTE
A ticking noise may be heard after starting
the engine. This is not an abnormal condi-
tion. The noise will disappear after a short
time of engine running.
If the ticking noise continues after the engine
is warmed up, have your vehicle checked at
an authorized MITSUBISHI dealer.
Flooded engine
If the engine has become flooded during
starting, first operate the starter for 5 to 6 sec-
onds while fully depressing the accelerator
pedal, then start the engine without depres-
sing the accelerator pedal.
At extreme cold ambient
temperature
If the engine won’t start, depress the accel-
erator pedal about halfway while cranking
the engine. Once the engine starts, re-
lease the accelerator pedal.
CAUTION
When starting the engine, make sure
that you press on the brake pedal. At
extreme cold ambient temperature,
move your foot to the brake pedal im-
mediately after the engine has
started.

STARTING AND DRIVING
5–19
Except for vehicles with Sports mode
I04A229a
Indicator lamps
A- Selector lever position indicator lamp
B- “N” indicator lamp
The indication lamps in the instrument panel
are for indication the selector lever position
and one of them will be illuminated when the
ignition is switched “ON”.
I04A257a
Vehicles with Sports mode
CAUTION
If the “N” (NEUTRAL) indicator lamp
in the selector lever position indicator
flashes while you are driving, there
could be a malfunction in the auto-
matic transmission. (If the selected
lever position is in the “P” (PARK),
“R” (REVERSE) or “N” (NEUTRAL)
position, the indicator lamp does not
flash.) Identify and rectify the problem
in accordance with the following pro-
cedure.
CAUTION
[The “N” indicator lamp flashes rapid-
ly (twice per second)]
The automatic transmission fluid is
overheating.
Park your vehicle in a safe place but
do not turn off the engine. Move the
selector lever to the “P” (PARK) posi-
tion and open the bonnet. Keep the
engine idling.
After a while, move the selector to the
“D” position and confirm that the “N”
indicator lamp stops flashing. It is safe
to continue driving if the “N” indicator
lamp no longer flashes.
Be sure to carry out this check with
the selector lever in the all forward
position except for “P” (PARK), “R”
(REVERSE) or “N” (NEUTRAL). The
“N” indicator lamp warning function
operates only in these positions.
If the “N” indicator lamp continues
flashing or flashes intermittently,
have your vehicle inspected by an
authorized MITSUBISHI dealer.

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
5–29
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
5–31
Power steering systemEC13A-Ah
When the engine is stopped, the power
steering system will not function and it will re-
quire greater manual effort to operate the
steering wheel. Keep this in mind in particu-
lar when towing the vehicle. Never turn off
the engine while driving.
Periodically check the power steering fluid
level.
CAUTION
Do not hold the steering wheel in the
fully turned position (either left or
right), for longer than 10 seconds.
This can cause damage to the power
steering pump due to reduced lu-
brication.
I08A027a
Inside rear-view mirrorEI08A-Be
The lever (A) at the bottom of the mirror can
be used to adjust the mirror to reduce the
glare from the headlamps of vehicles behind
you during night driving.
1-Normal
2-Anti-glare
WARNING
Do not attempt to adjust rear-view
mirrors while driving. This can be
dangerous.
Always adjust the mirrors before driv-
ing.
I08B091a
Outside rear-view mirrorEI08A-Za
On the driver’s seat side, a compound
curved-surface mirror is used, while on the
front passenger’s seat side, a single curved-
surface mirror is used.
The compound curved-surface mirror has
different curvatures between the inner and
outer sides of the boundary line (A).
The inner side of the boundary line provides
the same vision as that available from an
ordinary door mirror.
However, the outer side of the boundary line
provides a wider vision than an ordinary door
mirror.