MITSUBISHI COLT 2011 Owner's Manual (in English)

NOTEl If genuine leather is wet with water or is wash-
ed in water, wipe off water as quickly as pos-
sible with a dry, soft cloth. If left damp, mil-
dew may grow.
l The genuine leather surface may be damaged
if a nylon brush or synthetic fibre is rubbed
hard against it.
l Organic solvents such as benzine, kerosene,
alcohol and petrol, acid or alkaline solvents
may discolour the genuine leather surface.
Be sure to use neutral detergents.
l Remove dirty patches or oil substances quick-
ly as they can stain genuine leather.
l The genuine leather surface may harden and
shrink if it is exposed to direct sun for long
hours. When your vehicle is parked, place it
in the shade as much as possible.
l When the temperature of the vehicle interior
rises in summer, vinyl products left on the
genuine leather seat may deteriorate and
stick to the seat.Cleaning the exterior of your
vehicle E00900700010
If the following is left on your vehicle, it may
cause corrosion, discolouration and stains, wash
the vehicle as soon as possible.
l Seawater, anti-freeze for road use.
l Soot and dust, iron powder from factories,
chemical substance (acids, alkalis, coal-tar,
etc.).
l Droppings from birds, carcasses of insects,
tree sap, etc.Washing E00900902351
Chemicals contained in the dirt and dust picked up
from the road surface can damage the paint coat
and body of your vehicle if left in prolonged contact.
Frequent washing and waxing is the best way to pro-
tect your vehicle from this damage. This will also
be effective in protecting it from environmental el-
ements such as rain, snow, salt air, etc.
Do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight. Park the
vehicle in the shade and spray it with water to re-
move dust. Next, using an ample amount of clean
water and a car washing brush or sponge, wash the
vehicle from top to bottom.
Use a mild car washing soap if necessary. Rinse
thoroughly and wipe dry with a soft cloth. After
washing the vehicle, carefully clean the joints and
flanges of the doors, bonnet, etc., where dirt is like-
ly to remain.
CAUTIONl When washing the under side of your ve-
hicle or wheel, be careful not to injure
your hands.
l If your vehicle has rain sensor wipers,
place the wiper switch lever in the “
”
(OFF) position to deactivate the rain sen-
sor before washing the vehicle. Other-
wise, the wipers will operate in the pres-
ence of water spray on the windscreen
and may get damaged as a result.
l Refrain from using a car wash as its brush-
es may scratch the paint surface, causing
it to lose its gloss.
Scratches will be especially visible on
darker coloured vehicles.
l Never spray or splash water on the electri-
cal components in the engine compart-
ment, as this may adversely affect engine
starting.
Exercise caution also when washing the
underbody; be careful not to spray water
into the engine compartment.
l Some types of hot water washing equip-
ment apply high pressure and heat to the
vehicle. They may cause heat distortion
and damage to the vehicle resin parts and
may result in flooding of the vehicle inte-
rior. Therefore; observe the following. •Maintain a distance of approx. 50 cm
or more between the vehicle body and
the washing nozzle.
• When washing around the door glass,
hold the nozzle at a distance of more
than 50 cm and at right angles to the
glass surface.
Vehicle care
7-03
7

CAUTIONlAfter washing the vehicle, drive the vehi-
cle slowly while lightly depressing the
brake pedal several times in order to dry
out the brakes.
Leaving the brakes wet could result in re-
duced braking performance. Also, there
is a possibility that they could freeze up
or become inoperative due to rust, render-
ing the vehicle unable to move.
l When using an automatic car wash, pay
attention to the following items, referring
to the operation manual or consulting a
car wash operator. If the following proce-
dure is not followed, it could result in dam-
age to your vehicle. • The outside mirrors are retracted.
• The antenna is removed.
• The rear wiper arm assembly is taped
or removed.
• If your vehicle is equipped with a rear
spoiler, consult a car wash operator be-
fore using the car wash.
• If your vehicle has rain sensor wipers,
place the wiper switch lever in the
“
” (OFF) position to deactivate the
rain sensor.
During cold weather
Salt and other chemicals spread on the roads in
some areas in winter can have a harmful effect on
the vehicle body. You should therefore wash the ve-
hicle as often as possible in accordance with our
care-instructions. It is recommended to have a pres-
ervative applied and the underfloor protection
checked before and after the cold weather season.
After washing your vehicle, wipe off all water-
drops from the rubber parts around the doors to pre-
vent the doors from freezing.
NOTE l To prevent freezing of the weatherstripping
on the doors, bonnet, etc., they should be trea-
ted with silicone spray.Waxing E00901000717
Waxing the vehicle will help prevent the adherence
of dust and road chemicals to the paintwork. Apply
a wax solution after washing the vehicle, or at least
once every three months to assist displacing of water.
Do not wax your vehicle in direct sunlight. You
should wax after the surfaces have cooled.
CAUTIONl Waxes containing high abrasive com-
pounds should not be used. Such waxes re-
move rust and stains effectively from the
paintwork but they are harmful to the lus-
tre on the painted surface and the plated
surface.
Further, they are harmful to glossy surfa-
ces such as grille, garnish, mouldings, etc.
l Do not use petrol or paint thinners to re-
move road tar or other contamination to
the vehicle surface.
l Do not apply wax on the areas having
black mat coating as it can cause uneven
discolouration, patches, blurs, etc. If
stained with wax, immediately wipe off
with a piece of soft cloth and warm water.Polishing E00901100011
The vehicle should only be polished if the paint-
work has become stained or lost its lustre. Matt-fin-
ish parts and plastic bumpers must not be polished,
polishing these parts will stain them or damage
their finish.Damaged paint E00901200168
Small cracks and scratches in the paint coat should
be touched up as soon as possible with
MITSUBISHI touch-up paint to prevent corrosion.
Check body areas facing the road or the tyres care-
fully for damage to the paint coat caused by flying
stones, etc. The paint code number for your vehicle
can be found on the vehicle information code plate
on the door sill.
Cleaning plastic parts E00901300550
Use a sponge or chamois leather.
If a car wax adheres on a grey or black rough sur-
face of the bumper, moulding or lamps, the surface
becomes white. In such a case, wipe it off using
lukewarm water and soft cloth or chamois leather.
CAUTIONl Do not use a scrubbing brush or other
hard tools as they may damage the plastic
part surface.
l Do not use wax containing compound (pol-
ishing powder) which may damage the
plastic part surface.
Vehicle care
7-04
7

CAUTIONlDo not bring the plastic parts into contact
with petrol, light oil, brake fluids, engine
oils, greases, paint thinners, and sulphu-
ric acid (battery electrolyte) which may
crack, stain or discolour the plastic parts.
If they touch the plastic parts, wipe them
off with soft cloth, chamois or the like
and an aqueous solution of neutral deter-
gent then immediately rinse the affected
parts with water.Chrome parts E00901400014
In order to prevent spots and corrosion of chrome
parts, wash with water, dry thoroughly, and apply a
special protective coating. This should be done
more frequently in winter.
Aluminium wheels* E00901500086
1.Remove dirt using a sponge while sprinkling
water on the wheel.
2. Use neutral detergent on any dirt that cannot
be removed easily with water.
Rinse off the neutral detergent after washing
the wheel.
3. Dry the wheel thoroughly using a chamois
leather or a soft cloth.
CAUTIONl Do not use a brush or other hard imple-
ment on the wheels.
Doing so could scratch the wheels.CAUTIONl Do not use any cleaner that contains an
abrasive substance or is acidic or alka-
line. Doing so could cause the coating on
the wheels to peel or become discoloured
or stained.
l Do not directly apply hot water using a
steam cleaner or by any other means.
l Contact with seawater and road deicer
can cause corrosion. Rinse off such sub-
stances as soon as possible.Window glass E00901600104
The window glass can normally be cleaned using
only a sponge and water.
Glass cleaner can be used to remove oil, grease,
dead insects, etc. After washing the glass, wipe dry
with a clean, dry, soft cloth. Never use the same
cloth to wipe the window glass as would be used to
wipe the paintwork; wax from the painted surfaces
could adhere to the glass and reduce its transparen-
cy and visibility.
CAUTIONl If your vehicle has rain sensor wipers,
place the wiper switch lever in the “”
(OFF) position to deactivate the rain sen-
sor before washing the windscreen. Oth-
erwise, the wipers will operate in the pres-
ence of water spray on the windscreen
and may get damaged as a result.NOTE
l To clean the inside of the tailgate window, al-
ways use a soft cloth and wipe the window
glass along the demister heater element so as
not to cause damage.Wiper blades E00901700017
Use a soft cloth and glass cleaner to remove grease,
dead insects, etc., from the wiper blades. Replace
the wiper blades when they no longer wipe proper-
ly. (Refer to page 8-16.)
Engine compartment E00902100265
Clean the engine compartment at the beginning and
end of winter. Pay particular attention to flanges,
crevices and peripheral parts where dust containing
road chemicals and other corrosive materials might
collect.
If salt and other chemicals are used on the roads in
your area, clean the engine compartment at least ev-
ery three months.
Never spray or splash water on the electrical com-
ponents in the engine compartment, as this may
cause damage.
Do not bring the nearby parts, the plastic parts and
so on into contact with sulphuric acid (battery elec-
trolyte) which may crack, stain or discolour them.
If they are in contact, wipe off with soft cloth, cha-
mois or the like and an aqueous solution of neutral
detergent then immediately rinse the affected parts
with plenty of water.
Vehicle care
7-05
7

Service precautions....................................................................... 8-02
Catalytic converter ........................................................................ 8-02
Bonnet ........................................................................................... 8-03
Engine oil ...................................................................................... 8-05
Engine coolant .............................................................................. 8-07
Washer fluid ................................................................................. 8-09
Brake fluid/Clutch fluid* .............................................................. 8-09
Battery .......................................................................................... 8-10
Tyres ............................................................................................. 8-11
Clutch pedal free play* ................................................................. 8-15
Brake pedal free play .................................................................... 8-16
Parking brake lever stroke ............................................................ 8-16
Wiper blades ................................................................................. 8-16
General maintenance .................................................................... 8-18
For cold and snowy weather ......................................................... 8-18
Fusible links .................................................................................. 8-19
Fuses ............................................................................................. 8-19
Replacement of lamp bulbs .......................................................... 8-23Maintenance8

Service precautionsE01000100458
Adequate care of your vehicle at regular intervals
serves to preserve the value and appearance as long
as possible.
Maintenance items as described in this owner’s man-
ual can be performed by the owner.
We recommend you to have the periodic inspection
and maintenance performed by a MITSUBISHI
MOTORS Authorized Service Point or another spe-
cialist. In the event a malfunction or other problem
is discovered, we recommend you to have it
checked and repaired. This section contains infor-
mation on inspection maintenance procedures that
you can do yourself. Follow the instructions and
cautions for each of the various procedures.WARNINGl When checking or servicing the inside of
the engine compartment, make sure the
engine is switched off and has had a
chance to cool down.
l If it is necessary to do work in the engine
compartment with the engine running, be
especially careful that your clothing, hair,
etc., does not become caught by the fans,
drive belts, or other moving parts.
l The fan may turn on automatically even
if the engine is not running; turn the igni-
tion key to “LOCK” position and remove
the key to ensure safety while you work
in the engine compartment.
l Do not smoke, cause sparks or allow open
flames around fuel or battery. The fumes
are flammable.WARNINGl Be extremely cautious when working
around the battery. It contains poisonous
and corrosive sulphuric acid.
l Do not get under your vehicle with just
the body jack supporting it. Always use
automotive jack stands.
l Improper handling of components and
materials used in the vehicle can endan-
ger your personal safety. We recommend
you to consult a specialist for necessary in-
formation.Catalytic converter E01000201140
For ordinary use, there are no particular precau-
tions except that of using unleaded petrol.
The exhaust gas scavenging devices used with the
catalytic converter are extremely efficient for the re-
duction of noxious gases. The catalytic converter is
installed in the exhaust system.
It is important to keep the engine properly tuned to
ensure proper catalyst operation and prevent possi-
ble catalyst damage.CAUTIONl Damage to the catalytic converter can re-
sult if your vehicle is not kept in proper
operating condition. In the event of an en-
gine malfunction particularly involving
engine misfire or other apparent loss of
performance, have your vehicle serviced
promptly. Continued operation of your ve-
hicle with a severe overheated condition
may result in possible damage to the con-
verter and vehicle.WARNINGl As with any vehicle, do not park or oper-
ate this vehicle in areas where combusti-
ble materials such as dry grass or leaves
can come in contact with a hot exhaust
since a fire could occur.
l Paint should not be applied to the catalyt-
ic converter.
Maintenance
8-02
8

The catalytic converter itself gets hot quickly, and
may be damaged if overheated. The following
points should be noted in order to prevent the igni-
tion of unburned petrol within the catalytic convert-
er.
l Use UNLEADED PETROL ONLY of the
type recommended in “Fuel selection” on
page 02.
l Do not drive with an extremely low fuel lev-
el; running out of fuel could cause damage to
the catalytic converter.
l Do not attempt to start the engine by pushing
the vehicle. If the battery is weak or dis-
charged, use another battery to start the en-
gine.
l Do not idle the engine with any spark plug
wires disconnected or removed such as per-
forming diagnostic tests.
l Do not idle the engine for prolonged periods
during very rough idle or malfunctioning op-
erating conditions.
l Do not race the engine when turning off the
ignition switch. This will cause the catalytic
converter to be damaged due to contact with
unburnt fuel.
l Stop driving the vehicle if you think the per-
formance is noticeably low, or if the engine
has a malfunction such as with the ignition,
etc.
If it is impractical to stop driving immediate-
ly, reduce the speed and drive for only a
short time. We recommend you to have your
vehicle inspected as soon as possible.l In unusual situations involving grossly mal-
functioning engine operation, a burnt smell
may indicate severe and abnormal 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 man-
ufacturer’s specifications, should be obtained
immediately.Bonnet E01000302470
To open
Pull the release lever towards you to unlock the bon-
net.
Raise the bonnet while pressing the safety lock.
NOTE l Only open the bonnet when the wipers are in
the parked position. Failure to do so may
cause paint/body damage.
Maintenance
8-03
8

Support the bonnet by inserting the support bar in
its slot.CAUTIONl Note that the support bar may disengage
the bonnet if the open bonnet is lifted by
a strong wind.
l Always insert the support bar into the
hole provided specifically for this pur-
pose. Supporting the bonnet at any other
location could result in the support bar
slipping out and lead to an accident.
To close
Unlatch the support bar (A) and clip it in its holder.
Slowly lower the bonnet to a position about 20 cm
above the closed position, then let it drop.
NOTE
l If this does not close the bonnet, release it
from a slightly higher position.
l Do not press down the bonnet hard with a
hand as it may damage the bonnet.
l Push the support bar (A) down completely in-
to its holder.
CAUTIONl Be careful that hands or fingers are not
trapped when closing the bonnet.
l Before driving, make sure that the bon-
net is securely locked. An incompletely
locked bonnet can suddenly open while
driving. This can be extremely dangerous.
Maintenance
8-04
8

Engine oilE01000402530
To check and refill engine oil
The engine oil used has a significant effect on the
engine’s performance, service life and startability.
Be sure to use oil of the recommended quality and
appropriate viscosity.
All engines consume a certain amount of oil during
normal operation, and engine oil consumption is
greatly influenced by payload, engine speed, etc.
Therefore, it is important to check the oil level at
regular intervals or before starting a long trip.
This check must be made with the engine warm but
not running. Park the vehicle on a level surface,
stop the engine, and then wait a few moments to al-
low the engine oil in circulation to return to the oil
pan to ensure accurate measurement.
Remove the dipstick and wipe it with a clean cloth.
Reinsert the dipstick as far as it goes. Remove the
dipstick and read the oil level, which should al-
ways be within the range indicated.
If the oil level is below the specified limit, remove
the cap located on the cylinder head cover and add
enough oil to raise the level to within the specified
range.
Be sure to use the specified engine oil and do not
mix various types of oil. Also, avoid mixing differ-
ent makes of oil together if possible.
After adding oil, close the cap securely.
Use only the recommended oils with an MB classi-
fication as specified in this manual.1100 models1300 models1500 models
NOTE
l The engine oil will deteriorate rapidly if the
vehicle is subjected to severe conditions (for
example, repeated operation on rough roads,
in mountainous regions, on roads with many
uphill and downhill gradients, or over short
distances). Consequently, the oil will require
earlier replacement.
l For handling of used engine oils, refer to
page 05.
Selection of engine oil

Maintenance
8-05
8

Except for vehicles with turbocharger (Engine
models 134910 and 135930)
l Select engine oil of the proper SAE viscosity
number according to the atmospheric temper-
ature.
l Use engine oil conforming to the following
classification: • “MB 229.1” or higher
Except for vehicles with turbocharger (Engine
models 3A91 and 4A90)
l Select engine oil of the proper SAE viscosity
number according to the atmospheric temper-
ature.
l SAE
0W-20 , 0W-30 , 5W-30 , and 5W-40 en-
gine oils can only be used if they meet
ACEA A3/B3, A3/B4 or A5/B5 and API SM
specifications.
l Use engine oil conforming to the following
classification: • API classification: “For service SM”
• ILSAC certificated oil
• ACEA classification: “For service A1/B1, A3/B3 , A3/B4 or
A5/B5”
NOTE l Use of additives is not recommended since
they may reduce the effectiveness of addi-
tives already included in the engine oil. It
may result in failure of the mechanical assem-
bly.
l The engine model is indicated on the vehicle
information code plate.
Refer to “Vehicle information code plate” on
page 9-02.Vehicles with turbocharger
l Select engine oil of the proper SAE viscosity
number according to the atmospheric temper-
ature.
l Use engine oil conforming to the following
classification: •API classification: “For service SG” or
higher
• ILSAC certificated oil
• ACEA classification: “For service A1/B1, A3/B3 , A3/B4 or
A5/B5”
NOTE l Use of additives is not recommended since
they may reduce the effectiveness of addi-
tives already included in the engine oil. It
may result in failure of the mechanical assem-
bly.
l SAE
5W-30 engine oil can be used to im-
prove engine startability in very cold weather
areas where the lowest atmospheric tempera-
Maintenance
8-06
8