flat tire MITSUBISHI GALANT 2012 9.G User Guide

4-2 Driving safety
4Fuel economy
N00628800080
Fuel economy is dependent on many factors. Your personal
driving habits can have a significant effect on your fuel use.
Several recommendations for achieving the greatest fuel econ-
omy are listed below.

Whenever accelerating from a stop, always accelerate
slowly and smoothly.

When parked for even a short period, do not idle the
engine. Shut it off.

Plan your trips to avoid unnecessary stops.

Keep your tires inflated to the recommended pressures.

For freeway driving, maintain a speed of approximately
50 mph (80 km/h) when traffic, roadway and weather con-
ditions safely permit.

Keep your air filter clean and your vehicle lubricated
according to the recommendations in this manual.

Always keep your vehicle well maintained. A poorly
maintained engine wastes fuel and costs money.

Do not overload your vehicle.
Driving, alcohol and drugs
N00628900010
Drunk driving is one of the most frequent causes of accidents.
Your driving ability can be seriously impaired even with blood
alcohol levels far below the legal minimum. If you have been
drinking, don’t drive. Ride with a designated non-drinking
driver, call a cab or a friend, or use public transportation.
Drinking coffee or taking a cold shower will not make you
sober.
Similarly, prescription and nonprescription drugs affect your
alertness, perception and reaction time. Consult with your doc-
tor or pharmacist before driving while under the influence of
any of these medications.
WA R N I N G
!
NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE.
Your perceptions are less accurate, your reflexes are
slower and your judgment is impaired.
BK0139500US.book 2 ページ ２０１１年４月１９日　火曜日　午後１時４８分

Driving safety
4-5
4 Vehicle preparation before driving
N00629000630
For a safer and more enjoyable trip, always observe the follow-
ing: Seat belts and seats
Before starting the vehicle, make certain that you and all
passengers are seated and wearing their seat belts properly
(with children in the rear seat, in appropriate restraints),
and that all the doors are locked.

Move the driver’s seat as far backward as possible, while
still keeping good visibility, and good control of the steer-
ing wheel, brakes, accelerator, and controls. Check the
instrument panel indicators for any possible problem.

Move the front passenger seat as far back as possible.

Make sure that infants and small children are properly
restrained in accordance with all laws and regulations.Defrosters Check these by selecting the defroster mode, and set the blower
switch on high. You should be able to feel the air blowing
against the windshield.
(Refer to “Defrosting or defogging the windshield and door
windows” on page 5-12, 5-19.)
Tires Check all the tires for heavy tread wear or uneven wear pat-
terns. Look for stones, nails, glass, or other objects stuck in the
tread. Look for any tread cuts or sidewall cracks. Check the
wheel nuts for tightness, and the tires (including spare tire) for
proper pressures. Replace your tires before they are heavily
worn out.
As your vehicle is equipped with a tire pressure monitoring
system, there is a risk of damage to the tire inflation pressure
sensors when the tire is replaced on the rim. Tire replacement
should, therefore, be performed only by an authorized Mitsub-
ishi Motors dealer.Lights Have someone watch while you turn all the exterior lights on
and off. Also check the turn signal indicators and high-beam
indicators on the instrument panel. Fluid leaks Check the ground under the vehicle after parking overnight, for
fuel, water, oil, or other leaks. Make sure all the fluid levels are
correct. Also, if you can smell fuel, you need to find out why
immediately and have it fixed.
BK0139500US.book 5 ページ ２０１１年４月１９日　火曜日　午後１時４８分

4-10 Driving safety
4
Tire and loading information placard
N00630100211
The tire and loading information placard is located on the
driver’s door sill. This placard shows the maximum number of occupants permit-
ted to ride in your vehicle as well as “the combined weight of
occupants and cargo” (C), which is called the vehicle capacity
weight. This placard also tells you the size and recommended
inflation pressure for the original equipment tires on your vehi-
cle. For more information, refer to “Tires” on page 7-19.
Ty p e 1
A- Vehicles sold in U.S.A. and Canada (Type 1)
B- Vehicles sold in Canada (Type 2)
BK0139500US.book 10 ページ ２０１１年４月１９日　火曜日　午後１時４８分

For emergencies
6-9
6 How to change a tire
N00836900806
Before changing a tire, first stop your vehicle in a safe, flat
location.
1. Park the vehicle on level and stable ground.
2. Set the parking brake firmly, move the selector lever to
the “P” (PARK) position.
3. Turn on the hazard flashers and turn the ignition key to the
“LOCK” position.
4. Set up a warning triangle, flashing signal light, etc., at an
adequate distance from the vehicle, and have all your pas-
sengers leave the vehicle.5. To prevent the vehicle from rolling when it is raised on the
jack, place chocks or blocks (A) at the tire that is diago-
nally opposite from the tire (B) you are changing.
WA R N I N G
!
Be sure to apply chocks or blocks to the correct tire
when jacking up the vehicle. If the vehicle moves
while jacked up, the jack could slip out of position,
leading to an accident.
BK0139500US.book 9 ページ ２０１１年４月１９日　火曜日　午後１時４８分

6-10 For emergencies
6
NOTE
The chocks shown in the illustration do not come with
your vehicle. It is recommended that you purchase chocks
or blocks and keep them in the vehicle for use if needed.

If chocks or blocks are not available, use stones or any
other objects that are large enough to hold the wheel in
position.
6. Get the jack, bar and wheel nut wrench ready.
Refer to “Tools and jack” on page 6-7.Spare tire information
N00849600243
Compact spare tireThe compact spare tire is designed to save space in the trunk.
Its lighter weight makes it easier to use if a flat tire occurs.
WA R N I N G
!
Tires, including spare tire, degrade over time with
age even when they are not being used. It is recom-
mended that tires over 6 years generally be replaced
even if damage is not obvious.
CAUTION
!
While the compact spare tire is stowed, the inflation
pressure should be checked at least once a month to
assure that it remains at the recommended inflation
pressure. See the tire and loading information plac-
ard attached to the driver’s door sill. Refer to “Tire
and loading information placard” on page 9-3.

Driving with an improperly inflated tire can cause
an accident. If you have no choice but to drive with
an under-inflated tire, keep your speed down and
avoid sudden steering or braking, if possible. Inflate
the tire to the correct pressure as soon as possible.
Refer to “Tire inflation pressures” on page 7-23.
The compact spare tire should be used only tempo-
rarily. While the compact spare tire is being used,
the tire pressure monitoring system will not function
properly. Have the tire replaced or repaired at an
authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair
facility of your choice as soon as possible.
If your vehicle has aluminum type wheels, you can
use the same wheel nuts on the compact spare tire
wheel.
Do not go over 50 mph (80 km/h) when driving with
the compact spare tire.
Avoid fast starting and braking when driving with
the compact spare tire.
Do not drive through automatic car washes and over
obstacles that could possibly damage the underside
of your vehicle. Because the compact spare tire is
smaller than the original tire, there is less clearance
between the ground and your vehicle.
Because the compact spare tire is designed only for
your vehicle, do not use it on any other vehicle.
CAUTION
!
BK0139500US.book 10 ページ ２０１１年４月１９日　火曜日　午後１時４８分

For emergencies
6-13
6
2. Place the jack under one of the jacking points (A) shown
in the illustration. Use the jacking point closest to the tire
you wish to change.3. Rotate the jack by hand until the flange portion (B) fits in
the groove (C) at the top of the jack.
WA R N I N G
!
Set the jack only at the positions shown here. If the
jack is set at a wrong position, it could dent your
vehicle or the jack might fall over and cause per-
sonal injury.
Do not use the jack on a tilted or soft surface.
Otherwise, the jack might slip and cause personal
injury. Always use the jack on a flat, hard surface.
Before setting the jack, make sure there are no sand
or pebbles under the jack base.
BK0139500US.book 13 ページ ２０１１年４月１９日　火曜日　午後１時４８分

6-18 For emergencies
6
9. Tighten the nuts in the order shown in the illustration until
each nut has been tightened to the torque listed here.
88 to 108 N•m (65 to 80 ft-lb)
10. Lower the jack all the way and remove it.11. Check the tire inflation pressure. The recommended tire
pressure for your vehicle is listed on the tire and loading
information placard attached to the driver’s door sill as
shown in the illustration. Refer to “Tire inflation pres-
sures” on page 7-23.
CAUTION
!
Never use your foot or a pipe extension to apply
added force to the wheel nut wrench when tighten-
ing the wheel nuts. If you do so, you can over-tighten
the wheel nuts and damage the wheel, wheel nuts
and hub bolts.
A- Vehicles sold in U.S.A. and Canada (Type 1)
B- Vehicles sold in Canada (Type 2)
BK0139500US.book 18 ページ ２０１１年４月１９日　火曜日　午後１時４８分

For emergencies
6-19
6
To store the flat tire or spare tire, jack, bar and
wheel nut wrench
N00850000058
Reverse the removing procedure when storing the flat tire or
spare tire, jack, bar and wheel nut wrench.
Refer to “To remove the spare tire” on page 6-11.Wheel covers
(if so equipped)
N00849400111
To remove Wrap the tip of the bar with a cloth, insert it deeply into the
notch provided in the wheel cover, and pry the cover away
from the wheel.
Using the same procedure at the other wheel cover notches,
work the wheel cover away from the wheel to remove it com-
pletely.
CAUTION
!
While the compact spare tire is stowed, the inflation
pressure should be checked at least once a month to
assure that it remains at the recommended inflation
pressure. See the tire and loading information plac-
ard attached to the driver’s door sill. Refer to “Tire
and loading information placard” on page 9-3.
Driving with an improperly inflated tire can cause
an accident. If you have no choice but to drive with
an under-inflated tire, keep your speed down and
avoid sudden steering or braking. Inflate the tire to
the correct pressure as soon as possible. Refer to
“Tire inflation pressures” on page 7-23.
The compact spare tire should only be used tempo-
rarily. When the compact spare tire is used, the tire
pressure monitoring system will not work properly.
See an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer as soon
as possible to replace or repair the original tire.
After changing the tire and driving the vehicle about
620 miles (1,000 km), retighten the wheel nuts to
make sure that they have not come loose.
If the steering wheel vibrates when driving after
changing the tire, have the tire checked for balance
at an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a
repair facility of your choice.
Do not mix one type of tire with another or use a dif-
ferent size from the one listed. This would cause
early wear and poor handling.
BK0139500US.book 19 ページ ２０１１年４月１９日　火曜日　午後１時４８分

For emergencies
6-23
6 Operation under adverse driving conditions
N00837200688
If your vehicle becomes stuck in sand, mud or
snow If your vehicle becomes stuck in snow, sand, or mud, it can
often be moved by a rocking motion. Move the selector lever
rhythmically between “Sports mode” and “R” (REVERSE)
position, while pressing lightly on the accelerator pedal.
Do not rev the engine or spin the wheels. Constant efforts to
free a stuck vehicle can cause overheating and transaxle fail-
ure. Let the engine idle for a few minutes to cool the transaxle
before trying again.
If your vehicle is still stuck after several rocking attempts, call
for a commercial tow truck service.
On wet roads
WA R N I N G
!
When trying to rock your vehicle out of a stuck posi-
tion, make sure that there are no people nearby. The
rocking motion can make your vehicle suddenly
lurch forward or backward, and injure any
bystanders.
CAUTION
!
Avoid flooded roads. Water is often deeper than it
looks, and you could be seriously hurt by driving
into flood water.
When driving in rain, on water-covered roads, or
through a car wash, water could get into the brake
discs and make them fail temporarily. In such cases,
lightly press the brake pedal to see if they are work-
ing properly. If they are not, press the pedal lightly
several times while driving to dry the brake pads,
then check them again.
When driving in rain, a layer of water may form
between the tires and the road surface (aquaplan-
ing). This loosens your tires’ grip on the road, mak-
ing it difficult to steer or brake properly. When
driving on a wet road:
• Drive your vehicle at a safe speed.
• Do not drive on worn tires.
• Always keep the tires at the correct inflation pres-
sures.
BK0139500US.book 23 ページ ２０１１年４月１９日　火曜日　午後１時４８分

6-24 For emergencies
6
On snowy or icy roads
When driving on a road covered with snow or ice, use
snow tires. Tire chains cannot be used on your vehicle.
There may be state or local regulations about using snow
tires. Always check the regulations in your local area
before using them. Refer to the section entitled “Snow
tires” on page 7-27 and “Tire chains” on page 7-27.

Drive slowly. Do not make sudden starts or stops, sharp
turns, or slam on the brakes.

Allow extra distance between your vehicle and the vehicle
in front of you, and avoid sudden braking.

If a skid occurs when the accelerator pedal is depressed,
take your foot off the pedal. Steer gently in the direction
of the skid.

Your vehicle is equipped with an anti-lock braking system
(ABS). Hold the brake pedal down firmly and keep it
depressed. Do not pump the brake pedal which will result
in reduced braking performance.

After parking on snowy or icy road, it may be difficult to
move your vehicle due to freeze-up of the brake. Depress
the accelerator pedal little by little to move the vehicle
after confirming safety of the vehicle.
On a bumpy or rutted road
Drive as slow as possible when driving on bumpy or rut-
ted roads or over potholes etc.
CAUTION
!
Do not depress the accelerator pedal rapidly. The
vehicle could start moving when it breaks free from
the ice, possibly resulting in an accident.
CAUTION
!
Driving on bumpy, rutted roads or over potholes can
damage the tires and wheels.
Wheels with low-profiles tires or under-inflated tires
are especially at risk for damage.
The vehicle’s body, bumper, muffler and other parts
may be damaged if the vehicle is
• driven over a step (for example, at the entrance or
exit of a parking lot);
• parked too closely against a curb or parking block,
or by the side of a road with curbstones;
• driven on a steep slope;
BK0139500US.book 24 ページ ２０１１年４月１９日　火曜日　午後１時４８分