MITSUBISHI iMiEV 2013 Owner's Manual (in English)

WARNING
l Avoid sudden regenerative braking when
driving on wet or icy roads. Using sudden
regenerative braking under these condi-
tions could cause the vehicle to skid, re-
sulting in a serious accident.
NOTE l When

the traction battery level is nearly full
or the traction battery temperature is low, the
regenerative braking performance may be
weakened. In this case, drive the vehicle at a
low speed.
“C” COMFORT
This position gives weaker regenerative braking
than the “D” (DRIVE) position. It enables relaxed
driving in circumstances in which you do not accel-
erate or decelerate much (for example, suburban
driving). It is intended for long cruising. Driving the vehicle
E00629700016
Operation of the transmission E00629800020 CAUTION
l
Before
selecting a position with the elec-
tric motor unit 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 transmission is engaged, the brakes
should only be released when you are
ready to drive away.
l Depress the brake pedal with the right
foot at all times.
Using the left foot could cause driver move-
ment delay in case of an emergency.
l Operating the accelerator pedal while the
other foot is resting on the brake pedal
will affect braking efficiency and may
cause premature wear of brake pads.
Waiting E00630900018
For short waiting periods, such as at traffic signals
the

vehicle can be left in selector lever position and
held stationary with the service brake.
For longer waiting periods with the electric motor
unit running, place the selector lever in the “N”
(NEUTRAL) position and apply the parking brake,
while holding the vehicle stationary with the serv-
ice brake. CAUTION
l
Never
hold the vehicle stationary while in
transmission on a hill with the accelera-
tor, always apply the parking brake and/
or service brake.
Parking E00631000016
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 unattended, al-
ways switch off the electric motor unit and carry
the key.
NOTE
l On a slope, be sure to apply the parking
brake before moving the selector lever to the
“P” (PARK) position. If you move the selec-
tor lever to the “P” (PARK) position before
applying the parking brake, it may be diffi-
cult to disengage the selector lever from the
“P” (PARK) position when you next drive
the vehicle, requiring application of a strong
force to the selector lever to move it from the
“P” (PARK) position. Starting and driving
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Inspection and maintenance
following rough road operation E00606700383
After
operating the vehicle in rough road condi-
tions, be sure to perform the following inspection
and maintenance procedures:
l Check that the vehicle has not been damaged
by rocks, gravel, etc.
l Carefully wash the vehicle with water.
Drive the vehicle slowly while lightly depress-
ing the brake pedal in order to dry out the
brakes. If the brakes still do not function prop-
erly, we recommend you to have the brakes
checked as soon as possible.
l Remove the insects, dried grass, etc. clog-
ging the radiator core.
l Check the inside of the vehicle. If water en-
try is found, dry the carpet etc.
l Inspect the headlamps, If the headlamp bulb
is flooded with water, we recommend you to
have it drained. Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System
(AVAS) E00631600038
The
Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) is
a device that uses sound to alert pedestrians of the
presence of the vehicle. The system operates when
the vehicle speed is about 35 km/h (22 mph) or less.
The sound starts when the AVAS is operated in the
following conditions.
l When the vehicle speed is about 3 km/h
(2 mph) or less and the brake pedal is not de-
pressed.
l When the vehicle speed is about 3 km/h
(2 mph) to 35 km/h (22 mph).

The sound does not start in the following cases. l When the vehicle speed is about 3 km/h
(2 mph) or less and the brake pedal is de-
pressed.
l When the vehicle speed is about 35 km/h
(22 mph) or more.
l When the selector lever is in the “P” (PARK)
position.
l When the indication lamp (A) in the AVAS
OFF switch illuminates. Under normal conditions, the indication lamp (A) il-
luminates
when the electric motor switch is turned
to the “ON” position and goes off a few seconds later. WARNING
l Even
if the Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Sys-
tem (AVAS) sounds, pay special attention
to pedestrians.
Pedestrians may not notice the oncoming
vehicle, which may cause an accident re-
sulting in serious personal injury or death. Starting and driving
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CAUTION
l
Always confirm the indication lamp (A)
goes off before driving.
If the indication lamp (A) blinks, turn the
electric motor switch back to the
“LOCK” position and again turn the
switch to the “ON” position. It is not ab-
normal if the indication lamp (A) goes
off. If the indication lamp (A) blinks
again, have the vehicle inspected by a
MITSUBISHI MOTORS Authorized
Service Point as soon as possible.
AVAS OFF switch E00631700039
If the electric motor switch is turned on, the AVAS
is automatically turned on.
The

AVAS should be turned on while normal driv-
ing.
When driving on the freeway etc., it is possible to
turn off the AVAS by pressing the AVAS OFF
switch.
If pressing the AVAS OFF switch, the audible
alarm does not sound and indication lamp (A) illu-
minates. If pressing the AVAS OFF switch once again, the
AVAS

is activated and the indication lamp (A)
goes off. WARNING
l Never
turn the Acoustic Vehicle Alerting
System (AVAS) off if you are in a place
where pedestrians might be present.
NOTE l If

the electric motor switch is turned to the
“ACC” or “LOCK” position while the
AVAS has been turned off, and the electric
motor switch is turned to the “ON” position
again, the AVAS is activated. l
If
the AVAS OFF switch is continuously
pressed after the AVAS is turned off, the in-
correct operation prevention function works
and the system turns on again. Starting and driving
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Braking
E00607001869
All
the parts of the brake system are critical to safe-
ty. We recommend you to have the vehicle
checked at regular intervals according to the serv-
ice booklet. CAUTION
l
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 fading.
Brake system
The
service brake is divided into two brake cir-
cuits. And your vehicle is equipped with power
brakes. If one brake circuit fails, the other is availa-
ble to stop the vehicle. If you should lose the pow-
er assist for some reason, the brakes will still work.
In these situations, even if the brake pedal moves
down to the very end of its possible stroke or re-
sists being depressed, keep depressing the brake ped-
al down harder and further than usual; stop driving
as soon as possible and have the brake system re-
paired. WARNING
l Do
not turn off the electric motor unit
while your vehicle is in motion. If you
turn off the electric motor unit while driv-
ing, the power assistance for the braking
system will stop working and your brakes
will not work effectively. This could lead
to a crash and serious injury. WARNING
l If
the power assist is lost or if either
brake hydraulic system stops working
properly, have your vehicle checked im-
mediately.
Warning lamp
The
brake warning lamp illuminates to indicate a
fault in the braking system. Refer to “Brake warn-
ing lamp” on page 4-09.
When brakes are wet
Check the brake system while driving at a low
speed immediately after starting, especially when
the brakes are wet, to confirm they work normally.
A film of water can be formed on the brake discs
or brake drums and prevent normal braking after
driving in heavy rain or through large puddles, or
after the vehicle is washed. If this occurs, dry the
brakes out by driving slowly while lightly depress-
ing the brake pedal.
When driving downhill
It is important to take advantage of regenerative
braking by shifting to the “B” (BRAKE) position
while driving on steep downhill roads in order to
prevent the brakes from overheating. WARNING
l Do
not leave any objects near the brake
pedal or let a floor mat slide under it; do-
ing 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. Make sure the floor
mat is securely held in place.
Brake pad and linings l Avoid hard braking situations.
New

brakes need to be broken-in by moder-
ate use for the first 200 km (125 miles).
l The disc brakes are provided with a warning
device which emits a shrieking metallic
sound while braking if the brake pads have
reached their wear limit. If you hear this
sound, have the brake pads replaced immedi-
ately. WARNING
l Driving
with worn brake pads will make
it harder to stop, and can cause an acci-
dent. Starting and driving
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Brake assist system
E00627000174
The brake assist system is a device assisting drivers
who
cannot depress the brake pedal firmly when it
is necessary to do so (such as in emergency stop sit-
uations) and provides greater braking force.

If the brake pedal is depressed suddenly, the brakes
will be applied with more force than usual. CAUTION
l
The
brake assist system is not a device de-
signed to exercise braking force greater
than its capacity. Make sure to always
keep a sufficient distance between vehi-
cles in front of you without relying too
much on the brake assist system.
NOTE l Once

the brake assist system is operational,
it maintains great braking force even if the
brake pedal is lightly released.
To stop its operation, completely remove
your foot from the brake pedal.
l The brake assist system may become opera-
tional when the brake pedal is fully de-
pressed even if it has not been depressed sud-
denly. l
When
the brake assist system is in use, you
may feel as if the depressed brake pedal is
soft, the pedal moves in small motions in con-
junction with the sound of the ABS opera-
tion, or the vehicle body and the steering
wheel vibrate. This occurs when the brake as-
sist system is operating normally and does
not indicate faulty operation. Continue to
firmly depress the brake pedal.
l You may hear an operation noise when the
brake pedal is depressed suddenly while sta-
tionary. This does not indicate a malfunction
and the brake assist system is operating nor-
mally. Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
E00607101394
The
anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps prevent
the wheels from locking during braking. This helps
maintain vehicle drivability and steering wheel han-
dling.
Driving hints
l Always keep a safe distance from the vehicle
in front of you. Even if your vehicle is equip-
ped with ABS, leave a greater braking dis-
tance when:
• Driving on gravel or snow-covered roads.
• Driving with tyre chains installed.
• Driving on uneven road surfaces.
l Operation of ABS is not restricted to situa-
tions where brakes are applied suddenly.
This system may also prevent the wheels
from locking when you drive over manholes,
steel roadwork plates, road markings, or any
uneven road surface.
l When the ABS is activated, you may feel the
brake pedal pulsation and the vibrations of
the vehicle body and steering wheel. It may
also feel as if the pedal resists being pressed.
In this situation, simply hold the brake ped-
al down firmly. Do not pump the brake,
which will result in reduced braking per-
formance.
l An operation noise may be emitted from the
bonnet room in the following situations. The
sound is associated with checking the opera-
tions of the anti-lock brake system.
At this time, you may feel a shock from the
brake pedal if you depress it. These do not in-
dicate a malfunction.
• When the electric motor switch is turnedto the “ON” position. Starting and driving
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• When the vehicle is driven for a while af-
ter the electric motor is turned on.
l The ABS can be used after the vehicle has
reached a speed over approximately 10 km/h
(6 mph). It stops working when the vehicle
slows below approximately 5 km/h (3 mph). CAUTION
l
The
ABS cannot prevent accidents. It is
your responsibility to take safety precau-
tions and to drive carefully.
l To prevent failure of the ABS, be sure
wheels and tyres are of the specified size
and the same type.
l Do not install any aftermarket limited-
slip differential (LSD) on your vehicle.
The ABS may stop functioning properly.
ABS warning lamp E00607201207If there is a malfunction in the system, the ABS
warning lamp will come on. Under normal conditions, the ABS warning lamp
only

comes on when the electric motor switch is
turned to the “ON” position and goes off a few sec-
onds later. CAUTION
l
Any
of the following indicates that the
ABS is not functioning and only the stand-
ard brake system is working. (The stand-
ard brake system is functioning normal-
ly.) If this happens, we recommend you to
have your vehicle inspected as soon as pos-
sible. • When the electric motor switch isturned to the “ON” position, the warn-
ing lamp does not come on or it re-
mains on and does not go off.
• The warning lamp comes on while driv- ing
If the warning lamp illuminates while
driving E00607301338
If only the ABS warning lamp illuminates
Avoid
hard braking and high-speed driving. Stop
the vehicle in a safe place, put the selector lever to
the “P” (PARK) position and turn off the electric
motor unit.
Restart the electric motor unit and check to see
whether the lamp goes out after a few minutes driv-
ing; if it then remains off during driving, there is
no problem.
However, if the warning lamp does not disappear,
or if it comes on again when the vehicle is driven,
we recommend you to have the vehicle checked. If the ABS warning lamp and brake warning
lamp illuminate at the same time
The

ABS and brake force distribution function may
not work, so hard braking could make the vehicle
unstable.
Avoid hard braking and high-speed driving. Stop
the vehicle in a safe place and we recommend you
to have it checked.
NOTE
l The warning lamp may be illuminated when
the electric motor unit is started while the aux-
iliary battery voltage is low, but this is not an
ABS malfunction.
When the traction battery is charged, the aux-
iliary battery is charged at the same time, and
the warning lamp will go out.
If the warning lamp does not go out or illumi-
nates from time to time even after the battery
is charged, have the vehicle inspected at a
MITSUBISHI MOTORS Authorized Service
Point. Starting and driving
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After driving on icy roads
E00618800176
After
driving on snowy or icy roads, remove any
snow and ice which may have be left around the
wheels. Be careful not to damage the wheel speed
sensors (A) or the cables located at each wheel.
Front
Rear Electric power steering system
(EPS) E00629200183
The

power steering system operates while the elec-
tric motor unit is running. It helps reduce the effort
needed to turn the steering wheel.
The power steering system has mechanical steering
capability in case the power assist is lost. If the pow-
er assist is lost for some reason, you will still be
able to steer your vehicle, but you will notice it
takes much more effort to steer. If this happens,
have your vehicle inspected at a MITSUBISHI
MOTORS Authorized Service Point. WARNING
l Do
not stop the electric motor unit while
the vehicle is moving. Stopping the elec-
tric motor unit would make the steering
wheel extremely hard to turn, possibly re-
sulting in an accident.
NOTE l During

repeated full-lock turning of the steer-
ing wheel (for example, while you are ma-
noeuvring the vehicle into a parking space),
a protection function may be activated to pre-
vent overheating of the power steering sys-
tem. This function will make the steering
wheel gradually harder to turn. In this event,
limit your turning of the steering wheel for a
while. When the system has cooled down,
the steering action will return to normal. l
If
you turn the steering wheel while the vehi-
cle is stationary with the headlamps on, the
headlamps may become dim. This behaviour
is not abnormal. The headlamps will return
to their original brightness after a short while.
Electric power steering system warn-
ing lamp
Type 1
Type 2 If there is a malfunction in the system, the warning
lamp will come on. Starting and driving
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Under normal conditions, the warning lamp comes
on
when the electric motor switch is turned to the
“ON” position and goes off a few seconds later. CAUTION
l
If
the warning lamp appears while the elec-
tric motor unit is running, have the vehi-
cle inspected by a MITSUBISHI
MOTORS Authorized Service Point as
soon as possible. It may become harder to
turn the steering wheel. Active stability control (ASC)
E00616700429
The

Active Stability Control (ASC) takes overall
control of the anti-lock brake system, traction con-
trol function and stability control function to help
maintain the vehicle’s control. Please read this sec-
tion in conjunction with the page on the anti-lock
brake system, traction control function and stability
control function.

Anti-lock brake system (ABS) ® p. 5-15
Traction control function ® p. 5-18
Stability control function ® p. 5-19 CAUTION
l
Do
not over-rely on the ASC. Even the
ASC cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle.
This system, like any other system, has
limits and cannot help you to maintain
traction and control of the vehicle in all
circumstances. Reckless driving may lead
to accidents. It is the driver’s responsibil-
ity to drive carefully. This means taking
into account the traffic, road and environ-
mental conditions.
l Be sure to use the specified type and size
of tyre on all 4 wheels. Otherwise, the
ASC may not work properly.
l Do not install any aftermarket limited-
slip differential (LSD) on your vehicle.
The ASC may stop functioning properly. NOTE
l An

operation noise may be emitted from the
bonnet room in the following situations. The
sound is associated with checking the opera-
tions of the ASC. At this time, you may feel
a shock from the brake pedal if you depress
it. These do not indicate a malfunction. • When the electric motor switch is turnedto the “ON” position.
• When the vehicle is driven for a while af- ter the electric motor is turned on.
l When the ASC is activated, you may feel a
vibration in the vehicle body or hear a whin-
ing sound from the bonnet room.
This indicates that the system is operating nor-
mally. It does not indicate a malfunction.
l When the anti-lock brake system warning
lamp is illuminated, the ASC is not active.
Traction control function E00619000087
On slippery surfaces, the traction control function
prevents

the drive wheels from spinning excessive-
ly, thus helping the vehicle to start moving from a
stopped condition. It also provides sufficient driv-
ing force and steering performance as the vehicle
turns while pressing the acceleration pedal. CAUTION
l
When
driving a vehicle on a snowy or icy
road, be sure to install snow tyres and
drive the vehicle at moderate speeds. Starting and driving
5-18
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Stability control function
E00619100088
The
stability control function is designed to help
the driver maintain control of the vehicle on slip-
pery roads or during rapid steering manoeuvres. It
works by controlling the electric motor unit output
and the brake on each wheel.
NOTE
l The stability control function operates at
speeds of about 15 km/h (9 mph) or higher.
“ASC OFF” switch E00619200496
The ASC is automatically activated when the elec-
tric

motor switch is turned to the “ON” position.
You can deactivate the system by pressing down
the “ASC OFF” switch for 3 seconds or longer. When the ASC is deactivated, the indication
lamp

will turn on. To reactivate the ASC, momen-
tarily press the “ASC OFF” switch; the indica-
tion lamp is turned off. CAUTION
l
For
safety reasons, the “ASC OFF”
switch should be operated when your ve-
hicle is stopped.
l Be sure to keep the ASC on while driving
in normal circumstances. NOTE
l When

moving out of mud, sand or fresh
snow, pressing the accelerator pedal may not
allow the electric motor speed to increase. In
such situations, temporarily turning off the
ASC with the “ASC OFF” switch will make
it easier to move out your vehicle.
l Using the “ASC OFF” switch turns off both
the stability control function and the traction
control function.
l If you continue to press the “ASC OFF”
switch after the ASC is turned off, the “mis-
taken operation protection function” will ac-
tivate and the ASC will turn back on.
ASC indication lamp or ASC OFF in-
dication lamp E00619300556 -
ASC indication lamp
The indication lamp will blink
when the ASC is operating. -
ASC OFF indication lamp
This indication lamp will turn on
when the ASC is turned off with the
“ASC OFF” switch. CAUTION
l
When
the indication lamp blinks, ASC
is
operating, which means that the road is
slippery or that your vehicle’s wheels are
beginning to slip. If this happens, drive
slower with less accelerator input. Starting and driving
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If the indication lamp illuminates
while driving
E00631100017
If
an abnormal condition occurs in the system, the indication lamp and indication lamp will turn
on. CAUTION
l
The system may be malfunctioning.
Stop

the vehicle in a safe place, put the se-
lector lever to the “P” (PARK) position
and turn off the electric motor unit.
Restart the electric motor unit and check
whether the indication lamp goes out. If
they go out, there is no abnormal condi-
tion. If they do not go out or appear fre-
quently, it is not necessary to stop the ve-
hicle immediately, but we recommend
you to have your vehicle inspected.
Towing E00624400106CAUTION
l
When
towing the vehicle with only the
front wheels raised off the ground, do not
place the electric motor switch in the
“ON” position. Placing the electric motor
switch in the “ON” position could cause
the ASC to operate, resulting in an acci-
dent.
For details, refer to “Towing” on page
7-10. Cargo loads
E00609901413
Cargo load precautions CAUTION
l
Do
not load cargo or luggage higher than
the top of the seatback. Be sure that your
cargo or luggage cannot move once your
vehicle is moving. Having the driver’s vi-
sion blocked, and your cargo being
thrown inside the cabin if you suddenly
have to brake can cause a serious acci-
dent or injury.
l Load heavy cargo or luggage in the front
of the vehicle. If the load in the back of
the vehicle is too heavy, steering may be-
come unstable.
Loading a roof carrier CAUTION
l
Use
a roof carrier that properly fits your
vehicle. Do not load luggage directly onto
the roof.
For installation, refer to the instruction
manual accompanying the roof carrier.
l When attaching/removing the roof carri-
er and loading/removing luggage, do not
apply excessive pressure on a single point.
Depending on how and where the force is
applied, this may cause dents on the vehi-
cle roof. NOTE
l We

recommend you to use a genuine
MITSUBISHI roof carrier.
Roof carrier precautions CAUTION
l
Make
sure that the weight of the luggage
does not exceed the allowable roof load
(43 kg).
If the allowable roof load is exceeded, this
may cause damage to the vehicle.
The roof load is the total allowable load
on the roof (the weight of the roof carrier
plus the weight of luggage placed on the
roof carrier).
l When luggage is loaded onto the vehicle,
please make sure to drive slowly and
avoid excessive manoeuvres such as sud-
den braking or quick turning.
In addition, place the luggage on the car-
rier so that its weight is distributed even-
ly with the heaviest items on the bottom.
Do not load items that are wider than the
roof carrier.
The additional weight on the roof could
raise the vehicle’s centre of gravity and af-
fect vehicle handling characteristics.
As a result, driving errors or emergency
manoeuvres could lead to a loss of control
and result in an accident. Starting and driving
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