Understanding the Mitsubishi Hybrid System: Maintenance and Care

Keeping your car in your garage or another space for a long period may be necessary if you are about to be deployed, going on vacation, or only driving your car seasonally. Learning how to prep your Mitsubishi for long-term storage can help you avoid damage to the paint job and engine, and even help you preserve the value of your car. First, you will want to choose a good long-term storage space. Your garage at home is best for its convenient location, but you may also choose to store your vehicle in a climate-controlled facility or in a family friend's shed. Whichever option you choose, try to make sure your car storage location will protect your vehicle from extremely hot or cold weather. If you have no other choice but to store your vehicle outside, then you should invest in a high-quality car cover. Ideally, you should buy a car cover made from weatherproof material that will keep out dust, dirt, rain, snow, tree sap, and other debris. The best car covers are fitted and offer UV protection. Try to park your car in a safe location, which means avoiding parking under trees that could drop branches in storms. Fill the Tank Even though you won't be driving your car for a long time, your vehicle will still benefit from a full tank of gas. Not only does this make it easier to drive your car when you're ready, but it also protects your fuel tank by preventing moisture build-up. If you plan to keep your car stored for more than a month, using a fuel stabilizer is a good idea to prevent gas deterioration for up to a year. Top Up Fluids If you plan to store your car for longer than a month, then it's a good idea to top up the motor oil in your engine. Motor oil deteriorates in about six months, so your first task when you take your car out of storage may be a routine oil service at your local dealer. Clean the Car Even if you store your car in a climate-controlled facility or under a fitted car cover, you should clean your vehicle thoroughly before long-term storage. Debris left on your car from bugs, bird droppings, tree sap, and water can damage your paint job if left too long, so washing your car right before you store it can prevent paint damage. Cleaning the wheels, vacuuming the interior, and waxing your car are also good steps. Long-term car storage means planning for the future to preserve the appearance and performance of your vehicle. Contact Banister Mitsubishi-Hampton in Hampton, VA to schedule pre-storage service for your vehicle today.

Elevating Mitsubishi interior comfort is easy with the many available features, options, and accessories. Explore six ways to upgrade your Mitsubishi's cabin to create a luxury experience on every drive. 1. Leather Upholstery Enhance the vehicle's cabin with soft, supple leather upholstery. You can get exclusive light gray leather seating in the 2024 Outlander PHEV Platinum Edition or add the Premium Package to the SEL trim to enjoy semi-aniline leather. Leather upholstery also comes in the 2024 Outlander and 2024 Eclipse Cross if you choose the SEL trim or higher. Many Mitsubishi models offer a Black Edition, which gives you the comfort of sleek black semi-aniline leather upholstery. 2. Advanced Infotainment Most Mitsubishi models provide state-of-the-art infotainment. For example, the Outlander has a standard 8-inch touchscreen paired with a 7-inch driver information gauge, along with voice commands and support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher Outlander trims switch the 8-inch touchscreen for a 9-inch model with wireless smartphone connectivity and a wireless charging pad. Some models also add a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. The Outlander Sport offers the 8-inch touchscreen with smartphone connectivity in LE and higher trims. 3. Interior Illumination Set the mood with various interior lighting options. Upgrade your 2024 Outlander PHEV, Mirage G4, or Eclipse Cross with a Floor Illumination Kit to incorporate blue LEDs under the dash. 4. Heated Seats You can enjoy heated front seats if you select the top-tier Mitsubishi Mirage SE trim in either the sedan or hatchback style. The Mirage G4 SE also incorporates heated front seats. This feature comes standard if you select the SE or higher trim of the Eclipse Cross and LE or higher trim of the Outlander Sport. The Outlander PHEV provides heated front seats in SE and higher trims and heated rear seats in the top-level trim. 5. Automatic Climate Control Maintain your preferred temperature with the push of a button when you choose a Mitsubishi with automatic climate control. You'll find this feature in all trims of the 2024 Mirage G4. The Outlander offers dual-zone automatic climate control as a standard feature. The Eclipse Cross provides single-zone automatic climate control in the base models and dual-zone automatic climate control in the top-tier models. 6. Power-Adjustable Seats Find the most comfortable position with available power-adjustable front seats. A power-adjustable driver's seat comes in SE and higher trims of the 2024 Outlander. This feature is also included in the top-tier Sport SEL trim of the Outlander Sport. The Eclipse Cross adds a power-adjustable driver's seat to the SE trim as well as a power-adjustable passenger's seat to the SEL trim. Optimize the cabin luxury of any sophisticated Mitsubishi model. Visit Banister Mitsubishi-Hampton in Hampton, VA today to see these premium features in person.

Your Mitsubishi engine produces a large amount of energy, which is directed to the transmission. The transmission uses a series of gears to transfer this energy to the wheels, enabling them to move at the desired speed. Transmission problems can develop over time and will reduce your Mitsubishi's performance. As your Mitsubishi dealer, we want to tell you some signs you need to visit us for a transmission service. Transmission Fluid Leak Transmission fluid protects the transmission components from friction damage by covering them in a friction-resistant coating. It also provides the vital hydraulic power that allows the gears to shift smoothly and silently. The transmission case is solid, but worn or damaged transmission seals can allow transmission fluid to leak out. You'll usually spot a transmission leak as it appears as a puddle of bright or dark red liquid under your car. Signs of transmission leak include noises from the transmission and difficulty shifting gears. If you have a transmission leak, we advise against driving, as your transmission could suffer damage. We'll find the source of the leak and repair it, then refill the transmission fluid. Buzzing, Humming, and Whining The last thing you expect is to hear strange noises when your gears shift, as this means something is wrong. A Mitsubishi transmission is silent as it moves from gear to gear on the transmission computer's instructions. Two possible sounds you could hear are buzzing and humming. These sounds are very slight when they start but will gradually rise in tempo and become noticeable. The buzzing or humming sounds could turn into a high-pitched whining noise under certain circumstances. Fortunately, these unsettling noises are usually caused by a lack of transmission fluid. The lack of fluid causes friction damage in the transmission and prevents many components from working effectively. We'll find and fix the leak, then refill the transmission fluid, and the noises will stop. Check Engine Light The transmission is one of the few systems in your vehicle that doesn't have its warning light. This is due to the symbiotic relationship between the engine and the transmission. Both systems have to work correctly to move your vehicle. If something goes wrong inside the transmission, your engine will work harder to supply more energy to try and overcome the fault. The engine suffers increased strain trying to compensate for the transmission issue, which triggers the check engine light in response. Our technicians will use a diagnostic scanner to identify the problem area so they can zone in on the issue and repair it. Transmission problems grow worse if they're not repaired. Contact our service department today at Banister Mitsubishi-Hampton in Hampton, VA.