Mitsubishi Montero (2004+). Manual - part 485

WHEEL AND TIRE DIAGNOSIS

TSB Revision

WHEEL AND TIRE

31-11

WHEEL BALANCE ACCURACY

M1311001700269

PURPOSE

This section contains tips and procedures for achiev-
ing accurate wheel balance. Steering wheel vibration 
and/or body shake can result if any of these proce-
dures are not carefully observed.
1. Wheels and tires must be properly mounted on a 

balancer in order to achieve correct balance. 
Centering the wheel on the shaft of the balancer is 
essential for proper mounting.

2. Off-the-car wheel balancers must be calibrated 

periodically to ensure good balancing results. An 
inaccurately calibrated balancer could cause 
unnecessary replacement of tires, shocks, 
suspension components, or steering components.

Check your balancer's calibration approximately 
every 100 balances. Your wheel balancer's instruc-
tion manual should include calibration procedures. If 
the calibration procedures specifically for your bal-
ancer are missing, use the generic steps in this sec-
tion for zero calibration, static balance, and dynamic 
balance checks. The wheel balancer calibration 
checks are also described in the flowchart (Refer to 

P.31-13

).

PROCEDURE <BALANCING TIPS>

1. Confirm that the balancer's cone and the wheel 

mounting cone are undamaged and free of dirt 
and rust.

2. On this vehicle, the wheel's center hole on the 

hub side has a chamfered edge. Use a 
back-mounting cone on your wheel balancer to 
center the wheel on the balancer shaft.

3. Install a wheel mounting cone. The appropriate 

size cone for this vehicle is 67.0 mm (2.64 
inches).

4. Before balancing the wheel, remove any wheel 

weights from both sides. Also check both sides for 
any damage.

5. When installing wheel weights, hammer them at a 

straight (not diagonal) angle.

<CONFIRMING PROPER BALANCE>

1. After balancing the wheel, loosen the wing nut 

and turn the wheel 180 degrees against the 
balancer's hub. Then re-tighten the wing nut and 

check the balance again. Repeat wheel balance if 
necessary.

Scalloped 
wear

Lack of rotation of tires or worn 
or out-of-alignment suspension

Rotate the tires, and 
check the front 
suspension 
alignment.

Refer to GROUP 
33A, On-vehicle 
service 

− Front 

wheel alignment 
check and 
adjustment 

P.33A-5

.

SYMPTOM

PROBABLE CAUSE

REMEDY

REFERENCE 
PAGE

ACX00934

AC000041AB

HUB/SHAFT
ASSEMBLY

CLAMPING CUP

WING NUT

STANDARD PASSENGER 
CAR WHEEL

WHEEL 
MOUNTING 
CONE

SPRING PLATE

WHEEL AND TIRE DIAGNOSIS

TSB Revision

WHEEL AND TIRE

31-12

2. Turn the wheel again 180 degrees against the 

balancer's hub. If the wheel becomes 
out-of-balance each time it is turned against the 
balancer's hub, the wheel balancer may require 
calibration.

<WHEEL BALANCER CALIBRATION 
CHECKS>

1. Mount an undamaged original-equipment alloy 

rim and tire assembly (wheel) onto your 
off-the-car wheel balancer. Balance the wheel.

2. <<Zero Calibration Check>>

Loosen the balancer wing nut, rotate the wheel a 
half-turn (180 degrees), and retighten the nut. 
Recheck the balance.

• If the imbalance is 5 g (0.18 ounce) or less, the 

zero calibration is OK. Rebalance the wheel, then 
go to Step 4 to check static balance.

• If the imbalance is more than 5 g (0.18 ounce), go 

to Step 3.

3. Loosen the balancer wing nut, rotate the wheel 

1/4 turn (90 degrees), and retighten the nut. 
Recheck the wheel balance.

• If the imbalance is 5 g (0.18 ounce) or less, the 

wheel may not be centered on the balancer, or 
the balancing cones, the cup, and/or wing nut are 
damaged, dirty, or inappropriate for the wheel. 
You may need to refer to the balancer manufac-
turer's instructions to verify the correct attach-
ments. After making the necessary corrections, 
recheck the wheel balance. If OK, then go to Step 
4.

• If the imbalance is more than 5 g (0.18 ounce), 

the balancer requires calibration. Contact the bal-
ancer manufacturer for calibration by their repair 
representative.

4. <<Static Balance Check>>

Attach a 5-g (0.18-ounce) weight to the outer rim. 
Recheck the balancer. The balancer should 
detect 5 

± 2 g (0.18 ± 0.06 ounce) of imbalance 

170 to 190 degrees away from the 5-g 
(0.18-ounce) weight.

• If the imbalance is within specification, the static 

balance calibration is correct. Go to Step 5 to 
check the dynamic balance.

• If the imbalance is out of specification, the bal-

ancer requires calibration. Contact the balancer 
manufacturer for calibration by their repair repre-
sentative.

5. <<Dynamic Balance Check>>

Attach a 5-g (0.18-ounce) weight to the inner rim 
180 degrees opposite the 5-g (0.18-ounce) weight 
that was added in Step 4. Recheck the balance. 
The balancer should detect 5 

± 2 g (0.18 ± 0.06 

ounce) of imbalance 170 to 190 degrees away 
from both the inner and outer 5-g (0.18-ounce) 
weights.

• If the imbalance is within specification, the 

dynamic balance calibration is correct. The bal-
ancer calibration checks are complete.

• If the imbalance is out of specification, the bal-

ancer requires calibration. Contact the balancer 
manufacturer for calibration by their repair repre-
sentative.

WHEEL AND TIRE DIAGNOSIS

TSB Revision

WHEEL AND TIRE

31-13

WHEEL BALANCER CALIBRATION CHECKING FLOW CHART

AC000040

Balance wheel.

Rotate wheel 1/2 turn.

Imbalance = 5g (0.18oz) or less

Imbalance = more than 5g (0.18oz)

Rebalance wheel.

Rotate wheel 1/4 turn.

Imbalance = 5g (0.18oz) or less

Imbalance = more than 5g (0.18oz)

Verify wheel is properly centered.
Verify cones, cup, and wing nut are clean,
undamaged, and appropriate for wheel.
Make necessary corrections, then recheck
wheel balance.

Attach a 5-g (0.18-oz) weight to the outer rim.
Is the imbalance 5 ± 2g (0.18 ± 0.06oz) at 170 

–

 190 

degrees away from the 5-g (0.18-oz) weight?

YES

NO

Attach a 5-g (0.18-oz) weight to the inner rim at 180
degrees opposite the weight on the outer rim.
Is the imbalance 5 ± 2g (0.18 ± 0.06oz) at 170 

–

 190 

degrees away from both 5-g (0.18-oz) weights?

YES

NO

Balancer does not require
calibration.

Balancer requires calibration.
Contact balancer manufacturer.

ZERO CALIBRATION 
CHECK

STATIC BALANCE 
CHECK

DYNAMIC BALANCE 
CHECK

AC

TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) DIAGNOSIS

TSB Revision

WHEEL AND TIRE

31-14

TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) 

DIAGNOSIS

INTRODUCTION TO DIAGNOSIS

M1311002300026

TPMS MAY NOT WORK NORMALLY IN 
THE FOLLOWING CIRCUMSTANCES:

• A wireless facility or device using the same fre-

quency with the TPMS transmitter is near the 
vehicle.

• Snow or ice is stuck inside the wheel houses and 

/or on the wheels.

• The TPMS transmitter’s battery is discharged.

• Wheels other than Mitsubishi genuine wheels are 

being used.

• Wheels that are not fitted TPMS transmitters are 

being used.

• Wheels whose tire pressure sensor IDs are not 

registered by the vehicle are being used.

 WHEN THE TPMS WARNING LIGHT IS 
ON

• If the TPMS warning light illuminates, check the 

inflation pressure of all the tires (including the 
spare tire) and adjust if necessary. If the TPMS 
warning light still remains illuminated, a flat tire or 
a defective TPMS transmitter is suspected.

• If a road tire does not contain a TPMS transmitter, 

the TPMS warning light will flash and the TPMS 
will not work normally. Replace the tire with one 
containing a TPMS transmitter.

AFTER REPLACING TPMS 
COMPONENTS

• Whenever the TPMS transmitter and/or TPMS 

receiver are replaced, register the tire pressure 
sensor ID of all the TPMS transmitter-contained 
tires.

• After the TPMS antennas and feeder cable are 

replaced, also register the tire pressure sensor ID 
of all the TPMS transmitter-contained tires, and 
then check the receiver function through the com-
pletion of the registration.

• Whenever any TPMS component (transmitter, 

antenna, feeder cable, and receiver) is removed 
and installed, confirm that no TPMS DTC is set.

TPMS TROUBLESHOOTING STRATEGY

M1311002400023

Use these steps to plan your diagnostic strategy. If 
you follow them thoroughly, you will be sure that you 
have exhausted most of the possible ways to find a 
TPMS fault.
1. Gather information about the problem from the 

customer.

2. Verify that the condition described by the 

customer exists. If the condition matches a 
symptom listed in the TPMS Symptom Chart 
(Refer to 

P.31-48

), execute an inspection 

procedure for the symptom.

3. Check the vehicle for any TPMS DTC.
4. If you cannot verify the condition and there are no 

TPMS DTCs, the malfunction is intermittent. Refer 
to GROUP 00, How to use 
Troubleshooting/Inspection Service Points 

− How 

to Cope with Intermittent Malfunctions 

P.00-6

.

5. If there is an TPMS DTC, record the number of 

the DTC, then erase the DTC from the memory 
using the scan tool.

6. Recreate the TPMS DTC set conditions to see if 

the same TPMS DTC will set again.

• If the same TPMS DTC sets again, perform the 

TPMS diagnostic trouble code procedures for the 
DTC.  Refer to 

P.31-19

.

• If you cannot get the same TPMS DTC to set 

again, the malfunction is intermittent. Refer to 
GROUP 00, How to use Troubleshooting/Inspec-
tion Service Points 

− How to Cope with Intermit-

tent Malfunctions 

P.00-6

.