Service!

[Ultra VR-4]

I think we should post up some places where we can get our VR4's serviced.

Last time had my car serviced was at:
KIRK MOTORS MITSUBISHI NEWMARKET

Work done:
"D" service << full check
Changed AYC fluid
Changed Transmission fluid
" " Air filter
" " Oil filter

Price: $900.00!!!!!

thats the last time im going there...

[KiwiTT]

$900 (300 pounds) for a full service, is not bad on such a sophisticated vehicle.

I am looking at getting mine serviced by "McDonald Halligan - Greenlane". I have serviced all my cars there for the last 9 years. Although, I did not buy my VR-4 from them, They said they would service mine. I let you know how I get on.

I am looking at my first Service at 1,000 km from purchase taking it to 80,000km. This will be a comprehensive check of everything that needs to be done, as I am not sure how well it was serviced in the past.

As my car is under a 3 year Warranty, I want to make sure everything is well. I am looking at maintaining this car well for the next 3 years, whereby after that, I will have a enough money aside for the really big jobs that may happen.

[Ultra VR-4]

remember that you must get your AYC fluid changed!

[KiwiTT]

Originally posted by Ultra VR-4
remember that you must get your AYC fluid changed!

I ask about their experience on this, before booking.

[tunes]

Originally posted by Ultra VR-4
I think we should post up some places where we can get our VR4's serviced.

Last time had my car serviced was at:
KIRK MOTORS MITSUBISHI NEWMARKET

Work done:
"D" service << full check
Changed AYC fluid
Changed Transmission fluid
" " Air filter
" " Oil filter

Price: $900.00!!!!!

thats the last time im going there...

I live on the shore so Kirk Motors Wairau would be my first choice yet i can't get into their yard with the way my car is set up. Was going to head out to Kirk Motors Newmarket instead but may hang off now. Very interested to see where an A+ garage is in Auckland. Take a number of our cars in at once and get a discount? hehe

[Pescha]

Roger Gill Motors - Huntly (Mitsubishi Dealers)

Awesome people, say I sent you and they will look after you!

Cheers,
Pescha!

[tunes]

"Look after us"??? Sounds a bit dodgy to me... I'm in! :D

[Pescha]

Ask for Haydon! :D

[KiwiTT]

Originally posted by KiwiTT
...I am looking at getting mine serviced by "McDonald Halligan - Greenlane". ...

I have since been informed that McDonald Halligan is closing it's service arm. According to them I should get the VR-4 serviced at Ralliart NZ. However, they are neither AA approved or MTA authorised, which will invalidate my warranty insurance if I get it serviced there. (I am checking them out with my warranty provider)

My second option is Auckland Motors (Grey Lynn); who are supposedly better than Kirk Motors.

[tunes]

Contact for Ralliart NZ servicing:

admin@ralliartnz.co.nz

Peter Davidson

Going to take my wagon in within the next month so will let you all know how it goes.

[KiwiTT]

I spoke to Peter Davidson and he said they will do warranty servicing, however I am awaiting confirmation from my warranty provider.

[tunes]

Sweet... Let us know how it goes.

[4me]

Just booked my car into Kirk Motors Wellington for its first "A" service next Tuesday. Will post the cost up when I get it back.

Will be the first time there since my usual customer service rep has left.

[koschakm]

I bought my VR4 from McDonald Halligan 4 years ago as ex Japan demo with 700 kms. McDonald Halligan serviced the car until after an unfortunate experience with the auto gearbox, I decided to change to Kirk Motors in Newmarket.

Yes, they do charge like wounded bulls but I would rather someone familiar with this type of transmission service it. But you still need to have an idea of what needs checking yourself and ask questions to ensure that the mechanics are up to it.

After forking out the big bucks for a new housing and rebuild, I don't want to do it again. No matter how "intelligent" the gearbox might be, it is still a heap of **** and I regret not having bought a manual. The guy who rebuilt the box found friction plates against frictions and metal plates against metal. The transfer case also had wrecker's marks on it. I suspect the car had its transmission swapped over onto a car the subject of a warranty claim and was then flogged off at auction in Japan. It has a decent gearbox oil cooler now but it still slips badly. I don't think enough fluid pressure gets generated to force a quick solid shift. This might be an ECU problem as it was one of the first VR4's built in Oct 1996. Any how, I don't like the "slush box". Any cures?

So far as mods are concerned, I had Ralliart up the boost to 12psi and fit a 2 3/4" full exhaust. I have put a K&N air filter into the standard air box and the car puts down 130kw at all 4 wheels on the Torque Performance dyno. I believe the early VR4s only came out with around 186KW at the engine so after the mods I don't know what it's got at the engine becasue I don't know what the drive train losses are. Being an auto and fulltime 4wd I suspect that it could be at least 40%. If so, it is probably producing around 215kw at the engine. Any ideas?

Mark

[KiwiTT]

Originally posted by koschakm
...
After forking out the big bucks for a new housing and rebuild, I don't want to do it again. ...

What do you consider big bucks. $1,000, $2,000,... $5,000.:Ponder:

Also, I have had no response back regarding Ralliart Warranty serving eligibility, :( so will now consider "Auckland Motors"; Awaiting their estimate for the following;

- 80,000km Service
- Fluid check (incl. AYC, etc) and replace
- Check Cambelt (estimate to replace)
- Check Brakes (estimate to replace)
+ any other work deemed necessary to bring it up to a standard level of service.

Does anyone have a list of Service Intervals and what need to be checked at each?

[koschakm]

New housing etc. $6,000
New gear set etc. $4,000

[KiwiTT]

$10,000 for a Gear box

That is 2/3 the price I paid for my VR-4 !!!

[4me]

After much confusion with the booking finally managed to get it done last week.

A-Service (the 5000k one for the warranty): $87 ish

[koschakm]

KiwiTT,

Yeah, I went for new parts which ain't cheap and modified the housing by having a plate welded over the front circlip to stop it coming off again and working it's destructive way through a new housing. Any one with this tiptronic needs to be aware that the same could happen to them as there isn't much apparently to keep the circlip back once it comes loose.

Cheers
Mark

[KiwiTT]

Hi Mark,

Thanks for that info. I will keep it in mind. A $10,000 bill would send my dream to a nightmare.

I had thought good regular maintenance would make it last. I am hoping you got a dud Tiptronic Box and the others are not like that. Otherwise, a faulty design issue as you mentioned "the circlip", would be a major setback. Incidently, what is a circlip and what does it do.

Kiwitt

[Pescha]

Hence why mechanical and electrical insurance (warrantys) are avaliable!

LOL

Pescha!

[KiwiTT]

I got one for 3 years. I may have saved up the $10,000 by then.

[Pescha]

You can renew them as long as you met the requirements of that particular insurance compay, i.e number of kms etc... My insurance company is 'Protecta' and all the requirement is the amount of kms which is 175,000kms is the limit....

Cheers,
Pescha!

[koschakm]

Warranty/mechanical breakdown insurance is certainly a good investment. I should have checked it out. I wonder what modifications you can get away with though without voiding the insurance?

The warranty I got with the car was two years which unfortunately expired 4 months before the gearbox!

I'm not too sure what the circlip (not sure about the spelling folks) is in the gear box or its function. An example of a circlip is one at the top of the gearbox that sits around the base of the gear stick and clips over the top of the gear box and over the ball base of the gear stick to hold it in place. It is basically a round clip like those holding the hoses on to pipe work in the engine and can be removed with pliers pinching the ends together. I hope this makes some sense!

Mark

[Freddy]

I had Ohlsen Developments in Auckland service my Legnum.
They modify VR4s and most Mitsys. I found them very knowlegable and easy to deal with. Very happy with the performance mods they have done as well. The car hauls!

[Ultra VR-4]

I wonder what modifications you can get away with though without voiding the insurance?

Usually any modification what so ever will void a warrenty/insurance.


I had Ohlsen Developments in Auckland service my Legnum.

Do they stamp warrenty books? How much was your service?
Did they change your AYC fluid?

[Freddy]

For warranty, I just have to keep receipts, but they do fill out the books. I can't give you an exact price as I had other work carried out during each service (cam belts etc). Just an interesting point, when the gearbox oil/filter got changed (tiptronic) it cured a lag between 1st and 2nd shift.
No the AYC oil did not get changed, I will check out as to why.

[KiwiTT]

Originally posted by Freddy
... No the AYC oil did not get changed, I will check out as to why.

According to Ralliart UK AYC fluid should be changed at least every 4,500 miles.

see this thread (http://www.clubvr4.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1380)

[Ultra VR-4]

Just had my car serviced today at ST HI-TEC Ltd
Gate 5, Nuffield St, Newmarket.

Mechanic: Soichi (used to work for NISMO in japan)
They specialise in modifications.
Work done:
Full service for warrenty book
Change cambelt
Change sparkplugs

Cost: $920.00

Excellent work for good price.

[KiwiTT]

Did they do the AYC fluid. That can be tricky if not done right.

[Ultra VR-4]

The mechanic told me that AYC was alright, as I had changed it last service (10,000kms ago) at Kirk motors Newmarket.
Apparently AYC can be changed every 20,000kms.

Got new spark plugs though, and it feels much more responsive now.
:devil4:

[KiwiTT]

I had mine changed. Including all other fluids. Just to be safe !

It cost me $2000.

[konman]

ive got a mate who take his, his dad's and his brother's vr4 to ohlsen developments and evidently these boys know what they are doing when it comes to anything mitsubishi. i understand servicing costs heaps if you have all the fluids changed like AYC etc but a normal service shouldnt be too bad. im having mine fully gone over and everything changed, ill post the cost when its done.

[Freddy]

I too get my servicing done at Ohlson developments. They know everything inside and out about VR4s and EVOs. I have had everything from cambelts, 10,000km servicing and the odd performance upgrade done, friendly service too. :D Another place to go to, is of course Ralliart in Penrose. I use them more for getting parts in from Japan.

[dickytim]

My father has had a lot to do with Ralliart in Penrose previously , and has alot to do with Autosure as well, he is going to check out wether they will be able to do the servicing and still be able to keep my warrenty will let you know what he finds out.

Richard

[dickytim]

FYI, guys Ralliart, aka Road, race and Rally in Penrose can Service your car, and even conduct warranty repairs for Autosure customers, spoke to dad's Autosure rep today

[robert]

I used Auckland City for over 4 years looking after my Galant Viento - no problems but recently took the Legnum VR4 in to have some suuspension bushes done and an investigation into rear diff noise. Got a car back that surges at stanstill 400 - 800 rpm, noise is still there and a $760 bill. A friend took a look and sus[pect the rear diff oil and ayc fluid have been mixed. Cant blame Auckland City for that because it woul dhave been done by Kirk in Nwmrkt when i bought it about 5000ks ago. Also Auckland city were not aware of the need for the 5000k interval turbo service.

Who in Auckalnd does know what they are doing with VR4s, they all know how to charge well but who can do a good job? it runs like a dog and i need it fixing.

[dickytim]

Ralliart, and be careful when a dealer tells you they have serviced your car, they usually mean changed the oil and maybe the filter they WOULD NOT have done the AYC fluid.Try to find where they stated they have serviced your car maybe you may have some recoarse,
BTW the 5000km service is usually purely a oil change and oil filter, turbo vehicles put a lot of pressure on their oil so it is safer to change more oftern, for the sake of $100 for good oil and a filter its cheep insurance.

[Rima]

OMG! I can't believe it is going to cost 1000 for a service!

Surely the main work can be done around a few hundred dollars?

What have I got myself into :(

[KiwiTT]

My car has had it's A, B, and D services at the dealer. the D Service is about $2,000, The B was about $500 and the A was about $140. I suspect the C will cost $1,000.

[Xeroid]

Auckland Motors for us, not had a problem there.
Also use Mark, their mobile mechanic for normal services, oil filter etc. Does it at your place. Knows his stuff.
AM have always got EVO's and other fast stuff up on their hoists, a good sign in my books, and when we've had warranty claims they always deal with it well.
Price is ok, it's always gonna be dear with a VR4 if you're gonna get it done right.

:-b

[Rima]

My car has had it's A, B, and D services at the dealer. the D Service is about $2,000, The B was about $500 and the A was about $140. I suspect the C will cost $1,000.

Are these service types required at different times for the mechanical warranty?

Or is it more a case of a manufacturers recommended service schedule? I would prefer - since I only just got my 97 legnum to do B's for maybe a year and a half then perhaps either do a big service or sell the car.

[KiwiTT]

More details are available in the members area.

Join up.

[dickytim]

servicing is done on an hourly rate ie, $62 an hour for most good mechanics, so for a few hundy you get less work done, your choice

[Xeroid]

If it is a VR4 then you do it to the manufacturers schedule. Otherwise you miss some important bit and your warranty is void. VR4 is full of important bits, don't miss any !

BTW, have you all noticed that if you leave your finger on Shift/Caps on your keyboard and you type VR4 you get VR$ .... seems appropriate to me :laugh:

[KiwiTT]

...BTW, have you all noticed that if you leave your finger on Shift/Caps on your keyboard and you type VR4 you get VR$ .... seems appropriate to me :laugh:


Still as I said elsewhere, the rewards far exceed the costs.

[Lurch]

To be honest the only time I am really impressed with it is when you are on the open road and it's begging you to push the the pedal further and further.... Hill? What hill?

But for around town I'm thinking a different car is needed :(

[Pete M]

I just had some work done by Donnithorne Simms here in Christchurch.
Cam belt, water pump, belt tensioner.
Auto trans flush
AYC fluid change
Adjust headlights

Cost: NZD 1460 total, with $735 in parts, the rest labour and consumables.

Work done in just over a day, car washed. Auto seems much smoother, wife is
very pleased. She bet me a pizza the cost would be over 2000. Car should be fine now for some time.