Is my gearbox knackered ?

[Dream Weaver]

Going along the M54 on Friday evening at about 75-80 my car started to misbehave.

Firstly it started to lose power and the traction control light came on. So I switched TCL off but no difference. It would run OK if driven gently below 2000RPM but any more and it would become very jerky and juddery and dark smoke would blow out of the exhaust, much like diesel smoke.

Would go OK on flat roads but pulling away from roundabouts or going up hills is a struggle. The thing that seems to tell me is the gearbox is a sort of rubbing sound coming from underneath like something is slipping and not gripping properly, almost like a badly worn cluth on a manual car.

And the fact that the gearbox has given me trouble in the past couple of months (bad ATF leak) leads me to believe it has now given up the ghost. I have experienced the smoke under acceleration with other auto cars in the past and in those cases it has always meant gearbox trouble.

If it is the gearbox I am not going to be happy as I paid Xtreme £2000 to put it right not long ago.......

Anyone ever had a Mitsu tiptronic gearbox fail ?

[Kieran]

Smoke out of the exhaust? Sounds unlikely that there's a gearbox fault at that, as the engine and autobox fluid systems never mix.

Actually, as I type this, it sounds like you've got an air leak - has one of your hoses blown off? They exhibit similar symptomswhen they do.

Is the 'N' light on the dashboard flashing? This will flash if the gearbox ECU has detected something at fault.

[konman]

i had something very very similar to you, turned out a hose had come off the turbo piping, that would explain all the black smoke, i think all the crap coming out the rear end is very very rich feul.

[Dream Weaver]

The big hose into the FI inlet at the back of the engine was popped out. Couldn't wiggle it back in so getting AA Homestart to sort it, that is if they ever answer the chuffing phone !

Thanks for the help, much appreciated........ You are stars !

[Dream Weaver]

Problem hopefully sorted by the AA but it is only temporary.

The rubber coupling under the jubilee clip in the centre of the photo has gone soft and oily and he said it will keep popping out.

So I need to get a new one from Mitsubishi.

That'll be £60 then !

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v253/nige999/DSC00030.jpg

[Dream Weaver]

I tried to reseat the inlet pipe last night but it popped again straight away. Thought the AA would make a better job but only got me half a mile and pop it went again !

So I have sourced a new one from my local Mitsi dealer, £4.50 ish plus VAT, need to order from the factory and won't be in until Wednesday so its Evo time until the weekend !

Surprisingly 200 miles in the Evo this morning was not too tiring but my left leg is a bit tired from having to drive a manual with a very stiff clutch !

Huge fun on the A roads, until I was overtaking two cars and Mr. BMW knobhead whow as the first to be overtaken decides to overtake car number two while I am right by his BMW !!!!

Then he tries the old "up my rear end" thing at every opportunity, not that he had many as the Evo p1ssed all over his saddo car on acceleration.

What was funny was on the motrorways. Evryone seemed to get out of my way really fast. Then I realised white car with big red and black vinyl graphics on the bonnet, they thought I was Plod !!! Its actually a big Mitsu logo. Har har......

[Dream Weaver]

Sodding dealer ordered the wrong part from Mitsubishi - grrrrrr

[Wodjno]

Any luck with this tey .. As when i needed a new one Mitzy said they could not order just the rubber, but it came complete with the hard pipe it connects to .. £60 odd was the price .. i got a rubber off Zedy . :thumbsup:

[bernmc]

i got a rubber off Zedy . :thumbsup:

I get mine from boots :D

[andy43]

Having not even picked my car up yet, I'd appreciate a few less thread titles like 'my broke gearbox is going to cost me a zillion pounds' /help
Glad it turned out OK, but I was worried there for a minute /pan

Titles like '400,000 miles and still going strong', 'just been to the moon and back', '18,000 mile service for £10.50' and 'only got 65 to the gallon this week' will do just fine for the next week or so.
Thanks in advance :thumbsup:

[Brunty]

/duh

I hope you've done your research - and that this is no surprise to you!!!

As will all 'complicated' cars the servicing can be pretty high, but you're in the right price for technical advice and help....and if we (well they - I'm naff all use) can't help we do a great line in commiserating!!!

[psbarham]

Having not even picked my car up yet, I'd appreciate a few less thread titles like 'my broke gearbox is going to cost me a zillion pounds' /help
Glad it turned out OK, but I was worried there for a minute /pan

Titles like '400,000 miles and still going strong', 'just been to the moon and back', '18,000 mile service for £10.50' and 'only got 65 to the gallon this week' will do just fine for the next week or so.
Thanks in advance :thumbsup:
here you go then , mines done 132000 miles and still going strong , in fact just been down the local airstrip /Hmmm with 145 showing and not even a dead bug stuck to her , and the last tank off fuel worked out at 33.7 mpg , so ok shes only a V6 but there isn't a lot of difference mechanics wise apart from the obvious

[andy43]

Oh yes, research is my speciality to the point of geekdom (is that a word?)
It's just that gearbox and diff that makes me shiver a bit.
Glad to hear of a high mileage example anyway!
I've got an evo and scooby specialist about two miles from me with all the software and code readers, and this place as well, so any probs I do get shouldn't be too much sweat. Here's hoping :happy:

[Kieran]

Don't sweat it Andy. VR-4s tend to be trouble pits when they're abused or incorrectly serviced. You can't say either of those things about your car.

I'm on my 3rd 8G Galant in the shape of my Legnum....

My GLS had 84K on the clock when I got it, sold it with 103K.
My V6 Sport had 74K, sold it with 90K.
My VR-4 currently has about 90K on the clock.

They've all had little niggles to sort out, and all have needed more attention in the 1st two months than you would expect, in terms of extra servicing. But I've not had a single breakdown. :thumbsup:

[Dream Weaver]

My Mitsu dealer told me that the part has been modified by Mitsubishi and now the seal is bonded onto the inside of the piple.

They had a GTO in and were also surprised that Mitsu would not just supply the seal.

And when I got the part (£50 inc. VAT) it is apparent that the seal is bonded very strongly to the plastic tube.