new member who needs urgent help!

[jules]

hi,



i just bought a 1998 galant 2.5L v6 automagic as a daily driver about three weeks ago. this morning on the way to work the gearbox stopped working. it seemed like drive was disengaged, but the engine was still running fine. i coasted to a stop and turned the engine off as it was beginning to make a funny noise. when i restarted the engine it immediately made a noise like you were grinding the syncro on a manual, but it does it all the time in park, drive, neutral and reverse.

i called out the rac, they checked that there were no auto transmission fluid leaks and that it still had fluid (there were none and it as still full and clean). then trailered me to mitsibishi in basingstoke. they are to diagnose the problem only and not do any work.

i've spoken to the garage that sold me the car, and they seem pretty helpful, but they won't take the car back (as i've had it more than two weeks - fair enough) and recommend getting it trailered back to them once mitsubishi have found the problem. only problem is the car is in basingstoke (where i live) and the garage i bought the car from is in rickmansworth.

so, firstly does anyone know any automagic gearbox specialists in or near basingstoke and also does anyone know of a good source of recon / 2nd hand gearboxes?

any and all help appreciated!
jules.

[Wouter]

Hmmm....

That may be a busted Torque Converter.

For 2nd Hand boxes PM "Zedy1" he's the number 1 Galant breaker in the country!

[Nick Mann]

Is your N light flashing on the dashboard?

How dirty is the gearbox oil?

[richy rich]

hello
as wouter said pm zedy1
did you not get a warranty

[jules]

thanx everyone for your replies, no word from the garage yet...

it happened about 2 miles from my house (so the car wasn't fully warmed up) and the transmission fluid level was half way between cold and hot. the fluid was a dull red colour and looked fairly recently changed.



jules

[Kieran]

Ugh. That's a sad, sad sight - and a rare one too!

As for the problem.... Grinding noises suggest that the Input shaft splines have stripped - this is not unknown with the V6 and is possibly the one and only weak point - they tend only to let go if they've done a LOT (100,000+) miles or if they've been abused. That's a rebuild job.

You might also be Jammy and it's just a stuck solenoid or a loose electrical plug on top of the gearbox.

In all honesty it does sound more like a busted 'box than a silly fault. And has already been said - Contact Zedy1 (Mo) on here. He has sorted no end of members out on here (myself included), and for much less than you would pay at a dealership.

Regarding fluid - if the 'box wasn't properly warm, then a reading between cold and hot sounds about right... And a dull red is okay(ish) too - I don't think it would be that.

[jules]

it happened bang on the nose of 96k miles. the car will no longer move under it's own power, it just makes the grinding noise all the time the engine is running.

[You See]

half way between cold and hot

...ummm could it be warm?...hahahha

[jules]

...ummm could it be warm?...hahahha

maybe!

[jules]

quick update - the dealer phoned earlier to say that they have removed the gearbox and that it's the torque converter.

a new one is £1400!! but, he said they would fit one that i supplied. so it's going to cost about £380 (5 hrs labour) and the price and carrage of a 2nd hand torque converter. i've pm'd zedy1.

j.

[I-S]

Q1. I have just bought a new/second-hand car and am unhappy with it, what are my rights?

Under sale of goods legislation (Sale of Goods Act 1979) consumers are entitled to expect that any goods they buy are of satisfactory quality. That is, that the goods meet the standard that a reasonable person would regard as satisfactory taking into account the way they are described, their price, and any other relevant circumstances, such as the fact that they are second-hand or used.

Matters which should be considered in assessing whether goods are of a satisfactory quality are:

• whether they are fit for the purpose for which goods of that kind are commonly supplied, or fit for any other specified purpose;
• whether they are of satisfactory appearance and finish and free from any defects;
• whether they are safe and durable and as described.

If a product that was not of satisfactory quality at the time of the sale is returned to the retailer, the buyer is entitled to a full refund (if it is within a reasonable time of the sale), or, if a “reasonable time “ has elapsed, to a reasonable amount of compensation. The consumer needs to demonstrate the goods were not of satisfactory quality at the time of sale. This is so if the consumer chooses to request an immediate refund or compensation. It is also the case for any product returned more than six months after the date of sale.

There is one exception – this is where the consumer returns the goods in the first six months from the date of sale and requests a repair or replacement or a partial refund. In that case, the consumer does not have to prove the goods were faulty at the time of sale. It is assumed that they were. If the retailer does not agree, it is for the retailer to prove that the goods were satisfactory at the time of sale.

Any legal proceedings to enforce a claim must be started within 6 years of the date of sale.

Contact your local citizen's advice bureau... you may still have recourse to the seller.

[bradc]

"this is where the consumer returns the goods in the first six months from the date of sale and requests a repair or replacement or a partial refund. In that case, the consumer does not have to prove the goods were faulty at the time of sale. It is assumed that they were"

You only had the car for 3 weeks, I'd tell them to damn well pay for a brand new one for you, and to get it all installed.

[V6Dan]

Hmmm... Hopefully this isn't a sign of things to come. I'm on 92k in my Galant V6 Auto :s

[jules]

well zedy1 really came through with the goods. he managed to find me a recon torque converter for a very reasonable price, and after a small mix up with the postage (royal mail's fault) it turned up at my dealer's workshop. they fitted it and i got the car back yesterday. they even had time to do the front wishbone recall that the car hadn't had done to it, and wash it.

for future reference it was the input shaft spines on the torque converter that went.

thanx all,
jules.

[Kieran]

Smashing!! Excellent result - bet you're glad to have the car back, eh?

[Wouter]

Great stuff!!

Glad to hear that another Galant is saved from the Breakers!

[jules]

i'm so glad to have the car back, but it cost me a small fortune... if it wasn't for zedy and the dealer being so flexable (i.e. fitting a part supplied by me) it could have been a large fortune.

the hire car was £380/week(!) and mitubishi had the car for two weeks. luckily i saw this coming and only had the hire car for one week (i needed it for work) then when the w/end came i went out and bought a £450 mondeo that had test and ticket. insured it for two weeks (£20) and have just sold it for what i paid.

j.

[WildCards]

i went out and bought a £450 mondeo that had test and ticket. insured it for two weeks (£20) and have just sold it for what i paid.

Well done - very canny^^, and good news about the car

Hope all goes well for a long time now then.