Scotland VR4 mechanics?!

[unclepete]

Hi everyone,

I bought a '96 Auto Type V Legnum in the summer and it is faster, more subtle, cheaper, better in the wet/snow etc (especially with Winter Tyres!) than my RX-8. A true beast. Well done for the site and choice of car!!

Anyhow, as far as I can tell, the car has been looked after, with a new Mitsu exhaust and timing belt before I bought it (in June or so). I have a mechanic pal, who changed the engine oil and is due to do it again (only around 2000 miles between services so I'm good at that bit). However, I would like another Underseal done, an AYC oil change in the next few months, maybe gearbox oil? Etc. etc. Mitsubishi dealer is a total joke in Stirling, wanting around £140 for an AYC oil change.

Does anyone know any other dealers around the Central Belt? I do go up to Aberdeen from time to time too for work so could drop it off to anyone there.

It runs sweet, apart from the odd time, when it runs really rough when started from cold (stinks of fuel) and sometimes seriously loses power (almost thought I had put the wrong fuel in it one point until I smelled the exhaust and realised it smelled of petrol!).

Also, it does that tapping thing, which I have read about. Does this do any damage and can I get it fixed fairly cheaply? Bear in mind, I know a very good mechanic (but he is no VR4 specialist), I am not one myself.

Should I also fuel with 98 all the time, does it harm it to fuel with 95? I try not to, but sometimes it is inevitable, as some don't have it and Tesco et al are usually 97 anyhow?

Thanks in advance for all your help. By the way, I realise there are probably distinct advantages to being a CVR4 member, so I'll be filling out the form.

All the best,

Pete

[Nick Mann]

Hello and welcome! Can't help with specialists in Scotland, but many on here would tell you to investigate a trip to WRD. The money you save on the job could more than pay for the trip!

The lash adjusters are changeable, although a good oil may sort them out. Again, most on here will recommend Amsoil. If not they are around £200 for a complete set, plus fitting if you don't want to do it yourself. The official line is that a sticky lasher will not damage the car, but there are plenty of worriers here tha aren't so sure, plus a few of us who just hate the ticking enough to sort it out!

In the members area are some articles showing how to change oils and what to put in, so your non-ralliart mechanic could become more expert!

Can't say why your car is running badly at times. It is worth saying that often these cars run rich! The low ron fuel shouldn't damage your car, but sometimes the ecu will see the lower octane and drop the power to protect the engine. (I think it does this with timing, but I guess it could be fuelling instead?) You can do a quick reset on this by disconnecting the battery for a few minutes. This will reset al the ecus. It may also reset the gearbox ecu, so don't worry if your gear changes are a bit dodgy for a few hundred miles afterwards!

[Axeboy]

Hi Mate

'The Garage' in Wishaw are well used to the vr4 and can sort everything you may require. They had done 2 cambelt changes for me, plus the odd clutch and plenty of performance related shtuff.

As above, if you can go down south WRD are also well versed.

Anything else, or if you need a hand, both I and Ritch_W are local to Glasgow and can help out.

[Nick VR4]

Hi and

Sounds like the ECU is getting confused but 97 ron should be OK I think I was told not to use Octane Boosters but some peeps have used them on the VR$4

[Paul Beazer]

Greetings and welcome to the club!

Spend the £20 on membership and you'll reap the rewards. There's plenty of article in the members area, on how to DIY (or tell you mechanic how to). I think this includes changing the gearbox oils (completely, not just drain and fill) and there's plenty of info on the AYC system and how to keep it happy. I know oil / dirty oil in the AYC system can affect its operation quite badly.
also we are quite a helpful bunch, so have looksee, use search (most common Q's have already been asked) and feel free to ask away.
Paul

[unclepete]

Thanks for all the excellent advice. I am probably just being overly suspicious but I just want to keep it running well. The bird drove it through France at over 90 with a FULLY loaded boot in the summer with AC on and achieved 30.6 mpg. Good motor. When my other motor gives up the ghost, I'd definitely consider a Galant Estate V6 Sport or another engine with good economy? Just means I can interchange roof bars and good for long trips. Just need the money first...!

I had heard about AWD Engineering in Perth, who have worked on my mate's Subaru but I'll join CVR4 first to get some info for my mechanic and consider this garage in Wishaw too.

Also, I'm looking for some old standard VR4 wheels, just so I have two sets of wheels - one summer and one winter. If anyone has any, please give me a shout.

Thanks again for all your help and hospitality.

Pete

[Axeboy]

Pete, we've got a set of Phase 2 alloys, let me know if you want them.

With tyres too.

[WildCards]

I've got a set of phase 1 alloys with no tyres for free and some phase 2 alloys with decent tyres for £100.

Courier will be £40

oh and welcome

[gdelargy]

Sounds like a wee Scottish mini-meet might be in order to welcome the new owner...? There's some absolutely spanking roads round Stirling way, especially up towards Doune, Callander, etc. Also, there's that dealer in Dunblane who does imported Jap stuff. Lots of potential rendezvous locations.


G

[unclepete]

WOW! Some good offers to say the least, not sure what the Phase IIs look like but sure they'll be fine. Is it a different size of tyre from my 205/50/16s? Wildcards - awesome offer, to say the least, but the axeman is closer. We'll have to meet up to have a look - and/or we'll do the mini meet in Scotland!

[conaboy]

Hi mate,

Wheels are in my shed, pretty sure they're are the same size tyres but I'll double check. If you PM myself or Axeboy we can arrange the details....

We're both in the Paisley area so meeting up shouldn't be a problem

[ritch_w]

as Scott (axeboy) says The Garage in Wishaw are good with Japs and have had a good fiddle with Scotts VR4.

If you want a dealer service i recommend Bridgend Mitsubishi in Irvine, http://www.bridgendmitsubishi.co.uk/ I got one of my VR4s from there and Ive been using them for years (tractors going for a cambelt soon)

Theres another new VR4 owner in Scotland - but I'll let him introduce himself....




Stu!

[TAR]

I bought a '96 Auto Type V Legnum in the summer...

... an AYC oil change in the next few months, maybe gearbox oil?

I thought that the type V didn't have AYC???

Oh and to the club

[Roadrunner]

If you need to run 95 octane regularly, get a set of iridium plugs fitted and you won't have a problem. The cars are set to run on 100 octane (if Japanese imports) or 97 (if Ralliart supplied) but the iridium plugs will help. I wouldn't use an octane booster as I had a bad experience with that on a previous twin-turbo Legacy.

I see others have offered wheels but if none of these come to pass, I have a set of unmarked original fitment (facelift) alloys (6½Jx16) with half-worn 225x50x16 Pirellis if you want them.

A mini meet sounds good to me, just say when and where I'm through in the Paisley area every couple of weeks.

Welcome to the club hope to meet you soon

[unclepete]

3 sets of wheels available in Scotland? Good stuff. I thought there would be a few knocking about as everyone seems to upgrade their brakes.

I shall have to make a trip through to Paisley or some neutral ground inbetween for a "mini meet"? That'll maybe a pain for you though if you are all knocking around with wheels in your boots so whatever goes. Let me know where's best, I'm sure I owe you all lunch and a pint minimum. You can laugh at my white Ghostbusters ambulance too!

Oh, and thanks to TAR for pointing out I don't know what I'm talking about - it is a Type S.

Iridium sparkplugs sound like a solution in that case - any more info? I have just sent a PM and Paypaled my cash so should be a fully fledged member soon so the heavens will open....

Thanks again,

Pete

[Kieran]

If you need to run 95 octane regularly, get a set of iridium plugs fitted and you won't have a problem. The cars are set to run on 100 octane (if Japanese imports) or 97 (if Ralliart supplied) but the iridium plugs will help.

Sorry to but can you explain this one a bit more Brian? I don't understand how just swapping to Iridium plugs will compensate for the lower octane?

[Nick Mann]

And just to clarify slightly more

pre-facelift wheels are narrower than facelift. The tyre size on the prefacelift should be 205/55/16 (not the 205/50/16 that you mentioned) and the facelift should be 225/50/16. The rolling circumference is the same, near as dammit, so the speedo etc will be fine. The tyres are probably interchangeable between the rims, but it may affect the handling slightly.

[steve190]

Welcome to CRV4., nice to see another member up here in Scotland.

Be good to have another meet, last one was last Aug, details here

[stu1888]

hi guys, just got myself a vr4 as rich says, great site and ritch and axeboy have been very helpful.

up for a mini meet need to see some other vr4s and ask questions.

just sent away and joined as full member so looking forward to tinkering with the beast once i see some manuals.

[Roadrunner]

Sorry to but can you explain this one a bit more Brian? I don't understand how just swapping to Iridium plugs will compensate for the lower octane?

Nope, no idea I just go with what I'm told by the guy who looks after my car. I sold my last VR-4 to John and he ran it on 95 octane with iridium plugs without any detonation or other problems. I still run mine on 97/98 all the time, even with iridium plugs, but that's just me

I'll dig around and see what I can find.