2002 Mitsubishi Lancer Engine Problems

SMOG STATION INSPECTION REPORT ;; RECALL ONREPROGRAM PCM AND REPLACE FAN CONTROLLER

OWN A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER, CODE P0421, SHOWED AFTER FAILURE OF EMISSIONS TEST. I CALLED MITSUBISHI MOTORS AFTER FINDING THIS CODE WAS FOR A RECALL IN AUG. 05 EMR-05-001/003, AN EMISSION RECALL ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, "MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED DAMAGE TO THE WARM-UP CAT CONVERTER AND SUBSEQUENT ILLUMINATION OF THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LAMP." MITSUBISHI INFORMED ME THIS RECALL WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY RECALL TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BUT THAT IT EXPIRED IN 2006, ALSO, THAT IT EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 8 YRS OR 100,000 MI. I EXPLAINED TO THEM I HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS ON THIS CAR. THEY INFORMED ME IT WAS MY FAULT FOR NOT INFORMING THEM I WAS THE OWNER, SO I COULD BE NOTIFIED. HOWEVER, NHTSA SAYS OWNERS ARE NOTIFIED THROUGH REGISTRATION RECORDS. THEY LATER STATED THEY HAD SENT ME A RECALL NOTICE IN AUG. 2005. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON ANY OF THE THREE RECALLS FOR MY CAR. THIS CAR HIT 100,000 MI ON 5/10/2008 WHICH WAS BEFORE THE 8YR LIMIT. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY STARTED TO FLASH 2/5/2010, AT 122592 MILES, STILL BEFORE THE 8YR LIMIT. WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE GAS CAP NOT SCREWED ON ALL THE WAY BECAUSE IT DIDN'T ILLUMINATE CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL 06/2011. MITSUBISHI HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE THE CAT, BECAUSE THE CAR IS NOW OVER 100,000 MILES AND THE 8YR LIMIT, OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. WE HAVE PERFORMED A TUNE-UP OF THE ENGINE, OIL CHANGE, BELT REPLACEMENT, VALVE GASKET REPLACEMENT, AND FLUID FLUSH TO HELP REMEDY THE SITUATION. THE FAN CONTROL, AND PCM REFLASH WERE PERFORMED PER THE OTHER TWO RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE. *TR

MY SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT TURNED ON AND I WENT TO AUTO ZONE AND GOT A CODE : P0421 OEM BRAND: DOMESTIC DEFINITION: CATALYST EFFICIENCY LOW BANK 1 EXPLANATION: THE OXYGEN SENSORS MONITOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS ABILITY TO STORE OXYGEN. PROBABLE CAUSES: 1- CATALYTIC CONVERTER DEFECTIVE (FAILURE POSSIBLY DUE TO #2, 3, OR 4.) 2- ENGINE MISFIRE OR RUNNING CONDITION. 3- LARGE VACUUM LEAK. 4- ENGINE OIL LEAKAGE INTO EXHAUST-VALVE GUIDE SEALS, PISTON RINGS. I CALLED MITSU AND THEY SAID SINCE MY CAR IS AT 93500 THAT IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED...THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY....MY CAR IS NOT ACCELERATING AS IT WAS SUPPOSE TOO...ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM....AFTER 90 MILES...THIS IS RIDICULOUS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO AN INCOMPLETE RECALL REPAIR PERTAINING TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE NO LONGER LIABLE FOR ANY FAILURES ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE MILEAGE EXCEEDED 150,000, WHICH EXCLUDED THE VEHICLE FROM QUALIFYING FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE "RECALL" WAS NOT FOUND ON THE SAFERCAR.GOV WEBSITE AND MAY HAVE BEEN DEEMED AS A "SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN" INSTEAD. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 133,847.

1/ AT ABOUT 207000 MILES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DEALERS DIAGNOSIS AND 2 OTHER REPAIR SHOPS : CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS TO BE REPLACED. COST FOR THIS JOB: $ 1500. I DID NOT REPLACE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND WAS PERFORMING NORMALLY. THIS HAPPENED FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE, THAT CATALYTIC CONVERTER GIVES UP DURING THE LIFE OF THE CAR. 2/ AT 246,570 MILES WHILE VEHICLE WAS ON, WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. DEALERS DIAGNOSIS: CAR NEEDS CLUTCH ASSEMBLY AND RESURFACE FLYWHEEL AND CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER. COST FOR THIS REPAIR: ABOUT 1,200 PLUS TAX AGAIN 1ST TIME HAPPENED TO ME THAT CAR NEEDS CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WORK WITH SLAVE CYLINDER DURING THE LIVE OF THE CAR. 4/ WHILE THEY CHECKED THE CAR FOR GEAR PROBLEM THEY RECOMMENDED TO ME TO REPLACE TIMING BELT: COST $ 723 PLUS TAX AND REPLACING VALVE COVER GASKET: COST $ 264 PLUS TAX I BELIEVE THEY RIPPING PEOPLE OFF, BECAUSE WHILE REPLACING TIMING BELT THEY HAVE TO REMOVE VALVE COVER AND THEY SHOULD NOT CHARGE 2X FOR REMOVING VALVE COVER. THIS WAS ESTIMATED BY MITSUBISHI-MAZDA DEALERSHIP IN SAN BERNARDINO, CA. I'M QUESTIONING THEIR PRICES AND ABILITY TO PROPERLY DIAGNOSE AND DO THIS REPAIRS BASED ON THE STATEMENTS THEY MADE AND THEIR PRICES. AFTER EVERY TIME THIS CAR IS SERVICED AT MITSUBISHI DEALER THIS CAR HAVE MORE PROBLEMS: SCREWS MISSING, BROKEN PARTS, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON. I NEED FROM MITSUBISHI MOTOR OF NORTH AMERICA INC. LIST OF GOOD REPAIR FACILITIES WHERE THE CAR CAN BE REPAIRED NOT SABOTAGED, WHERE THEY HAVE KNOWLEDGEABLE TECHNICIAN NOT MONKEYS. I HAD A FEW CARS, BUT NEVER HAPPENED THAT CATALYTIC CONVERTER OR CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DURING THE LIFE OF THE CAR, OR I HAD TO SPENT FEW THOUSAND OF $$ FOR REPAIRS WHILE MAINTAINING THE CAR PROPERLY DURING IT'S LIFE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 247,000. UPDATED 03/09/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED BEFORE THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED SHE DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER UNNECESSARY REPAIRS TO HER VEHICLE AND WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT. UPDATED 03/11/09. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IDLED ABOVE THE NORMAL IDLE RATE. THE RPMS INCREASED, SIMILAR TO AS IF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IDLING WAS A RECURRING FAILURE THAT USUALLY TOOK PLACE AT LOWER SPEEDS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS CRANKED OR LOW ON FUEL THE AIR CONDITIONING POWERED ON AUTOMATICALLY. ALSO, THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AUTOMATICALLY WHEN IDLING, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. EXHAUST FUMES ENTERED THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STICKING ON OCCASION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 94000. *AK

VEHICLE ACCELERATES ON IT'S OWN. I HAVE INFORMED MITSHUBISHI OF THE PROBLEM HOWEVER ACCORDING TO MITSHUBISHI THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM BY COMPUTER SO AS FAR AS THEY WERE CONCERNED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. I RECENTLY HAD AN ACCIDENT IN THE CAR AND OF COURSE MITSHUBISHI IS TRYING TO WIGGLE OUT OF IT. I GUESS I HAVE TO GET KILLED IN THEIR VEHICLE BEFORE ANYTHING WILL BE DONE. ALL I WANT IS FOR MITSHUBISHI TO TAKE THEIR DEFECTIVE MERCHANDISE AND GIVE ME THE MONEY THAT I HAVE INVESTED IN THIS DEATH TRAP SO THAT I CAN PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE. I AM VERY SORRY THAT I EVER BOUGHT THIS CAR. IT IS A SERIOUS DEATH TRAP!!!!!!! *JB

I WAS CONVINCED & SHOWN THAT MY BLOWER MOTER WAS WORKING IN TOP CONDITION. BUT ON MY RIDE HOME I WAS DISTURBED TO FIND THAT ONLY SPEED 4, AN OVERDRIVE MODE, WAS WORKING. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE I JUST BOUGHT THE LANCER ES 02', AND WAS TOLD THAT EVERTHING WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF. [RECALL #C04092 FOR A FAN CONTROLLER REPLACEMENT HAD BEEN DONE 2/23/06 ALONG WITH RECALL #CO505J PCM REFLASH 4 DAYS PRIOR TO WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE] AT THE MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP I PAID $146.31 TO HAVE THE BLOWER RESISTER REPLACED, AND LATER REIMBURSED BY THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE I PUCHASED THE LANCER. THE BLOWER WORKED GOOD, THEN ON & OFF. IT BLEW AGAIN WITHIN A MONTH. I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, WHERE I LEFT MESSAGES, NO RETURN. THEY WERE TO CONTACT ME, AND WERE NEVER TIMELY. AT THE SECONG DIAGNOSIS THE MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE BLOWER MOTOR WAS BAD, CAUSING THE RESISTOR TO GO $380.00! I WAS NOT ABOUT TO PAY THAT PRICE UPFRONT WITHOUT A GAURANTEE OF REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, WHO NOW CLAIMS IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP WHEN THEY THEMSELVES REIMBURSED ME THE FIRST TIME. BEYOND BOTH DENYING THE COST, THE MISUBISHI DEALERSHIP STRIPPED MY ALLOYS OF MOST OF THEIR CROME WHILE PROFORMING THEIR "COURTESY CAR WASH"!! WHILE CONVERSING WITH THE MANAGER FOR AN HOUR, HE CLAIMS THAT THE BRAND OF ALLOYS, ADAMS, WHICH WERE ON THE CAR WHEN PURCHASED, ARE KNOWN TO CRACK AND CHIP. THEY HANDED ME MY KEYS IN THE PARKING LOT AND LEFT ME WITH NO RECEIPT & NO COMPASSION. I LEFT THE MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP AFTER CALLING MY MOTHER & DROVE TO MY MECHANIC WHO HAD JUST DONE WORK ON MY CAR EARLIER THAT DAY. REPLACING THE RIGHT FRONT BEARING WHICH WAS AN OPEN BEARING WHICH LEAKED GREASE OUT AND STABILIZER END LINK- $403.03- ASTONISHED TO SEE MY RIMS, HE NOTICED RIGHT AWAY, AS I DID, I TOOK PICTURES IMIDIATELY, BUT WHO IS RESPONSIBLE I AM UNSURE. I HAVEN'T THE FINANCES, NOR THE PATIENTS, TO BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF WHEN OTHERS ARE AT FAULT.

CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE DUE TO EXCESSIVE FUEL BURNING IN EXHAUST MANIFOLD. CURRENTLY THROWING P0421 CODE. REPLACED 1ST CAT AND 2ND CAT FAILURE ON 8/23/05. SEE REFERENCE TSB 89. LEWISVILLE MITSUBISHI IN LEWISVILLE TX CLAIMS SO SUCH TSB EXISTS. *JB

I WENT INTO A DITCH (WAS RUN OFF THE ROAD) PASSENGER DOOR HIT A POLE, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND PASSENGER FRACTURED HER COLLAR BONE. THIS HAPPENED IN 2005. ALSO THE BLOW MOTOR HAS RUSTED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, I FOUND OUT THROUGH THE INTERNET THAT WATER FLOWS INTO THE MOTOR THROUGH THE WIPERS. IT COST OVER $400. TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. *JB

IN OCTOBER OF 2003, A TECHNICAL BULLETIN WAS ISSUED ON MY CAR. THE BULLETIN READS: 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER 02 - BLOWER [PART 138110] TSB NO: 0355008 NHTSA ID: , OCTOBER 01, 2003 : REPLACEMENT: SUMMARY: DEBRIS (SUCH AS LEAVES, ETC) ENTERING THE FRONT COWL AREA MAY CLOG THE EVAPORATOR HOUSING DRAIN TUBE. IF THIS OCCURS, THE EVAPORATOR HOUSING MAY FILL UP WITH CONDENSATION AND OVERFLOW INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, AND INTO THE BLOWER MOT...IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2005, I PAID MY LOCAL MITSUBISHI DEALER $310.50 TO REPLACE MY BLOWER MOTOR BECAUSE DEBRIS HAD CLOGGED THE MOTOR CAUSING IT TO SHORT OUT AND RESULTING IN LEAVING MY PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD UNDER AN INCH OF WATER. MY CAR NOW, IS OUT OF WARRANTY. HOWEVER, IF I HAD KNOWN THERE WAS A PROBLEM, I COULD HAVE BOUGHT A FILTER TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM. MY QUESTION IS: AT WHAT POINT DOES NHTSA MAKE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS INTO RECALLS? IT IS ABSOLUTELY ABSURD WHEN MY DEALER INFORMS ME THAT TSB'S ARE ONLY FIXED IF A CUSTOMER COMPLAINS ABOUT THE CAR. IT'S JUST PLAIN WRONG FOR MITSUBISHI TO KNOW THERE IS SOMETHING POTENTIALLY WRONG WITH YOUR CAR AND NOT INFORM YOU OF IT. FOR INSTANCE THERE IS ANOTHER BULLETIN ON THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB IN MY CAR. NOW, I READ THESE TSB'S AND IT JUST SO HAPPENED THAT MITSUBISHI WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WHEN MY CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. I HAD TO REPLACE THE CV BOOT, THE VALVE COVERS AND SEALS, AND WHEN I GOT THE BLOWER MOTOR REPLACED I HAD TO REPLACE THE THERMOSTAT AND REDO MY COOLANT. I'M ALSO CURRENTLY HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY CRUISE CONTROL. EVERY TIME I CRANK MY CAR UP, MY CRUISE CONTROL IS ALREADY ON. I TURN THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF, AND TURN MY CAR BACK ON, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ON AGAIN. I WAS TWO DAYS BEFORE PAYING $600 FOR THE TORQUE CONVERTER TO BE REPLACED, AND FINALLY A RECALL WAS ISSUED, THANK GOD! HOW MANY THINGS HAVE TO GO WRONG WITH MY CAR FOR IT TO BE DEEMED A LEMON AND MADE TO BE SENT BACK? LORD, SOMEBODY PLEASE REPLY BACK TO ME AND TELL ME WHAT TO DO!?! *NM

DEFECTIVE CAT. RECALL IS STILL OPEN BUT MITSUBISHI REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM. DEALERS ARE INSTRUCTED TO CLEAR THE CODE (REFLASH PCM) BUT LIGHT WILL COME BACK BECAUSE DEFECTIVE CAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS THE ORIGINAL CAUSE OF THE RECALL. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRENTY, SO THE WILL NOT REPLACE THE CAT. IF THE CAT WAS STILL UNDER WARRENTY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, THEY WOULD REPLACE IT. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS AND NEVER RECIEVED THE RECALL NOTICE. WE HAVE SPENT A FORTUNE TRYING TO GET THE LIGHT OFF IN ORDER TO GET THROUGH INSPECTION, NOT KNOWING OF THE SOURCE AND THE RECALL. WHAT IS THE POINT OF THE RECALL IF THEY DON'T FIX THE PROBLEM? THEY JUST COVER IT UP BY REFLASHING THE COMPUTER. THE FACT IS, OUR CAR HAS A DEFECTIVE CAT. WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL. WE CANNOT PASS INSPECTION WITHOUT REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE CAT THAT CAUSED A RECALL.VEHICLE'S ENGINE OVER-COMPENSATES FOR BAD O2 READING CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION. MITSUBISHI REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

JUNE 17, 2003 TO: PERUZZI MITSUBISHI ATTENTION: [XXX] 165 LINCOLN HWY FAIRLESS HILLS, PA 19030 DEAR [XXX], WE PURCHASED A MITSUBISHI LANCER IN SEPTEMBER 2002 FROM PERUZZI MITSUBISHI, LOCATED AT 165 LINCOLN HWY, FAIRLESS HILLS, PA 19030. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THE VEHICLE HAD 2,074 MILES ON IT. WHEN I ASKED, THE SALESMAN TOLD US THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BRAND NEW AND THE MILES WERE FROM USING THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP AS A DEMONSTRATION CAR. SINCE THEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER THREE SEPARATE TIMES FOR SERVICE. IT WAS DRIVEN IN ON ONE OCCASION AND TOWED IN TWICE. THE DATES OF SERVICE ARE AS FOLLOWS 02/25/03, 06/09/03 AND 06/17/03. THE PROBLEM HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE SAME, THE CAR STALLS OUT, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND IT WILL NOT START AGAIN. THIS VEHICLE HAS STALLED SEVERAL TIMES IN TRAFFIC, CAUSING MY FIANCE TO FEAR DRIVING IT. ALSO, BETWEEN OIL CHANGES (EVERY 3,000 MILES) THE CAR LOOSES BETWEEN ONE AND ONE HALF QUARTS OF OIL. WHEN I ASKED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO CHECK THIS PROBLEM I WAS TOLD, ALL THREE TIMES, THAT THIS IS NORMAL OIL LOSS. TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE THEY HAVE STILL NOT CHECKED FOR OIL LEAKS. ON 6/18/2003, AFTER BEING TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, I DECIDED TO CHECK INTO THE VEHICLE'S HISTORY. I USED CARFAX.COM AND FOUND SOME VERY DISTURBING NEWS. MY VEHICLE HAS HAD AT LEAST THREE PREVIOUS OWNERS AND IS NOT THE BRAND NEW CAR I WAS LEAD TO BELIEVE. IT STARTED OUT IN PLEASANTVILLE NJ, AND THEN IT WAS REGISTERED IN ARIZONA, WHERE IT WAS SOLD AT AUCTION WITH 1,902 MILES ON IT AND FINALLY ENDED UP AT PERUZZI MITSUBISHI, WHERE WE PURCHASED IT. I FEEL THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO US UNDER FALSE PRETENSES, AND THAT PERUZZI MITSUBISHI IS RESPONSIBLE FOR EITHER REPLACING THE VEHICLE WITH A BRAND NEW ONE OR GIVING US OUR MONEY BACK. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP IN RESOLVING THIS MATTER AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE REVVED WHILE SLOWING DOWN WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SURGE AND THE CAR TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. *TS *NLM

CAR SHAKES WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED... WHAT IS CAUSING HAS NOT BEEN FOUND...

THIS NOISE HASN'T GONE AWAY NO MATTER WHICH BRAND OF OIL FILTER OR WEIGHT/BRAND OF OIL I USE. THE DEALER SAYS IT'S A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS ENGINE. I TEST DROVE AN IDENTICAL VEHICLE AND IT PURRED LIKE A KITTEN. SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE STALLING AND BRUSHING ME OFF.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE CAN FILL UP HER GAS TANK ONE DAY AND, BEFORE THE WEEK IS OUT, THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE REFUELED. PERIODICALLY, THE CONTACT SMELLS GASOLINE IN HER VEHICLE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17.

THIS ENGINE HAS PISTON SLAP AND VALVETRAIN NOISE ON COLD STARTS. THE DISTRICT REP REFUSES TO ALLOW THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM.*AK