Auto Transmission Problem

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Lindsay Williams - 28 Feb 2004 11:11 GMT

I have a 1 yr old Mitsubishi Space Star (Dutch designed and built) with
6,500 km
on the clock. It has had a problem with the auto transmission for several
months which has not been fixed by the dealer. When I go through 1st to
second gear the motor revs (revs go from 3500 to 4200) between gears.. The
change seems slow and is not synchronised with the throttle. This only
happens for the first change after the car has been standing for several
hours e.g in the morning after standing all night. It does not happen after
it is warmed-up. It is under warranty but the dealers have no idea where to
start.

Anyone got any ideas? TIA.

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Stewart DIBBS - 28 Feb 2004 18:44 GMT

> It does not happen after it is warmed-up. It is under warranty but the

dealers have no idea where to

> start.

Sounds like a pretty slack dealer to me: its their job to know where to
start. I would guess their attitude is "its not broken, lets delay having
to actually do anything".

OK, so where to start. If the engine is reving as it changes, then its
OBVIOUS that the transmission is in effect sticking in neutral. That is,
instead of holding in 1st, selecting 2nd, then switching from 1st to 2nd as
quickly as possible, there's a time lag between when 1st releases, and 2nd
engages. The issue is now what might cause this.

>This only happens for the first change after the car has been standing for

several
hours e.g in the morning after standing all night. It does not happen after
it is warmed-up.

Well, if its been sitting for long enough, all residual fluid pressure in
the transmission will have subsided. When you start it up, it takes a while
for the pressure to build enough to enable the correct change pressure. This
is more than needed to just select 1st (ie it has to handle two change
bands, not just one)

So, it may be as simple as low fluid level in the transmission. Has the
dealer actually checked this? Has he also checked the connections to the
transmission ECU. There are external sensors (AFAIK) that may be
malfunctioning too.

You have a warranty: so I would politely tell the dealer to pull his finger
out and start thinking about the problem.

Stewart DIBBS
www.vysor.com/lancerproject

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Nirodac - 28 Feb 2004 21:49 GMT

You might want to try a different dealer.
I had a warranty issue on my first car (not a Mitts). The dealer had the
same response, till the warranty ran out, then he had a fix, and the big
dollars started flowing. Once burned, twice learned. You have a warranty
for a reason, use it. The dealers have a great deal of resources behind
them, including the manufacturer, they can fix it. If they tell you it's
normal, ask to test drive a new car on the lot to compare. If it doesn't do
the same thing, point it out to the service manager.
But just in case, keep copies of all your documentation with reference to
this issue.

Nirodac.

> > It does not happen after it is warmed-up. It is under warranty but the
> dealers have no idea where to
[quoted text clipped - 31 lines]
> Stewart DIBBS
> www.vysor.com/lancerproject

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Lindsay Williams - 28 Feb 2004 22:12 GMT

Thanks for the reply. You are right, they will eventually be able to
marshall the resource to fix it. They have a call out to "Mitsubishi
Technical" but they seem slow in responding. Good suggestion about trying a
new one but I would have to be sure it was cold/stood for some time. I am
keeping notes - no written docs to date.

Thanks and cheers.

> You might want to try a different dealer.
> I had a warranty issue on my first car (not a Mitts). The dealer had the
[quoted text clipped - 50 lines]
> > Stewart DIBBS
> > www.vysor.com/lancerproject

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Lindsay Williams - 28 Feb 2004 22:08 GMT

Thanks for the helpful reply, Stewart. As you say, it is the dealer's
problem but it is also my problem running backwards and forwards and leaving
the car several times. I just wanted to educate my BS sensors!

I have just assumed that they have checked the fluid level, especially as it
has just been in for its 12 month service. I have just checked it. After a
short trip (2 km) the fluid level is 9 mm (3 eights of an inch) ABOVE the
top of the "hot" band zone. So, if anything,. it is overful. What effect
does that have?

I certainly am going to push the dealership on Monday when I report that
their swap of the 2nd gear solenoid was ineffectual.

Thanks and cheers.

> > It does not happen after it is warmed-up. It is under warranty but the
> dealers have no idea where to
[quoted text clipped - 31 lines]
> Stewart DIBBS
> www.vysor.com/lancerproject

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Lindsay Williams - 29 Feb 2004 03:48 GMT

Errr, have just run the car for 10 min and re-checked the ATF level with the
car in Park and engine running. The level showed halfway in the Hot zone so
that seems to look normal.

> Thanks for the helpful reply, Stewart. As you say, it is the dealer's
> problem but it is also my problem running backwards and forwards and leaving
[quoted text clipped - 52 lines]
> > Stewart DIBBS
> > www.vysor.com/lancerproject

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