Mitsubishi Starting Problem

previous comments

http://cr4.globalspec.com/search/sitesearch?do=show&sort=textmatchrank&srch=Mitsubishi%20Galant&order=asc

How far do you drive before problem starts.?

reason on some cars if the engine is warm but not fully up to temp the engine management gets confused and weakens the mixture after a short run resulting in non starts after short runs.

any fault codes ?

I'm driving at least 20 klm by which time the engine has already reached optimum running temp. & I have no default codes displayed.

I have found if i'm driving around town in normal / slow moving traffic & then stop to fill up I have no problem, only when travelling at reasonable motorway speeds & then stopping for fuel does the problem arise. Which lead me to believe it was most likely just a simple breather problem ? but if this is the case the 'technician' has been unable locate, isolate & remedy the problem.

Really frustrated as everytime I return the car they promise to repair the fault & continue to fail repeatedly despite my well intentioned efforts to maintain the vehicle in good mechanical order.

I strongly suspect that Mitsubishi engineering is exceptionally good & it is the local 'Technicians' letting Mitsubishi & the franchise dealers down badly, customer service in this part of the world is not even close to what you would normally expect !!

Q does the engine cooling fan work if its electrical.?

from your description i would have to say its a fuel vapour lock cause by the heat build up when the engine is turned off the heat causes the fuel to vaporise leaving in effect an air bubble in the engine fuel line.

one way to cure it would be to have the cooling fan if electric to stay on after the ignition is turned off.

it may be that this is the problem if the fan is meant to run after ign off and is not.

first need to know is the cooling by mechanical fan driven by the engine or electrical ?

and also does it have air con ?

The engine cooling fan is a thermister controlled electric cooling fan which is factory fitted to an oversize (dessert spec factory fitted) radiator & appears to be fully functioning as normal. Yes the vehicle is factory fitted with a dessert spec. oversize A/C unit, but the problem remains with or without A/C online. (Yes i know your not supposed to start the vehicle with A/C switched on due to excessive load & increased start up current consumption)

I agree with Peter, it sounds like the classic vapor lock.

I would suggest that next time it happens you check the temperature of the fuel line - particularly around the injectors and around the fuel pump. If it is very hot, as I expect I suggest pouring some water (1/2 gallon or so) over the fuel line and try again to start it.

If that works it confirms a vapor lock.

The solution then is to insulate the fuel line/ pump/etc from heat sources like the engine, exhaust etc - wrapping them in fibreglass wool and foil or neoprene sleeving may be sufficient.

This may not help, but in a quiet environment with engine off and not run for about 10 minutes can you hear the fuel pump running when you turn the key to the on position? It should run for a few seconds then shut off. If it keeps running, some thing's wrong with it.

LETTER I HAVE COMPOSED & EMAILED TO SENIOR SERVICE MANAGER OUTLINING MY STARTING PROBLEM.

Mr. Hisham,

Good day to you sir,

I am the owner of a poorly & sick silver Mitsubishi Galant, I think you may remember me ? I came to see you with a complaint about your customer service (or lack of) & with a vehicle starting problem, which you agreed to try & resolve after having servicing & theft problems from your Fahaheel facility.

Well I'm sorry to report after three months of deliberating & five visits you have as yet failed to resolve the problem, the vehicle has since covered some considerable klm with this ongoing problem & I think you will have to agree so far I have been extremely patient.
My last visit to your dealership after taking your trouble shooting technician Anthony (Tony) for a test drive I managed to reproduce the fault exactly as i had explained & he did agree the fault existed & agreed with me the symptoms were not unlike fuel starvation. He did explain he was not aware of this being a common problem & as such he would seek advice from technical support facility in Dubai, when questioned I was informed they would have a response in 2 to 3 days & be in touch to make arrangements & resolve the problem.

Over a month later, still no response & no resolve, I sincerely hope as a gesture of good will if nothing else you will now make this a priority & effect the repair under warranty & without any additional charge. I have tried many times today (29/08/10) to contact you & Tony on your respective telephone numbers again without success.

I would very much like to book my vehicle in for it's 90,000 klm service & will require the use of a loan vehicle whilst you are resolving the current & ongoing fault issue with my vehicle, I hope we can continue to maintain a friendly business relationship & in order of fairness I am happy for you to have the vehicle as long as it takes for you to finally effect a professional & satisfactory repair.

I very much appreciate that i am NOT a Mitsubishi trained technician & as such can only offer up educated suggestions as to what the problem may be which i have discussed with Tony, we have confirmed the fault is NOT due to an intermittent electronic ignition key immobiliser fault (if only it were that simple ?) after doing my homework & a little research I know of only three other things it can be.

1) As simple as a breather / venting obstruction (as the fuel is used from the fuel tank it is replaced by air from breather or ventilation pipe, if this were to be obstructed in any way the result would be a vacuum NOT allowing further fuel flow & thus causing the starting problem after re-fuel at motorway speeds)

2) Electric fuel pump partial failure or problem ( I personally doubt that this is the cause or where the fault originates as it appears to work correctly all the time including under heavy acceleration)

3) This fault did not exist before my troublesome service at your fahaheel facility, if you remember we did discuss this ? When i collected the vehicle AFTER service I had the service light illuminated, this was not present BEFORE the service. I immediately returned the vehicle after only driving a few hundred yards, at this point the 'technician' plugged in his laptop & checked for fault codes & I guess ?? made adjustments to the E.C.U. he had the vehicle for a couple more hours before i received a phone call to collect the car.
It is ONLY after this that the fault light was extinguished & my starting problem occurred & as you are well aware the car has NOT been right ever since. (for this reason I still consider this to be the most likely cause of the problem, even though you claim to have thoroughly checked & dismissed this. In my humble opinion it appears to me that it is as if the engine management system is somehow confused and weakens the mixture, causing the starting problem, you claim to have checked the various connecting sensors, airflow, air temp, crank/RPM, air mass, eng temp etc but for my money this remains the most feasible culprit ??)

I would appreciate your confirmation by return of phone call & / or email, my mobile telephone number is 00965 66272240 I look forward to hearing from you in anticipation, I am able to deposit the vehicle with you on the afternoon of 30 /08/10 or 31/08/10 at the latest.

Kind Regards

MR. Nicholas J Hasch.

Good luck!

Do they have any consumer protection organizations there that you could copy your letter to?

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft%3Aen-gb%3AIE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7GZEU_en&q=mitsubishi++hard+starting+problems+after+motorway+runs&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

Similar model in Aus (The "Magna") from an older vintage vintage. Same symptoms regarding poor starting, but also an occasional hessitation when go over the crest of a hill and motor goes from load to no-load (Or when coasting the automatic downhill).

Orignially thought one ignition lead, then fuel starvation.

Problem related to the engine management card (ignition circuit) localised heating and "cooked" component or joint. No fault indication as the issue is truly intermittant and depends on the heat in the board.

Problem gets progressively worse with time as the joint deteriorates. So common that we are offered the option of "new" or refurbished units for service replacement. Have replaced twounits in that car before taking an alternative approach. (Bought another car that uses half the fuel with more mod cons.)

When the Crankshft position sensor goes bad it will act like that. Because it isn't entirely bad it doesn't show up on the computer scans as it is bad intermitantly and being hot makes it worse.

Thanks to everyone who posted for there time & trouble, much appreciated, as yet problem is still not resolved, but I will keep you all posted on the out come & thanks again to all.

Now pleased to report starting problem is now resolved !!!

After checking & changing many parts on the vehicle I'm told the problem was finally located & identified as a ''fuel vapourising pressure valve'' located on the fuel vapouriser which is located low down in the rear offside inner wing. ????

Never actually seen the offending item as the dealers claimed to have desposed of it despite my request of seeing the item.

Thanks again to everyones contribution, much appreciated.