Hi guys - something serious has gone down with my Ralliart. Over the last couple of weeks, I have started to get some of the warning lights on the dash - first the engine management warning light, then recently, the check engine light. I didn't get too worried because I am approaching the 50k mark and was going to take it in regardless. Over the last couple of days, i have had a strange idle surge, but it would run fine and had normal power. This morning, I fired it up and it sounded like a diesel engine - knocking and clicking like crazy. When I went to drive off - i had no power and almost seemed starved for fuel. All the sudden, the ACS OFF light goes on and looses all power. I pulled it over and let it sit for about a half hour. When I came back, I fired it up again - had all the same noise and was super sluggish off the line, but when I get on it - the power seems to be there, and I limped it home. Other notable conditions - the engine oil is at normal level, no metal bits, and i smell fuel. Also, the engine is bone stock beside a drop in filter. Any help will be greatly appreciated!

 

UPDATE - Pulled the spark plugs - they are all equally crispy with no signs of oil. The car will not start without giving it gas and runs so horribly rough. I'm so sad

 

If it's under warranty take it in ASAP, even if it's not just to have them see what's wrong. I'm not really a mechanic so I really don't have an idea at all, I'd could guess and say oil pump or fuel pump, but again I'm guessing. Good Luck, keep us updated!

 

A video of the startup and everything may be in order...at this point we can throw millions of ideas at you but a video would help narrow it down a bit...For what its worth it could be one of your coil packs
the test I allways did for this was unplug the connector at the top of the pack one by one and see if the running changed at all. IE if you pull the cylinder one plug and the car runs rougher or shuts off you know the coil pack is functioning...if you pull a plug and nothing changes you know thats your bad girl

 

take the car in to be checked under warranty right meow, and use your free mitsu roadside to get it there

and smelling fuel could be indicative of a fuel leak

 

Thanks for the feedback - I did consider doing a video - but at this point I am so apprehensive of starting it up. The horrible knocking noise sounds like its coming from underneath the valve cover. Gonna send it to the dealer on Monday for a diagnosis, but it looks like I am out of warranty except for emission parts - I will be shocked if something grenaded with only 48k considering it's stock.....I will post the progress - thanks again!

 

****ty deal, hope it goes well

 

So, got the car towed to the dealer yesterday and got a phone call this morning from the service manager.....my worst fears came true, the timing chain jumped 5 teeth and the horrible noises i heard was the valves smacking the pistons. How a timing chain stretches that much on a car with 48k is beyond me. Anybody else hear of anything even remotely close to this situation?

 

Timing chain stretch is really common on 09 and 10 Ralliarts and Evo Xs as far as I've heard.
http://www.clubralliart.com/showthread.php?t=1757
https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/09...retch-fml.html

The warning lights were your car trying to tell you there could be serious trouble. In situations like these, you need to basically stop and have it towed to a dealer right away, not drive it for 2 weeks. At the very least you should have gone to the closest shop (or used Torque with an ELM327 adapter) to read the engine code to see how bad it is. In any case, too late now, I hope you can get your car fixed...

 

That sucks! Well, hopefully you can get it fixed and start driving it again, probably not going to be a cheap fix though!

 

Who goes WOT when a car is running like that and the dash is lighting up like a xmas tree?

 

With the noises it was making - ****, I had nothing to lose.

 

You had a lot to lose, the head, the transmission, transfer case, a reusable block, radiator etc etc

 

ok - thanks

 

Here's a pic of a timing chain I replaced for a friend who was out of warranty. The new and improved chain is on the left and the old, stretched out chain is on the right.