*this happens even when car is fully warmed up and has been running a couple of hrs. or from a cold start.

Just bought a used evo8 17k miles, and I noticed that when you try to accelerate smoothly from a dead stop from 1k RPM, when it gets to around 1.5k RPM it suddenly drops revs like maybe the clutch slipping im not sure, it drops to 500 RPM and stutters like its gonna stall!

when i launch from 2k smoothly, it gets up a couple hundred revs and drops again to below 2k does a stutter but not noticable, after getting past 2.5k RPMs everything is normal.

This only happens in first gear, all other gears are normal even when accelerating hard.

it has always been like this since i got it and i don't know if its normal, please help!

 

PS. it is still under warranty should I take it to mitsu? the previous owner put a boost guage and a catback. will that void warranty?

 

that shouldn't void the warranty...but your clutch warranty is gone after 12k/12 months

It sounds a lot like a clutch problem to me.

 

damn that sucks @#!@$, too bad I didn't notice it on the test drive.

If it is the clutch, around how much would it be to replace including labor? can you recommend a clutch that is better than stock for use as a daily driver and in rush hour traffic?


P.S the stuttering doesn't happen when accelerating from a slight roll. and ONLY happens in first gear nothing else.

 

the car is stock? any mods?

 

I would go with the RRE "no-name" clutch. You can expect labor to be in the $500 and up range.

 

hey tweak...what are the results for that MR high-flow pipe...any CEL?

Also how is the MR catback for fit and everything?

 

this is my second day owning the car, the car had minor mods when i purchased it from a subaru/olds dealership, it has a autometer boost guage and some kind of larger exhaust piping (i could only tell because the car is LOUD even at idle), the muffler looks stock im not sure tho, but there are no markings on the exhaust.

but only those 2 mods as far as i know.


did a quick search on google and I seem to be having the same problem as this guy
http://www.mitsubishisucks.com/cars/.../10068363.html

 

Don't you have a 30 day limited warranty or something from the dealer you bought it from ? If you do and it's the clutch, get them to foot the bill ??

 

what could this problem be besides the clutch?

 

it only does it in first gear at around 1.5k RPM tho , beyond that it doesnt do it car runs normal at all gears doesn't slip in any gear. wouldn't it affect the other gears too if it was a clutch problem?

 

You have hot spots on your fly wheel. Mine does the same thing. I don't drag my car and I know how to drive a stick, but you will still get hotspots anyway. Just learn to release the clutch so you don't get the chatter and you will be fine.

I have a theory on the hotspots. If you live somewhere with high humidity, like So Cal, the dust in the area of the flywheel and clutch clumps together and gets sticky, and forms a bumpy layer on the flywheel. It later gets hot and sticks to the fly wheel forming a hotspot. Not to be confused with the hotspots formed by dropping the clutch out at 5K. This happened to my WRX too. My brother who lives in a dry climate, like AZ, doesn't have this problem and we both had the same 2 cars (WRX and now EVO).

OR I could be full of it.

 

It sounds nothing like a clutch problem. The RPM's don't drop when the clutch slips, they jump up. Even more so in higher gears, where the engine has more leverage on the drive train. I dont even know where someone came up with hot spots on the flywhell as a possibe culprit. What it sounds to me like is a boost or vacume problem. Whoever had it before you probably had a MBC or something similar installed, maybe a BOV and got the lines messed up or something.

I would start by going over all the boost and vacume lines. Look for areas that look like they have been tampered with and give them some extra attention. If all else fails take it to the dealer and tell them to fix it.

 

That would make sense, the previous owner had an aftermarket boost guage. thanks for the informative post. do you think its a loose hose or a leak in one of the hoses? I've never worked on an Evo before and I would have no idea what to look for. any specific lines that i should look at that would cause this>?

P.S - It might not be a boost or vac problem because it does not do it in neutral?

I see you're from MD, im from the Springfield area in VA. can you recommend some shops experienced at working on evos around the area?

 

Nah, its not a clutch problem.. Take a look at your Diverter valve.. If the previous owner had a BOV or some other aftermarket parts on it, the stock valve may have been reinstalled backwards.. It sounds more like your trying to start from a roll at a RPM much lower than the car wants to go at.. but do a complete tune up on the car.. Change the oil, the plugs, air filter, etc.. check the Intercooler hoses and verify the Diverter Valve (blowoff valve) installed backwards.

You won't be able to tell much in neutral..

IF you roll off the line, load the engine, then release the clutch suddenly, do the RPM's drop to the point of nearly stalling?