'sup all,

I lurk here more than I post as I'm more active on the regional DCEvoClub.com forums.

Thought I post some info and get some feedback from you all. I purchased my Tarmac Blace Evo 8 August 18, 2003.

The first week of February my engine failed. I lost my no. 3 rod bearing into the oil pan. Needed a whole new short block. My local Mitsu dealer that I purchased it from had the car for about 1.5 weeks and put in a brand new short block.

Yesterday, the engine failed again. This time it was the no. 4 rod bearing...into the oil pan.

This is obviously a major defect. The Evo is a proven, bullet proof world class platform. While everyone from my local service dept to Mitsu customer service are mystified...I'm personal now very unhappy and want them to buy it back.

My Evo is just over 6 months old and has 15,8K miles. I am completely stock and I dont track or autox. Both times the rod bearings failed as I accelerated through 4th gear as a downshift from 5th. No redline and no missed gear (ie 5th to 3rd).

I live in MD and purchased in VA. Do the lemon laws apply by the state in which you live or the state in which you purchased a vehicle. I know the failure has to 4 times in MD and 3 times in VA or you have had your car out of commission for 30 days within 12 months I believe.

Whatever the case, I passionate as I am about Evos I no longer have confidence in the one I own. The idea of a roadtrip for business ( I travel routinely in my profession ) and getting stranded on some interstate far from home is not cool.

Any lawyers out there?!

Just seems like the right thing for them to just buy the car back and put it to rest. This is obviously HIGHLY HIGHLY unusual and so the case is plain that this is seriously a manufacturer defect of some sort that go through quality testing and control. I should not have to suffer negatively for it.

All thoughts, suggestions, and feedback welcome.

Thanx,

T

 

Damn bro that sucks but you say the rod bearings keep fining the pan? two seperate shortblocks? I just cant see how this isnt a torque issue on the conrods. Im not sure what case oyu have as this has occured 2 times on two different parts

 

dont worry they fixed it wrong the first time. ask them to change the hole engine if not wait and dyno your car. you are getting a new engine body

 

Its odd to have two engines fail in a very short period of time.. Similar failure too.. It could be some "accessory" hardware that was transferred over... possibly something preventing the oil circulating correctly or some other defect.. You are fortunate that it was covered under warranty and you didn't get blamed by Mitsu for abusing it.

I think you have recourse if the car has been repaired for the same problem 3 times, or the car has been serviced for some time compared to the time you've owned it. Search on the web, the info is out there.

I have a hard time trusting the mechanics at the dealerships.. From my personal experience. Obviously your car is going to have to be repaired again, but since it failed under similar circumstances, have them replace the pullies and harmonic balancer, and flywheel.. anything that can cause significant vibration and transfer it to the crank can cause bearings to fail, though crank bearings would be the more likely result. Rod bearing failures in my experience are more likely due to oil starvation, or a defect in manufacturing.

You didn't specify how catastrophic the failure was.. Did the bearing cap break? Typically a spun bearing will leave metal shavings in the oil, but the bearing usually stays put, and scores the crap out of the crank surface..

But you DO have recourse, and I think the lemon laws apply to where you took delivery of the car, and not the state you live.. but this info is easily found on the net.

 

Yeah. Not sure how this will turn out but thanks for the post.

Also, what also really sucks is, yesterday when I call Mitsu Roadside Assistance for a tow back to my house, the tow truck driver apparently hadn't set the parking brake/gear. We came to a stop sign and the chain on the rear came loose and my car rolled forward and smashed to the head guard behind the drivers cabin. So in addition to a new engine I need a new facia and left headlamp cover.

 

Malibu,

Someone suggested that bearing material could have been floating around and got caught up the oil pump. I dunno. Unfortunately I'm not nearly as astute with automotive tech as I am with computer tech.

I'd say the first time was pretty catastrophic. According to the tech, the bearing was obliterated and the crank was beaten very badly. Metal shavings abounded.

This time I'm not sure to what degree that damage is. I just have the initial finding. I'll know more tomorrow.

 

Hey I dunno if this will help, because I live in California, and am only familiar with the Lemon Law for my state. I guess some of the paralegal work I did helped me out with gaining info. Go here to find out about what you can do under the Lemon law (Although honestly you don't have a strong case). PM me if you want further details. Here is the website for the info. you need.
http://library.lp.findlaw.com/articl...sumerlaw_1_101

 

OH-MY-GOD. Your luck is unreal. Sorry to hear about your misfortune. Your car is EXACTLY what lemon laws are devised for, and I hope you get things worked out.

One thing I know, lemon laws are between you and the manufacturer, not the dealers. It will be Mitsu corporate that will have to pay for the car if you uiltimately win and they will have to pay the orginal perchase price, plus tax and all fees (including licensing). If they give you another car, they will have to pay the tax and the licensing plus all payoff penalties. I would definately go for the lemon law and either cash out or get a new car.

 

What if the factory boost control was jammed or stuck and allowed uncontrolled boost pressure? I guess the diagnostic question is "was it really really fast just before it blew up?". Not to joke because it must be a hard thing to bear. Hope they give you a new car.

 

I defer to your experience on this (I'm just a backseat lawyer), but why do you think it is a poor case? I would think that his car would qualify on market value alone...I mean, a new engine in a 15k mile car? I know I don't want it....

 

Thanks Denom for the link. Very good. I must disagree though to say that I don't have strong case is a bit understated. I definitely have a groundswell at least. If I go by the Lemon Law for the state in which I bought it (in this cas Va) then they have one more try after this one to get it right or is buy back ville for them and I got 2.5 weeks to the 30 day rule also. I certainly agree that market value for my Evo specifically is seriously damage.

I mean, just saying I had a brand new engine replacement on my 6 month old Evo with 15K mi will scare anyone especially someone wanted to see the service history on the car. That grounds enough if you ask me.

I think the bottom is whether they can fix it for good this time (which I am not confident it will as I think there is something natively wrong the entire build of my Evo powerplant) ...or just doing right by and taking the car back.

Nevertheless, I'm choosing to remain optimistic about a getting a good result out of this situation.

Thanks again,

T

 

I did a case similar to this one for my Legal writing class. Basically you have to bring the car in atleast 3 times (As the author stated), you also have to contact the corporate headquarters, and give them a chance to try to fix the problem (Have a lawyer, or paralegal type up the letter, send it certified mail). I dunno if it goes to Mitsubishi's Process server or to the attention of any specific division there. Anyways, you have to follow the steps mentioned in that article. Even then alot of cases are lost, and/or they make you wait forever for reimbursement by filing appeals. If I had Westlaw i'm sure that i could find you alot of cases that were lost under the Lemon Law. Take it to a lawyer, and see what he/she says. Just make sure that the lawyer isn't just hoping to make money, regardless of whether they win/lose the trial.

 

Look up Civil Code Subsection 1793.22(b). I believe the Song-Beverly Act also confers some right to you as a buyer. Do a search on Find Law, it's free

 

Uncontolled boost or some engine managment problem is likely. Improbable to have two faulty blocks.

If short block was used, as somebody pointed out, and other parts were inadequately cleaned then this could also ruined another bearing. Whatever you do make sure you get a complete engine and engine management replacement including all ancillaries such as turbo, wastegate, etc.

 

I'll just have them shipped a new engine than try to figure it out. Even if it is a 4G63, most mechanic are still unfamiliar with evo, being it fairly new in the market. even then there should be some compensation