http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZM4P4JX-uo

^video of the problem...

Best we can determine, it has to do with the steering wheel locking when the ign switch is turned OFF. If the wheel doesn't lock, it seems to cause this condition.

This inherently is likely a faulty ignition switch, as I've heard there were a lot of problems with the '08 FAST key ign switches in the Evo's and Outlander's.

Would appreciate any feedback!

 

Unfortunately I have nothing to say regarding your problem, that sucks! How do you get your vehicle on at that point?

If you pull on the steering wheel to the left, will the fast key fake key turn? I know sometimes it locks and you can't turn it without yanking on the steering wheel.

Also, have you tried using your other key? I doubt its a key issue but its worth a shot.

 

Spent the whole weekend going through all the relays, steering lock scenarios, different keys, changed battery in keyfob, everything.

Finally gave in, pulled the IOD up to save some battery and had her towed to the dealer.

They worked with mitsu tech support, and finally narrowed it down to what they believe to be the ETAC control module.

Supposed to be a replacement one on the way from CA but hasn't arrived yet. Guess I'm renting a car for another week.

Will keep you posted.

 

Did you wire anything into the ETACS ecu? We had a guy locally who fried his by trying to wire up his radar detector into it...

 

1st time i've seen this one. let us all know as things progress

 

Negative. Only thing done electronically is the tuning maps done to ECU. Everything else is mechanical bolton stuff.

Good news is, they're also doing all my relays up for me to the newer one's as well.

He did say all this was approved for warranty. I would think if there was some shady wiring going on, that would been found and voided things.

I bet I called 30 dealerships around the country describing the problem, so I can certainly believe it being a 1st.

I spoke to Paul at South Coast about it and brought him up to speed in case any came in with the problem.

More to come Monday...

-Nick

 

Just got the car back...here's the update...

Basically, it was a shorted out wire in the trunk harness that allows for the trunk to be remotely opened.

They said the way they found it was by plugging in a stock ECU/ETAC and it threw codes that pointed them in the direction of the trunk lock/latch. Once they found the short, it was repaired and everything worked like a champ. This process of elimination took several days of gremlin chasing with Mitsu techs walking them through it on the phone, and kudos to these guys for finding it.

I never...EVER...would have thought to chase down the trunk latch, but it does make sense.

 

Bumping this up with some updates. It's been a while.

The car was down for most of 2012 getting some serious overhauls. Really hoping the electrical guys can dig in here and help me find this. I've got a serious track car built that I can't drive because of this.

Late in January, the symptom reared it's head again. The difference (we had hoped) this time, was that during investigation, a hidden box was found under the dash near the fuse panel, lashed in with a zip tie, and spliced into the harness.

!!! we thought.

So tonight, I removed it, and come to find out it is some sort of LoJack device with its own antenna and internal SIM card. It had a small harness with an inline fuse (which was intact) and also a relay mounted to the dash frame. Removed it all. There was only one orange/silver wire to the ign switch harness that was spliced to the lojack harness, the rest were just wiretaps to power/signal. Untapped them, and unspliced the orange wire to the ignition harness, put everything back.

Didn't change a thing. In the exact same spot.

I have no idea what to do here. Hoping someone else has run into this or would know where to start chasing the next gremlin path.

Anyone know if there is an immobilizer in the stock alarm?