Mitsu has another Technical Bulletin for 02-04 Lancers concerning the temperature dial control(Cold - Hot). If you feel the dial is hard to turn, then you should have it replaced under warranty. They will change the gear assembly and cable and put in a filter in blower housing to stop debris from getting into the assembly and making it difficult to control the vent doors.

Had mine replace today when I brought it in for an oil change, they said I need to have it done, took them around 45 minutes and it didn't cost me a dime. Now thats what I call service with a smile !

So far everything I have had with Mitsu has been top notch, first the fan controller and now this or maybe my dealer is very deligent and look after their customers.

 

Good post, my HVAC controls are hard to turn when it gets to a certain point. I'll have to get into the dealership if they won't charge me anything.

 

do those TBs have numbers or anything? i want to have that in hand when i go.

 

I wasn't able to get the number of the bag, but I had seen its a semi round white nylon gear with a cable. I had also seen the TB in their TB binder.

 

i need to get me a binder. that's what i was looking for. i'm just waiting for them to tell me that my body kit screwed up my hvac controls.

 

^---hahahah omg thats funny. Some dealerships would do that.

 

Here are some pics of the lever assemblies. There is definitely a difference between the two. The one on the left is the assembly that came in my car. I was not able to turn the temperature dial at all with those in. I pulled the parts on the left from a friends car that was the same year as mine, 2003. It has fixed the temperature dial problem. I can actually turn it. It's still a little tough, but it's not to bad.

 

dude mine is stiff to turn too. i thought i was the only one. i'm gonna get mine fixed tomorrow

 

I don't know why Mitsubishi went with the wire controlled HVAC controls when they had existing technology for electronic. Well...I do know. I'm sure it was cheaper. But if they'd minor upgrades like that really lend to the quality of the car, and could have made the car a hell of a lot nicer with only a minor change. Oh well.

 

i called Tustin Mitsu today to see if i could get it replaced. When i told them about the Technical Bulletin they said the wouldn't cover it for free.

"your looking at between $300-$500 in parts and labor." ummm.....NO!

i'm gonna check another dealership.

 

Yeah, I was wondering that. How many 02 Lancers are still under the initial warranty? I figured if it's not a recal, I'm getting charged, which sucks because I complained about these controls from the first month I owned the car.

 

i think he just got lucky and the service guy hooked him up. i called two dealers in my area and both want to charge me a couple hundred to do it. i guess i'll just stick with my sticky knob.

 

few hundred bucks for that? You guys are getting hosed... I just received a response to my inquiry at the dealer and they would charge me 60$

$17.77 parts + $40.00 labor = $57.77 plus tax

 

if the parts are only 18 bucks i'll just buy them and do it myself. Cali dealers are teh gayness

 

im on the phone with my dealer while im posting this. Hes telling me that unless youre within the factory 3 year 36,000 mile warrenty its not covered. I have an extended warenty that goes to 5 year 60,000 mile and it IS covered under that so im def doing it. If you do take it in make sure they change out EVERYTHING. The guy i talked to said the bulletin shows several different levels of fixes for that problem. The best of course being to change out everything.