Alright...many of you may have read my threads about my transmission and warranty problems. For those who havent, heres the scoop:
First off...here are my current vehicle mods...short ram intake, muffler, coilovers, body kit, aluminum wing, taillights, c/f hood...
Aight, so I wake up one morning, start my car, and begin backing out of my driveway...suddenly i notice a nice pile of transmission fluid in the drive way ... so I take the car to Mitsubishi to have them look at it. I drop it off at around 8 in the morning. Bout 5 to 10 minutes later I get a message on my cell phone from the service secretary that I'd have to come in and sign some paper saying that I'd pay for the repairs!!! So I come up there wondering what the hell is goin on and she explains to me that "because of the modifications to the vehicle AND it being lowered", that their not sure its going to be covered under warranty so I needed to sign that paper stating that if its not under warranty I'd have to pay some 700 dollars just for them to look at it. I was like, naw, imma take it to my transmission shop. So my shop looks at it and first off notices a "dust shield" that covers the flywheel that was removed (I later found out that Mitsubishi forgot to put this plate back on) and that there was a hole, where apparently what is believed to be the spider gears has shot out. So I call up Mitsubishi and they say that they will not cover it because of "the modifications to the vehicle and it being lowered". So I've been in and out of contact with Mitsu USA about this. (Keep in mind this all started mid Nov.) So Mitsu USA says that a District Manager would come down and check it out. Well beginning of January the Service Manager at my dealer calls and says that he met with the District Manager and they decided it would not be covered. WTF!! The district manager never even looked at my car!!!
At this point I'm fed up. I've been without my car for 4 months now and I'm sick and tired of it. I'm preparing to go up to Mitsubishi and begin a big fight to get this fixed.
Sorry for the long post, but I'm asking for any and all available help with this matter. I've already got some helpful information from the SEMA site. But I was wondering if anyone else know anything that would be helpful...and if theres any mechanics ont his board...could someone please tell me if this is right or not...I believe this **** should be under warranty!!!
On another note, they kept saying the warranty was voided due to "the modifications to the vehicle AND it being lowered" then they started saying that it was because of the suspension. If it was just because of the suspension, then why didnt they just say that. In my opinion they're assuming its a built up import racer or something and ****...I dont know but I'm pissed and I'd appreciate any help from yall so that I can get my ride back on the road... Again, sorry for the long post, but thanks!

 

bump

 

Wow.....

Im so glad my car goes off warranty in 4,000 miles. Im tired of issues like this. I remember back in October of 2001 up until the Evo came out when the service guys like the modifications I had done to my car. Now when I just get an oil change, they give me the 5th degree, telling me even my "aftermarket rims" will void my warrenty.

It is because of my experiences, plus stories like yours that will force me to never ever buy a Mitsubishi car ever again. Personally I feel that Mitsu makes some nice cars that are very good in terms of reliability, but I refuse to feed the monster that is MMCA any longer. Mitsubishi's new head thinks that the way to sell his product in the U.S. is to offer 10 year warrenties. 10 year warrenties are no more than a shallow promise, especially with the "quality" service departments Mitsu runs.

When there is a problem, Mitsu needs to accept the blame and fix what is broken. We could go on and on about Evo clutches and weither or not people abused them, but lets look at a larger fiasco from Mitsu's past; crankwalk. All you 2G DSM'ers know what Im talking about, if anyone else is clueless run a quick search on google. Now Mitsu knew that this was a problem with that gen 4G63, but they very rarely replaced engines on cars that showed the symptoms. On top of that, modifications to 2Gs made it impossible to claim warrenty work.

My point is this. Things were bad back in the 2G days. Things have not changed with the advant of the Evo. Things will probably never change. And Mitsu will continue to squander their U.S. market share because people like me will become fed up; not with the cars themselves, but with the people and the policies that service them......

 

Honestly, this is probably one of the few cases I've heard when mitsu might actually have a leg to stand on. Theoretically, they could be saying that the lowered suspension put it at risk for the transmission making contact with the ground. It's entirely possible that could be what they're saying, and really, I don't know how much recourse you'll have.

Unfortunately, the only protection we really have is that when we have a situation where a modification couldn't have made for the problem the car has. For instance, you install a... crap, a shift knob or something transmission related, and the radio stops working. I think it's hardly enough protection, but, it's hard when only SEMA is on your side, and everyone else is against you.

 

Might have a leg to stand on.....

My friend owns a 2002 Firehawk. He has aftermarket equipment on his car. He goes to the dealer with a problem on his car. They fix it. No problems with the parts on his car or anything else. Talk to any F-body guy and youll get mostly the same story. Seems the domestic companies at least have the service side figured out.

STreetlancer, you raise a valid arguement, but Mitsu would really be stretching to pull that one. Like I said, Im tired of dealing with their crap....

 

My mitsu dealer has no problems with mods, in fact they are the ones who put in my camshaft and camgear for me. They sell about every mod for the 2g and some lancer stuff out of their parts department. Maybe thats why they are the number 1 mitsu dealer in the nation (thats what they claim).

 

Hey Dude Make sure you PM this guy "Graeme" I'm sure he'll have an answer for you...


and to that guy that said his dealership claims to be #1, got news for u, Every dealership "Claims" to be #1 my @$$

anyway, i think mitsu should just cut the $#!T and fix the poor kids car. end of discussion!

 

Threaten to sue. Or have your lawyer contact them. Their gonna get scared ****less and fix it. Thats whay my boy did. He has a Ford Lightning and his engine gave, they wouldnt cover it and he had his lawyer call and threaten. Two days later he had a new engine in his car. I can honestly tell you that I will no longer be buying Mitsu Cars anymore. Love the Cars, but hate the service.

 

That I can agree with. I need to get in good with a service manager.

 

Well the dealership here in Killeen, Billy Young, is the one givin me all the problems. So I called Rountree in Waco and Barrett in Georgetown and their service managers are skeptical that the suspension would cause this. They told me to call Mitsu and demand for the file to be reopened and ask for a District Manager to come out and look at the car and see what he says. I'm so fed up with Mitsubishi right now. I mean I bought the car with the warranty and my mom even added the extended warranty for my motor and tranny, since I'm goin all show right now. So I have a warranty and a $1000 extended warranty which is useless. This honestly is bull ****. My mom is speakin with Mitsu right now and I'll post back up later with whats goin to happen. If the District Manager says that it wont be covered I dunno what I'm goin to do guys. Im a damn 18 year old student who needs his car back. They dont give a damn, they just view me as a young punk kid with a hooked up car who can afford to pay for a new tranny...well I'd rather put my money to something else. This is honeslty some bull ****. Thanks for all you guys input...hopefully I'll get some good news soon..

 

Please post pics of the hole in the tranny, or point me to where they are posted. I've done enough with a tranny now that I can tell you if the tranny caused it or something else did.

If it was a "road hazard" that caused it regardless of your suspension it will be for you to cover. The good news is that it will fall under your comprehensive insurance portion (which I hope you have!) and they will pay for the repair. If it was any kind of OEM mechanical failure though the dealer MUST pay for it. So either the dealer or your insurance will cover it.

A dealer can never void a warranty. They can only refuse to do work under warranty for things that are caused my user modification and that they can show a direct link to. If they can not show direct evidence that lowering your car or otherwise caused that damage they can not in any way modify or amend your warranty. Exhaust, intake, and filters are also covered by law stating that they can not ristrict your modification to those parts. However if a non oem part results in an engine failure (****ty filter lets too much dirt in or something) then they can refuse to warranty that damage. But they can not void your warranty as a whole. If you put a filter on and your AC goes out, they have to fix the AC.. etc.

Just get a lawyer to call them. That'll move it along quite quickly.

 

I will try to get a pic of the hole...it is located above the crossmember that runs under the motor and tranny parrallel with the chassis. You can tell that the hole was made by something shooting out of the tranny because the hole flares out...ill try and get a pic though as soon as i can

 

then it should be nearly an open and shut case from your side, plus you can sue for the inconvenience. I'd go ahead and do it all the way. You tried working with them... now screw them so bad they'll remember for a good long while.

 

Okay, I just read the whole story, and talked with my service manager over it, and here's our thoughts.

What you're describing makes us wonder a little bit, kind of scratch our heads, and reminds us of something we had here just a few days ago. One of our customers came in complaining of "grinding in second gear". We took it for a test drive, and couldn't hear anything, so our service manager went for a test drive with him, so that the guy could demonstrate exactly what the problems are, and when they happen. So they go cruising up the street, and buddy punches it in first, and thenw hen he hits redline, he taps the clutch, and JAMS the shifter down in to second. And, obviously, it ground on the way in. He said "See?? It grinds!!" My service manager, restraining himself, said "Look, I should deny any claims on your clutch or transmission because of what you just showed me." Even with that warning, however...

Three days later, he comes in complaining that he can barely get his car moving. So he limps it in, and we can't see any exterior damage. We take it to a tranny shop that we farm stuff out to, and boom, guess what? Differential? Shot. Gone. KABLOOM. There is literally nothing salvagable from it. They didn't bother pulling apart the rest of the transmission, as the labour for rebuilding and replacing the differential was more than the cost of a new transaxle. His clutch had signs of excessive wear (<15% left, and he only had 22000 KM on it), and his right tire was nearly bald, his left evenly worn. Our district parts/warantee manager came in, and inspected it, and said that it was excessive/unreasonable wear, and denied any claims on it.

Now, the reason I tell you this story, is because I have to question how a spider gear would have enough force to be shot through the transmission case, if it weren't being excessively used and/or abused. Neither I nor my service manager can think of anything that would cause ANY part of the transmission to dislodge itself so violently in the regular use of the transmission. If you are launching the car hard, if you are shifting in the high revs and/or shifting hard there, if you are doing anything which is not in the usual course of driving, and would put excessive strain on the transmission, yes, your claims on the transmission would likely be denied.

Now, I don't want to say that your car is fubar'd, and that you're SOL, because it's not in front of me. I can't say how you were driving your car, and I can't say exactly what's wrong with it. It is possible that your dealership was giving you an 'easy off' answer as to why it wasn't covered--ie: they wanted to tell you something to make you go away, and didn't want to explain the real reason because "He's just a young punk". Hate to say it, but it happens sometimes--even here. Without all the details, I can't know whether or not your claim is a reasonable one, something that should be covered by warantee. I can say that the circumstances are suspicious, and that this is not a clear cut issue. Your best bet is to get directly in touch with the DM, have him present while you and the service manager go over what the problem(s) are and were, and why this is happening. Have them explain to you exactly why the transmission came apart. Work from there, and good luck.

 

And for the record I've been posting under the assumption that you don't abuse, race, pop the clutch, redline repeatedly, or in any other way abuse you car. If you did then I want to kick you for wasting our time when it is your fault for beating on the car. If that isn't the case though, then there is definitely something up and you should get things fixed. But you need to own up and take responsibility for your situation if you drive the car hard all the time. Things aren't meant to be redlined every day and shock loading of the tranny (doing like graeme mentioned in the above post, or popping the clutch etc) will shatter parts in the car, no way around it. So if you did that, or it happened when you did that, then frankly it's your issue.

As far as it having to be abused or so forth to pop a gear through the tranny wall I'll contest that. If the tranny is moving at 4,000 or more rpm's there is a lot going on at that time. It wouldn't be that hard to see something breaking, jamming, or so forth and then popping through the tranny walls, they aren't exactly thick in the first place, and there are some amazing forces inside a tranny even during normal operation.