wait , a minute I have seen something similar , could it be a problem with your spark plugs. I know with my protege, the car can actually still run on just 2 pistons firing. which is cool when you think about it. But it could be some kinda electrical fault.

What you do dude, i use your camera and record it. Cause if you take it to the dealership they are just going to take it around the block and even if they see the problem they maybe lazy and say, ummm looks fine. have a nice day.

record the issue post it here as well, i am curious

good luck

 

Yep, that's exactly what happened at the dealer. The took it for a ride found nothing, checked the computer, found nothing. They said that the ECU / CEL was blanked out / showed nothing unusual. DUH!! I had to pull the fuses to reset the Freakin thing to get it out of LIMP MODE. They said if it happens again to call roadside assistance and have them haul it in without resetting anything.

He did mention something about the FAST key, that it was possibly going into disable mode or loosing connection with the key. I'm going to try some tests and let you know what I find.

Has any tried to start it with the FAST key, then remove the key and drive off?

Lets try it.

 

Nope, I cant the key system to LIMP MODE the car. I started it with the FAST key and then handed the key out the window to a friend, drove off and the car worked fine. I drove around a couple blocks and the car just gave me a warning message.


I then started with the key, got out ( opened the door ) and then got back in and drove around the block with no problems. I also couldn't lock the doors while the engine was running, so take note.

When changing exhaust was is the required time for the car to idle after and recalibrate after you hook the battery back up? Any of your guys who have RRM intakes got the directions? What did it say? I'm thinking all this might have something with ECU not fully recalibrating. None of the signs in LIMP MODE seem to be pointing to a FAST key issue.

 

There are no instructions... The How-To that I wrote is about the best it gets...

 

You wont blow the car up if u get it tuned!!!!!!

 

You probably need a new battery. You should have your charging system checked (most parts stores will do this for free.) If the ECU is not seeing the proper voltage form the sensors it will go into a reduced power mode. There could be a problem with any one of you sensors. You might have damaged your mass airflow sensor. This should all be covered under warranty unless you broke your maf sensor while messing with the intake.

Chevy cobalts have this problem, as soon as the battery starts going bad they have reduced power. I hope this helps.

 

I finally got a chance to take a look at the 2004 Lancer manual and I found a chapter on "What to do if the engine speed becomes unstable after a battery replacement". Basically it states that in some cases after replacing battery, the electronic control system data for the engine, automatic transaxle, etc. will be erased. As a result, the engine speed becomes unstable, initial engine adjustment will need to be performed.

And the procedure goes as follows:

1.Stop the vehicle in a safe place
2.If the vehicle has an automatic transaxle, place the selector in the "P" (PARK) position. If the vehicle has a manual transaxle, place the gearshift lever in the "Neutral" position. Stop the engine.
3.Restart the engine
4.Turn off the air conditioning
5.Allow the engine to warm up until the needle in the engine coolant temperature gauge stabilizes near the center of the gauge.
6.Stop and restart the engine.
7.Allow the engine to idle for approximately 10 minutes.
8.When the engine speed stabilizes, the resetting procedure is complete.

And when this doesn't seem to work, contact authorized Mitsubishi dealer.

So again, this is for a 2004 Lancer but maybe the 2008 has something similar. And the fact that Mitsubishi actually has a chapter about it in the manual book means that they are aware of this problem so maybe it's your dealership mechanic just being lazy. Obviously there is something not right but the mechanic failed to identify/correct the problem.

 

I performed a reset. Lets see what happens tomorrow.

 

good luck!

 

Martha Freakin Stewart!!!!

LIMP MODE AGAIN!!! Driving West on 66 car was just cruising down the middle lane, gave it just a little gas and Dud, LIMP MODE! I drove through the city no problem, got into VA, was cruising down 66 for about 3-4 miles and then out of nowhere, LIMP MODE.


Yesterday, I pulled the battery and then re-attached with all stock parts on, let it idle without anything else on for 15 minutes, drove to the airport, and around town, maybe 15 miles with no problem last night. This morning it started fine, let i t warm up, and began my day. NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY.


I couldn't let Mitsu come pick up the car. I had to pull over and reset with the fuses. I had to meet an important client at 9am and could not put it off or be late. I had to do that yesterday while i was at the Mitsu dealer having them take a look to see what the problem was to no avail.

I ran a whole bunch of tests yesterday with the FAST key to see if that could be the cause of the problem. You can start the car with the key in proximity, get rid of the key and drive off with nothing more than a warning message. The car does not disable itself. Someone else please try this out to see if its just me. You cant start or open the doors without it, but once you do start or open the doors, you don't need the key really.

I don't see how I could have damaged the MAF Sensor, I have never touched it. Not so much as put my hand on it. I just took that plastic pipe off coming into the air box. Guy putting in RRM intakes are actually touching the MAF sensor.

I might just have to leave this thing at the dealer and have them drive each morning until it LIMPs on them.

Has anyone heard anything else about this problem, anywhere?

 

Hmmmmm, or maybe this is a case of bad gasoline, do you usually tank in the same place or you tank wherever it goes? It may be a coincident with the battery removal but when/where did you tank before the battery went dead?

 

Ive gotten gas at a different place everytime. Ive filled up 4 different place that I can remeber in the last week.

I have had the car 8 days and it has died on 7 of the 8. WTF

Im going to have the battery tested today.

 

have you recently driven through a deep puddle or has it rained like crazy? I started getting this when O2 got messed up and was shorting (different car and possibly different O2 location than lancer). Strangely enough this does sound like a MAF problem too. Its obviously something electronic in the fuel delivery/spark. Cracked sparkplug? defective sparkplug? loose coil

If your misfiring enough it will throw a code, check your plugs and for moisture around them and check grounds on engine/tranny


SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many things can cause your problems, bad battery, faulty alternator, bad sensors...if it happened after a jumpstart you may have jolted something pretty good, but only way is to diagnose with the code, that will narrow things down or identify the exact problem. good luck

 

SO today it has gone into LIMP MODE three times. The 2nd time it went into LIMP MODE I was able to start it again without any symptoms yet the check engine light remained on, therefore I would assume that the error code was still present in ECU memory. Though alas, it only made it another 4 miles ( 5 miles before the dealership ) that it died again and thus I had to pull the fuse on it.

I went to the dealership anyway, just to report the problem again officially. I'm am starting to build a documented case for a lemon and to get rid of it.

For the Record: Just in case anyone from Mitsubishi is reading this, there is nothing like seeing a brand new car with thirty day tags on the side of the road with the hood up on I95 / 495 / Rt 66 / Connecticut Ave / Wisconsin Ave - practically every major road in Washington DC. That's great publicity. 1000s of daily drivers have seen a broken down lancer. There's nothing like the reliability of Mitsubishi. Tell all your friends about them!! In 8 days the car has broken down 10 times.

No question in mind, I should have bought a Subaru.

I have to travel for business this coming week. I'm leaving the car at the dealer. If they can't find the problem, I'm getting rid of it. Its a complete embarrassment to drive.

 

I understand your frustration, I was talking to some mechs at Mead Engineering this weekend when I was getting a exhaust priced and one of the techs said it sounds like a MAF.