Overheated, lots of issues, now exhaust problems?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: phoenix
Overheated, lots of issues, now exhaust problems?
I have a 2006 Lancer ES with around 60k miles, in very good condition. I've owned it for 3.5 years, and have taken good care of it with regular oil changes, but I've been a bit slack about other maintenance - just haven't done much.
When the car was still under warranty, the service tech at Mitsubishi told me that my blend door was stuck (too tight) and wanted to fix it. When I got the car back, there was a rattle in the dash which got progressively worse. The car went back to the dealer several times but it never got fixed. When picking it up from its third visit for the rattles, I found a bottle of Mitsubishi branded super glue on the passenger side floor. Finally, the car went back a fourth time, at which point they told me they were going to replace the whole dash "instrument panel".
I picked it up 2 weeks later to find the rattle pretty much gone. The service order said that they did a "60-point inspection". I drove the car around town for some errands, all was well. On Christmas eve, I was driving it on the freeway when I noticed that the temp guage was pinned to the top. I freaked out and thought that since they replaced the "Instrument panel", maybe this was a result of something not being connected properly. This car has never had any issues with its cooling system - never even got warm!
I pulled over, but I guess it was too late. The car stopped smoking, and once it cooled off, it started right up, but after a minute or so, the temp gauge climbed right back up. I had it towed to the dealer the day after Christmas, and they told me that they're not responsible for anything, and that the system had no coolant in it and that the radiator was full of sludge and had never been flushed. So much for their 60-point inspection. They offered to replace my hoses, cap, and thermostat for $700, but I opted to tow it to my own mechanic for that. Didn't want to give them any business.
My mechanic was able to start the car and drive it into his bay to work on it. He had to remove the head and have it machined. He put everything back together with new hoses and coolant, and couldn't get a spark in cylinders 1 & 2. He finally assumed it was the on board computer and had it towed to a different Mitsubishi dealer. They were able to fix the spark issue, but then said that the car wouldn't stay running - something about a collapsed catalytic converter due to coolant getting in the system. The dealer said that it needs an entirely new exhaust system, and they want $2,200. They mentioned that the only way they can get it to run is to remove the exhaust system. Then it runs fine.
Now I'm thinking that the best course of action would be to find an exhaust system at a junkyard, or a muffler shop who replaced someone's lancer exhaust, and have it put on my car to solve the problem. There's a local guy selling a take off exhaust from a Lancer Evolution IX (unknown year). Will it fit on mine?
But ultimately, I don't know if this is a legit explanation from the dealer, and technically, if such a thing can happen as a result of overheating.
If so, then why did the car run just fine after overheating? What would have caused cylinders 1 & 2 not to spark after the head was reassembled. Can a catalytic converter collapse from coolant in the system?
Sorry for the long post. Any help you guys can provide is appreciated. I'm not that mechanically inclined, and I just want my lancer back. It's been out of service since Christmas.
When the car was still under warranty, the service tech at Mitsubishi told me that my blend door was stuck (too tight) and wanted to fix it. When I got the car back, there was a rattle in the dash which got progressively worse. The car went back to the dealer several times but it never got fixed. When picking it up from its third visit for the rattles, I found a bottle of Mitsubishi branded super glue on the passenger side floor. Finally, the car went back a fourth time, at which point they told me they were going to replace the whole dash "instrument panel".
I picked it up 2 weeks later to find the rattle pretty much gone. The service order said that they did a "60-point inspection". I drove the car around town for some errands, all was well. On Christmas eve, I was driving it on the freeway when I noticed that the temp guage was pinned to the top. I freaked out and thought that since they replaced the "Instrument panel", maybe this was a result of something not being connected properly. This car has never had any issues with its cooling system - never even got warm!
I pulled over, but I guess it was too late. The car stopped smoking, and once it cooled off, it started right up, but after a minute or so, the temp gauge climbed right back up. I had it towed to the dealer the day after Christmas, and they told me that they're not responsible for anything, and that the system had no coolant in it and that the radiator was full of sludge and had never been flushed. So much for their 60-point inspection. They offered to replace my hoses, cap, and thermostat for $700, but I opted to tow it to my own mechanic for that. Didn't want to give them any business.
My mechanic was able to start the car and drive it into his bay to work on it. He had to remove the head and have it machined. He put everything back together with new hoses and coolant, and couldn't get a spark in cylinders 1 & 2. He finally assumed it was the on board computer and had it towed to a different Mitsubishi dealer. They were able to fix the spark issue, but then said that the car wouldn't stay running - something about a collapsed catalytic converter due to coolant getting in the system. The dealer said that it needs an entirely new exhaust system, and they want $2,200. They mentioned that the only way they can get it to run is to remove the exhaust system. Then it runs fine.
Now I'm thinking that the best course of action would be to find an exhaust system at a junkyard, or a muffler shop who replaced someone's lancer exhaust, and have it put on my car to solve the problem. There's a local guy selling a take off exhaust from a Lancer Evolution IX (unknown year). Will it fit on mine?
But ultimately, I don't know if this is a legit explanation from the dealer, and technically, if such a thing can happen as a result of overheating.
If so, then why did the car run just fine after overheating? What would have caused cylinders 1 & 2 not to spark after the head was reassembled. Can a catalytic converter collapse from coolant in the system?
Sorry for the long post. Any help you guys can provide is appreciated. I'm not that mechanically inclined, and I just want my lancer back. It's been out of service since Christmas.
The catalytic converter is about a 1 ft piece in your exhaust that filters out harmful gases. Most of the time these are bolted in with flanges, and when you hear of "test pipe" that is just a straight pipe deleting the catalytic converter. As I said, most cars these are bolted in, some cars these are welded in. Since they want to replace the whole exhaust, I am assuming they are welded in on lancers. However, someone correct me if I'm wrong. It it isn't welded in they are just yanking your chain as a new catalytic converter is maybe 300$.
It it was my car and I had a welded in catalytic converter that was bad( I will not comment on any of your other questions or weather I think it is bad, because I do not know about the coolant thing.) I would buy a used catalytic converter and take it to a welding shop have them cut out yours and weld in another one. It doesn't even have to match your car, as long it is same exhaust diameter and fits in the place, the shop can make it work. That's the case for if its welded. If its bolted, again just but a used catalytic and have it bolted in, 10 min job.
I would try something though. In the catalytic converter there is the rear o2 sensor. That is the only way the car can know whats going on there. If the thing was just bad, exhaust will still be fine I'm near positive, because think if you had a straight pipe there, its still fine. The catalytic is tubing with honey comb in it. So the coolant breaks down the honeycomb, MAYBE, ok, well why does that make the car stall? I am boggled there. I would try disconnecting the o2 sensor and see if it will run. There is a electrical clip in the o2 sensor harness, just pull it down some from cab and disconnect it. If it runs fine them maybe they are right or maybe your o2 sensor is bad from coolant. If it still stalls, I believe they are wrong.
It it was my car and I had a welded in catalytic converter that was bad( I will not comment on any of your other questions or weather I think it is bad, because I do not know about the coolant thing.) I would buy a used catalytic converter and take it to a welding shop have them cut out yours and weld in another one. It doesn't even have to match your car, as long it is same exhaust diameter and fits in the place, the shop can make it work. That's the case for if its welded. If its bolted, again just but a used catalytic and have it bolted in, 10 min job.
I would try something though. In the catalytic converter there is the rear o2 sensor. That is the only way the car can know whats going on there. If the thing was just bad, exhaust will still be fine I'm near positive, because think if you had a straight pipe there, its still fine. The catalytic is tubing with honey comb in it. So the coolant breaks down the honeycomb, MAYBE, ok, well why does that make the car stall? I am boggled there. I would try disconnecting the o2 sensor and see if it will run. There is a electrical clip in the o2 sensor harness, just pull it down some from cab and disconnect it. If it runs fine them maybe they are right or maybe your o2 sensor is bad from coolant. If it still stalls, I believe they are wrong.
I have a 2006 Lancer ES with around 60k miles, in very good condition. I've owned it for 3.5 years, and have taken good care of it with regular oil changes, but I've been a bit slack about other maintenance - just haven't done much.
When the car was still under warranty, the service tech at Mitsubishi told me that my blend door was stuck (too tight) and wanted to fix it. When I got the car back, there was a rattle in the dash which got progressively worse. The car went back to the dealer several times but it never got fixed. When picking it up from its third visit for the rattles, I found a bottle of Mitsubishi branded super glue on the passenger side floor. Finally, the car went back a fourth time, at which point they told me they were going to replace the whole dash "instrument panel".
It's a known issue that the blend door in the ventillation system is defective on our cars from 02-06 Lancers AND Evos...the fix often requires replacing the door and gears but requires removal of the entire dash to do so. And is quite a process, so the dealer would likely charge a few grand, just in labor alone.
I picked it up 2 weeks later to find the rattle pretty much gone. The service order said that they did a "60-point inspection". I drove the car around town for some errands, all was well. On Christmas eve, I was driving it on the freeway when I noticed that the temp guage was pinned to the top. I freaked out and thought that since they replaced the "Instrument panel", maybe this was a result of something not being connected properly. This car has never had any issues with its cooling system - never even got warm!
could have been a thermostat stuck closed...they tend to wear out, i replace mine, along with the coolant annually just to be on the safe side...
I pulled over, but I guess it was too late. The car stopped smoking, and once it cooled off, it started right up, but after a minute or so, the temp gauge climbed right back up. I had it towed to the dealer the day after Christmas, and they told me that they're not responsible for anything, and that the system had no coolant in it and that the radiator was full of sludge and had never been flushed. So much for their 60-point inspection. They offered to replace my hoses, cap, and thermostat for $700, but I opted to tow it to my own mechanic for that. Didn't want to give them any business.
Sounds like mitsubishi service...of course they'll charge you $700 to install $65 worth of parts, that take approximately 15 minutes to replace.
My mechanic was able to start the car and drive it into his bay to work on it. He had to remove the head and have it machined. He put everything back together with new hoses and coolant, and couldn't get a spark in cylinders 1 & 2. He finally assumed it was the on board computer and had it towed to a different Mitsubishi dealer. They were able to fix the spark issue, but then said that the car wouldn't stay running - something about a collapsed catalytic converter due to coolant getting in the system. The dealer said that it needs an entirely new exhaust system, and they want $2,200. They mentioned that the only way they can get it to run is to remove the exhaust system. Then it runs fine.
i had my exhaust replaced from the header to the catatlytic converter, and even got a new cat fitted, welded and installed, and also had the shop fabricate a downpipe for the turbo kit i'm working on, for $300...there's no way a bad cat would cost $2,200...that cost is for the premade mitsubishi OEM full exhaust for that year make and model from the warehouse...if you take it to an exhaust shop, it wouldn't be more than a few hundred...
Now I'm thinking that the best course of action would be to find an exhaust system at a junkyard, or a muffler shop who replaced someone's lancer exhaust, and have it put on my car to solve the problem. There's a local guy selling a take off exhaust from a Lancer Evolution IX (unknown year). Will it fit on mine?
See above, don't buy exhaust systems from other cars, or premade OEM exhausts...just go to a muffler shop and replace what needs be...there's no way possible the entire exhaust system is bad...
But ultimately, I don't know if this is a legit explanation from the dealer, and technically, if such a thing can happen as a result of overheating.
Overheating to extreme temperatures can cause a lot of problems...even mechanical problems...
If so, then why did the car run just fine after overheating? What would have caused cylinders 1 & 2 not to spark after the head was reassembled. Can a catalytic converter collapse from coolant in the system?
spark has nothing to do with the head...the only reasonable way for coolant to enter your exhaust is through the head gasket, otherwise you'd be looking at structural failure of the head, block or throttle body.
Sorry for the long post. Any help you guys can provide is appreciated. I'm not that mechanically inclined, and I just want my lancer back. It's been out of service since Christmas.
When the car was still under warranty, the service tech at Mitsubishi told me that my blend door was stuck (too tight) and wanted to fix it. When I got the car back, there was a rattle in the dash which got progressively worse. The car went back to the dealer several times but it never got fixed. When picking it up from its third visit for the rattles, I found a bottle of Mitsubishi branded super glue on the passenger side floor. Finally, the car went back a fourth time, at which point they told me they were going to replace the whole dash "instrument panel".
It's a known issue that the blend door in the ventillation system is defective on our cars from 02-06 Lancers AND Evos...the fix often requires replacing the door and gears but requires removal of the entire dash to do so. And is quite a process, so the dealer would likely charge a few grand, just in labor alone.
I picked it up 2 weeks later to find the rattle pretty much gone. The service order said that they did a "60-point inspection". I drove the car around town for some errands, all was well. On Christmas eve, I was driving it on the freeway when I noticed that the temp guage was pinned to the top. I freaked out and thought that since they replaced the "Instrument panel", maybe this was a result of something not being connected properly. This car has never had any issues with its cooling system - never even got warm!
could have been a thermostat stuck closed...they tend to wear out, i replace mine, along with the coolant annually just to be on the safe side...
I pulled over, but I guess it was too late. The car stopped smoking, and once it cooled off, it started right up, but after a minute or so, the temp gauge climbed right back up. I had it towed to the dealer the day after Christmas, and they told me that they're not responsible for anything, and that the system had no coolant in it and that the radiator was full of sludge and had never been flushed. So much for their 60-point inspection. They offered to replace my hoses, cap, and thermostat for $700, but I opted to tow it to my own mechanic for that. Didn't want to give them any business.
Sounds like mitsubishi service...of course they'll charge you $700 to install $65 worth of parts, that take approximately 15 minutes to replace.
My mechanic was able to start the car and drive it into his bay to work on it. He had to remove the head and have it machined. He put everything back together with new hoses and coolant, and couldn't get a spark in cylinders 1 & 2. He finally assumed it was the on board computer and had it towed to a different Mitsubishi dealer. They were able to fix the spark issue, but then said that the car wouldn't stay running - something about a collapsed catalytic converter due to coolant getting in the system. The dealer said that it needs an entirely new exhaust system, and they want $2,200. They mentioned that the only way they can get it to run is to remove the exhaust system. Then it runs fine.
i had my exhaust replaced from the header to the catatlytic converter, and even got a new cat fitted, welded and installed, and also had the shop fabricate a downpipe for the turbo kit i'm working on, for $300...there's no way a bad cat would cost $2,200...that cost is for the premade mitsubishi OEM full exhaust for that year make and model from the warehouse...if you take it to an exhaust shop, it wouldn't be more than a few hundred...
Now I'm thinking that the best course of action would be to find an exhaust system at a junkyard, or a muffler shop who replaced someone's lancer exhaust, and have it put on my car to solve the problem. There's a local guy selling a take off exhaust from a Lancer Evolution IX (unknown year). Will it fit on mine?
See above, don't buy exhaust systems from other cars, or premade OEM exhausts...just go to a muffler shop and replace what needs be...there's no way possible the entire exhaust system is bad...
But ultimately, I don't know if this is a legit explanation from the dealer, and technically, if such a thing can happen as a result of overheating.
Overheating to extreme temperatures can cause a lot of problems...even mechanical problems...
If so, then why did the car run just fine after overheating? What would have caused cylinders 1 & 2 not to spark after the head was reassembled. Can a catalytic converter collapse from coolant in the system?
spark has nothing to do with the head...the only reasonable way for coolant to enter your exhaust is through the head gasket, otherwise you'd be looking at structural failure of the head, block or throttle body.
Sorry for the long post. Any help you guys can provide is appreciated. I'm not that mechanically inclined, and I just want my lancer back. It's been out of service since Christmas.
have you considered swapping the motor?
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
onlynamenotused
Evo Engine / Turbo / Drivetrain
15
Oct 13, 2018 11:48 AM
kaydo36
Lancer Troubleshooting
3
Aug 30, 2016 08:07 AM
Tw3NTy0n3
04-06 Ralliart Engine/Drivetrain
13
Jun 29, 2016 11:09 AM
houckeah
Evo Engine / Turbo / Drivetrain
26
Jul 29, 2009 10:50 AM
