If you provided the VIN Mitsubishi Canada can access all the service activities if these were logged into the system. You did not specify the previous owner "car dealer staff". Was this dealer at Mitsubishi? The chronology of your symptoms indicate that this looks like a blood clot. The migration of the contamination could have occurred in a long period of time. It might be worthed to perform a post mortem procedure and find out whether there is a debris in the system or not (especially if you encounter opposition from Mitsubishi Canada).

 

To be honest, I do not know. The guy I bought it from works at a different car dealer here, but in BC he only said he worked at "a" dealership. I never asked. I think the selling dealership will be able to give me some insight. As for a post mortem, I can tell you I've driven cars for many years without changing fluids and they've never suffered such an ABS failure. I cannot even begin to guess the root cause of this one other than **** happens.

 

For anyone following this sad saga, I talked to the selling dealer's service manager this AM. He's never heard of such a thing! Very helpful chap. Pulled the service records and they are mostly there up to when I bought it. Nothing out of the ordinary. He did tell me to wait on Mits Canada and hoped they'd show some goodwill given the mileage, service records etc. So I wait...

Oh yeah - he told me he'd discount the part by a grand and halve the labour needed if Mits does not come through. That is better but still almost double what I think it will take to get it fixed in Spokane.

 

I also found a new part for about the same price from a US Mitsubishi Dealer's Ebay shop
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GENUINE-MITS...3D262193254719
The quote they gave you for the part at your dealership is ridiculous.

 

Yeah, the quote was insane. I am not going to get too excited as I am hoping the dealer was right and that Mits might come through. BTW, on the listing for the pump/ecu they are charging duty when this item is 0-2.5%. Right now my best deal on the part is about 1 grand US plus 25 shipping and only GST.

I am keeping my fingers crossed...

 

Worst comes to worst, there is a UK based company, ECUtesting.com that repairs these units. BMW owners seem to be happy with the job they are doing (see below). The repair cost for Mitsubishi Lancer (same platform, same 2.0L engine) is £195 (~CAD 400 +shipping ) excluding VAT that you would not have to pay. This would not require programming, only bleeding the brake lines after arrival. The down side is that you cannot use the car for two weeks or so (they say the turnaround is 5-7 working days).
http://www.ecutesting.com/catalogue/...4047&model=600
http://www.bmwforums.info/bmw-3-seri...e-fixed-4.html

 

Interesting idea... but Mits Canada just called. They are going to talk to the service techs etc. No decisions on what if anything they will do, but at least they did not blow me off. Hopefully will hear in a day or so what if anything they will do. I tell ya - Spokane is still looking the cheapest/easiest as it is dealer. But if Mits does something on the part I can stomach some of the labour.

 

Well that was fast. <srum roll please...> Mits Canada says "The part in question is warrantied for 5 years/100000 kms and you are SOL". She also said to try the local dealer (the one with the high prices!) to see if they will give you a good will discount. Got a call in and am waiting but like the mothership, I am not confident they will help out.

Feasible Options:
1) Set it on fire and claim insurance like in Breaking Bad. (Note to insurance company - I AM KIDDING!!!)
2) Drive to Spokane and have it repaired there. No sales tax as I'm out of state but when you add in 15-18 hours of driving, beer, hotel, gas etc. the total comes to around $2400 CAD (part is $1305 USD - MSRP - at dealer)
3) Take advantage of selling dealership's kind(er) offer and get it done this summer when I am in the area. Cost of about $2700 CAD (plus some taxes)
4) Buy the OEM part from a Mits dealer in the USA for about a grand US (~1300 CAD), get it installed by an import specialist for about $200 CAD more and then pay the local dealer their $75 bucks for programming.

Frankly for a grand savings, the DIY route is probably the one I will take. Then I am going to sell the f'ing thing and buy something else. For all the crap-tastic Chrysler vans I've had and their troubles, never have I had to worry about my kid's safety as a result of their malfunctions. This is just plain asinine and I'm going to file a complaint with Transport Canada.

For anyone else unlucky to suffer such a problem or similar just out of warranty, I wish you well.

 

No brand is impervious to issues, but my Frontier was bona-fied lemon, and nissan only does 36k miles bumper to bumper


With my 2012 Frontier I had lots of electrical issues after the positive battery terminal broke off while driving. The power surge from the alternator fried several ECU components to the tune of $800. The dealer discounted the work by 50% because they had cleaned the terminals and treated them less than 1k miles prior to the incident.
Then shortly after that it developed a clunking in the rear differential the dealer could replicate but Nissan wouldnt replace under warranty. They wanted to try this and that to no avail leaving me without a vehicle for days at a time, albeit these repairs were covered under warranty.
Then a front drivers side shock blew out $250,
then the AC blower motor started acting up went out $200 ,
then the XM radio module went out. found a used one for $50, installed myself.
not to mention paint issues, and so manny rattles youd thought the damn thing was about to shake apart.
All these issues in a 3 year old truck I bought brand new with less than 10 miles.
then I traded it for the Outlander Sport and got way more for it on trade than I expected.....

 

You did notice Nissan was not on the list of possible replacements, right? What I ticked off about here is Mits Canada's refusal to bend in the slightest. Their cost on the part is about a grand Canadian. I would have gladly paid half MSRP and the 2.5 hrs labour. Instead, Mits lost a customer. Forever. I mean really - I was not that far out of the warranty time and 35,000 kms under the mileage limit. Hell, they all would still have made money. And kept a customer. Whatever....

 

I feel your anger and frustration but I would urge you to make decisions with a cool head. I have found that this problem is more common than not in BMWs, for example. German engineering- can you imagine - allows these failures (BMW is supposed to be a luxury brand, so it is even more so unacceptable than for a "cheapo" Mitsubishi). I might be wrong but I am not sure that you will get a problem free car just because it is a different make. Also, do not expect better treatment by any other dealership/national representation either.
I am still leaning toward to human error in changing brake pads/bleeding brake lines by some tech person in your case. It is also suspicious that after one year the people, who sold you the car are still willing to share your loss. Did you buy the car with an extended warranty from them?
In this disposable society any dealership wants to replace the whole unit partly because they lack expertise of fixing things - you do not have to go along from now on as your car is out of warranty. The option I suggested earlier is relatively economical, plus there are some DIY articles/videos where you can address separately the failure of the ECU or the hydraulic unit for fraction of the price. Many BMW owners apparently experienced this agony and saved big (read the bimmer forums for reference). I would hate to lose you as you are an invaluable contributor of this forum but ultimately I understand whatever conclusion you come up with. Best of luck.

 

@OP,

I would agree with AWCAWD on this..
Keep calm.

It sounds perhaps the part failed - due to a poorly serviced (prior) maintenance routine that (may have) caused your current dilemma..
And, keep in mind Mitsu's one of the few car companies that offers such a long warranty.

The unit itself looks to be a very simple replacement process:
Disconnect the two hoses and wiring connector, then
pop in the new unit.
I'm sure there's a brake bleed routine in there afterwards.

And, the "reprogramming".. Sure let the dealer do that if that's truly needed.
But, that's looks to be it.


**************

Too bad I didn't realize those units were that pricey, I would have pulled that part out of our first OS after it was wrecked.

 

Well, not exactly the same but I want you to know:

BMW, Honda, Chrysler, Jeep, Toyota and several other manufacturers were all forced to cover certain "defects" in their vehicles EVEN well after the warranty had expired (and I mean like out of warranty by a Decade+!) - Due to safety issues. ie: airbag igniters, fuel tanks, gas peddles etc etc

So, don't feel like you're totally stiffed..
If you can make a case of this being a human safety issue while operating a "Mitsubishi vehicle" (not some wiper motor going out or some such) then you may be able to get this taken care of, IF you are persistent.

 

First of all, thanks for the kind words. I AM pretty pissed right now. Even Chrysler warrantied me when I was just out of the stated period. Imagine that - Chrysler extending a warranty... Also, thanks for your advice - you too are even more invaluable to this forum. I have enjoyed it here almost as much as we;ve enjoyed the car. Reasonable price, decent performance, safe and reliable (previously) fun to customize with parts from Aliexpress... LOL

As for the selling dealer, I did NOT buy the car from them. They sold it to another guy from whom I bought. I guess they realize the ridiculous markup and want to make a good name for themselves, unlike the local dealer. Their labour rates are about 20% less too. I suspect they are still making 6-900 on the part. And the 2.5 hours labour is gravy.

As to the root cause, I could find no record of brake servicing and the wear is about right for the mileage. I think this is just "one of those things" that sadly appeared AFTER the end of the warranty.

I am mulling options and sent a note to ecutesting.com The logistics are a PITA but for 4-500 bucks....

 

Well that is what I told Sophie from Mits Canada. She does not care. Out of warranty period. Hence the Transport Canada claim. I have to wonder how many other ABS failures there are?