Advice Needed from Foreign Car Mechanic

[midwestnurse]

I have taken my Mitsubishi into the shop FIVE times because the engine light remains on. The mechanic "clears the codes" each time and tells me something he has done, like adjust the throttle sensor, etc. Once he suggested a total tune-up and engine vac. Although the car had a major tune-up only 11 months ago, I had it done again...to the tune of $500.00. I'm still taking the car back, and the engine light is STILL ON! Please help!

I'd like to mention, too, that the car drove like a dream until I got it back from the shop the first time. (I only took it in because the light came on.) Since taking it in, it "chugs" or misses at times, usually around 30mph.

I know nothing about cars, but I have researched this to death on the internet, and am beginning to think that nothing can be done for this car. The engine light is OFF when I pick up the car from the shop, and comes back on after driving it about 15 miles.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

:sherlock:

[allie]

Not much of a help but my Honda has a similar problem and has for years. The engine light stays on continously. At first I was taking it in all of the time asking what was wrong, they couldn't figure it out. I finally took it to ANOTHER foreign mechanic and they said Honda's were known for this - the light would just stay on from faulty wiring. IF they disabled that wire, it'd disable my choke as well - therefore my car wouldn't start in the morning, not good! LOL.

SO maybe it is is faulty wiring like my Honda, hard to say. Have you taken it to more than one mechanic? If after 5 times at one place they can't figure it out, time to move on definitely and see another place. ;)

[midwestnurse]

Thanks for your reply, Allie.

The mechanic told me it was fine to drive with the engine light on, as long as the light didn't begin flashing. Were you ever told that about your Honda?

I've certainly thought about changing mechanics, but I've invested $500.00 with this place, and I'm not real excited about having to pay more when I go elsewhere. Time will tell, I suppose. :frown3:

[allie]

Oh yes, definitely try one or two other places at least. One mechanic had me keep coming back but never asked for much money thank goodness. Finally I went to another one across town and three guys looked at it for FIVE HOURS and finally told me it was faulty wiring, that my car was fine.

I was never told that about the blinking though, no. Mine has never blinked either, not sure if it does when there is an actual impending problem. Thankfully if anything is wrong, I usually notice it otherwise before it warns me (or breaks down, lol).

There should be a few message boards online about car repair and specifically about Mitsubishi's. I'd look around online, try and find a board about them and then post and ask. Either this is an issue that your car is known for like my Honda is, OR something is wrong that you need to get diagnosed at another mechanic.

Also that slipping, I'd ask the new mechanic if they can easily pin point why and how it's happening for free so you can take it back to the other place in case they are the ones that screwed it up. When I had my Honda worked on once, they didn't replace a bolt for the cover that covers the undercarriage and the cover was ripped off. They wanted to charge ME $40 for this bolt and a new cover until I b*tched enough, then they did it 'cause they KNEW it was their fault!

Sorry so long, lol. ;)

[renegade]

I have the same problem with my Corolla. I brought it in twice under warranty and they couldn't find anything wrong, so they cleared the codes and the light stayed off for a few months at a time. When it came on for the third time, my warranty was up, so I didn't do anything about it. A year later, when I brought it in for an oil change, they said they figured out the problem and wanted me to pay to fix it. I refused. The problem is a bad wire going from the oxygen sensor to the light, itself. They wanted $35 to fix it, but I don't feel I should pay anything, since they failed to fix it under warranty. Toyota of Grand Rapids has received a lot of bad publicity from me since then. More than $35 worth, anyway. :mad: So the simple solution is to do what Homer Simpson did. Put a piece of electrical tape over the light, so it won't bother you anymore. :doh:

[SweepingBeauty]

Check for what I think is called a secret warranty-there's info that the dealers get that states problems with specific models be it design flaws, recalls, etc...I would do a search on Google with your Model and Type vehicle to see if anything comes up. Check with Consumer Reports online or the Consumer Products Safety Commision online to see if there are reports of trouble in this car from other consumers.