Hi Guys,

I bought my first Magna in March 2010 and loving the Mitsi since then. It has been a very relaible car though I bought it when it was 212K and now it's 225K on the ODO. I do not drive it much but just grocery shopping and a little bit of vising of friends.

Recently, one fine winter morning, suddenly the Neutral on the Dashboard started to flash once a second. My manual told me it's Auto Transmission related problem and I should take her to an Authorised Mitsi service center. I instead took her to an Auto Transmission specialist who quickly hooked his Fault finding tool to the Car's Comp and returned an error code DCC 36 (Damper Clutch Control Solenoid valve Malfunction). I left the car at the Specialist to replace the stuff. He called me next day saying Solenoid is fine and he wants to send it to an Auto Electrician. I agreed but the Electrican could not find any problems in the electrical system and concludes that the ECU has gone bad and should be replaced which will set me back for $1200.

In my heart, I think this seems incorrect. If the ECU is wrong. The problem shouldn't reset itself, what happens is once I drive the car a bit and then turn it off and then minutes later when I start the problem is no more. But, when I drive it like usual after the resetting and go at around 60 and have to break at some traffic light where gear moves from 4->3->2->1, the problem kicks in and the N flases again, sending the gearshift to not happen and just drive the car on third gear which is hard to pull out from when at standstill on lights.

Anybody has similar problem ? Any solutions ? What did you do ? Could you solve it ?
Thanks in advance guys, Love this club and I really need the answer as I don't wanna lose this fine car. The only option seems is to eaither let the Autho. Mitsi. service center in Prospect look at it with a heavy price tag or scrap it. I don't wanna scrap it but if that's the only solution then what to do...

Please help with some suggestions on good Tranny specialists/ Auto electricians near Blacktown area.

Cheers...:tired:

Sounds strange the ECU puts up that error code but the Specialist says the solenoid is ok.
As it is an intermittent problem, and heat related, both are most likely correct. Blaming the ECU is probably not the right way to go.

Next time it does this, stop the car, switch off, swear quietly to yourself (optional), count to 100 slowly, and start up. If that makes the gearbox behave, you can be sure it's the solenoid.

Short of a second hand gearbox, or a rebuild, this problem will likely reoccur. You could try a fluid flush on the box though.

Other people may have other ideas.

Thanks Madmax, I tend to agree with you. Can't be the ECU but let's see. I will do what you are suggesting bar the swearing....and see if that works...I have noticed quitea lot many times that it's the high speed to low speed transition at which the safety switch kicks in and puts the gearbox in safe mode. Thanks for the sugestions though...I am waiting for more..

Get your heater checked, sounds like heater is leaking onto the ecu, is common on the older magnas now they are getting on 15 years old

A used ecu pack for a te should cost no more than $350 full retail

+1 to Mal's suggestion, lift up the passenger side carpet in the footwell and check the firewall underlay, if its soaked then the heater core has probably been leaking onto the ECU.

My TE is manual, I had this issue but when I had it the check engine light came on and the car would just die.

Hey MadMagna and Peaandham, You guys are partially right. The heater was leaking when I bought the car. i.e. 3 years ago. My mechanic just cut off the heater altogether by blocking off the Coolent water supply to heater around three years ago..So, do you still think that could be the issue ?

Also, called the Mitsi Autho. service center in Prospect ..they don't have the ECU as it is no more supported ( Can you believe it ?) If ECU could be the problem then where can I buy the $350 used ECU pack ? Also, if I buy just any used ECU, wouldn't I need to reprogram it and change the keys etc ?

Thanks heaps for the responses ....

Get your heater checked, sounds like heater is leaking onto the ecu, is common on the older magnas now they are getting on 15 years old

A used ecu pack for a te should cost no more than $350 full retail

Mal,

I have been reading a lot of good stuff about you in this forum, mate. Is there any way I can send the car to you to get it fixed for good. There are many stuff in this car that needs to be fixed like,

1) Power steering fluid leakage.
2) Air Con regassing
3) Wind screen washer pump replacement
4) Tuning of the engine
5) Cleaning/ Replacement of spark plugs.
6) Auto Tranny fluid replacement
3) Engine oil and Filter replacement

Could you suggest if you can somehow do that on my car ? Please indicate expenses incusive of any transit charges as well.

I love my car and can spend up to $1500 if you can make it real good..

Thanks,
Ankur..