96/97 - Series 3 Mitsubishi 3.5L AUTO Verada

Hi guys,

Been a long time since I floated around these forums! Got a good one for you.. About 1 month ago now I started noticing this rattle noise when I accelerated, now this was not loud and did not concern me to much * I figured it could be a possible faulty flex pipe from my exhaust as this has happened in the past and I got the guys at RPW to replace it with a second hand flex pipe to get me by untill I could save up for an exhaust.

Well anyway I thought id try out the new RAC service center in Bently yesterday and after an entire day I called them up and asked what the go was...


This is what they said..

NOISE FROM TRANSMISSION SUSPECT CRACKED FLEX DRIVE PLATE


Now it could very well be this!!

My questions are..

1. Have any of you had this problem in the past?
2. Any Idea how much Im looking at?
3. Should I get an Auto Gear box cooler thingo?
4. Who should I take my car to? RAC said I need to see a gear box specialist.

you can a factory remanufactured box for around $2200 fitted at a dealer. always handy to add a cooler. Good luck if you go second hand from a wreckers. the verada have a different final drive ratio to the the others and are not interchangable and not as common in the yards. The atm computer will not read the wrong ratio, or if it recognises it is wrong will go into limp home mode. Make sure you have all of the numbers from the gearbox

you can a factory remanufactured box for around $2200 fitted at a dealer. always handy to add a cooler. Good luck if you go second hand from a wreckers. the verada have a different final drive ratio to the the others and are not interchangable and not as common in the yards. The atm computer will not read the wrong ratio, or if it recognises it is wrong will go into limp home mode. Make sure you have all of the numbers from the gearbox

Ahh found my thread again!!


Thanks for the reply Magtone :) You sure know your Mitsubishi gear boxes!


Im praying that it doesnt go that far.. I hope that if it is a broken flex plate that it can be fixed for under $500?

Tell me if Im dreaming.. I know the gear box needs removing..

And yep Im going to get a trans cooler fitted! Might see what RPW offer.

Again.. Cheers for the reply Ive been stressing out about this problem..

for starters, i'd still suspect a bad engine pipe before a flex plate.. and even if it is a flex plate problem, why the hell do you want a cooler fitted?? or a new auto?? the flex plate noise wont affect anything in the auto, 2 seperate bits!
SEEK ANOTHER OPINION!

hay it could be as simple as a clapped out engine\gearbox mount.
so be fore u freak ur self,go grab a torch and check all the mounts . now even if the mount has a slight crack it will need replacing.

now if they were only guessing what the prob was , by where the sound was coming from , then it could be somthing else as well .like ur torqure converter could be on the way out. so i guess if u want to be sure that it's not the flex plate the take the inspection cover off and see if the plate is broken or not.

I'm with Smooth. :D

hay it could be as simple as a clapped out engine\gearbox mount.
so be fore u freak ur self,go grab a torch and check all the mount . now even if the mount has a slight crack it will need replacing.

now if they were only guessing what the prob was , by where the sound was coming from , then it could be somthing else as well .like ur torqure converter could be on the way out. so i guess if u want to be sure that it's not the flex plate the take the inspection cover off and see if the plates broken or not.


Awesome will check this tonight!

If anyone can point me in the direction of the Engine/gearbox mount? Im sorry I have still got limited knowledge of my engine bay.

You mentioned take the inspection cover off again if anyone can provide a picture of what this is that would be awesome.

Thanks for the feedback guys its a big help!

for starters, i'd still suspect a bad engine pipe before a flex plate.. and even if it is a flex plate problem, why the hell do you want a cooler fitted?? or a new auto?? the flex plate noise wont affect anything in the auto, 2 seperate bits!
SEEK ANOTHER OPINION!


Im 100% convinced that a tran cooler would be in my best interest, I do not drag my car down the track on wednesday nights but I do give it a little from time to time. + no bad can come from keeping the transmition fluid cool.

I dont think I said I was after a new auto... Magtone said in the first reply that you can get a factory remanufactured box for around $2200 fitted at a dealer but I didnt say that I would be doing this ( Still good to know how much at the VERY most this will set me back ) I will find out what the problem is and let everyone know.

Awesome will check this tonight!

If anyone can point me in the direction of the Engine/gearbox mount? Im sorry I have still got limited knowledge of my engine bay.

You mentioned take the inspection cover off again if anyone can provide a picture of what this is that would be awesome.

Thanks for the feedback guys its a big help!

there's 4 mounts to inspect. and if one is gone can lead to a knock (or similar sound) beoing produced.
now stand at the front of ur car and lift the hood (bonnet) . firstly look down at the radiator, now between the radiator and engine should be a mount. looks like a circle made out of rubber with a bolt going through. there should be another 2 mounts (one near each strut tower,too ur left andd right) and another 1 tucked behind the engine , between the firewall.
you will need a tourch even if it's day time to see properly.

im not 100% sure where the inspection plate is on your engine is. but it can't be that hard to find. if u lay down on ur back and take the torch , point it in the place where the engine and gearbox meet. there should be a small cover held in with about 6 bolts or so. just use common sence and im sure u'll find it. when u do remove the bolts and see if anything looks broken or cracked.

Awesome will check this out over the next few days and keep this thread updated.

Tran cooler ~ $220 fitted at RPW in Osborne Park.

I would put my money on the engine exhaust pipe deflector. Take it to a good exhaust place to get it checked. goodluck:)

chriss you are spott on!!


I just took my car down to the guys at Carline in Cannington ( Perth ) and they put it up for a quick check over.

Removed all exhaust pipe deflectors and now its perfect!!


EXTREEEMLY HAPPY!! 1 hour worth of work and the guy whom done the work was the operations manager.

And the best part!! He didnt charge me a cent!! I have taken cars to them in the past but my god!! I was so damn happy that I got them a carton of beer!!


:D

Absolutly over the moon with them! No wait.. called him at 2pm today and he said bring it down!

I had a te & tf. Both had the problem at around 160/170k.:)