The ABS and battery warning lights have started to flash intermittently on the KS but only when crawling in traffic or shortly after. Haven't noticed and degredation in lights when they flash. The indicator lights normally flash stay on from between 1 and 5 seconds

Any suggestions?

What are the revs like when it is doing that, has it stalled on you when idling in gear at all?

The ABS and battery warning lights have started to flash intermittently on the KS but only when crawling in traffic or shortly after. Haven't noticed and degredation in lights when they flash. The indicator lights normally flash stay on from between 1 and 5 seconds

Any suggestions?

Alternator reg is on its way out.

alternator need a bit of love... ABS light comes on if voltage is too low

Took it into Zupps today as car wouldn't start - plug had come off power module.

Asked them to fix the flashing lights and to look at the regulator. As usual got treated like a *@@@** idiot

They road tested car, according to the service girl and didn't find a problem - sure enough, within two blocks from the dealership the battery and ABS indicators were flashing

Couple of questions

is there a way that they can test the regulator when it looks like an intermittent problem that only appears when car is moving slowly
is there a good experienced Mitsubishi mechanic in Brisbane that you can trust, because I'm sick oof the upsells so the service department can make their bonuses


They also want to hit me up for the following upsell:


Replace coolant hoses $253 ( there is coolant in the engine bay because they didn't tighten the radiator hose at the last service)
Change Power Steering Fluid $110
Front Roll Mount Cracked ? $312
Front Struts Replaced $860
Reseal sump $264
a/c anti bacterial service $110
throttle body clean $150

Replace coolant hoses $253 ( there is coolant in the engine bay because they didn't tighten the radiator hose at the last service)
Change Power Steering Fluid $110
Front Roll Mount Cracked ? $312
Front Struts Replaced $860
Reseal sump $264
a/c anti bacterial service $110
throttle body clean $150


Coolant hoses will be about $50, just take of the old ones, clean up the ends and put new ones on with new clamps.
What's wrong with the power steering fluid?
Front roll mount cracked, it's a 15ish year old car, I wouldn't bother replacing it.
Front struts, go to a suspension shop (not pedders)
Reseal sump, is it leaking? If so a sump gasket wont be much
A/C clean is equiv to spraying a can of stuff into the inlet vents...
Throttle body clean is easy, take of the black tube going into the throttle body first and see if it is even dirty.

As for the lights, it's either the reg or the belts are slipping under load... whats the age and tension of the alt belt like?

I smell the stench of rip-off. As an example, the "anti-bacterial service for air-con" is likely to involve them spraying an aerosol through the system with the fan running (there are also service machines built to do basically the same thing).

My KJ stunk like a skunk when I bought it - I wondered about syringing bleach or detergent in and out through the air con drain. Eventually I bought a can of "Glen 20" and sprayed it thru the system with the fan running, initially from outside the car (spraying under the leaf guards near pass wiper), and then from pass footwell with system in recirculate mode and just let it cycle the Glenn-20-laced air round and round for a while. Probably not as good as a professional job but it cost me - what? - about $4-00.

A lot of things on that list could be done much more cheaply yourself, or with help from friends or other members. The "throttle-body clean" for $150-00 - well that just drives me to blasphemy, and I detect that some members are serious about their beliefs, so I won't type that out.

If they made you feel like an idiot AT THE PRICES THEY ARE CHARGING (gosh, now I'm shouting) run - don't walk - RUN a mile. They should treat you like an emperor if they expect you to pay that money. We have to realise that businesses need to set up workshops and hire staff and so on - but if they ignore your input and charge heaps - get the hell out of there.

Asking on this forum for better places is a good start. Ask your family and friends where they go for car service. Ask around at work - its what I do if I go to a new town. I used the respect the Mitsi dealer in my town, and drove over 100kms to bring cars here - now that I have moved here the dealer has been merged in with Holden and the Service set-up is similar to what you describe - I doubt very much that I will ever go there again. I have found smaller specialist workshops through recommendations, and have been happy so far - but I would attempt many of the items on that list myself, to be frank.

EDIT: Find the Workshop Manual thread - follow the links and download the Mitsi Workshop Service Manual for your car (use TH one for TE or TF, it'll be largely the same). Read the chapters relevant to some things on that list, have a look at things on your car (eg: the supposedly cracked roll-mount). Even if you have no intention of ever doing your own work, reading a workshop manual can help you appreciate what is involved in servicing your car - and help you in dealing with repairers and service staff.

Coolant hoses will be about $50, just take of the old ones, clean up the ends and put new ones on with new clamps.
What's wrong with the power steering fluid?
Front roll mount cracked, it's a 15ish year old car, I wouldn't bother replacing it.
Front struts, go to a suspension shop (not pedders)
Reseal sump, is it leaking? If so a sump gasket wont be much
A/C clean is equiv to spraying a can of stuff into the inlet vents...
Throttle body clean is easy, take of the black tube going into the throttle body first and see if it is even dirty.

As for the lights, it's either the reg or the belts are slipping under load... whats the age and tension of the alt belt like?

The hoses are OK - the coolant around the engine bay is from their botched radiator replacement when they forgot to tighten the radiator hose and it sprayed coolant every where

Power steering fluid has aged and is dark colour. They claim it is burnt, which is rubbish. The red colouring they put in ATF has just gone and it is natural oil colour

I was going to get front struts done at Fulcrums. The ride height is OK and bump and rebound appear to be working. The rear shocks are softer than the fronts.

Cant see where the sump is leaking - it just looks like 15 years of crap build up

I like the idea of spraying Glenn 20 in the vents - need do do it on my Foulcan ute as well

I cleaned out the TB a couple of months back. I asked them how they knew it was dirty and they said the technician inspected it - rubbish

I asked them to replace the regulator. They said there was nothing wrong - bet they didn't even look


Soooo back it goes today for the regulator to get fixed (it is next door to where my wife works and it is her car that she has had from new and I don't have time to take it anywhere else this week)

LOL. Well, at least you understand the car and have the measure of the Service Dept - ie: the car is basically in good shape, which can't be said of the Service staff.
I think I have encountered the "suggestive sell" at my now-boycotted Holden-Mitsi dealers...... the Throttle Body sounds familiar, and it was definately an "Injector Clean" - which I declined in both instances.
Me: So you will put a bottle of Wynns in my Petrol Tank and charge me $89-00? Them: No, its a professional dealer injector cleaning process.
Me: So you will individually remove each of my Injectors, ultrasonically clean them, then flow-test them and re-fit with new seals for $89-00. Them: No.
Me: So what exactly is it you actually DO for this $89-00 service which I haven't asked for when my car runs fine? Them: Lets just forget it.

Must be the automotive equivalent of "Do you want fries with that?" - but in my case at least, it keeps me away from that business, and looking for smaller family-owned businesses who are competent, straightforward and honest. Being in a smaller regional city helps - word of mouth travels far!

LOL. Well, at least you understand the car and have the measure of the Service Dept - ie: the car is basically in good shape, which can't be said of the Service staff.
I think I have encountered the "suggestive sell" at my now-boycotted Holden-Mitsi dealers...... the Throttle Body sounds familiar, and it was definately an "Injector Clean" - which I declined in both instances.
Me: So you will put a bottle of Wynns in my Petrol Tank and charge me $89-00? Them: No, its a professional dealer injector cleaning process.
Me: So you will individually remove each of my Injectors, ultrasonically clean them, then flow-test them and re-fit with new seals for $89-00. Them: No.
Me: So what exactly is it you actually DO for this $89-00 service which I haven't asked for when my car runs fine? Them: Lets just forget it.

Must be the automotive equivalent of "Do you want fries with that?" - but in my case at least, it keeps me away from that business, and looking for smaller family-owned businesses who are competent, straightforward and honest. Being in a smaller regional city helps - word of mouth travels far!

:bowrofl: gold hahahha
OP, What a rip off! Blatant rip off merchants! $253 for $40 in radiator hoses....I feel for the suckers who do get conned into it.

I also like "front roll mount" As unless they are called something else we only have a REAR roll mount. in the front is just an engine mount.
You'll get aftermarket KYB's for $130-$150 a piece.....$860.....****** me...Can buy 3 more 2nd gens with that

there is a system that can be installed onto the cars fuel lines that runs a strong cleaner thru the injectors with about 1 lt of fuel while the engine runs.
one day in my 3rd year at tafe we had a play with one, cleaning our injectors... made a huge difference... keeping in mind the av kms on our cars were about 250000km
i guess the secret is to use premium unleaded.
but yeah $89 from a dealer has got to be fuel system cleaner in tha tank(if that)... injector servicing would be $120ish each + r&r = approx $1000 inc gst on a magna
$150 for a TB clean... geez we charge $40 for a basic clean(which involves removal of the IAC), $75 for a major clean on any car requiring removal of the intake manifold for rear plugs because we scrub out the manifold too, and 10/15000km services, for loyal customers a touch up clean is included in the service.

we get alot of disillusioned people coming to us because their mechanic/dealer hasnt been doing the job properly... yet charging properly, and word is out that we do an awesome job (kinda makes me feel all warm inside :) )
Tis a sad world when an auto sparkie is known for doing a better job than a mechanic

Finally resolved

Turned out to be the alternator. Rebuilt alternator and away we go