I've had a problem with our GT for nearly a year now (2007 series 2) that noone seems to be able to fix.

I've had a post on the Mitsubishi club forums but am hoping to spread my net a bit more to see if anyone else has had this problem or has any ideas.

The car has an oscillating humming-like noise that starts at 60 km/hr. The noise seems to be coming from the front. When driving straight, the frequency of the oscilliation doesn't seem to change with increasing speed but is less obvious due to increasing road noise. The noise disappears turning left but the frequency of the oscillation increases turning right.

The sound is the same regardless of engine speed or gear. It is the same in neutral, same with the engine off (tested on a quiet piece of downhill road).

It is been at the local dealer 6 times. They have replaced the center bearing and the left front wheel bearing without fixing the problem. They have just concluded it is tyre noise after another day in the workshop. The tyres were rotated without a change in the noise and the front tyres are new. We have had 2 wheel alignments. Tyre pressures do not influence the noise.

Its driving me crazy and taking the enjoyment out of this car.

Any ideas? Differential? Transmission? Right wheel bearing? Driveshaft? Power steering pump?

Steve

Seriously sounds like a wheel bearing to me. Take it to an independent workshop, they might have a clue and be able to help you.

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put it up on jacks in the garage and carefully put it in drive, engage cruise control and step out and listen.

get a water hose and put it on your ear until you locate the noise under the bonnet by moving the location of the hose.


Steering rack or power steering pump is my guess if you've done the drive bearings.

Thanks for the input. I need to get some jacks to do jobs in the future so will give that a go. There is n independent mechanic I know and trust so he will be the next point of call. Have little confidence in the dealer and it is the only one here.

Bit of a bugger this one.

Sorry, I meant jack stands not jacks....

Welcome to AMC Steve

I had a similar issue and it went away with a tyre rotation!
But definately get your mech to look at the bearings

Also I have a similar sound when sitting at 105km/h and disappears when I steer slightly to the right or go faster or slower

Yes, definately jack stands. Get nervous enough just changing a tyre with a car jack.

Tried the tyre rotation but didn't help. I thought it was tyres back when the noise first started. If only.....

I'm leaning towards the power steering pump but then again the sound is there with the engine off.......

Will leave it to our mechanic. If he can find the problem and it needs a new part, then hopefully he can convince the dealership to fix it.

Are there any places that specialise in NVH issues? I guess only the capital cities if they do exist.

I'm leaning towards the power steering pump but then again the sound is there with the engine off.......

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With the engine off??

Try removing the engine plastic cover underneath, or anything else that might harmonically flutter.

It sounds like like something maybe gets aero wobbles...betcha betcha betcha :eeek:

I get a 'harmonic' note at about 40kph at exactly the same spot in my road as I leave my house. It lasts for asplit second and its gone. This thread reminded me of it. Strange. Could well be the engine cover. I may wip it off and check

Will give that a go.

Steve

It could even be those plastic splash guards inside the wheels....

Might take it all off one by one until either the sound goes or there are no plastic bits left. At least they are easy to remove.

Bought some 3000km jack stands and a floor jack. Can't get enought lift with my jack so might need a bigger one or a piece of wood between the jack and and front cross member jacking point. Anyone had any experiences with floor jacks and the 380?

ran the car on the jack stands. Managed to jack the car up just near the side rail jack points, just high enough to get the stands under (with a piece of wood to protect the car. Can't hear the sound at all, so must be related to a load on the drivetrain or something vibrating/resonating (like plastic undercarriage bits).

Unfortunately the cruise control is unable to maintain a speed in this no load situation (set it on 60 and it varies from 40 to 100km/hr with consequent major engine surges).

P.S. Don't forget to turn traction control off! The ABS tries in vane to control the perceived wheel spin. I had traction control/ABS fault lights at the end but they went off after a drive. All a learning experience I suppose.

It sounds like you have eliminated the drive train.

Go for wind wobble now I reckon.

Just took all the loose plastic undercarriage bits off. will go for a drive and see how we go.

The noise is still the same, even at 100km/hr the oscillating sound is exactly the same in frequency (went for a drive out of town today on a smooth piece of road - a hot mix type surface).

Noise not present on jack stands - could be an "under load issue" but a wheel bearing is unlikely as the frequency does not increase with speed.

Not the plastic bits vibrating, excluded that

Not tyres, again as the frequency doesn't increase with speed and has not been fixed by new tyres or tyre rotation.

Sound is the same regardless of gear. I need to test it again to see if it is present with the engine off ( I thought it was).

I'm thinking something like a power steering pump. I believe assistance on the 380 varies with engine speed so this would work against this theory.

Time for our family mechanic...............

Had a strange humming noise on a trip back from Melbourne in febuary.

Sounded like an altenator bearing gone.

Could not figure out the source until I next washed the car.

Turned out to be the rubber mold across the top of the windscreen was loose.

Wind was lifting it and creating hum at anything over about 70kmh.

Pushed it back into place. Noise gone!!

Worth a look!!!

Cheers

I had the same years ago...leaves in the air vents.....

Just got the car back from a well respected indepedent mechanic. He is fairly certain the noise is the transmission. He got a local auto transmission place to have a look as well and they also think it is the transmission.

Have to go back to the dealer tomorrow for another test drive!

The saga continues.

This is almost painful for you mate!

A further update to this problem. The local Mitsi dealer had another look and agrees as to the presence and nature of the problem. They are going to get the regional technical person to have a look on Tuesday. Hopefully we'll get closer to a solution them.

Steve

An update on the problem. Car was looked at today by the NSW Mitsubishi technical guy. He thinks the noise is coming from the ABS system and not uncommon on 380s. Anyone got any thoughts on that? I'm still hoping there is a fix for it as its still driving me crazy.

Steve

Dealer now saying they can not do any more. Mitsubishi say the noise is "acceptable". Nothing else they can do.

Not a great warranty is it?

Steve

Don't leave it there. Keep complaining straight to the Head Office. I think the procedure is in the back of the handbook.

Keep complaining!

My brother got the complete kit on his Ralliart Colt replaced because it didnt fit right, then it start making a strange noise after replacement.. so it got replaced a second time! Then an apology letter and courtesy car for all of his services while the car is under warranty & extended warranty.

Pays to complain..

*Looks at Mitsubishi shirt*

Thanks MMAL!

SuFz :ninja:

Thanks for your input. I had rang the customer service line as instructed by the dealer. They then put you onto a customer service email address. Unfortunately it appears as it they take the opinion of the regional rep as the bottom line, no negotiations possible. They advise me to go back to the dealer, the dealer advises us they can't do anything more.

I need to have a look at the back of the book and see if this procedure mentioned is the same or not.

At the moment we are seriously looking at trading the car although we would rather not given the inevitable monitory loss. Red book says about $16000 to $18000. In reality we would be lucky to get the bottom of this range.

It would probably still be cheaper to pay someone to fix the problem once and for all but this COULD potentially run into the thousands if it is the transmission. Third Mitsubishi - looking like our last.

Steve

After further emails and complaining I have an email from Mitsubishi that they consider the matter closed. I can go to another dealer to get another opinion but there aren't any other dealers here within 100 km. They put WAY too much trust in the 5 minute opinion of their rep. I spend tens of hours of time and put up with multiple episodes of inconvenience (taking the car back again and again) and one person spends a few minutes on it and says its within acceptable limits.

It this was the case, MMAL would have closed their plant in late 2005 after failing to sell a single 380. Every single review would have slammed the "normal" whining noise and vibration.

I have two highly respected mechanics who say the transmission is faulty and the rep blames the ABS pump! This by the way is the ABS pump that I completely unplugged (so it didn't recieve power) without any change to the noise.

I miss our TF Magna.

Steve

Check the Transmission fluid as it does loose it's lubrication qualities a lot quicker than Mitsubishi will admit.
The MITSUBISHI Diamond ELC4 SP III should be changed more regularly than it says in their service schedule, especially if it is still the same fluid since new. Sometimes this stuff is not changed when they say even though they will charge you for it. Also the Transmission fluid can be low by nearly 2 liters & still show in the acceptable range between the full and empty marks on the dipstick. So make sure the level is always closer to the Max Full mark.

I started using Nulon MULTI-VEHICLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID which is SP III rated and my 380 changes smoother now with less groan from the bearings.

Also (and I know this might sound dumb) check the rear wheel bearings because I had one go dry & everyone who rode in the car (Including me & two mechanics) was positive the wiring noise was coming from the front end. Turned out to be the L-R wheel bearing.
Also the power steering pumps are known for their noisy operation and will whine especially when they are cold.

Has anyone else noticed that mechanical noises in the 380 always seem to be more noticeable when you are in the driving seat??

Anyway Good luck I hope you get it sorted & don't have to sell the car

Hi,

I actually had the fluid replaced with the same Nulon fluid as you mentioned. I also fitted a large transmission cooler. I will still keep the rear bearing in mind as a possibility. Will look into it again soon but not throught the Mitsubishi dealer.

Steve

Whenever I encounter asituation where I think it is warranty I spend the $175 and go to VCAT.

Mitsubishi would not want the precedent set for a warranty challenge me thinks.

I finally got around to looking into the problem again (my wife drives the car nearly all the time but the problem still annoys the hell out of me). I had the right wheel bearing replaced (left and center bearings had already been replaced by Mitsubishi). Noise and vibration gone!

This just goes to show that noises on FWD drive cars can often be a bit tricky to locate. Mitsubishi had this car about 8 times and eventually the NSW rep told me it was the ABS pump and was within spec.


Not happy with their warranty I'm afraid but I think all the manufacturers try everything to weazle put of warranty claims.
Steve

It's the dealers that are the problem...often they have NFI what the problem is.

Yes, this one has a very bad reputation but there is no competition here for the Mitsubishi brand. Hopefully will not have to deal with them again. There are a few disadvantages of living in the country.

Just returned from taking the car for a drive and there is no comparison. I think we loved with the noise and harshness for so long we didn't realise how bad it had became. The old bearing has signs of overheating but doesn't feel harsh turning it by hand. Under load its a different story..........

Might enjoy this car now and take it off the wife from time to time!

Steve

I meant "lived" with the noise not "loved". Hate he ipad keyboard"..........

An update on the problem. Car was looked at today by the NSW Mitsubishi technical guy. He thinks the noise is coming from the ABS system and not uncommon on 380s. Anyone got any thoughts on that? I'm still hoping there is a fix for it as its still driving me crazy.
Steve
I hear that 50% of 380's have this problem lol