Mitsubishi have finally agreed to replace my flaring box with a rebuilt/reconditioned box manufactured by FLUIDRIVE to Mitsubishi standards. Does anyone have any prior experiences with this or FLUIDRIVE? My main concerns are what model and age the box has come from, & the final drive(diff) components and the re-use of shift solenoids as these are not automatically replaced in a rebuild.

I would ask them to rebuild your old box with new componants. That way you are sure the box will suit the car. Just be prepared to be without the car for a while longer.

I am with Dave, get yours rebuilt as then you kinow what you have in there

what is your story mate?,im in the same process ATM with my TW VRX,flaring box + bits of wavy washer on the magnetic sump plug last service,dealer is trying to get approval for Mits australia as we speak

steve

Yeah, you should be able to get yours done if you give them about a week.

My experiences with fluid drive locally havent been too good, on 3 different cars.

unless u drive ure car very harsh ure diff should be ok to reuse... we reuse shift solenoids half the time so shouldn't be much 2 worry about... and besides if they are found to be faulty after the rebuild they can be replaced with the box still in the car....

what is your story mate?,im in the same process ATM with my TW VRX,flaring box + bits of wavy washer on the magnetic sump plug last service,dealer is trying to get approval for Mits australia as we speak

steve

Steve,
For original story , you replied to this also http://aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61592

Basically gave up with the Darwin branch who told me they had raised a tech case with MMAL only to find out it was a load of B.S. with no such record. So I have moved down to Newcastle and paid Klosters a visit who did all the leg work and gave the news about no report to MMAL which did not entirely suprise me given follow up calls to darwin yielded nothing. Anyway somehow the service guy has sold it to MMAL that the box should be replaced. I'm also getting new struts and bumpstops under wty and they just replaced the rocker cover seals under wty. i guess i'm goin ok but I've had a lot of other things replaced and the car is not quite 5yr old. the traction control is playing up and they're going to try and diagnose that as well. Getting full value out the wty , that's for sure. At least they seem interested at Klosters.But a little disappointed with the quality compared to the longevity of my previous 15 y/o subaru liberty.



I would ask them to rebuild your old box with new componants. That way you are sure the box will suit the car. Just be prepared to be without the car for a while longer.



I am with Dave, get yours rebuilt as then you kinow what you have in there


Yep, I feel this way too and already mentioned this but the dealer was unsure and the box is already on order and expected delivery today. I had not even heard that they had approved it's replacement until they rang to book it in.

I guess there's 2 ways i can look at it.

1. Let assume the box I get definitely needed rebuilding- allparts replaced or,

2. They open mine up and find minor work so reuse most of the components cut a corner here and there maybe?

Sure would have preferred a new unused crated box but no longer available I believe. they give you 2 years 50 000k wty but it's via Mitsubishi with FLUIDRIVE>


My experiences with fluid drive locally havent been too good, on 3 different cars.

Now I'm scared.! Can you expand or PM me?

Just thought I'd add some news on my problem(s). So far I've had 2 boxes supplied by fluid drive both with faults.
Box 1 supplied with whining Diff, still flared 2-3.
Box 2 supplied with 3-4 second delayed Drive selection and thump engaging, plus hard to move from N to D cold and jams going back to N (not cable or selector). Gear engagement relearn procedure performed twice. This box has had the best 2-3 upshift and kick-down 4-3 to date, just a pity with the other things being wrong otherwise would have been great.
Box 3 is now on order, Maybe I should run a book and take bets on there being another fault. Ironically I was doing some random searching on Mitsubishi gearboxes and found a recent post from a guy in the PajeroClub forums who just had an Auto fail on a 2005 model. The warranty repair took 3.5 weeks for a "rebuilt box" only to find it had No reverse! He's now waiting for gearbox 2. Sounds all too familiar, of course they'd never had any problems with rebuilt boxes before so I was told?? I always thought they had to keep new parts for 10 years, obviously not complete boxes. All I know is this is really bad for the Mitsubishi brand image. "Better Built, Better Backed"? Not sure about that.

unfortunatly, they dont have to replace all faulty parts with new parts. Reco is ok. Its in the warranty book. It sounds like the people building this box are the cheapest going, thus why mitsu have contracted them for rebuilds, and why they keep breaking down. Each time the box breaks doesnt cost mitsu anything, because fluidbuild have to replace/repair it under their warranty, so mitsubishi really wouldnt care if you get a new box every month for the next two years.

unfortunatly, they dont have to replace all faulty parts with new parts. Reco is ok. Its in the warranty book. It sounds like the people building this box are the cheapest going, thus why mitsu have contracted them for rebuilds, and why they keep breaking down. Each time the box breaks doesnt cost mitsu anything, because fluidbuild have to replace/repair it under their warranty, so mitsubishi really wouldnt care if you get a new box every month for the next two years.

You're right repair or replace it's their choice but their choice seems a flawed one at the moment. "so mitsubishi really wouldnt care if you get a new box every month for the next two years." Certainly the vibe I'm getting from the dealer. MMAL have effectively sub-contracted the warranty to a third party and therefor it's Fluid drive's problem, however the car still has new car warranty so really MMAL should get to the bottom of it. Cost is not always what is paid but incidental as well. My confidence is pretty well shattered with both parties and how much business would they risk losing by adopting this attitude? You may be right, maybe it will be a monthly visit but because they are supplied faulty and not failing in use so to speak the warranty has not even started really IMO.

unfortunatly, (again :doubt) the warranty started at the install of your first replacement box, and is not restarted with the install of further boxes. If the third one is faulty from new (as the other tow have been), you have a strong ground to stand on to replace a brand new gearbox. it will not be up to the dealer to decided, and mitsu will say no, however, consumer affairs is always on the side of the customer (and can make things very difficult for mitsu if they dont play nicely).

I would be getting onto the fiar trading department in your state and just asking a few questions as to where you stand here. it is always good to have a bit of knowledge before you go requesting a brand new box.

Also: the 5spd auto is still available BRAND NEW, not as a complete box, but as a parts kit. It is however, very expensive. I was quoted almost 8k for a brand new 5spd auto drive in drive out.

unfortunatly, (again :doubt) the warranty started at the install of your first replacement box, and is not restarted with the install of further boxes. If the third one is faulty from new (as the other tow have been), you have a strong ground to stand on to replace a brand new gearbox. it will not be up to the dealer to decided, and mitsu will say no, however, consumer affairs is always on the side of the customer (and can make things very difficult for mitsu if they dont play nicely).

I would be getting onto the fiar trading department in your state and just asking a few questions as to where you stand here. it is always good to have a bit of knowledge before you go requesting a brand new box.

Also: the 5spd auto is still available BRAND NEW, not as a complete box, but as a parts kit. It is however, very expensive. I was quoted almost 8k for a brand new 5spd auto drive in drive out.


It's all just fun & games is'nt it. :woot:Don't worry the thought has already crossed my mind but the service department been pretty good and I'd like to continue things on a friendly basis but I guess it's MMAL who's calling the shots with the dealer in the firing line. I've already asked twice for a brand new box as too, the dealer and been told there are none which is a little incredible given they were not manufactured here and used in other models plus these were exported to USA so does that mean they have no inventory of these there as well? I did see some of these brand new ex stock on EBay for the ridiculous cheap price of $1500 about 2 years ago and brand new crated 3.0L engines for a $1000. Would have been better if they had kept them for their customers and not given them away.

I contacted fair trading in the NT when the harmonic balancer failed because we had no transport and wanted to know my rights. They were sympathetic but I was told that it had to be rectified in a reasonable time frame and there lied the problem, there was no finite definition of how long was reasonable. The dealer offered no assistance whatsoever and MMAL only stepped in with a hire car after 2 weeks. After 31 days it was fixed with the part coming from japan. Hard to believe with all the magnas built 1996 - 2005 they held Nil stock of this item in Oz.

Basically gave up with the Darwin branch who told me they had raised a tech case with MMAL only to find out it was a load of B.S. with no such record. So I have moved down to Newcastle and paid Klosters a visit who did all the leg work and gave the news about no report to MMAL which did not entirely suprise me given follow up calls to darwin yielded nothing. Anyway somehow the service guy has sold it to MMAL that the box should be replaced. I'm also getting new struts and bumpstops under wty and they just replaced the rocker cover seals under wty. i guess i'm goin ok but I've had a lot of other things replaced and the car is not quite 5yr old. the traction control is playing up and they're going to try and diagnose that as well. Getting full value out the wty , that's for sure. At least they seem interested at Klosters.But a little disappointed with the quality compared to the longevity of my previous 15 y/o subaru liberty.

Mate, I have dealt with Tim from Klosters Mitsu service dept and he is really good and empathetic. I had a failed transfer box around Feb 09 and had it replaced with a new one. They had them in Aus and I was without a car for just under 2 weeks. I had a whining noise and they found metal shavings with the oil. I had another couple of minor issues which he also took care of. Just NEVER take your car to Kelly Mitsu at Cardiff. They are Holden specialists and know nothing about Mitsubishi's. No wonder Commodores (sorry for swearing) are always on the side of the road with the bonnet up!

Your rights as a consumer are simple but hard to always get quickly. Under warranty Mitsu has to fix the problem. It doesnt matter who they outsource to supply the parts but they should be in "as new" condition. If you have had two failed repair units then I would definately put in writing your request for a NEW unit. Give a copy to the dealer, send a copy to MMAL in SA head office and also I would NOW lodge a formal complaint with the Dept of Fair Trading and send them a copy with the full history IN WRITING. This process once lodged firstly involves Fair Trading making an intial phone call which in 90% of cases will solve the problem fairly quickly. If the same problem continues, you would be mounting a fair case on a replacement VEHICLE or full refund but haven't heard of many going that far. If the car is spending as much time off the road as what it is on the road, it is technically not fit for purpose or doing what it was designed to do.

Keep us all informed.

DJ

Mate, I have dealt with Tim from Klosters Mitsu service dept and he is really good and empathetic. I had a failed transfer box around Feb 09 and had it replaced with a new one. They had them in Aus and I was without a car for just under 2 weeks. I had a whining noise and they found metal shavings with the oil. I had another couple of minor issues which he also took care of. Just NEVER take your car to Kelly Mitsu at Cardiff. They are Holden specialists and know nothing about Mitsubishi's. No wonder Commodores (sorry for swearing) are always on the side of the road with the bonnet up!

Your rights as a consumer are simple but hard to always get quickly. Under warranty Mitsu has to fix the problem. It doesn't matter who they outsource to supply the parts but they should be in "as new" condition. If you have had two failed repair units then I would definitely put in writing your request for a NEW unit. Give a copy to the dealer, send a copy to MMAL in SA head office and also I would NOW lodge a formal complaint with the Dept of Fair Trading and send them a copy with the full history IN WRITING. This process once lodged firstly involves Fair Trading making an initial phone call which in 90% of cases will solve the problem fairly quickly. If the same problem continues, you would be mounting a fair case on a replacement VEHICLE or full refund but haven't heard of many going that far. If the car is spending as much time off the road as what it is on the road, it is technically not fit for purpose or doing what it was designed to do.

Keep us all informed.

DJ

I'll be sticking with Klosters and Tim's offsider Damien has been handling it well too and I believe he is a former Tech. He's convinced there are not any new boxes as he's tried but I find that hard to accept. He said once they went out of production whatever stock they had goes to Fluid Drive and they have been used up. I may give consumer affairs a call just in case but realistically wouldn't expect a refund as I'm not the first owner. I'd be happy with a rebuilt box if they could only get them right but I'll always have a question mark against what's been done to them and the parts they are replacing and re-using in the process. I bet they would not be using genuine components too.

I'll be sticking with Klosters and Tim's offsider Damien has been handling it well too and I believe he is a former Tech. He's convinced there are not any new boxes as he's tried but I find that hard to accept. He said once they went out of production whatever stock they had goes to Fluid Drive and they have been used up. I may give consumer affairs a call just in case but realistically wouldn't expect a refund as I'm not the first owner. I'd be happy with a rebuilt box if they could only get them right but I'll always have a question mark against what's been done to them and the parts they are replacing and re-using in the process. I bet they would not be using genuine components too.

Damien is alright as well. Make sure you ask him to give you a copy of the parts used to identify if they are genuine or not with the job sheet.
3rd time lucky!

DJ