View Full Version : The Final Straw!!
MCHenry
11-04-2011, 07:00 PM
THATS IT.....IV HAD F:censored::censored::censored:ING ENOUGH!!
Our old girl has pulled her last and final straw.
As some of you may already know we have had continuing electrical issues with our 380 since the day we brought it. Last weekend was the final time. We were in Echuca, Victoria, celebrating a family engagement, when the car decided to give us the BIG FINGER and not work.
Called the RACV, bloked got the car started using his magical can of aero-start, but alas, she couldnt keep her own heart beating. Old mate, said it couldnt be a fuel issue, as there was planty of fuel getting to the injectors and the injectors were atomising also.
Finally got the car to Mistubishi in Echuca and was promptly told "it a fuel pump problem". Rang up the next day to get a little more of the story and was told, "the main wiring loom has been fried". Finally got home, many thanks to the RAA, where after arriving I made another phone call and was told, "the fuel pump had been sourced and ordered from Melbourne as well as the fuse panel, but the wiring loom has to come from Japan and could take up to 10 days."
HOLD THE F:censored::censored::censored:ING PHONE!! Where the hell did the fuse panel problem come from? They told me the fuse panel, next to the E-TAC unit had been pretty much melted. At this time I lost my god damn mind!! I asked them how the hell has that happened from arriving at the dealership with ALL electrics working, fuel pump still working, spark plugs still igniting to a stuffed fuel pump, fried wiring loom and melted fuse panel? The responce......"oh...the wires could have been loose somewhere, also the fuel pump was drawing to much power".
Now im no auto-electrician, but im pretty sure if the above was the case, then a fuse or relay would give out first, not a wiring loom and whole fuse panel!
My conclusion is.....someone was dicking around and shorted the cars electrics out.
That said, iv had enough of the troubles and headaches we've had with the car, so no more.
When we finally get her back (which is now going to take 6 damn weeks), we will be selling her and not looking back.
Well with that rave over.....im out to down some fine whisky!!
GRDPuck
11-04-2011, 08:05 PM
Sounds like a good plan - the fine whisky that is.
Sad to hear Matt. It's very disappointing when things like this happen. It can happen on any car or make. Hope you get it all sorted.
It's a tough one as she's such a looker on the outside... always sucks when mechanically it does not match up.
Good luck mate!
CLuTZ
11-04-2011, 08:33 PM
Are you insured? *wink*
Stormie
11-04-2011, 08:34 PM
nah Chris (380ftw) has told me about this, its a common problem with 380s. will try and upload a pdf of the mitsubishi technical bulletin later
maggie3.5
11-04-2011, 08:48 PM
common problem...wtf.....news to me and im sure a lot of people...please post up this valuable bit of information soon so we may check our cars...
Foozrcool
11-04-2011, 08:52 PM
common problem...wtf.....news to me and im sure a lot of people...please post up this valuable bit of information soon so we may check our cars...
Yep first time I've heard of 380's having a melt down!!
Blackstar
11-04-2011, 09:06 PM
A lot of people have weird/intermittent/hard to pinpoint electrical issues with their cars.
Some have mysterious random fires...
Seems to coincide with mods, particularly heavy/complex audio upgrades.
I have extensively looked at that wiring loom, there is no way anything rubs/shorts/fails...unless someone has ****ed with the wiring under/side of RHS dash fuse box area near the ETACs unit.
380ftw
12-04-2011, 07:26 AM
hey guys cannot post proper pdf document
but this may help
Group: 13 Fuel System Original Date: 26th March 2010 No. DB13-004
Model: DB 380 Subject: Engine doesn’t start, fuel pump wiring connector is open circuit.
Revised on 30th November 2010
Revised on 11th February 2011
(1) Subject: Engine doesn’t start, fuel pump wiring connector is open circuit due to damage.
(2) Possible Cause: The fuel pump wiring connector (internal and/or external) resistance may have increased
resulting in discolouration/corrosion and open circuit of the pump circuit. Refer to photo below.
(3) Improvement: The cause of this condition is under investigation and dealer feedback is requested.
(4) Field Fix/Action: On a customer complaint basis inspect the integrity of the fuel pump connectors.
If damage, discolouration or open circuit is identified take the following action.
a) Take a fuel sample (500 ml in a new clean container) to enable chemical analysis.
b) Replace the fuel pump (and harness if replacement is required) and package for return to MMAL.
it is normally a bad contact between fuel pump harness and main body harness that causes a the whole loom to gradually melt i have probably seen about 5 cars that it has got to the stage of replacing the entire body harness with and normally they have had starting and cutting out problems most of their service lives.
Madmagna
12-04-2011, 07:38 AM
Guys, email me the PDF and I will post it up in this thread
I too have heard of this issue, have sold 2 complete harness to dealers thus far to get cars up and running so this is not as uncommon as we think it may be unfortunately, seems to stem from the wiring inside the tank to the pump from what I have been told but having said that, I have not seen this in person
Foozrcool
12-04-2011, 07:47 AM
Mine should be good then, I have rewired the whole fuel pump system from engine bay to tank in 6mm cable to avoid any voltage drop & to get the pump volume up as there is no high flow replacement for the 380.
MadMax
12-04-2011, 10:31 AM
. . . . .this is starting to put me off getting a 380 in the future . . . . . .
Anyone want to check the US web forums for similar problems with their version of the 380? I CBB. lol
chrisv
12-04-2011, 10:46 AM
This is a bit of a worry. If this is a known issue by Mitsubishi what is the situation if you are out of warranty and you suffer a similar fete?
Fgxr6T looking better all the time methinks
s311_bvm
12-04-2011, 01:00 PM
Just pure speculation on my part, however it looks like this is a very uncommon issue still being investigated by MMAL. Given that it involves a possible loom gradual melt and thus a fire risk and involves the fuel pump I believe it is something that MMAL may recall at the conclusion of their investigation.
I am happy to wait and see how this plays out, no need to panic and jump ship.
Grubco
12-04-2011, 02:56 PM
Sorry to hear that. You had one of the best cars on here, so it will be sad to see your car go. Good luck with the repairs.
MCHenry
12-04-2011, 03:55 PM
Well after hearing that, Im inclined to call up Mitsibishi Echuca and apologize for my behavior.
I cant believe that there hasnt been a re-call yet. If a wiring loom melt down ,even if it is gradual, could cause a devastating electrical short circuit and fire, resulting in extensive financial loss and in an extreme case, loss of life.
Im still adamant that we are going to be selling the car. Rims and brand new Magnaflow mufflers will be sold separately.
Does anyone know if Dan (White) knew about this issue before his 380 burnt down?
Sparky
12-04-2011, 04:19 PM
White had a fuel leak I though, not a electrical fault.
Knotched
15-04-2011, 07:40 AM
Very sorry to read about this, MCHenry.
I don't blame you for losing it. I would be the same.
My car is getting a new boot pan welded in next week and I've just emailed the crash shop about this problem so they don't inadvertantly cause the same thing.
380matey
15-04-2011, 07:44 AM
Matt we all feel your pain and after all you have put into it. Prolly some apprentice dicking around where he shouldn't have been.
MadMax
15-04-2011, 07:48 AM
Are the connectors easy to get to? Might be worthwhile for 380 owners to locate them and look for heat discolouration and heat build up at the connectors while the engine is running, and visit a Mitsu dealer ASAP if discolouration or heat is detected. Might be an easy fix before the total meltdown happens.
Stormie
15-04-2011, 08:45 AM
nah. inside the fuel tank goes first apparently, and then at the ECU end.
Foozrcool
15-04-2011, 10:13 AM
nah. inside the fuel tank goes first apparently, and then at the ECU end.
So it's not the connector under the back seat? If it's a connection actually at the pump which is submersed in 98 octane fuel I think I would be very concerned!!!
MadMax
15-04-2011, 10:47 AM
OMG! OMFG!
http://www.sasfrs.com/images/sas_photo27.jpg
Only joking. I would imagine if there was danger of that (see above picture) there would be a major recall and warnings on the news.
Blackstar
15-04-2011, 11:21 AM
I'm pretty sure i know what the original problem was for the car not running.
In fact I'm pretty damned sure since mine took 3 days to find and the computer diagnostics lie about the problem.
MadMax
15-04-2011, 11:32 AM
Quoting Blackstar:
"I'm pretty sure i know what the original problem was for the car not running.
In fact I'm pretty damned sure since mine took 3 days to find and the computer diagnostics lie about the problem."
I doubt if the computer diagnostics measure resistance in the ecu to fuel pump wiring. Probably just looks at open circuit, or connected circuit, if that.
My question is this: If I bought a second hand 380, and I wanted to check for this problem, I would pull the fuel pump and look for . . . . what, exactly? I really don't understand how a poor connection at the fuel pump would cause wiring to melt, unless it involves a short circuit in non -fused wiring?
Blackstar
15-04-2011, 03:41 PM
Checking for open or short is resistance checking Madmax.
I am of the suspiscion that the dealer stuffed it and has said that it's a common 380 problem to cover it up.
Probably just common in their workshop...lol
Blackstar
15-04-2011, 04:07 PM
Of the tens of thousands of US Galant versions of the 380 there are no recalls of wiring loom meltdowns.
Not in 2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,2009 or 2010 models.
http://www.autorecalls.us/aut-03/recalls/2006/mitsubishi/galant/index.html
However if the mechanic is an utter dipstick and doesn't know how to remove the normally tight 380 fuel pump connector and breaks the brittle plastic connector then he will have to replace the entire loom from the pump to the fuse box.
The wire doesn't solder and crimping near a fuel tank is a no-no.
I'll bet the MUT3 was spitting out error code U1120.
MCHenry
15-04-2011, 05:12 PM
Well unfortunately I didnt ask what the fault code was. I will ask the next time I call them.
I gave them a ring yesterday and was told that there is a 2 week wait in wiring loom and fuse panel.
So does anyone want a used 380, 1 owner, regularly serviced (every 15000kms), manuel, dual exhaust, tint etc etc etc.......long history of electrical problem, disappointment to original owner for under $15000...any takers?
flyboy
15-04-2011, 07:57 PM
I'd be insisting they show me the old loom.
Sparky
15-04-2011, 08:17 PM
Mad max a doggy connection would look burnt or/and melt plug would be a good sign of a high resistance join :)
Blackstar
15-04-2011, 08:51 PM
Well unfortunately I didnt ask what the fault code was. I will ask the next time I call them.
I gave them a ring yesterday and was told that there is a 2 week wait in wiring loom and fuse panel.
So does anyone want a used 380, 1 owner, regularly serviced (every 15000kms), manuel, dual exhaust, tint etc etc etc.......long history of electrical problem, disappointment to original owner for under $15000...any takers?
I have all that on the shelf and it fits in a 5 kg express post bag.
I also have the part they will need to fix the problem after they discover that it had nothing to do with the fuel pump ...lol
perry
15-04-2011, 09:11 PM
damm that sucks mate, i wonder if this is what happed to whites 380
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