Hello Everyone,

I have a 1996 TE exec 3.0L V6 (3rd gen). I bought it when it was 200000kms and now i have done around 212000 kms in it. The other day my battery died out and i got it replaced from a mechanic when he asked me if i had changed the timing belt at 200000 and suggested i get it done asap as the previous seller might not have done it before selling it. Of recently i have seen my car jerk a bit when i slow down for a traffic light, there is slight jerking when i accelerate as well.

Could it be due to timing belt? Do you know any places in Melbourne that would do it cheap as that mechanic was telling me that the job costs around $1500!!!.

Thanks

Could be because you've disconnected the battery. The automatic transmission in your car has a computer, which adapts to your driving habits/road conditions. When the battery is disconnected, your transmission will have to be retrained as this data is lost. It states in the owners manual that it won't shift smoothly until its been retrained. I'd suggest taking your car out for a longer drive, cycling it through all the gears. If it doesn't come good again, try getting the transmission serviced.

Hope this is somewhat helpful.

Could be because you've disconnected the battery. The automatic transmission in your car has a computer, which adapts to your driving habits/road conditions. When the battery is disconnected, your transmission will have to be retrained as this data is lost. It states in the owners manual that it won't shift smoothly until its been retrained. I'd suggest taking your car out for a longer drive, cycling it through all the gears. If it doesn't come good again, try getting the transmission serviced.

Hope this is somewhat helpful.

Thanks for replying. I hope that's the case and it isn't too serious. I am planning to get some quotes for the timing belt as i would like to the get it done before anything is too serious. Before the battery problem happened, the car felt a bit 'heavy' when i was driving it around. Then the battery drained out and there was corrosion to the positive electrode. According to the mechanic it was only battery problem as the alternator was charging the battery ok. He suggested to get the timing belt done as that can cause a lot of damage if not taken care of

The auto trans will re-learn your shift patterns as you drive, and forget them every time the battery comes off. There is a procedure to follow that speeds it up a bit, but I can't find it at the moment.

Just to follow up on this, a worn timing belt is very unlikely to cause the problems you have noticed. BUT, you're right that it should be replaced if you can't be sure that it has already been done - a big job and lot's of $, though, so you'd want to make sure you've checked every possibility before going ahead. I'm assuming that there are no service records with the car that might say if it was done? Sometimes mechanics put a sticker in the engine bay showing when the last change was done. Alternatively, can you contact the PO & ask them?

Addi take your car to Mitsfix $1500 sounds way tooooo much. if you replace the belt and water pump + labour should be around $700 not $1500 also make sure its the timing belt KIT not just a belt as it will make a horrible rattling sound on start up which is a belt slapping on plastic.

Mitsfix (madmagna) (www.mitsfix.com)

The auto trans will re-learn your shift patterns as you drive, and forget them every time the battery comes off. There is a procedure to follow that speeds it up a bit, but I can't find it at the moment.

I think you guys are right...today while driving around i found the transmission better than before...still not back to normal though...i think its going through the learning process...

Just to follow up on this, a worn timing belt is very unlikely to cause the problems you have noticed. BUT, you're right that it should be replaced if you can't be sure that it has already been done - a big job and lot's of $, though, so you'd want to make sure you've checked every possibility before going ahead. I'm assuming that there are no service records with the car that might say if it was done? Sometimes mechanics put a sticker in the engine bay showing when the last change was done. Alternatively, can you contact the PO & ask them?

I checked for the sticker on the inside of the bonet and there isn't one...i also went through the service logs and it doesn't say that it was done recently...i am thus thinking of replacing as i intend to keep this car for a couple of years

Addi take your car to Mitsfix $1500 sounds way tooooo much. if you replace the belt and water pump + labour should be around $700 not $1500 also make sure its the timing belt KIT not just a belt as it will make a horrible rattling sound on start up which is a belt slapping on plastic.

Mitsfix (madmagna) (www.mitsfix.com)

Thanks for the link. Would definately check them out. Yea $1500 did sound like too much to me as well...