2002 MITSUBISHI MAGNA ADVANCE TJ F/INJ 4D SEDAN V6 CYL 3.5L 4 SP AUTO SPORTS MOD

This is my first post to this forum, and I'm seeking advice for the Magna that I bought a year ago from a Ford dealership. It has 115,000 kms on it, and only about 1500 of those are mine.

Since I got the car, I have had a problem with dimming/flickering lights on the dash, and dimming of the headlights.

Cold Engine: If I hop in, turn up the heat, and just sit there... dash flickers about every 30 seconds. If I use the power windows (like try to make sure all the windows are up), touching those buttons will cause the headlights to dim.

Warm Engine/Idling: Dimming/flickering, though less, but same headlight problem, if I use the power windows.

The dealership just put in a new alternator, and could not find anything else wrong with it. Same problems still exist. They said they checked the wiring, idle, battery, etc... and all were fine. Supposedly, before they agreed to have it sent to another of their locations (where they put in the alternator), they phoned Mitsubishi, and were told that this is acceptable with this model.

Any Magna owner thoughts on what it might be, before I take it back again?

Cheers! Mike

Did they replace the voltage regulator?

No, they didn't mention that at all... didn't replace, or check. Could that be the culprit? Would a faulty one cause these sorts of same problems? Sorry, I am no mechanic by any stretch, so your help is greatly appreciated :)

Yes it can

The Voltage Regulator can cause issues with everything!

In my Advance of the same age, it actually damaged the BEM and cause the car to shut off while it was driving. (which caused it to crash into the car in front)

Mitsubishi's response was to clean the throttle body. Which is why I am guessing a dealer said it was acceptable. Horsesh1te.

Look into it.

I'm glad I found this forum. You've all been of great help to me :)

Thank you all for your excellent input. This gives me a lot more information to work with at the dealer, and a possible answer finally.

Ta, vlad, for pointing me in this direction :)

mcs_xi: Wow, interesting. I'm sorry that happened to your Magna, and for Mitsubishi's response. :eek2: Thank you for sharing this with me.

Kind Regards, Mike

probably not your problem but....
my dash lights go all dim and bright every now and then,, i moved my dash dimmer switch down a little bit and no problem now..
not sure if my head lights were doing the same parras light output sucks.. lol

Danny..

It would definitely be worthwhile taking it back to the dealer you took it to. Mitsubishi often come up with bizarre answers to these kind of electrical issues. Voltage regulator is definitely something to look out for. If if was just the lights on the cluster, I would look for loose/faulty wiring there also, but the headlight dimming issue definitely sounds like the voltage regulator.

I had two cases:
1. In my old KS, it spiked and killed the TCU.
2. In my current car, it also spiked but did not kill any electrical/electronic components maybe due to better protective circuitry. At night when it happened, my low beams lit up like highbeams.

This has really been eye-opening. Is the Magna prone to electrical problems?

Cheers, all, for arming me with the correct information to ask. I will let you know what happens (Y)