Problem

So, I'm not sure how to word this, but here goes.... This morning I got in my 2002 eclipse to go to work and I'm driving up my street and the next thing I know, the accelerator doesn't work! It was like what happens when you run out of gas....But I had a full tank. I was in first gear and I shifted into second but that didn't help and so I had to stop (not like I had a choice) and I turned the car off and then back on and the next thing, the car is fine. Does anyone have any idea as to what happened this morning to my car?

sounds like a fuel pump or computer error. did the lights on the dash flash? did the check light come on?

Nope, no lights flashing and no check engine light. It was just out of the blue. It never happened before but I am starting to get up there on my miles.....I've got about 55 thousand now. Do you think I should take it in? Or should I just wait and see if it happens more than this one instance?

at 60k you should replace the timing belt and waterpump anyway, so if its workin ok, just wait till you get those done.............

Yeah I guess that sounds like a plan then....It seemed to be fine last night and this morning. Thanks for the help

how are your injectors? maybe need cleaned? thats quite strange...but yeah, when you go into get your belt and pump replaced have them run diag. to make sure nothing else is wrong. AND if you are going to have a shop do it and not the stealership, look into new cam gears and maybe some light weight pulleys... if you have the money that is.

You know, I don't know what any of that stuff is but I guess it's good that I just got a promotion at work so I can pay of all of it. I used to go to this body shop that I've taken all my cars to ever since I could drive. I had them replace my brakes last yea and they warped my rotors in the process. I took it back to shop and they resurfaced them and told me that if it happens again they'll have to replace it. Well it happened again and there was no way I was paying them to fix something they screwed up in the first place. So I took it to the dealership and they replaced the rotors, but after market brakes didn't go well with the new rotors and a month later the dealership replaced the brakes....It cost me about 800 bucks to replace my brakes. So now I don't trust anyone but the dealership. It sucks because they're such a rip off.

I have to agree with kb, I hate paying stealership prices, but they are the only ones I will trust with my car. It may cost more, but I think it is better in the long run. Only thing I have had them do so far was replace my TPS and that was $200. Next is my timing belt and tension pulley, that will be about $600. Should I get the water pump replaced when I do that also?

Do the water pump with the timing belt, otherwise when the water pump does go, they'll charge the same labor to get down in there and replace it. My local dealership charged me $800 for the timing belt and water pump. Dam that is expensive , but at least it's guaranteed.

Are you saying that it's going to cost me 800 bucks for a 60,000 mile checkup to replace the timing belt and the water pump? Not to mention my car is making this weird noise and it sounds like it is coming from the engine. Maybe I should get rid of it........It's only 2 years old and it's a lemon.

It's not a lemon, it's a new car, LOL. People gotta make money one way or another, that's why I'll never get rid of my '85 Rex. Hard as hell to work on, but at least the part's are relatively inexpensive, and with 180k on the clock, it still run's like a champ. Eventually, I will rebuild the whole car from top to bottom, and slap in a T-II Turbo 20b (3 rotors are better than 2). :D :D :D It'll be a Viper killer for sure then, but eat up a ton of av-gas at 10,000+ rpm.

You know, I think it's just my luck. Every car I've had, I've had problems with. I think my eclipse though has a big red target on it that says "hit me". This car has been in 5 accidents since I got it. Maybe it's a sign.....Either take transportation or get rid of it. Not to mention, insurance in New Jersey is horrific.

not just your luck, i feel the same way sometimes, i always have problems with mine, then i fix em, its better for a week and find somethin else wrong, thats just how they are, if i dont fix it, it still works ok, but i feel bad for neglecting my baby........ just gotta choose which way to go sometimes...................

I guess Im lucky, I have a mechanic that specializes in DSMs. his business is called 3Dmotorsports. (Three Diamond, for mitsu) I'd trust him with my child! its great. but I don't think new brakes should have cost you that much. I know you went to the stealership, but come on.. brakes are what? $60 a peice IF THAT, you got raped

Well the brakes at the dealership were I think 120 bucks but I also had to replace my rotors and this is all after I had my brakes done somewhere else when they screwed it up. Yeah I guess I did raped but I also got ripped off when I bought the car too. You live and learn I suppose!

quote:

I guess I did raped but I also got ripped off when I bought the car too. You live and learn I suppose!

Do you have to be a mechanic to own a Mitsubishi ?

Do the enthusiasts on the Toyota and Honda forums always talk about their breakdowns and cost of repairs ?

DT

I love my Talon, but man(!) when I bought it I was only a saturday mechanic and now with the experience that the Talon brought I am now a master mech.

I had the same problem i.e.

"This morning I got in my 2002 eclipse to go to work and I'm driving up my street and the next thing I know, the accelerator doesn't work! It was like what happens when you run out of gas..."

Mine occurred 3 times in 6 months and then finally the engine would not start at all.
I thought my fuel pump was dropping out.

Replacing the Engine Control Module fixed it. $ 200.00 Used
or $1,200 from dealership.

DT

it is a must to be able to work on your own car... master mechanic, no, I haven't reached that yet and I really don't plan on it. just enough to fix the minor probs, and bolt on the hp. though I must admit, I haven't had many problems with my '97... maybe its cause i've had it for almost 2 years now and have only put about 10k on it

Here is a thought on that problem...

Fuel Filter gets clogged or has water and impurities in the fuel system (gas tank)..

Idle speed control valve getting bad (will cause faults)

Later
MajesticMan

quote:

I am now a master mech.

I shoulda said 'I 'feel' like a master mech.'

The mechanix on these Mitsubishi's are really to exacting specifications. They do not leave too much room for error like the old American clunckers that I'm used to.

DT

haha, no kidding, the first time I popped the hood on my gsx I looked and was like "what the hell is all that??"

I'm definitely no mechanic.....I'm not a tomboy girl but I do know how to change my own oil! I guess in 4 thousand miles I'll just tell them to check it out on my 60 thousand mile service when they replace everything.......It just never ends with this car!

nope, but any car you ever get will be the same way............. with all the computers and crap in cars today, theres not much you can do about it...........

I've got a similar problem and cant figure it out. 95 gst, dash lights and horn quit working. Tested fuses with continuity tester - both under the hood fuse box and the interior fuse boxes. Are the horn and dash lights on the same circuit? Any ideas?

Get yourself a shop manual, I don't have one yet for this but if you can teach yourself to read the wiring diagrams in the backs it's a very useful skill to have. Then you can check out where the problem might be before tearing into it.