Mitsubishi Archives - Transmission Digest
Serviceability Report: Mitsubishi Outlander

Recently Deb, my wife and partner at ACDC, pointed out that I had not covered Mitsubishi in this column. Was it because of the 1985 Galant that sat on my used-car lot for months and then after it was sold the transmission let go during the warranty? Or maybe it was because the Mirage had broken jet valves we hated to service?

I have never been a big fan of this Japanese automaker, but things do change over time. Just look at Ford as it improved and changed its ways over the past 10 years. This time I will break with tradition and compare not the best-selling but the top-of-the-line 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander GT with the 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander XLS. I will try to be fair and let go of the past, but some cars do get on your list.

Mitsubishi/Hyundai F4A41/42/51

Misassembly of the low/reverse and/or second-brake clutch packs in Mitsubishi’s F4A40 and 50 series transaxles can occur easily. Especially if you are the individual who answers phones, makes parts orders, road-tests vehicles, handles problems under the lift and rebuilds transmissions, all in a day’s work. And when a misassembly takes place, the transmission may slip through second, chatter in reverse, go to limp mode with a second-gear ratio code and/or a solenoid-performance code.

Back to the 40s and 50s

The F4A42 hit the streets in 1997 in the Mitsubishi Mirage. Since then it has grown into a F4A51 and has found its way into larger Mitsubishi models as well as Hyundai vehicles. This month we’re going to explore some valve-body-related issues, look at valves that can be installed incorrectly and provide some explanations about valve function.