QuestionFor a while - first irregularly, then regularly, my Mitsubishi Magna from 1990 (which has so far been driving exceptionally well) has started to cut out while driving.
The rpm hand drops. It feels as if you would try to lower speed in a manual car by going down in gears. It takes about half a second to five seconds. Then it comes on again.
The battery has been changed (has it to do with this interruption?) and is regularly disconnected, as I often leave the car for a couple of weeks while away.
The distributor and most or all contacts have been cleaned; a car electrician said to me that the prblem was well known with old Magnas, especially when they had run hot (and yes, it only happens when it is hot). He then cleaned a few contacts and said it would do the trick. It did not. Not the least.
An mechanic went straight for the distributor and cleaned it thoroughly. That helped for a while, but never again. He may have touched or done something, which coincidentally helped.
One more hint: Indicators/side lights are hard to put in place properly, as the front of the car has not been put back all straight after a collision with a kangaroo (yes, I am in Australia).
The local Mitsubishi dealer does not know how to help me.
Two previous Mitsubishi owners I know have back then experienced similar problems, but never solved the riddle.
I have a few ideas (which may prove rather silly) but would dearly like to hear your thoughts before proceeding with anything.
Thank you very much.
Kind regards
Laura West
AnswerLaura: Ever coded the car to see what the computer might kick out at you? Though your car is the right year for the bad computers, so it could be the computer is one that has a piece in it what starts to leak into the computer and with time kills it off. Also get the distributor replaced not just cleaned, the car should have a good tune up often. Even if you don't drive it alot because it is sitting some with no one driving it. As those things break down with time. Cleaning something is never as good as replacing it. How about the stark plugs, wires and the rotor too.As for hitting a kangaroo, you might have a short someplace. But then kangaroos for you and here it is the white tail deer so I know what you mean. A short could be found with a voltmeter and time. But most shops don't want to look for that short, just kind of tell you that oh I fixed this and it will do the trick. I got to say though maybe not where you are but here in the states mechanics don't treat women very good. So they kind of pat you on the head, give you one of their best smiles and send you out the door. The computer does control everything in your car, even has old as it is. If you do decided to replace the computer buy a new one or have the computer from your car rebuilt. Don't buy another one off someone else car because you must have the one for your car, model, year and engine. Takes three things for your car engine to run right, air, fuel and stark. Another thing would be to have checked is the fuel pump, to see if it is putting out enough fuel pressure. They do get old and have to be replaced. The last thing I would check would be for a vacuum leak. Here are some ideas to check, hope one of them is your problem. God bless: Linda
