Mitsubishi Repair: 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse 2.4 non turbo, mitsubishi eclipse, torque converter

Question
I just purchased a high milage (158k) used spyder. After driving awhile, I noticed a hesitation of the motor slowing or pausing slightly. I accellorated with no noticible problem. I later drove my car and just prior to parking had that same hesitation and just before I shut the key off heard a spudder and stalled. Thinking nothing of it because I also was at an 1/8th of a tank and thought maybe I had water and dirt in my gas and would just fill up and add gas treatment but, it would start up. When the tow truck showed up, I couldn't even get the car outta park. Nothing in the manuel states about the gear shift (automatic) locking in park but, thats what hapened. Tried starter spray too. When it did try and start I heard a bad metal contact sound. Too many issues at once. I'm thinking with the hesitation at cruise to be fuel pump related and would like know I could bypass the pump to fuel the engine. Totally don't get the shift lever stuck in park thing, is there some electrical connection to that and the improper spark to not have the engine run with starter fluid? Since it is a high milage car, I was thinking of rebuilding as a home project by a novice gm rebuilder but still would like to if and why I'm having so many issues at once. Timming belt off and metal sound is value noise or was the tin sound from just the starting fluid.

Answer
Won't pull out of gear-Sounds like a transmission or Torque converter problem. The noise when cranking? Maybe a loose starter, Flexplate, Torque converter or Transmission. I wouldn't be worried about the timing belt just yet.

You could remove the lower cover and inspect the flexplate and torque converter, make sure the starter is tight. Then manually try to turn the motor over. If it won't turn, you can remove the Torque converter bolts, push the TC back to disengage the studs and then try turning the motor over. IF it does now, you know you are into the transmission for repair. If it still doesn't it is in the engine.

Either way, it's not a picnic, but the tranny is easier!

Kelly