Mitsubishi Repair: 95 mitsubishi diamante, mitsubishi diamante, code scanner

Question
QUESTION: I have a 95 mitsubishi diamante that has some intermittent rough idling/dying problems. It seems to get worse later in the day after being driven...but sometimes it even happens in the morning...one moment the car will be driving fine....the next minute it will not accelerate (especially at a stop sign) and will decrease in rpms down to about 600 qnd then die....it doesn't always die though. sometimes....something kicks in and the idle will go back to about 1500 rpms..and then back down again....it's weird....no check engine light has ever come on...i had it checked at autozone and their code scanner always comes up with an error when trying to connect to the car's computer....even went to advance because i thought maybe their machine was broken...they told me the same thing..their code scanner was unable to connect to the car's computer...whatever it is...it seems to be getting worse as the days go by

ANSWER: Nekisha: Sounds like a weak sensor or even a problem with the computer. You know don't you that Mitsubishi farmed out the building of their computers to another company. This company did not build very good ones, with time a piece inside the computer will start to leak into the computer and with time it kills off the computer. I would be trying to find a shop that can hook your car up to their computer and you can check to see if you have one of these problems. Such as a weak or bad sensors or a problem with the computer. How about getting the fuel pump checked out. Could be your fuel pump is going. Do you let the car go down to empty before filling it up. Do you know the fuel is what keeps the pump cool so if you do this enough, you will cook the pump. I have been replacing a lot of fuel pumps of late. But then with this high cost of fuel, I understand it. But still you should not let your car get down below a 1/4 of tank. There is a test to check the fuel pump to see if it is putting out enough fuel for your car. If the pump is ok, then you need to be getting that computer checked and the sensors. The computer is what controls everything in your car's engine. It gets all it needs off those sensors and then in the matter of a few seconds, it sets everything up. But if there is a sensor or more is weak or going bad, or if the computer is going bad. It will mess everything up.  Hope this helps and good luck! Linda

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QUESTION: if the sensors or the computer is bad...should the check engine light come on? mine has never been on..ive taken in to a couple of mechanics who seemed to be stumped because they dont have the "tools" to diagnose the car because of the year...one told me that the check engine light doesn't have to be on for a sensor to be bad....is that true?

Answer
Nekisha: That is true about the check engine light. Sometimes they come on and some times they don't. You could buy yourself a repair manual for your car, most parts stores have them for around $20.00 and a voltmeter then check the car out yourself. The repair manual will tell you what readings you should be getting and how to hook up the voltmeter. Sears sells some nice voltmeters for not to much money. So you might try this.Did you get the fuel pump checked out? Hope this helps and good luck! Linda