Mitsubishi Repair: 95 Mitsubishi Mirage LS, crank angle sensor, mitsubishi mirage

Question
125K miles on it. No problems as such. Changed spark plugs (not wires). DCap looked new. The car hesitates and makes some belt type noise when you shift in D or R. It smoothens as a new car in Neutral. The moment its put in reverse or drive.. it starts jerking (idling jerk when braked). As soon as you accelerate.. you dont feel jerking neither when you are slowing idling.. but as soon as you are nearing zero speed while idling.. it again jerks..

3rd cylinder misses a little (earlier compression was about 40, some additives improved it to 80-90). I replaced PCV valve, it made a lot of difference. Exhaust pipe had leaks. Fixed all of it. New air filter. Made again some difference in the power.
I get almost 40 mpg...


Am i missing something really simple? like injectors or oil filter/fuel filter or accessory belt/timing belt. One of the dealers told me its the belt noise. Can I change the accesorries belt my self? How much timing belt change cost?

Some help will drive me through..

Answer
Amresh: This can not be your timing belt but rather your driver, water pump and alternator belt, or it could be the air conditioner and power steering belt, it would seems to me that you need to change the belts; put on new ones and then make sure you adjusted them right. I would replace the distributor cap because it can look good on the outside but it is the inside you should be worried about. Always replace the wires when replacing the stark plugs, but also do the rotor too. Oh inside that distributor cap is a sensor called crank angle sensor.I would also have the transmission fluid and filter changed. It should be changed every 25000 miles. That might fix your jerking when you put the car into gear. Have you ever changed that fluid or filter? Hopefully you do check it? I tell people with older cars and high miles to do it everytime you change the engine oil, check the transmission fluild too. Not that you need to add to it, just check it. You could have a vacuum leak someplace, those are hard to find so a shop would have to do that for you. Yes, you can change the belts yourself. But you need to buy a repair manual for your car. It will lead you though how to do that and also has pictures at times we all need pictures to see what we need to do. The noise you are hearing I don't think is your timing belt. But rather those other belts, they will start to make noise when getting old or out of adjustment. But if you have never checked or replaced the timing belt in 125K it would be a good time to do so. But you best let a shop do this for you, the timing marks are often than not very hard to find and you need to make sure that timing belt is put back on right. Or else the car will not run. So when having the drive belt and the air conditioner belt replaced, then do the timing belt too. Or buy that repair manual read up on your car and see if you want to try this yourself. Most parts stores should have the repair manual for your car for around $20.00. With that manual if you get lost or not sure what you are doing; you can check back to the manual. I hope this helps you some and good luck! Linda