FTO AUSTRALIA

Hi all,
I took my FTO to Mitsubishi (/Ford) in Bendigo to get the Timing Belt service. I was told it would be expensive, etc, but it would be no problem. Two days later when I go to pick up my baby, the "mechanics" tell me that they didn't have the proper FTO tools to change the belt!
They informed me that I needed to go "somewhere" else to get it done.

Not only this, but lately my auto transmission has been getting stuck in 3rd gear- won't gear up, won't gear down, and the Neutral light flashes. its like it jams in 3rd. Sometimes when I crusing in 4th, it will lunge forward and gear down into 3rd and stay stuck. I can pull over, turn the car off. Turn it back on, and it goes away, but often the problem just re-occurs. I asked the Mitsub guys to check it out. However, once again displaying their inability to help or to contact Mitsub dealers in Melbourne for info, so they told me they didn't know what the error codes stood for and just cleared them. As you can no doubt guess, this did nothing to fix the problem. And now, half the time I drive the FTO this error occurs.

Now, as you are the most knowlegdeable FTO men (and ladies) in Australia, I have these taxing questions for you:

1.) Can any one recommend a reliable Timing Belt service place in central or metro Victoria?
2.) Does any one know what the hell this sticking gear thing is all about?
3.) Does anyone know where to get a list of error codes for the FTO (GPX), so that if I get the codes, I can check what the problem is?

Thanks for your help (hopefully!)
Tbone.

(P.S. the photos on the main page look great, I love those Enkei rims on the red FTO)

Check this out for the gearbox problem... http://www.ftoaustralia.com/modules.php ... ic&t=10412

first..chech the vic section. Many threads on this.

second, when u do we will tell you to go to Lee. His details are in the vic section if you search.

The tip issue means your in limp mode.

Search is your friend.

I've just posted about the error codes;

http://www.ftoaustralia.com/modules.php ... ic&t=10515

http://www.ftowa.com/html/workshop/workshopart07.html - is the guide on how to extract the ECU Codes;
Basically involves taking off the panel underneath the steering wheel, and connecting a wire from the connector pin shown on the site, and attaching the bare wire to an unpainted part of the car chassis

*Make sure that you do this when the car is OFF*

(I stripped two ends of one of the thin computer power supply wires and used that, but you can use any wire)

*Only after you have the wire in place turn on your ignition to accessories & you should have the error messages flash up on the dash* (I'm not sure what will happen if you connect the cable with your car on - possibly fry the electronics?? :S , better to be safe than sorry )

As for finding out what the error codes mean, I had to do a few google searches for all cars, not just the FTO (theres not much on the FTO)
You may need to do some basic electronic fault finding - get yourself one of the wire probes that looks like a clear screwdriver with a light inside - you dig the end into the wires and it lights up if there is power, & doesn't light up if there isn't. That might help with finding out where the problem is.

Other than that, if the error code says something like;
62 Air intake valve position sensor - start looking at the air intake

A site that I came across that was very helpful to me was http://autorepair.about.com/

Check out the sections on Electronic fault finding/testing & they probably won't have the specific error message that you're getting - but they will have articles which explain how the parts function that you're having problems with & give you a good basic knowledge of them to locate the fault.

With that timing belt I didn't use any special tool to change it, I just had a basic socket and spanner set at home, but I would have to say that the FTO has got to be one of the hardest to change a timing belt.

yeah timing belt requires no special tools, unless he was refering to the adjustment.