FTO AUSTRALIA

Just got back from having my car suspension checked again.

No problem with the suspension, but the loud cracking noise I had was the cross member had been wedged up into the engine / gear box. Everytime I went over a bump or round a corner the engine was banging down hard on it. The place I went to managed to hit it back into some sort of straight line, but said someone has lifted the car up putting the jack on the cross member directly under the engine!!

Now, I have a rear engine seal leak and the front cam seal is leaking again. this will be the 5th time back to Mitsubishi for this leak!!

Apparently FTO's are know for engine leaks?? That's what I've been told today. But mine didn't have a leak until I got a full service done at Mitsubishi and they changed the seals.

Should I cut my losses and take it somewhere else to get the cam seal leak fixed once and for all or should I continue to take it back to Mitsubishi so they can pull it apart again and try to fix it again??

I've only had the car for just over a month and it's spent more time in repairs than on the road!!

It's a disaster. **sigh**

The old holden is looking real good right now.

Any help at this stage very much appreciated and very much needed. Take pity on me.

are u in melb? If u are i can recommend a good mech for u. Its like the recommended mech for the FTO's in Melb. Good honest fellow he is

Yep, I'm in Melbourne.

I'll try anyone at this stage.

I have spare cross members if you are looking for one down the track too

I do need a new one. How much are they worth??

The mechanic tried getting one in but when it arrived it was twisted. He's belted my bent one as straight as he can get it then put in spacers. He said he's given me 10mm, that's the best he could get it, but that it would be best to grab a straight one sometime down the track.

I'm sure this is all going to be worth it in the end...... I'm just going to keep telling myself that.....

take it back to them mate obviously they have not done the seals correctly again and there is no way you should pay for this to be done else where as you know its a costly job and im sure you dont want to pay for it all again! as for known for leaks thats a load of crap
all cars will leak oil at some stage only because a seal or gasket needs replacing etc dont buy into that its normal for an fto bullshit from them they just dont want to pull it apart and replace again.....
failing that look into taking to another mechanic and billing them for the job

This will be the 5th time taking it back.

It was suggested to me that maybe the cam was scored when they were removing the old seal.

Is that enough to make it continually leak?? If it is that, I don't think they'll admit it.

Can a sleeve be put in there and then the seal put in?? Or will it have to be pulled apart and repaired.... if that is the case??

Thanks for the help so far......

Muse7707 wrote:This will be the 5th time taking it back.

It was suggested to me that maybe the cam was scored when they were removing the old seal.

Is that enough to make it continually leak?? If it is that, I don't think they'll admit it.

Can a sleeve be put in there and then the seal put in?? Or will it have to be pulled apart and repaired.... if that is the case??

Thanks for the help so far......

if thats the case and it wasnt leaking before then obviously they did it but for them to score the cam that would be just bad workmanship and most likely will not cause it to leak.....
are you 100% sure thats where the leak is from? not the rocker cover?

Yep, 100%

Mitsubishi didn't believe me when I took it back the 2nd, 3rd and 4th time, but once they opened it up, they found I was right.

They had been using a Magna seal which was the wrong size. The last time they changed it they measured it up and got one from some place that makes them. Basically, they admit they don't know why it keeps leaking, but it definitely wasn't leaking when I took it there. And they agree on that too.

It's just so annoying, it's spent more time at Mitsubishi than with me right now.

Guess that old saying is right... If it aint broke, don't fix it..

Muse7707 wrote:Yep, 100%

Mitsubishi didn't believe me when I took it back the 2nd, 3rd and 4th time, but once they opened it up, they found I was right.

They had been using a Magna seal which was the wrong size. The last time they changed it they measured it up and got one from some place that makes them. Basically, they admit they don't know why it keeps leaking, but it definitely wasn't leaking when I took it there. And they agree on that too.

It's just so annoying, it's spent more time at Mitsubishi than with me right now.

Guess that old saying is right... If it aint broke, don't fix it..

na you did the right thing by getting it replaced as if you dont you know something will go wrong

as for the seal make sure they get the correct one OEM if they have to....
as i said if it wasnt leaking before then it must be what they have done just percivere with it at least they have admitted there mistake

Why the hell dont they get the original parts instead of trying to bodge something to fit. All the genuine parts are still available. I can get any genuine part for the FTO, so im buggered if I know why they cant be bothered. maybe they dont know the part numbers. If that is the case, let me know exactly what parts are needed and ill get you a list of correct part numbers that they can source.

I told them they needed the proper seal, but was told that on their listing it shows the part number for the FTO is the same as for the Magna.

I was treated like some sort of an idiot when I said that they weren't the same. Hence, here we are.... 4 seals later and still going.

I would appreciate the proper part number though if you've got it. I'll demand, this time, that they get the right one, or maybe I can source it myself. That way I'll be absolutely sure.

But, do you think it could be poor workmanship all these times?? I'm just wondering.. could there be something not right with that area now for some reason?? Is there some sort of liquid seal that can be put on as well to make sure it doesn't leak?? I mean, they are trained mechanics and it is just a seal... you wouldn't really expect it to be wrong this many times surely.

Hey,

Im no mechanic, but if you can identify the bits from the pictures (see link below), I can give you the right part number. Just click on one of the sub pictures or the numbers in the image below to see the breakdown. Once you find the part you are after, just give me the number associated with it and ill give you the mitsubishi part number. A lot of the parts are common with CE lancers.

http://www.completefto.com.au/CompleteFTO.asp?hid=165

I think this breakdown has cam seals, but im not 100% certain:

http://www.completefto.com.au/modules/p ... sp?bid=127

01221 may be one of the candidates you are after.

Muse7707 wrote:I told them they needed the proper seal, but was told that on their listing it shows the part number for the FTO is the same as for the Magna.

I was treated like some sort of an idiot when I said that they weren't the same. Hence, here we are.... 4 seals later and still going.

I would appreciate the proper part number though if you've got it. I'll demand, this time, that they get the right one, or maybe I can source it myself. That way I'll be absolutely sure.

But, do you think it could be poor workmanship all these times?? I'm just wondering.. could there be something not right with that area now for some reason?? Is there some sort of liquid seal that can be put on as well to make sure it doesn't leak?? I mean, they are trained mechanics and it is just a seal... you wouldn't really expect it to be wrong this many times surely.

basically mate they are just going by what the details they have infront of them are.... as in trained mechs dont be so sure, maybe the have the apprentice working on the car? and from what i have seen here so far i wouldnt say that the mechs are extremely competant esp when it comes to imports they seem to be a bit less able so to speak

Wait..if it's been repaired for the 5th time and they don't fix it, demand that they refund your money and go to a mechanic that know's their sh*t about things other than magnas.

last time i checked, isn't it like..you know..law, that when something gets 'returned' 3 times in a row, they have to replace it or if they can't replace it (ie, engine repairs) they need to give you a refund if you demand it?

ok. THere is this place called Nandi's at Keysborough. U have to call to book in and they are pretty busy every week. The good thing is...nothing will take more than a few days to repair. Silverfish and I can vouch for the quality of work he gives. The number is 9706 3444. Tell them u are from the FTO club. Let him look at the problem first before deciding the part u wanna get.

My recommendation is to get the car sorted out with the mitsu guys. Tell them u wan a refund because they have been doing sh*t to yeah car and makin u make unneeded trips down to the damn garage and that u are takin it to someone else to repair. U have every rite to be pissed off. It seems that these buncha jokers only know how to repair the aussie spec mitsus and have no idea when it comes to imports.

Great!!

The place I went to yesterday is call C & D Motorworks. Turns out one of the guys there actually owns an FTO and they mainly focus on import cars. They're the guys that knocked the cross member back into some sort of shape for me.

They were great with advice, but said that they shouldn't really touch anything Mitsubishi had done because at this stage I should get them to fix it. It was a warranty thing and once they touched it, Mitsubishi didn't need to do another thing to fix it.

I'll definitely try these guys and Keysborough. Bit of a trek for me, but hopefully it will be worth it.

yep, i'll vouch for Nandi as well.
had my car there for minor service today.
creaking noise is right front stabilizer bush & link.

(p.s. dstocks - you have a PM request for part)

i agree with your mechanic suggesting not to touch anything Mitsubishi have stuffed.
Mitsu stuffed it... they should fix it!

but at least you know now where NOT to take your car.
the mechanics at mitsubishi have no friggin idea what they're doing on FTO's...
and charge YOU fortune to learn as they go along.