I HAVE A MITISUBISHI ECLIPSE 2003 100000 MILES ( MAJORITY HIGHWAY). IN THE SPRING OF 08-THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE WAS CHANGING GEARS HARD AND WAS ADVISE IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION/MOTOR MOUNDS. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AS MUCH AS 40MPH. TOOK IT BACK TO MITISUBISHI DEALER FOR SERVICE/DIAGNOSIS-TOLD POSSIBLE EVENTUALLY TRANS, TIMING BELT AND POSSIBLY RADIATOR, WHICH WAS ONE OF ANOTHER CONSUMERS RESOLVE. WELL, THEY FLUSH THE RADIATOR AND IT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM OF DRIVING BUT NOT THE NOISE. ALSO JUNE 2009-AFTER DRIVING 5 MPH I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER ( CALL FOR TOW AND LATER OPENED THE HOOD TO SEE ALL THE INSULATION SMOLDER). AFTER BEING STRANDED FOR OVER AN HOUR I WAS TOWED TO MY DESTINATION. THE CAR WAS LATER TOWED TO CONTRACTOR ADVISE POSSIBLE DISTRIBUTOR, REALIZED IT WAS NOT THE DISTRIBUTOR AND SUGGEST CAR IS TOWED TO MITSUBISH FOR OFFICIAL COMPUTER SERVICE DIAGNOSIS ( DUE TO CAR STARTING BUT NOT TURNING OVER). ADVISE, BY THE MITISUBISHI SERVICE TECH ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL WIRES WERE MELTED... COMPUTER FAILURE/EXTREME ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DAMAGE, HARNESS MELTED ETC; I ASK THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER @ THE DEALERSHIP, WHAT WOULD CAUSE THIS AND HAD THIS HAPPEN BEFORE? HE STATED ?NOT SURE OF CAUSE?AND WAS REALLY SHOCKED TO THE DAMAGE "POSSIBLE FUSE, IGNITION WIRES SOMETHING" NOT SURE. DIAGNOSTIC TESTING COST $112.00 REPAIR ESTIMATE $5400. HELP!!!I THE MANUFACTURE NEEDS TO BE MADE AWARE OF THIS HAZARD OF A PROBLEM; IF NOT ALREADY. WITH RECALL/REPLACEMENT AND/OR REIMBURSE GOOD FAITH AND LOYAL MITSUBISHI CONSUMERS. I WON'T BEGAN TO EXPLAIN THE NUMEROUS BRAKE/ROTORS & TIRES REPLACED/REPAIRED WITHIN 5 YEARS OF PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER 2002. *TR
2003
STRUCTURE:BODY
I HAVE HAD THE CAR SINCE 2003 OR 04, AND KEPT THE CAR COVERED WHEN I DIDN'T DRIVE IT MUCH, BUT FOR WEEKENDS I USED THE CAR FOR ERRANDS. LAST YEAR I STARTED TO DRIVE THE CAR MORE OFTEN AND DID NOT COVER THE CAR AS MUCH, BUT CONTINUED TO WASH AND WAX THE CAR WHEN NEEDED. I STARTED TO NOTICE FADING SPOTS ON THE HOOD ON THE BLACK PAINT, BUT DID NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, BUT CONTINUED TO WASH AND WAX THE CAR AS USUAL. THIS YEAR, AROUND MARCH, I NOTICED THE COLOR STARTED TO GET MORE WHITE AND IT WAS SPREADING HALF WAY ON THE HOOD NEAR THE WINDSHIELD SIDE. NOW THE PAINT IS ALSO CHIPPING WITHIN THE WHITE SPOTS EXPOSING THE UNDERCOATING. THE FADING ON THE PAINT IS ALSO NOTICEABLE ON THE TRUNK AND SIDE PANELS ON THE TOP. *TR