Virtual Mechanic

VM Service maintenance analysis, Mitsu Colt 2010
Make Mitsu
Model Colt
Year 2010

The following vehicle is offered with a fixed priced service maintenance schedule
Mitsubishi is offering a 4 year or 60,000km capped price service (whichever occurs First) conditions apply.

The following spreadsheet will indicate the total cost of the capped price service.

15000Km $195.00
30000Km $195.00
45000Km $195.00
60000Km $195.00
 
Total Cost $780.00 but consider the following items

But it will not include the following items and please read carefully

TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Under Mitsubishi Diamond Advantage Capped Price Servicing Program, eligible vehicles are entitled
to receive up to the first four standard scheduled Diamond Advantage Genuine Services (eight Regular
Services for Ralliart and Lancer Evolution vehicles) up to and including the 48 month/60,000km service
carried out by a Mitsubishi Dealer for no more than the applicable Vehicle Service Cap per service.
Where can I have Mitsubishi Diamond Advantage Capped Price Servicing carried out?
Eligible vehicles can only be serviced under the program at authorised Mitsubishi Dealers. Ralliart
and Lancer Evolution vehicles can only be serviced under the program at Ralliart and Lancer Evolution
authorised Mitsubishi Dealers respectively.
What is covered (in/under/by) the Mitsubishi Diamond Advantage Capped Price Servicing?
Under the Program, eligible vehicles are entitled to receive up to the first four Regular Services (eight
Regular Services for Ralliart and Lancer Evolution vehicles) by distance or time (whichever occurs first)
for no more than the applicable Vehicle Service Cap per service. The final eligible service will be either
the 48 month or 60,000km service (whichever occurs first).
The Program covers all items specified under the R egular Service Tables for each vehicle type detailed
in the Service and Warranty Customer Information booklet, including parts, labour, oils and fluids,
workshop supplies and any applicable environmental or waste oil disposal charges.
What is not covered under the Program?
Additional service/maintenance items which are not covered within the Regular Services or the Program
include (but are not limited to):
• Those items identified as requiring more frequent attention depending on operating conditions
(as described in the Service and Warranty Customer Information Booklet).
• LPG additional maintenance items.
• Normal wear and tear and consumable items requiring periodic maintenance
(e.g. fuses, brake pads , wiper blades, batteries, tyres, wheel alignment adjustment etc.).
• Air conditioner pollen filter replacement.
• Fluids, additives and treatments not specified in the R egular Service Tables.
• Accident damage to any body, chassis or driveline components.
• Adjustments not specified in the R egular Service Tables.
• Additional maintenance and repairs which may be recommended by a Mitsubishi Dealer to suit your
individual driving characteristics.
If any additional service/maintenance work is required, you will be informed prior to that work being
undertaken that the additional service/maintenance work is not covered under the Program and what the
additional cost (if any) will be for performing that additional service/maintenance work.
When does the Mitsubishi Diamond Advantage Capped Price Servicing become effective?
From the original warranty start date recorded in the Service and Warranty Customer Information
booklet for each eligible vehicle.
What is the term of coverage of Mitsubishi Diamond Advantage Capped Price Servicing?
An eligible vehicle’s participation in the Program will expire upon any of the following three conditions
being satisfied:
a. The performance or expiry of all R egular Services covered under the program.
b. The expiry of 4 years from the original warranty start date.
c. 60,000km being travelled.
When can a Regular Service be carried out?
Service intervals are for a given period of time or distance (12 months or 15,000km, whichever occurs
first except for R alliart and L ancer Evolution vehicles which are 6 months or 7,500km). Even if a vehicle
isn’t driven far enough to cover the nominated distance between service intervals, Mitsubishi vehicles
should still be serviced according to the time period shown on the R egular Service Tables.
Each Regular Service can be claimed within 7,500km either side of the specified interval (3,750km
in the case of Ralliart and Lancer Evolution vehicles). If the distance travelled is low, services should be
undertaken according to the time intervals. A specified time interval service can be claimed 6 months
either side of the specified time (3 months in the case of Ralliart and Lancer Evolution vehicles).
Note: Claims cannot be made for both a specified kilometres service and the corresponding time interval
service separately.
Is the Mitsubishi Diamond Advantage Capped Price Servicing program transferrable?
Entitlements are transferrable with ownership and remain with the vehicle until they expire pursuant to
the terms of the Program. Entitlements cannot be transferred to any other vehicle.
Who is eligible for Diamond Advantage Capped Price Servicing?
Retail customer vehicles are eligible under the program. Government and Rental vehicle customers are
not eligible and additional exclusions may apply. Contact your Mitsubishi Dealer to confirm eligibility.
Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) may add or remove vehicles from the Program, or vary terms of the Program,
from time to time without notice.
Ask your dealer for full details and conditions.In conclusion in my opinion until I hear otherwise a capped price service schedule offered by a car manufacture is by far the most secure option to maintenance a high standard of motor vehicle servicing.

The added benefit of having your vehicle service at any Mitsubishi dealer is the knowledge that most technicians are factory trained, as well as a dealer service stamp in your service history should maximize the resale potential

By Darren Gow-Brown, WWW.Virtualmechanic.com.au

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WWW.Virtualmechanic.com.au, Worlds First, “VM Maintenance review” of all new passenger vehicles.

With the cost of almost everything increasing including the cost to fully maintain your vehicle, whether it be a fleet vehicle or a privately owned vehicle I believed its important to understand the true total costs of motor vehicle maintenance.

Mitsubishi Australia have been the first Car Manufacture to release motor vehicle maintenance information to allow me to provide a fair cost analysis

The first vehicle up for the VM Maintenance review  will be the Mitsubishi Colt, the VM maintenance guide soon to be released.

Rather than rate this area, you the reader will make your own judgement based upon the facts, this is raising the bar to all motoring writers, that seem to spend most of the time paraphrasing a carefully refined media release.

I will use my automotive background to examine the fine print and details of servicing, giving you the tools to make an informed decision, before making your next choice.

At this stage the service is free and for private use and fleet buyers, to help you understand the servicing costs without the need of an automotive background.

With so many options to motor vehicle maintenance carmakers need to keep the wolf away from the door of third party service centres.

Perhaps third party service centres keep the playing field even, time will tell as the winner keeps the customer satisfied with professional customer service.

Let me say some dealerships still need to understand the basic essentials of customer service.

MORE TO BE ADDED

By Darren Gow-Brown WWW.Virtualmechanic.com.au

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News when deciding on a new vehicle, check if the spare is a full size wheel, or a space saver wheel.
If you are unfortunate enough to get a flat tyre and find out that your spare tyre is a space saving wheel, there are precautions or limitations whilst driving with a space saver wheel.
Most space saver wheels are to be driven at a maximum speed of 80 km.
Most space saver wheels are to be driven at short distances. The life of the space saver tyre is measured in hundreds of kilometres not thousands of kilometres, for this reason your space saver tyre should be checked for wear before placing it into the boot.
Check your owners manual handbook, when using a space saver wheel is it will also required the correct tyre pressure.
Any time the space saver wheel is used this will effect the handling of the vehicle, especially in wet or poor road conditions.
In my opinion a vehicle safety rating should include the spare tyre choice, it’s no good crash testing a vehicle if it’s fitted with a space saver wheel.
A car are designed to transport people in the safest possible way but for some reason the spare room in the boot is more important than the spare wheel itself.
 
“RACV chief engineer Michael Case says nearly 25 percent of all new cars sold are fitted with the space- and weight-saving spares and the organisation is concerned that many people don’t know the tyres’ limitations.”

If a vehicle is involved in an accident proven to be travelling over 80 kms, insurance companies may use this knowledge to there benefit. If you have a choice between a vehicle with a space saver wheel and a vehicle with a full size wheel, three guesses to the correct choice.

Written By Darren Gow-Brown, WWW.Virtualmechanic.com.au

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Why do I need to check the spare wheel
The best way to explain the need to check your spare tyre is take you back to my days working for the RACV in roadside service, I never minded changing wheels for anyone at any time. Most females were apologetic about the fact that they called someone to change a flat tyre.
The fact is changing a wheel can be dangerous especially if performing this task on a freeway so when checking your tyres on a regular basis go the extra tyre and check the spare as it will deflate over time and there is only one time when you need it how life is so great if the spare is roadworthy and with the correct tyre pressure.

Getting back to my roadside service days, I remember I was in the city where there was absolutely parking, I found the member break-in down parking in the centre of the road with a flat tyre so he would have been waiting for about 45 minutes for me to arrive knowing that I was going to change his tyre only to find in his boot, a boot full of  books, so after taking all the books out of the boot here we find a flat tyre and I thought well some people need protection from them selves, I felt a bit under pressure at the time due to the fact I was getting paid a total of $6 per job yes that’s right a whole $6 dollars this was because I was contracting to the RACV.

Getting back to the spare wheel, it would not even hurt if you were to utilize the spare with other wheels to prevent to spare from rusting.

Now for those of you to whom are not so fortunate to find a real spare wheel, will be looking at a Orange or red skinny, I call it a funny wheel because it looks funny.
The most critical thing to understand about the funny wheel is that you have a speed limit of around 60 to 80 km limit so your home work this week is open up the boot locate the spare wheel check the type of wheel and CHECK THE PRESSURE
May I add if you are broken down on the freeway if possible get a friend to come over and to park behind you about five to ten metres   with the hazard lights on with the engine running in park, basically do what ever it takes to be safe.

For the record I hated the jobs leading me onto the freeway because it only takes a millisecond of error by an oncoming vehicle to change your life forever for this reason I made contact to Eastlink James Tonkin Manager – Strategy & Marketing, ConnectEast Group (jtonkin@connecteast.com.au ) about producing a short Video for motorist to understand freeway safety when breaking down on the freeway, the e-mail was submitted to Eastlink 30-4-10,  still awaiting a reply.

Written by Darren Gow-Brown, WWW.Virtualmechanic.com.au, in the interests of motor vehicle safety

It’s very easy for me to write about checking your motor vehicles 
engine oil especially between services because I’m the mechanic that gets 
to see the effects of driving a vehicle on low or even no oil showing 
on the dip stick.
Apart from premature wear and tear on the engine, the short term damage 
is overheating due to lack of lubrication oil performs many functions including transferring heat away from the cylinders, it also washes the engine holding acids and silicon oxide in suspension offering a protection of oxidation at higher temperatures.
I think I know why most people don’t check the engine oil between 
services.
Here were some of the reasons given to me when I asked the question.
I didn’t think I needed to check it
That’s what motor mechanics are for right
It’s a new car it doesn’t use any oil
It’s too dirty I’m getting my hands dirty

If I was anything other than a mechanic I would accept most of those 
reasons but I’m not so sorry but you do need to get in the practise of 
checking your engine oil on a weekly basis whether you have new 
vehicle or not.
Of course while your there it won’t kill you to check the washer bottle.
There are many checks to be made under the including the coolant level 
or the water level but I will need explain this some detail as this 
requires special
Attention.
Written by Darren Gow-Brown, in the interest of motor vehicle safety. WWW.virtualmechanic.com.au

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Are you a safe driver is your car safe or does your car make you feel safe.
As a sign of getting older I see more on the road, and the part that’s concerns me is the speedy drivers darting down the freeway from lane to lane tailgating everywhere

I can remember my first love, sorry I mean my first car at 18 years old, but I started a lot earlier at 13 years old but lets go to my first 12 months of driving.

At 18 years old I purchased a VW beetle, a red beetle running on 3 out of 4 cylinders this car had a nice smell to it, I was an apprentice motor mechanic at the time and I saw this little beauty just got traded in at the dealership where I was working.

I ask the owner of the ford dealership Mr Perter Durkin if I could buy this car and he was always a kind person and must of saw the excitement in my eye, I remember him saying in front of the service manager why would you be interested in this old bucket its runs on 3 cylinders, I said I can fix that, then Tom Geralt my boss said well its not that simple it’s a VW and what makes you so sure you can fix this problem, I remember it was a gamble, as the VW beetle did suffer from an over heating problem that can result in engine damage, but cocky little apprentice only saw the positive in this bug and took the risk. I purchased the car for $500 I remember it was a good buy at the time and Mr Durkin gave me some degree of favor, with the price.
So I got the little beauty into our workshop and adjust all the valves and then started up the engine, it run as smooth as a fine tuned engine should run. Of course Tom my service manager had to make a comment well young feller this time you were lucky.

This VW had McPherson strut front suspension this made the vehicle poor braking in the wet so anyone that drove a VW with McPherson strut suspension knew to be very careful in the wet or an accident was almost a given.

Getting back to original question about your vehicle and if it makes you feel safe because I would say many accidents occur when the car becomes unpredictable in the wet, because some drivers may not understand the concept of hydroplaning or cohesion, this bring me to my next point before you start to fall asleep.

Have you ever taken your vehicle to a defensive driving schools and therefore understood the limitations of driving in the wet or darting in and out of lanes at dangerous high speeds, don’t misunderstand me here I’m saying take a defensive course to learn how to speed quite the opposite the driving course will give you and understanding of limitations, and I haven’t even started on the tyres and the roadworthiness of the vehicle.

When you are driving your vehicle whether brand new or second hand there is a law of physics in play and as well as road surface conditions are playing a big part when or if you may find the need to brake suddenly.

So how can you understand the behavior of your motor vehicle in the wet
It’s a very quick test; we need to find a street without houses perhaps a new estate.

Travel at 20 Kms per hour in the wet and hit the brakes to understand the behavior of your car, the vehicle pulls up in a straight line this is good if it pulls to one side then we have a problem and will need to see our service centre to ascertain the cause of pulling to one side. If the vehicle will pull up straight then you may try at 40 if you feel comfortable.

At least this will give you some idea of what may occur when braking in the wet.
This has been written in the interests of driver safety
Written by Darren Gow-Brown, the Virtualmechanic.com.au

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Ford EA idle problems are common.

The reason for high idle is the base idle needs to be reset, why I’m glad you asked.
The reason why Ford EA start to develop idle problems most of the time it starts with a flat battery, or a battery replacement
Why should this effect the engine idle speed, another great question?
The ECU has a RAM this is fantastic so long as you keep 12 volts supply the vehicles ECU is happy but over time things change
but the RAM holds onto vital information and operates as if nothing has changed

Now when the ECU looses its 12-volt supply so does the RAM then as soon as you start the engine the ECU starts to check all vital information but this time some input values have changed so the result is poor idle speed.

Its known that if the values are within spec the engine ECU will over 250KM correct erratic idle speed, or too high or to low.
This happen to my fathers Car once, so I reset the BASE IDLE and every body lived happily afterwards

How to prevent Your vehicle form poor idle or loosing radio codes

Never operate a vehicle with a potential faulty battery; if you need a battery replacement, this is what you do.
Go to and auto outlet and purchase a 12-volt supply for the cigarette lighter to keep a 12-volt supply whilst changing over the battery
Or if you think this is difficult call a battery man like Marshall’s and ask them you want to keep your radio codes, they should know what your talking about, or just say Darren Said.

Hope this helps

Darren

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In all my time is founder of Virtual Mechanic the following issue with a Toyota Camy tempreture gauge reading high after a short drive would make most people think the repair may lead the a costly repair.
But I cannot take the credit for a very good outcome proving that the real problem was a poor earth connection.
It was Neil Gray of Brisbane that found this problem by going to the trouble of locating a vital earth connection that was required to complete the tempreture sender to guage circuit.

This issue with the Toyota Camry may cost many motorists a costly mistake if not diagnosed correctly, to all who read this and rectify the problem at minimal cost will be gratful to Neil Gray.

May I add that all Car manufactures, Toyota, Holden, Ford, Nissan, Mitsu, etc should be offering and sending data in the form workshop manuals free of charge to the Virtual Mechanic to help prevent costly mistakes at any workshop or service centre.

I thank Neil Gray for going to the trouble of locating the cause of the high tempreture reading leading to a poor earth connection secured at the engine exhaust manifold.

Written by Darren Gow-Brown
Virtualmechanic.com.au

Name Neil Gray
State & Suburb Brisbane QLD>

Type of Vehicle Toyota
Model Camry
Month/Year 12/1990
Kms 120,000
Problem This is a fuel gauge problem. I have replaced the sensor and the gauge.
The gauge goes to full scale after a short time(1min)
I’ve had the coolant temp checked its O.K
The fans come on O.K if I”m stuck in traffic for a long time and go off when i get rolling.
Please help as motorama don’t know what i’m talking about
ta neil

Your Question does not make sense

No thats because im an idiot Its The TEMPERATURE GAUGE THAT GOES FULL SCALE
Thanks for your patience Darren
Neil Gray

Ok Neil,
 
Now the temperature gauge goes to full in one minute this sounds like its either a faulty gauge or something causing the coolant to rise in temperature
When the cooling fans switch on can you count how many minutes or seconds the thermo fans stay on
 
Darren

i’ve replaced the gauge
the fans stay on  for about 2mins when i get moving.

Darren wrote:
@ minutes is far to long if we use an example of a standard passenger vehicle in normal operating condition its around 40 seconds
therefore you have a cooling system issue

Could it be the thermostat?

Darren wrote:
Yes the best way to measure the thermostat is with the engine at normal operating temp and the engine switched off feel the upper hose and the lower radiator hose and check for a difference in temp
Neil you may also have a blocked radiator to give the same result
D

hi darren,
thanks for the help..i’ll get back to you when it stops raining and i can look at the problem.
thanks again
neil

Hi Darren,

I have replaced temp meter
I have replaced the thermostat
I originally replaced the sensor

The car still runs O.K.
The meter still goes to full scale
The coolant seems to be circulating O.K.

Could it be:-
(1)  Water pump not working efficiently?
(2)  Faulty sensor sold to me new ?
(3) Meter Mother Board in dash?

I am about to attack the horrible thing with a sledge hammer

Hi Darren,

I’VE FIXED IT

Having looked at the electrical wiring diagram I thought it could be that the earth on B5 of the combination meter plug was missing.
This earth comes from a point on the engine manifold at the rear of the engine.
THE EARTH WAS NOT CONNECTED PROPERLY.
THE GAUGE NOW TELLS THE TRUTH

Happy days

Thanks for your efforts on my behalf on this very obscure problem.
I thought you might like feedback on the fix

Hi Darren,
I have added a note to diagram in magenta
Hope this is satisfactory

Hi Neil

I have published your efforts, and hope many people will read this an not make a costly mistake of a Head repair……..

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Ryu
Waikerie, South Australia

Type of Vehicle Ford
Model EA Falcon
Month/Year 6/1989
Kms 235,000
Problem Hard starts when cold, when starts idles nicely and drive well until warm. Even when warm it idles well. When warm and driving it starts to misfire and loose power, ultimately becomes unresponsive to accelerator pedal. Mechanic suggested changing of timing chain, but surely if it was the timing chain it would not idle well when stationary? help

Ryu

This sounds like a potential manifold issue, now I will paraphrase it back to you.
When running at normal operating temperature it starts to misfire
Can you perform something for me please
With the car parked in neutral running at Normal operating temperature can you wait for the misfire then raise the idle speed and tell me if this goes away
 
Let me know

Friday, March 05, 2010 3:15 PM
Darren

Hi Darren,

Wish you answered last week!

Since I posted the question the car died. I took it in for a tune and it got worse, thats when I posted the query. I took it back and they said that the timing guide was cracked, which was strange as it wasnt running so bad when I initially took it in. The mechanic told me i could drive on it but it would be noisey. I decided it was too noisy to drive and when driving it in to get fixed it threw the chain, missed a cog and died, when they opened her up they discovered she and dropped a cylinder, …not worth fixing. Now I am without a car and have I have lost alot of trust in mechanics! Think I will stick with Honda! Thanks anyway mate.

Gutted

Ryu

Ryu,
 
I’m really sorry to hear of your experience but was not aware of a noisy timing chain with your first e-mail.
Hope you get back on the horse soon….
 
Darren

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Name David
State & Suburb Berwick Vic
Type of Vehicle Toyota
Model Camry
Month/Year 1992 older model
Kms 150,000 KM
Problem please advise, trying to start the car it wont start, then l wiggle the auto stick (park reverse neutral etc and it will start is it a electrical issue ith the stick underneath or any other ideas.

Hi David,
 
Sounds like its in the neutral start switch its common for this to accur but to be safe get it tested by an auto electrician
 
 
Darren