Mitsubishi Magna Problems

Think Magna, think sturdy, but boring family hacks with little or no personality. That was certainly the way the mid-sized Mitsubishi was viewed back in the early 1990s when the TS appeared, but look past the pleasantly plain styling and you’ll find the TS is a reliable family car that represents good second-hand value for money.The transformation of the Magna from trouble-plagued family four-banger to a car capable of competing with the mainstream large Aussie family models began with the TR, and took a sizeable step forward with the mid-model TS facelift in 1994 when Mitsubishi made its smooth 3.0-litre fuel-injected V6 available in more of its models.Previously the Magna was a four-cylinder model trying to appeal to owners disenchanted with the cost of running their six-cylinder cars at a time when fuel prices were on the rise. At 2.6 litres the Mitsubishi engine was quite a large four and suffered from a lack of smoothness as a result, although it was reasonably torquey and would pull quite well.When the disenchantment with six-cylinder engines didn’t translate into a wholesale switch to fours as we became accustomed to the higher fuel prices Mitsubishi simply had to meet the market with a six.A V6 Magna is a smooth operator with safe and secure handling, even if it doesn’t have the neighbours rushing around for a look when you arrive home in your driveway.MODEL WATCHThe 1994 TS Magna was a facelift of the TR model introduced in 1991 and changed the way we thought about the Mitsubishi family car.Earlier Magnas had developed a reputation for trouble, to the extent that they had sullied the Magna badge, but the TR turned things around with a fresh, if conservative, shape, strong safe body shell and much improved reliability.The TS facelift built on the reputation established by the TR by adding new features such as ABS brakes and a driver’s airbag, and increased availability of the smooth 3.0-litre V6 engine.The Magna began life as a four-cylinder family sedan when there seemed a real chance our fuel supplies would dry up and the demand for fours would climb through the roof, but instead we learnt to live with higher fuel prices and the demand for sixes remained high. There was nothing Mitsubishi could do, but add a six to its family sedan and tackle Holden and Ford head on.This they did in the TR, and they enjoyed quite some success, even though the Magna was still regarded by most as a four-cylinder car that wasn’t quite in the big boys league.New to the range in TS was the SE V6 in sedan and wagon versions, which expanded the availability of the smooth six to six models.There was little to distinguish the TS from its predecessor. The easiest way to pick them from the outside is by the split grille, which was coloured either grey or silver depending on the model, and there was a new garnish mould on the rear, new wheel covers and new alloy wheels. Inside the TS boasted new cloth trim and a new cover on the centre console.On the mechanical front Mitsubishi made some welcome improvements to the engines and automatic gearbox. New high swirl combustion chambers, pistons and ports improved the drivability and response of the 2.6-litre four, although it had little impact on its performance and economy. The smooth and willing fuel-injected 3.0-litre V6 was unchanged.Revisions to the computer controlling the shifting of the four-speed auto trans, which reduced the torque during shifts instead of shifting at full torque reduced shift bump and made for a much smoother drive.Some minor retuning also took place on the suspension with new bushes for a more comfortable ride over smaller bumps.Demand for increased safety forced Mitsubishi to adopt ABS brakes and driver’s side airbag, which were both introduced as options available with the V6 engine.IN THE SHOPThe TS Magna is robust and has survived the ravages of time and distance well. The body is sturdy and remains tight. Few rattles and squeaks seem to develop over the years.Both four and six-cylinder engines are reliable and give little trouble. As they get on in miles it’s worth replacing the cam belt, at around 100,000 km to be safe, and they will probably develop oil leaks from the cam cover and front cover.Unlike the earlier Magnas the auto trans in the TS is very reliable and gives little trouble.Cars equipped with autos can have problems with the idle speed stepper motor, which is designed to raise the engine’s idle speed when ‘Drive’ is selected.LOOK FOR• solid body stands the test of time.• plain styling gives it a granddad image• torquey fuel-injected four is economical choice• smooth V6 is a willing performer• safe and secure handling

What is it about the Magna that fails to win over the hearts and minds of the car buying public? Sure the first generation, the TM through TP, came close to being the last when it developed a series of very public problems in service, but the second generation, the TR and TS, also failed to score despite being a very good car.Problem was that it was perceived as boring, the sort of car your grandfather bought to see out his dotage. Bowling club car parks were filled to overflowing with them, hats resting on the rear parcel shelf, their drivers dressed in beige cardigans. Simply, they weren’t cool.By rights that should have changed with the release of the TE model in 1996. It was an attractive car with clean elegant lines that were a huge leap from the plump and portly middle-aged curves of its predecessor. But things didn’t change, it too was stuck with the same image of a middle of the road car for the elderly. Pity because the TE Magna, and its successors are very competent cars and well worth a second look on the used market.MODEL WATCHAlongside its predecessor you could have been forgiven for not recognising the TE as a Magna, so complete was the transformation. With a lack of door window frames and a slim centre pillar it had the appearance of a stylish pillarless coupe rather than a functional family four-door.The TE was longer and wider than the TS and that meant there was a little more leg room for both front and rear seat passengers, but the sweeping roofline, as attractive as it was, came at a price in terms of head room. It affected both front and rear seat passengers, but was more of a problem for anyone seated in the back.It was all new inside as well, although it was a little dark and sombre with a combination of grey trim and a high waistline that cut down the light from outside.The Magna was born a four banger, but over time grew into a six worker, and the TE continued that trend with even greater emphasis on the six-cylinder models.The range initially comprised of two models, the Executive and Altera, both of which offered the choice of four and V6 engines, and four-speed auto and five-speed manual transmissions. From October 1996 fully equipped Advance and Altera LS models were added to the range.The four was a new 2.4-litre fuel-injected unit which despite being smaller than the engine it replaced, with 105 kW and 205 Nm it was more powerful as well as being noticeably smoother. Compared to the previous model performance was improved when fitted with the auto trans, and about the same with the manual.The fuel-injected 3.0-litre V6 was also all new with increased power over the engine it replaced. Boasting 140 kW and 255 Nm it was markedly quicker than the old model to the 100 km/h benchmark, as well as boasting improved acceleration in the crucial 80-100 km/h overtaking region. Importantly the increased performance didn’t come at the cost of fuel consumption.A four-speed electronic auto was new, and boasted the ability to adapt to the driver’s pattern of use and road conditions to select the optimum gear for any situation.Suspension was independent front and rear, along with disc brakes, and there was an option of an ABS antilock braking system.Entry to the TE range was via the Executive which featured power steering, four-speaker sound, power mirrors, tilt-adjust column, remote boot and fuel filler release, central locking and engine immobiliser.For all the bells and whistles look for an Altera, which came standard with air-con, power windows and cruise.Options included airbags for driver and passenger, ABS, CD player and alloy wheels.The Advance and Altera LS delivered the lot, with ABS, airbags, CD and alloys standard fare.On the road the TE was smooth and refined with a comfortable ride and nice chassis balance and plenty of punch when pushed along a winding country road.IN THE SHOPThe trade reports the Magna as generally robust and reliable. Even though they are now climbing in mileage they still make a great second car for the family, or a first car for the novice driver.Both the four and six-cylinder engines give little trouble, particularly the six. The fours can have problems with water pumps, and there can be oil leaks from the cam cover. The 2.4-litre four-cylinder and the six-cylinders have timing belts, which requires replacing at 100,000 km intervals. Both give little trouble in the driveline area so there’s little reason for concern over transmissions.Tyre wear is generally good, with more than 50,000 km regularly reported depending on the tyres fitted. Brake wear can be a problem with rear pads requiring replacement around 30,000 km on average. Front brakes are bullet-proof with front pads lasting “forever” according to one mechanic. Discs are also long wearing.OWNERS SAYFord fan John Hansen was first given a Magna as a company car, but any doubts he had about it quickly evaporated during the two years and 150,000 fault-free kilometres he drove in it. A second Magna has been equally as impressive. “The first Magna came with the job, but from then on it was performance, reliability and comfort that kept me in them,” he says. He adds that tyre life, at 60,000 km, is particularly impressive.Country readers Alexander Smith and his wife are equally enamoured with their two 3.0-litre V6 Magnas. One, a sedan, has done 70,000 km without fault. Apart from scheduled servicing the only things he has had to replace are the tyres, which were replaced at 42,000 km. The other, a wagon, has regularly towed heavily laden trailers and a caravan in the 100,000 km it has done, and has been just as reliable as the sedan. A battery and a tail light globe are the only things that have needed replacing, along with a set of tyres at 41,000 km.LOOK FOR• Robust and reliable engines and trans.• quiet and comfortable interior• smooth elegant styling• restricted rear headroom• balanced handling• beaut performance

Few cars polarise opinion like the Magna. It was Mitsubishi’s attempt to play the main game in the Australian market after making inroads with the smaller Sigma in the years after taking over Chrysler Australia. Major problems with the very first model unfortunately soured the name for many Australians, and have made it tough for Mitsubishi ever since.At the time the Magna was launched the Australian market was going through a period of change. It was widely thought that Australian families would abandon the traditional large six-cylinder family car, of the type built by Ford and Holden, and move to slightly smaller cars with four-cylinder engines.Mitsubishi anticipated this trend by upsizing its main model from the Sigma to the Magna, which would carry a family of five in comfort, with the economy of a four-cylinder engine.It was a formula that worked quite well, the Magna was well received, at least until the auto trans trouble struck and gave buyers the jitters.As history has shown the move away from the traditional large family cars wasn’t as strong as first thought, and the Magna has moved towards the Holden and Ford with a larger car and larger six-cylinder engines.MODEL WATCHThe Magna was greeted with great enthusiasm by the motoring press of the day who praised its roominess, smoothness, comfort and performance.It came in family-sized sedan and practical wagon versions, with a choice of equipment levels from basic Executive to GLX, SE, Elante and Elite.The styling was inoffensive, with solid lines that carved out a neat attractive profile in both sedan and wagon versions.Power for the base models was a carburettor-fed 2.6-litre single overhead camshaft four-cylinder engine with a balance shaft for smoothness. It put out a reasonable 83 kW at 5200 revs, and 195 Nm, which was enough to make progress smooth and unfussed if not breathtaking.There was also a fuel-injected version available which boasted 93 kW at 4800 revs and 205 Nm, along with much smoother drivability and fuel consumption.A four-speed auto was the transmission of choice on the Executive, but there was also a five-speed manual available on other models. Drive went through the front wheels.All models had power steering making life much less stressful, brakes were reassuring four wheel discs, suspension was conventional MacPherson Strut front which made ride and handling both comfortable and safe.Inside there was cloth trim, carpet, and radio-cassette sound, with remote fuel and boot releases.The top of the range Elite boasted air-conditioning, cruise control, central locking, power windows, alarm, and alloy wheels.IN THE SHOPIt has to be remembered that the TN is now fast approaching the end of its useful life on the road with many cars with odometer readings well into the 200,000 km range and beyond. With those mileages it’s normal that there will be increased breakdowns, with the likelihood they will occur more frequently in the future, so it’s important to approach a car as old as the TN with this in mind.The TN is generally a solid, reliable old car that would suit young or first time drivers, but it’s worth looking for one with low mileage that has been well serviced. That might be difficult because owners are typically not willing to spend money on them when their value is so low. For that reason they are often serviced or repaired by small time mechanics who are able to work to a limited budget.The Magna is perhaps best known for the problems with its automatic transmission that struck it down almost as soon as the TM, the TN’s predecessor, hit the road. It was a big blow to the reputation of the Magna that still lingers today, even though the problem was fixed fairly quickly.The auto trans problem was still causing headaches when the TN was launched. The housing would be worn away and in need of replacement, an expensive exercise at the time. The cars on sale today are unlikely to suffer the problem, and if they do replacement transmissions are not the same expensive items they were.The engine is generally reliable, but can suffer cracking of the block between the welch plugs. The head gaskets can leak, the timing chain can rattle, and if smoke can be seen trailing from the exhaust pipe, particularly on starting, the valve stem seals are probably shot.Mechanics experienced with the TN advise against buying a carburettor-fed engine, and strongly recommend the fuel-injection engine for its smoothness and reliability.Early Magnas can also suffer from electrical gremlins, often caused when wires break as the engine rocks back and forth under acceleration and braking.Rust is always a problem with old cars, and the TN is no exception. Look carefully at the bottoms of the doors where rust can often be found. Check for windscreen leaks that point to rust around the windscreen.OWNERS SAYSue Lobban bought her 1988 TN Magna Executive wagon 12 years ago with 60,000 km on the odo. It has no done 171,000 km and she’s wondering if she should update to a newer model or stick with what she regards as a comfortable, quiet, faithful old steed. Although she loves the Magna, and it is in quite good condition with a tidy interior, good paint, and no visible rust, she has in the past had rust repaired in the front doors, the windscreen leaks suggesting there’s rust there, the drive shafts have been replaced, same with the engine mounts and a noisy timing chain, the engine has had new rings and is now smoking on starting.Tony Pinkpank’s TN Magna GXL wagon has done well over 250,000 km. He says it’s very comfortable and reliable, but has had to replace the gearbox, which was noisy and leaking oil, and the valve stem seals.Nathan Dean’s 1988 TN Magna Elite sedan has racked up 307,000 km on its original engine and transmission, and he says there are no signs it will give up soon. Apart from maintenance items, nothing has gone wrong with the car, which he says runs like a gem, and still consistently knocking up 20,000 km per year.Andrew Curtis’s 1989 TN Magna manual has now done 310,000 very reliable kilometres. Apart from replacing an electronic sensor in the distributor, he has had to have the head shaved and a new head gasket fitted as the head warped at about 200,000 km. Rust is starting in the bottom of the doors.Byron Waring owned a 1988 TN Magna GLX manual from 1994 to 1998 before selling it with 220,000 km on the odometer. He says it was smooth, quiet and responsive to drive and gave little trouble. Magnas can suffer cooling system problems, but they are usually caused by poor maintenance such as failing to change the fan belt regularly to prevent breakage, which can lead to overheating and damage to the head, and using water instead of coolant when topping up the radiator.Peter Lausch sold his a 1988 TN Magna Elite wagon in 2003 after owning it for more than three years, and says it was nothing but trouble. He had to replace the cylinder head and welch plugs, the auto transmission, and three alternators, and gave up on the car when the head leaked for the second time.LOOK FOR• low mileage well maintained car• rust in doors and roof• smooth EFI engine a must• smooth, comfortable and quiet• cheap transport for young drivers on a tight budgetTHE BOTTOM LINESolid reliable and conformable first car for the beginner driver if it’s been well maintained by a caring owner.RATING50/100