Mitsubishi Magna Problems

I WOULD rule out the Commodore immediately because its six-cylinder engine will be too thirsty for your budget. But any cars fitting your price range will almost certainly be unreliable and expensive in the long run. Even though you're stepping up in price range, $5000 will buy an old car that is only marginally better than the cheapies you've been driving. You'll be better if you can spend $10,000 on a car that's still got some life left in it. I'd recommend a five-year-old Nissan Pulsar, Ford Laser, Mitsubishi Lancer or Toyota Corolla. They will still accommodate four and will be much cheaper to run than the Magna, Camry or Commodore.

I FIND it astounding that the dealer would tell you not to worry about changing the oil at the 1500k service, if only to check for any metallic particles it might contain. Draining the oil is a way to check the internal health of your engine. I'd recommend you continue what you're doing.

MAYBE it doesn't like its new home . . . just joking. I am guessing the RACV is correct in its assessment, and I'm guessing the carburettor either wasn't serviced or wasn't serviced correctly when it was supposed to have been a year ago. It's not easy to set the auto choke carburettor correctly, and if you don't you can have all sorts of problems with the Magna. Take it to Des & Grays Automotive Services in Ferntree Gully. They're Mitsubishi-trained mechanics and will fix it for you.

I WOULD first check the temperature sender, which tells the computer to keep the fuel injectors open a little longer during the cold running phase. The sender could be faulty, though you would normally experience some stalling and poor running if that is the case. The other possibility is that the catalytic converter is partly blocked, which can affect performance, and it's more noticeable when the engine is cold.

THOUGH your car is in good condition with low kilometres, it is almost 10 years old, the main determining factor for value. In today's climate, when it's hard to move used cars, I would reckon about $5000.

I WOULD suspect the engine mounts, which are renowned for degrading and causing vibration on the TR Magna. This tends to be worse in autos. Put the trannie in drive and drive forward, noting the level of vibration. Then put it in reverse and drive backwards. If vibration is less when in reverse, start looking at the engine mounts.

THE most likely place the leak is coming from is the valve-cover gasket, but having changed that, the next most likely source is the head gasket, as you suggest. It is not unknown for the head gasket to leak at the point where the oil supply for the overhead camshafts passes through the gasket.

IT'S NOT a problem mechanics are familiar with but they say one of the vent hoses on the tank may be blocked, cracked, or even dislodged.

MITSUBISHI has produced Magnas with dedicated LPG, and there has also been a factory-approved dealer-installed Impco dual-fuel option from TJ. Dual-fuel has been approved for the 380 and will be available in a few months.

THE Dunlop Monza tyre has been superseded by the 200R, so you won't be able to match the tread pattern. Fitting such an old tyre to a road wheel is not recommended and the best advice is to discard it. Alternately, you could keep it as a spare providing you use it only in an emergency.