What a lovely vehicle this is. Enjoy every minute of it until Mitsubishi East Rand got hold of it for its 180 000 km service which was done at 180 314 kms. It broke down at 181 661 kms in Port Elizabeth where it suddenly lost power and started making a terrible noise in the engine. I had it towed on a flat bed to the agent in PE who discovered a bolt missing from the inlet manifold and in the chamber next to this the fuel flap (butterfly had broken and parts were dancing around inside. They removed this and found the missing bolt underneath in the engine compartment. The whole fuel flap set manifold etc was thus replaced at a cost of R19k. The top of the pistons was checked with a scope and found to be OK and no further parts found. Vehicle was tested and I drove it back to Johannesburg. Last Saturday I went to use it and n starting had a misfire and so I left it there. I got Mitsubishi East Rand to come and have a look and they took it to the workshop only to phone me later stating that it is possibly bent valves and quoted R46k to repair. The vehicle is now sitting at 183 057kms - 2 743 kms after the service. Mitsubishi East Rand suspect that the bent valves is from the problem with the loose manifold and the damage to the butterfly but have no idea as to why the manifold was loose. They got to believe that I am gullible - the manifold has to be taken off to replace the spark plugs so they would have been the ones that lost the bolt or whatever.
Previously I have had 180 314 trouble free kms from this vehicle and is an absolute joy to own and drive and I am now trusting that we can resolve this dispute, that the vehicle can be repaired properly and restored to its former glory that I can enjoy it again.
Just before taking it for service I drove it down from Namibia without any problems.
John B Ireland
