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CS3 lancer tranny problem
Posted: February 14th, 2009, 12:52 pm
by optimus11
i changed tranny fluid in November and have been checking it often. no colour change. about 4 days ago i began hearing a squeaking noise in the engine bay
the noise is only heard when the gear engages from a stop position when i mash the gas. i only hear it for 2 seconds and then it stops. i thought it was the fanbelt or brakes needed changing
it was only yesteday i was investigating when i realised the noise could possibly coming from the tranny. i checked the tranny oil and it was black and smelled burnt.
my mechanic said the tranny goin bad and might need replacing. he said to check a professional tranny man and get a second opinion.
can anyone advise me what to do
what are my options? i really cant afford a new tranny right now. i heard these can cost up to 7k. right now i fraid to drive the car cuz i fraid the tranny might conk out wen i on d hiway
Posted: February 14th, 2009, 1:43 pm
by ronsin1
Posted: February 14th, 2009, 3:24 pm
by optimus11
venum wrote:Ms. nath,
to avoid buying a tranny
change teh fluid ASAP
go to federal or anywhere else that changes tranny fluid with teh machine
change teh fluid ASAP
Mitsu SPIII fluid ~ $55.00 per quart
walk with 10 quarts
run teh fluid for ~ 3000km and then change again
after teh 2nd change, change your tranny fluid promptly at 20,000km intervals
OR if it is really badly gone - change teh tranny one time and MAINTAIN PROPERLY
is there any way i can find out for sure if the problem could be fixed by just changing the fluid. 10 quarts will be $550.
i dont want to waste any money on this tranny and den nex week it 'gone thru'. den i will have to buy 10 quarts again to put in a new tranny
Posted: February 14th, 2009, 3:25 pm
by optimus11
where can i get the fluid for $55?
and where is federal?
Posted: February 14th, 2009, 5:08 pm
by ronsin1
federal is cipero street San Fernando
I know they also sell the oil but it is something like $69.00 per quart
Posted: February 15th, 2009, 12:34 pm
by anthonyanthony
hey optimus II , what going on with the tranny?
Posted: February 15th, 2009, 1:30 pm
by optimus11
well my mechanic say to wait till tomorrow, he know a guy from el socorro who does specialise in transmission. he will let us know what is the best course of action.
from all my research i believe that the tranny just needs flushing out and changing the fluid. i keeping my fingers crossed.
i was going to drain the fluid this morning to see if there was any metal shavings on the magnet but then decided to wait till the specialist chek it first
does anyone know where i can 'hot' flush the tranny??
Posted: February 15th, 2009, 3:47 pm
by anthonyanthony
good to hear feedback, keep us informed.
look at the sticky section ,it have service manuals for some of the lancers, specially how to change the tranny fulid, i download some of the manual but dont know how to put the specific section on the forum.
Posted: February 15th, 2009, 5:28 pm
by optimus11
hey thanks i will definately download the cs manual
keep your advice/ comments coming
Posted: February 16th, 2009, 3:38 pm
by optimus11
i went to the transmission specialist today. he drove the car, heard the noise and checked the oil. he then told me that the noise is coming from a bad bearing and the slight delay when the car is put into drive is caused by the forward clutch going bad. and that would cause the oil to get black.
he said he will call me back in an hour to tell me the cost to change the bearing and the forward clutch. well to me it didnt sound too bad, i tell myself it might cost about $2000 for the most. wen he call back he say it will cost $5000
well i was in shock. he say the parts expensive and the bearings needed machining.
can anyone tell me if this is a good deal or is this man is trying to rob me
Posted: February 16th, 2009, 4:34 pm
by venum
optimus11 wrote:is there any way i can find out for sure if the problem could be fixed by just changing the fluid. 10 quarts will be $550.
i dont want to waste any money on this tranny and den nex week it 'gone thru'. den i will have to buy 10 quarts again to put in a new tranny
^^^ spending $550.00 to save $7000.00 is a good option, not really a waste of money . . . more like a saving
but according to:
optimus11 wrote:i went to the transmission specialist today. he drove the car, heard the noise and checked the oil. he then told me that the noise is coming from a bad bearing and the slight delay when the car is put into drive is caused by the forward clutch going bad. and that would cause the oil to get black.
he said he will call me back in an hour to tell me the cost to change the bearing and the forward clutch. well to me it didnt sound too bad, i tell myself it might cost about $2000 for the most. wen he call back he say it will cost $5000

hocked:
well i was in shock. he say the parts expensive and the bearings needed machining.
make sense to buy another tranny
Posted: February 16th, 2009, 7:29 pm
by optimus11
^^^ yes but how can i guarantee that i wont have to spend $7000 if i spend $550
Posted: February 16th, 2009, 8:06 pm
by anthonyanthony
optimus II , $5000.00, wow that is alot.
What is the milage on this car and what kind of driving that you do?
Why i am asking is for the clutch and bearing to go vehicle must be high milage or working under extreme conditions.
You said fulid was changed, by whom or what method they used since you sound like problem just suddenly appeared? Also was the correct fulid used, since I read that CVT requires a special fulid.
You said all the time the fulid was clean then suddenly get dirty, this means parts are worn inside so I dont think putting in the $550 fulid would make any difference.
My advice is to get a second or third opnion, and if the same wrt price then try sourcing a used one (possibly not cvt ) from bamboo or go forward with the repairs if you intend to keep vehicle for a while.
But get another opnion just in case transmission man is trying to rip you off.
Best of luck and keep us posted
Posted: February 16th, 2009, 10:13 pm
by optimus11
the milage is around 120k and i dont do any kind of heavy driving. i always keep under 120 on the hiway. the truth is that i bought the car used about 6 months ago and all i did was change the engine oil and tranny fluid in november. i changed the fluids by myself with the help of a friend. it seemed pretty straight forward. im sure we used the correct transmission fluid. mitsubishi sp111
im going chaguanas auto supplies in the morning to get a second opinion
i dont think a non cvt tranny would work on this engine
i will find out for sure
thanks for your opinions and help
ill keep you posted
Posted: February 17th, 2009, 7:53 pm
by anthonyanthony
Wow 120K is a some milage. Maybe previously owner was aggresive.
Check the post by Nath, person had problems with their tranny , went at a place in aranguez, and sorted it out but price was around the same.
Waiting for feedback from him to hear how vehicle is working.
One day I may be in same boat (hope not) since my vehicle is just over 90K.
Keep us posted.
Posted: February 17th, 2009, 8:06 pm
by optimus11
i went to Chaguanas Auto Supplies today. they told me that they have a transmission repair kit that consists of all the clutches and seals etc... but the cost of the kit is $2500. labour was another $2500 and then about $600 for tranny oil plus whatever the cost of the bad bearing/s.
they also had rebuilt transmissions in stock but the price is $8000 and i dont think that was inclusive of labour.
tomorrow i will call diamond motors and see if they have the repair kit for sale and the cost. i think they have some kinda sale goin on right now......half price on all mitsu parts i believe. if its reasonably cheaper than $2500, i will ask the transmission man how much he will charge me to repair it.
hopefully it would cost less than $5000. keeping my fingers crossed again

Posted: February 17th, 2009, 8:31 pm
by anthonyanthony
wish you luck at DM.
why not look at the place where nath had it done ?
Posted: February 17th, 2009, 8:34 pm
by optimus11
will try there also
Posted: February 19th, 2009, 12:03 pm
by optimus11
well no luck at diamond motors (POS). some a$$hole in d sales dept was givin me one setta talks. i called a transmission place in st. james and d guy was telling me that the cvt tranny have no clutches and that the power drum was d problem. he said it would take $6500 to fix

when i chek d diagram on d manual, i saw parts labelled "forward clutch and reverse clutch" soooo like he was tryin to rip me off
i ended up taking the car to the same tranny man who charging $5000. i realise that it would cost lots more anywhere else and well.....this guy's reputation is really good. confirmed by others.
he said he will finish with the tranny this evening so by tomorrow i should get back my car
Posted: February 19th, 2009, 7:05 pm
by anthonyanthony
Keep us posted.
Just for kicks I will call diamond motors about parts for a CVT and hear what they have to say.
I keep hearing this power drum , what the hell is that ?
Tell us what went on and how car working.
Based on the 5K you spending I assume you will keep the car for another 3 years.
By the way did you talk to nath?
Posted: February 19th, 2009, 9:34 pm
by optimus11
well im hoping that i wont have any more tranny problems anytime soon. i messaged her but her problem was a little different from mine.
i dont see anything in the manual about the "power drum" all i see is forward clutch and reverse brake
Posted: February 20th, 2009, 6:29 pm
by anthonyanthony
tell us what was changed, cost and how vehicle is working.
Nath is happy with vehicle performance now, see his post.
Posted: February 23rd, 2009, 9:57 pm
by optimus11
the car working great now. no complains
anyways the bearing and the forward clutch was changed as well as the power drum. the tranny man only told me about the power drum on the day that i went to pick up the car.
total cost was $5500. it was originally supposed to be $5000 but he added on an extra $500 for the power drum and he used the expensive cvt tranny oil.
Posted: October 9th, 2009, 3:12 pm
by oberon
Was browsing the forums and came across this one. Have a similar 'horror' story. My Tranny failed this week as well no signs of impending doom either. The car is doing 110K. CS3A Singapore model. 2 years in Trinidad. Sunday evening just felt a jerk as I was pulling in the driveway but didn't think it a big deal. Figured I got some bad gas or something. Monday it start nomal and pull out of the yard normal. As I was driving off the car started to buck and a grating, grinding sound was heard from the front. After deciding to turn around and doing so after about 50'. No gears. In Drive the 'N' light was blinking. Only vehicle we have so we needed it back on the road right away. Called my 'good pals' at DM (who just did the 100K service for a sheit load of money btw) the tranny there is 45K. I nearly dead!!!! Managed to source a used one in the Bamboo for $5500. Got the car back on Wednesday. It is driving well. However, at idle in Park or once you stationary an any gear the current tranny making a sort of squealing sound. Got 7 days on it from Car City in the Bamboo. So tomorrow I may have to return it. Depressing state of affairs. My next move may be to rebuild the original busted one. Any advice? Told the wifey we selling after this.....
Posted: October 10th, 2009, 10:58 am
by homeboy
oberon, 5500 for a used tranny! follow optimus, i most say he did some checks and made the right choise, when u rebuild u get new parts and more warranty for your money, those tranny sitting on the ground u don't know if it came off a car that had done it time and tring to salvage money now.......
Posted: October 10th, 2009, 2:39 pm
by A.W.O.L
QUESTION;;;supposing my tranny gone an i not feelin to go back cvt wat other alternatives does it have out there ...??? (4G15-GDI)
Posted: January 19th, 2010, 5:28 pm
by KURMAman
Seems this is a big problem with these lancers at bout the 120k mark yes.
Just yesterday, i driving down the highway, and i start to hear a loud grating noise mehself...so i just thinking is something small (as i just spent $5000 in changing belts, oil, fluids..everything), so i gorn to the mechanic, and a hour ago he told me he transmission is the problem. THE HORROR!!!..jed...like these lancers not meant to take anything above 120,000km yes. And i changed all my fluids regularly...CVT included....so whats the point of changing ur fluids on time if it seems that this problem will always persist.
*sigh*
Posted: January 19th, 2010, 8:43 pm
by venum
KURMAman wrote:so whats the point of changing ur fluids on time if it seems that this problem will always persist.
*sigh*
Well you can leave the fluid in there indefinately and not change it on time and have the problem occur much sooner than 120,000km
I feel your pain
But if it costing $5000.00 to repair and $7000.00 for another, I'd just get the new (used) one
like I said, spending $5000.00 to prevent spending $7000.00 is saving some $
So far no one reports failure after repair
So far it seems like the repair works
Posted: January 19th, 2010, 9:20 pm
by nes123

I now see why it have 4 CS3 for sale on chuner yes....dis is worrying..after this CVT gone tru I going manual, then bolt on the supercharger kit
Posted: January 19th, 2010, 10:55 pm
by ronsin1
A properly maintained tranny will give you no problems
Install a tranny oil cooler and change your oil on time and you have no worries
I will be changing oil in both cars at the end of this month