21 replies to this topic

[soldave]

Had an intermittent problem this week with the Evo. Only happened a couple of times but am just a little concerned incase it gets worse.

So I'll turn the key to start the engine and the fuel pump will start (I can hear behind me) but no spark/ignition/nothing. If I stop and turn the key again from ON to START the same thing: fuel pump priming as it should but absolutely nothing from the ignition. Turn the key back to off and then back to ON and start, and the car will fire up normally.

I'm going to check all connections to the distribution block (battery is relocated to the boot) tomorrow, take them out and reseat them, and check battery connections too. But does anyone else have any other ideas on what could be causing this? I figure it's got to be a bad connection somewhere, but I detest car electrics and the feeling is mutual.

Thanks for any thoughts anyone can offer me

[BYBY5L]

haha my car does the same thing, i kinda put it down to the starter motor or the thing that hangs off the side of it, (havin a mind blank on the proper name) could be a relay also

edit; aha, the solenoid!! thats the word i was lookin for

Edited by BYBY5L, 13 April 2013 - 01:23 PM.

[soldave]

Well nice to know I'm not on my own! Had yours been doing it long, and is it getting worse?

[BYBY5L]

yea been doing it for about a year i have a new one waiting but because ive been meaning on swapping the donks i thought it could wait for a week or two or 52!

definatly check ya earth point an connections cos it could be a cheaper fix, ummm i doubt voltage drop would play much part cos its not going that far 12-14m?? and im guessin it was running normally with the battery in the boot before this started yeah?

[BMGTZ]

dave...it could just be the ignition switch playing games. fortunately they are easy to change a common part as the same one is in a heap of mitsubishi cars

It is secured to the back of the lock where your key goes in and only has one plug. and a little screw holding it in

[soldave]

Brian, is there any way of confirming the ignition switch? I'm guessing not if it's intermittent.

Might have to take a look at that switch tomorrow though.

[jack be nimble]

Do you have a car alarm or immobilizer fitted. If so I would bypass it for a bit and see if it is fixed.

[soldave]

No alarm or immobilizer.

[bazeng]

Do all your usual mpi relay checks...
The starter motor relay on the mpi also activates your ignition, injectors, fuel pump (efi system). Once you stop cranking, it switches over to the efi only relay.

If you have a spare mpi available, do a swap.

[clone]

nah im going with starter relay i recon. i had the same problem on a customers car only a week ago

[soldave]

Do all your usual mpi relay checks...
The starter motor relay on the mpi also activates your ignition, injectors, fuel pump (efi system). Once you stop cranking, it switches over to the efi only relay.

If you have a spare mpi available, do a swap.

The MPI relay is actually 2 parts, right? One part for the ignition, and one part for the fuel pump? That might make sense then.

Where is the MPI relay, and is there any way to test it when the fault is intermittent?

[bazeng]

Yes Mpi is one unit with 2 built in relays.

One for your starter motor (which also triggers your Efi system).
Once your key moves from start to ign position, the relay switches from relay 1( starter + efi) to relay 2 ( Efi only ).

A quick way to confirm that your efi/starter relay is faulty is to bridge your Efi relay gnd trigger so the Efi is constantly on. You then gnd the stater relay or crank. If it fires up you know the problem. If it doesn't, you have another problem.

Edited by bazeng, 14 April 2013 - 11:27 AM.

[soldave]

Thanks. I'll check that. Is that the relay under the stereo? The one that's a pain to get to?!

Will also check my voltages and grounds too. Have noticed a weaker idle and the car needing a little more gas when I take the clutch out in the last day or 2. Damn electrical gremlins.

[bazeng]

Little gold box. Looks like this.

http://www.google.co...loc&q=mpi relay

[soldave]

Cheers. Am I right with the location?

[bazeng]

Not sure with Lancers...
The Galant ones are located under the glove box near the kick panel.

[leadfoot]

yeah it's under the radio

[jack be nimble]

One for your starter motor (which also triggers your Efi system).
Once your key moves from start to ign position, the relay switches from relay 1( starter + efi) to relay 2 ( Efi only ).

My understanding baz is that one side of the relay is for the ecu power and the other is for feul pump. Bridge one side and the pump will run. Not sure about other side.. maybe isc will whir not much else. Ecu light on dash might come on...

Fuel pump side has a black with blue trace wire. Bridge the fat wires.

[soldave]

Spectacular. That'll be fun in there with my ghetto-rigged, sorry, custom-made wiring in there. Could cause a rift in the space-time continuum trying to get into that.

Have to try and find a replacement though first. Am guessing Mitsubishi would want an absolute fortune for a new one. Hopefully that Evo in a junkyard closeby is still there.

[leadfoot]

most lancers share the same relay. my std 1.8l glxi relay is the same as the gsr one i have spare