I just bougt a Mitsubishi Lancer 2005 model (sold in 2007 by Dewan). It is 1.6 litre automatic transmission. When I test drove the car, there was a minor vibration in the car on acceleration. I did not take it very seriously. After I purchased the car, I took it to Proton Momentum Motors in Lahore. They used to be authorized dealer & workshop of Mitsubishi in the past. I got the engine tuning, plugs replaced, engine belts replaced etc. In the computer scanning everything was ok (no error).
They identified the following problems in the car-
1. The autochoke / stepper motor / Idle control valve needs replacement. RPM was very low around 300 in car while in the computer it was showing as around 1,000 (if I remember correctly)
2. Neutral safety switch needs replacement. The car does not start in P, only in N.
3. The inner CV joing (axle) needs replacement as there was vibration on acceleration.
In addition to engine tuning, I got the inner cv joints replaced. However, the vibrations increased. The axle was again sent back to kharadia. The 2nd time, the vibration was still there. They put the old one back and told me that they would arrange another axle.
By this time, I was not happy with their work on innver cv joint. I went to Baghdadi Mechanical Works and got all the work done by them. They told me that the axle were slightly bent and corrected them in the press. The replaced the inner CV joints. They also replaced some suspension bushes. But the problem is still there. They claim that the axle and CV joints are perfect and the problem is elsewhere. They think the problem is with engine mount (hardened and not taking vibration - mounts are not broken) or maybe gearbox (air in gearbox or some other problem due to which the gear is shifting too fast and the car is knocking)
The vibration comes when I press the accelerator and the car starts getting momentum. When I take the foot off the accelerator, the vibration goes away. There is no vibration when the car is in neutral / parking and stationary. The vibration is felt in the dashboard and can be felt by the passengers other than the driver. It goes away at high speeds.
I am thinking of 2 options.
1. The axle and inner CV joints need to be replaced.
2. The axle is of different length than the original. I check with few shops in Bilal Gunj. Most of them told me the distance between the inner and outer boots (on the axle is 20.5 inches) and the same axle is for both manual and transmission lancers. Only shopkeeper told me that the axle on 1.3 and 1.5 models is 2 inches longer than the axle on 1.6 model. the short axle is of same length and the difference is only in the long axle i.e the one on the right side of gear box.
3. Some other problem.
I have also shown the car to the gear box guy. He thinks automatic gear box is fine. I got the oil changed through drainage through cooler pipe in radiator. I changed 8 litres in total. The color of old oil was brown / muddy in color. After oil change, no difference in vibration.
