HELP Please. My 2009 CJ Lancer VR issue

J

jeremiah87

New Member
Hi guys,

Owned a 2009 CJ Lancer VR Manual Sportsback.

I've read another thread about gearbox issue but that was 2 year old thread and mine is a little different.

I have problem getting from Neutral --> Third gear while my car is doing 40km/h. I have to force it into third. I tried to shift from Neutral --> Third at a slower speed and it works fine.

NOTE: Only when on Neutral --> Third.

I used to leave my gear on Neutral sometimes and shift into whichever gear according to the speed. (it's just my habit)

What can possibly cause this problem?

Did a 45000kms service this year. Assume they have already change the gearbox oil but I do not think this is the issue because shifting to any other gear is smooth, it's just from Neutral --> Third. Never Ever been rough on the gearbox. It's just everyday slow driving.


Now onto the next problem. Not sure if this is a problem or it is supposed to be like that. There's a soft knocking noise in the engine bay, can hear it in the car. It only occurs when the car is warmed up and it knocks constantly doesn't matter if the car is moving or idle. 2 knocks per second.

These problems really getting me all worried and couldn't sleep.

HELP!!!!

Thanks
 
Do you have the same problem going from 2nd to 3rd, or 4th to 3rd? From describing it as going from neutral to 3rd it sounds like you might be riding the clutch or coasting around in neutral. I'd be changing your driving style, if you're riding the clutch that could be the problem if you've done damage to it, if you're coasting in neutral then that's a bit worrying if you need to suddenly speed up or brake quickly for anything all of a sudden. If there's no dramas with it going straight up and down through the gears I wouldn't be too worried about it.

The knocking noise I have no idea on that one. Bit hard to tell without hearing it first hand.
 
CJs don't need an oil/fluid change until 90,000km (or might be 105,000km for the manual). Otherwise I have the same questions that Ian just asked....

As for the faint knocking sort of noise I notice that in my car when idling, the CJs just aren't the most refined sounding engine when idling I'd say it's not an issue...
 
Yea first things first, try and get out of that habit. My mate did that, neutral ages before a corner then put it in gear after the corner, or way before he got to the lights. Seriously get out of it.

Maybe that could solve the first problem. I don't think I've ever gone from neutral to third while driving.
 
whats wrong with coasting in neutral? never hit a downhill and instead of accelerating and braking, just let it roll?

you shouldnt be doing it around corners, its best to always be in control of the car. but i know what you mean. sometimes its just the sensor and it doesnt believe that using that gear is the right choice, so it doesnt want to shift.

^not trying to say the gearbox has a mind of its own... but try hiting 50ks and slotting it back into 1st. - it wont let you, unless you really force it. - and that makes a uncomforting noise

have you been able to go from N - 3 at around 40ks before? or has this always been the case...


when you're in N, put the clutch in, then go down to 4th first, leave the clutch in, and then back into 3rd. just up and down.
it should work then.
after awhile i'd say the problem will resolve itself. i used to have the same problem going into 1st. so i'd shift to 2nd, then straight up, without releasing the clutch inbetween gears.

hope this helps mate
 
Ok Guys,

Tried everything today shifting from 2nd to 3rd / 4th to 3rd and everything is fine and smooth.

Only rough to go from N to 3rd at ANY SPEED.

So my conclusion is there is nothing wrong with the gearbox? It's just my driving style.

My mechanic told me it is the synchro ring that has worned out. He did not test drive it because he isn't free today but he said according to what I told him it could be that problem.

Then I test it on the way back from work and everything seems fine but N - 3rd.

Mitsubishi dealer told me they might not cover the synchro ring replacement cost and I don't think this is a big issue. Maybe it's just me being too sensitive.

Thanks guys for all the advice. They really helped me a lot.
 
jeremiah87 said:
And I notice that there isn't a lot of cj lancer in this forum. Most of them owned a CE.

We need more CJ owner.
Click to expand...
Cj lancers are still a bit out of the price rabge for mist of us (mostly P platers) and ch lancers are only juuuust coming in. its gonna be a few years befire more cjs come around.
 
You’ve got to keep in mind these cars are still only 5 years old at most and as of such are generally trouble-free. You can get the odd electronic sensor going kaput (MAF, wheel speed,etc) but a lot of the more major stuff isn’t an issue yet for the majority of people.

My CJ is upto almost 75,000km now and has at times had some gruelling treatment but apart from a busted MAF which was just bad luck I’ve had no issues with the car at all. Likewise my ex has a CVT CJ with 100,000km on the clock and no issues at all.

What your mechanic says is quite possible but if you’ve worn the synchro out I think you really need to look at your driving style and if it is something user caused then I wouldn’t expect Mitsubishi to cover it under warranty. So if you can live with it for now then that’s probably your best option and then just replace it when the clutch gets done (atleast labor-wise they are part the way there already) down the track. I still don’t understand why you want to go from N->3 regularly in the first place. I was going to try it in my car on the way but forgot, in anycase I never really just coast along but I’ve never had issues with the gearbox except sometimes from 1st->2nd can be a bit clunky when doing a fast change…

Jeffaz said:
jeremiah87 said:
And I notice that there isn't a lot of cj lancer in this forum. Most of them owned a CE.

We need more CJ owner.
Click to expand...
Cj lancers are still a bit out of the price rabge for mist of us (mostly P platers) and ch lancers are only juuuust coming in. its gonna be a few years befire more cjs come around.
Click to expand...

It also doesn’t help when people here keep telling them to go elsewhere whenever there is a CJ question… :roll:
 
Our CJ has 60xxx kms and never had a drama either. The stock suspension is a bit noisy but no problems. Reason I asked whether you had any dramas going 2 -> 3 and 4 -> 3 is because if it was a synchro problem you would probably notice it there. Going off what you told us I don't think there's anything wrong with it. If you're just coasting around in neutral, keep it in gear and just off-throttle when you don't want to burn fuel. Going to be a lot safer than trying to get it into gear to speed up or pull it up quicker when you need to than trying to find a gear and then do it.
 
CJ lancer's will always have a crappy feeling manual gear box, its the way they are and nothing will fix it besides building it personally and being very very particular with all sliding and mating surfaces.

The knocking sound you talk of is the exhaust pulsation out of number 1 exhaust port. They all do it, some worse than others.

I have seen a few cj lancers with 500,000+ks on them, they are extremely reliable and cheap to maintain.
 
Chaser said:
I have seen a few cj lancers with 500,000+ks on them, they are extremely reliable and cheap to maintain.
Click to expand...

500k,kms on a 5 yr old car?
i highly doubt that.
 
Haven't ever seen a car do 100,000k's a year? Truck drivers rack up more than that in 6 months lol. BTW i worked at Mitsubishi dealership for 3 yrs and was head technician...
 
Yea but that's truck drivers. 275k's in a day in a car, everyday for 5 years. Bloody hell that's a lot!
 
I can change gear fast without a problem.

To answer those ppl that ask why do I always go from N - 3rd is because:

I live in Flemington with a lot of traffic lights. I always come across red light and whenever I am preparing to stop, I put my gear to N and just use the brake. Sometimes before breaking but still in N, the lights turn green and I had to switch to 3rd in order to speed again. That makes sense yea?
 
i have a fix, compression brake when approaching a red light you think may change
then u are already in the gear to go, and use alot less brake pedal.

fixed, 1) better driving habit, 2) no problems with neautral to third as u wont linger in neatral, 3) brake pads last longer.
 
And if you do that with the aircon on you would barely need to use the brakes at all! ...well at least in a ce

And staying in gear all the time is better as people have said. The only time I'm ever in neutral is when I'm stopped at the lights or parked in my garage.
 
Jazza2442 said:
Yea but that's truck drivers. 275k's in a day in a car, everyday for 5 years. Bloody hell that's a lot!
Click to expand...

I know blokes that drive hunter valley to south sydney daily 400 odd k round trip, i myself do 1000-1500k's p/w 800-1000 is just for work...
 
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