I drive a 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse and while driving on the highway, the battery light came on, shortly followed by the SRS light. Within half an hour, my car wouldn't shift gears. It's an automatic and when I would speed up, it just stayed in first and never switched. I pulled over and once the car was turned off, it wouldn't start again. My boyfriend jumped it and it started but once back on the highway wouldn't switch gears again, and when we pulled over to jump it again for the third time to get it home, it smelled like it was overheating. I have been having electrical problems the past month, my dash lights and tail lights dont' work and when the fuse is replaced it blows within an hour. What could be wrong????
2007-01-06 16:44:32 · 13 answers · asked by ? 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Lindsay, Sounds as if you need to have the computer in your car checked out. Nowadays when the computer system goes haywire, there is alot of heartache.. Here is a link with some of the 1998 Mitsubishi eclipse recalls. Scroll down and on the left side you can click on to them to see if any fits your problems. There is also some info on certain models of eclipse on the right hand side..Hope this helps. Good Luck!
http://www.motortrend.com/cars/1998/mitsubishi/eclipse/recalls/index.html
2007-01-06 17:17:49 · answer #1 · answered by ♥Billy Ray♥ Valentine 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OK probably bad Alt. that overheating smell may be the battery so be careful the can blow up if overcharged or shorted. If your boyfriend has any electrical ex. get a meter and check voltage after starting the car. if it shows over about 14 volts like another person said its the voltage regulator in the alt. if this is the problem then it has probably already smoked the batt. Also your shifting problem can be caused by low voltage going to your shift solinoids( not enough current to pull them in) good luck!!
2007-01-06 17:19:30 · answer #2 · answered by magforce323 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First problem probably was the alternator. Now it sounds like that messed up the computer. My computer made my car start sticking in a certain gear (automatic transmission) and it wouldn't shift again unless I pulled over and started all over again. I only let it do it twice before taking it to transmission shop who sent me to "Auto Electric" who said it was a computer problem. So my dad got one from a junk yard and installed it for about $150 instead of the $thousand plus they will want to charge you at repair shop. Check with local junk yard and get them to replace it for you way cheaper. Look cute when you get there and I am sure they will want to help you out!
2007-01-06 18:30:12 · answer #3 · answered by darlabbq 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh Girl! you DO have problems... I'll bet your glad that today is over anyway.
Ya know,,, your electrical runs just about everything on your car these days. Except for maybe the ashtray and then I'm not too sure of that.
From what you've said..your elec. is going downhill really fast. Once one thing goes wrong then all the rest will follow.
You can take it to a shop and pay out the patootie and then there will always be a risk of having them get it right the first time. And they will enevitably charge you more than they first thought..but by then you won't have a choice because they will have it torn up all over their shop. ick.
I hope that you don't owe any $$ on it. AND, that you have enough $$ to buy another car to get back and forth in untill you can find someone that thinks they are THE greatest/smartest mechanic and can fix it for themselves.
The best chance you have going for you is to find a good place and have ALL of the electrical tested and go from there.
You really are kinda slack in the options dept. Sucks.
I hope it wasn't raining on you while you and your beau were dealing with your car...Hey, ya know....this kind of thing can make relationships stronger you know. ...You might want to tell him that..hahaha ~wink, wink~
Good luck with your next adventures....hope something good happens to you soon.
2007-01-06 16:59:38 · answer #4 · answered by oodlesoanimals 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
When you have it running check the alternator. It should put out around 14.5 volts. (give or take a few) I would guess that you are just barely running off the battery, some of the modules dont get enough power to operate correctly so they start setting codes and your car goes into limp-in mode. Its probably stuck in second gear and wont rev past 2000 rpm or something like that, right?
2007-01-06 16:51:53 · answer #5 · answered by Silent Bob . 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your problem is very complex, there is no easy answer without running a few hours to many hours of electrical tests. First off take it to get the codes from the computer read, that is your first and best bet to decide if you want to continue spending the money on trying to fix the car or trade it in on a different car.
2007-01-06 16:52:36 · answer #6 · answered by theeyeofthehawk 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't know for sure, but it sounds like a complicated electrical and/or transmission problem. Take it to a qualified technician for the right answer. Good luck.
2007-01-06 16:47:06 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
i mechanic for a living,,and it sounds like it has a major short in it,,possibly the alternator shorted out on it causing this to happen,,but it needs to go to the shop,to be diagnosed to be sure,,it could be a costly repair,,on this one,,good luck hope this help,s.
2007-01-06 16:49:33 · answer #8 · answered by dodge man 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
HI i think u hv an electrical problem in ur car ..so get it checked by an expert..i hv the same problem in which my car's lights dosnt work but i ignored it for some time and i got a treble fire in the engine...but thanks to GOD who saved me...
2007-01-06 17:05:30 · answer #9 · answered by UMER 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
PROLONGED WIRING HARNESS CONTACT WITH THE HEAT SHIELD WILL CAUSE THE WIRING INSULATION TO WEAR AND EVENTUALLY TO GROUND OUT. THIS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO DIE-OUT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. This model was recalled for this problem
2007-01-06 16:54:03 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋