1991 3000GT SL spits and sputters

did you make sure to get the plugs back in the correct order also make sure you didn't unplug the maf, if there is a check engine light get it scanned

also wanted to say to make sure you got every single plug plugged back in

If we assume that the PCM is correctly programed, I am concerned that it sounds like an issue with your timing. So I am tempted to point a finger to the Cam or Crank Position Sensor. Good luck.

all these things were done by a Mitsubishi service garage. the car ran great at first, then started acting up. Mitsubishi said timing was nuts on.

Did you use quality platinum spark plugs? That is a must with these cars. Did you check the spark plug gap before installing them? This is a must. There is no such thing as gap already set on new plugs. What octane fuel are you running? Must use the highest octane possible 91+. Or it will not perform properly. 10:1 compression. You must use quality high octane fuel. When you put your upper intake back on did you torque it properly? Check all electrical connections to upper intake. Does it only die when slowing to a stop like at a stop light or does it do it at any speed? Hope this helps.

Oh ok. So it's a crap shoot as to what kind of parts they used or what they did to it. How many miles is on it?

well I would be returning the car for them to fix what they screwed up

Sorry if is sounded ugly about what a dealer might have done or done to your car. It just seems that now days all they know how to do is plug it into their computer and wait for it to give them the answer. And with your car that's not going to work. Again I apologize.

are you absolutely sure they used the correct ECU ? the numbers have to match, and can not be from a TT on a DOHC and vice versa, also what was wrong with your old ECU ? did it work and if so plug that one in and see how it runs

dandyoun I just wanted to rule out the octane, my stealth DOHC always ran fine on any gas I threw in it,, granted it would run best on 91 or better, but should not make it run this badly, most that ever happened to me is I lost a couple mpg and it didn't have quite the same pep but not all that bad either though

Ok well just a thought. Cause my 3000gt will idle real weird almost to the point of going dead and will stumble badly on take off if I not running quality high octane gas. This will mainly happen after it has warmed to operating temps. The higher octane level helps prevent the fuel from being ignited prior to the piston making it all the way to the top of its stroke. These cars are ment to run quality high octane fuel. Running anything else while trying to dignose engine performance issues would be counter productive.

But I do agree with you about the ecu. Drive safe.

the car runs great till it heats up, then starts to spit and sputter. called mits garage and they said it's something else but I need to bring it back in so they can check... the car shifts great now, just the spitting and sputtering when it heats up.

I heard that the idle air control valve might be bad or needs cleaning, or fuel filter or pump needs changing. I always put high octane gas in this car so I don't think it's the gas... could it be water in the gas tank or line?

yeh sounds like the iacv to me (idle air control valve)

just had a cam/crank sensor put in (that's what the Mitsubishi shop in Erie, pa said)... but the car still spits and stutters and shuts down when it heats up. I was sitting in the car for about 10 minutes with the radio on and when I went to start the car it wouldn't start. the last time it did this I had the AC on... any suggestions? HELP

im confused,, I thought ya said that you had the shop do a tune up (new plugs and wires), new engine computer and new transmission computer. new ignition coils.,,,, are you saying that you took it back and that they put in a new cam/crank sensor ?? if so then that obviously wasn't the problem,,, did you ever check your IACV like I suggested ?? also are you getting any check engine lights ??

check engine light only comes on when the car starts to act up, then go's off...I'm going to check the idle air control valve myself next, I'm getting mad at the Mitsubishi garage. they keep telling me whats wrong, tell them to fix it, and take my money, then they say it's something else. but can't seem to find the problem.

I just check the idle air control valve myself, looks pretty clean.. put it all back together and took the car for a run. the car ran great till I started to get on it, took off good at first. then after a couple of fast take offs the car started to spit and sputter again. (engine light came on). can anyone help me? hate like hell to have to take back to the Mitsubishi garage. seems there just ripping me off.

well that IACV could be clean and still be bad,,, follow this link and be sure or make it easy and just get a new one and see if it helps if not return it but that link shows how to test it

also make sure to clean out that whole recess that the IACV plugs into as that can be gunked up and can have a negative affect as well

what link... I don't see any link, please send me the link so I can check it out. thanks.

my bad I didn't paste the link here ya go it dropped this time lol http://www.stealth316.com/2-isc-iac.htm

Drive it at night till it starts to act up. Then pull over pop the hood have some one rev it up while you look at the coil packs and plug wires. Do this in pitch black darkness with no lights shining on motor. Look for spark jump. If its the problem it will stand out like a sore thumb. You will see blue spark jumping from either one of the coils or a plug wire or two. If you see it replace effected parts.

I have a friend who thinks it's not the "idle air control valve" but the "coolant temp. sensor"... any comments?

Is your temp gauge holding steady at about a quarter to a half of the gauge without any major fluctuations after it warms up? If so I would not think that was it. Have you tried looking for the spark jump at night yet?

I've had the car scanned 4 or 5 times now and each time they tell me what the problem is they fix that, charge me for it and something else comes up... a scan cost me a $100.00 each time. I'm going to do the spark jump thing next... thanks

scan it yourself and post the codes lol its free at autozone advance auto and many other places like that, if they gave you the codes from the other scans what were they and what did they fix or do after they got those codes ? but we really need current codes though so drive it to the parts store and get it scanned again please,, also did you ever look into the ECU being good or bad ? (I need to reread this thread I guess)

I found that the speed sensor on top of the transmission was contributing to a similar problem, idoling and bottoming out sometimes. Is under battery box

im having a similar problem. just fixed my car and took it out for a drive last night. it was runing fine then all the sudden check engine lght comes on and my car shuts down, i woke up today to try to start it and check engine light is still there. starter will slip and car wont start. what could it be?

I changed my PTU and IAC seems to be main issues with these cars.

I have the same problem with my car and I was told it was the fuel system so I replaced all of that. It didn't fix anything and the problem seems to be getting worse. I bought ECT sensors and am going to put them in soon but I don't know if that would fix it or not. Could it possibly be cam position sensor or something like that?

Mitsubishi's aye lads mine started with one problem now has many have done cambelt twice coils ,leads ,ptu still throws out cel after 5 min wont start in the mornings smells like it floods then starts in the evening with a little less persuasion goes great till warm turn it off and it wont start again ,going to replace ecu and afm and clean up the iac next then new plugs and a oil catch can .Help me i think im a gto addict

You need to check the Engine coolant sensor as well as your MAF sensor and MAP sensor

I am having similar problems in my car I have a 94 and it seems to be having a misfiring issue that I can not figure out wat it is my check engine light is not in I changed the plugs and wires and it ran great for about 4 days then started doing the same thing so I changed all 3 coil packs and nothing changed the fuel filter nothing changed the ignition control module and nothing plugs are gauges wires are all in the right spot if anyone could pinpoint this problem I would appreciate it greatly at this point I’m jus dumping money into a problem that isn’t fixing anything please help me