Delica Canada | Mitsubishi Van Club

My l400 has a problem.

It is currently in a well known and reputable Delica shop (who shall remain anonymous as I value my relationship with them) that is struggling with it.

It hesitates under hard acceleration usually around 2800 to 3000 rpm. It feels like it is going to change gear but then doesn’t...that is until it has hesitated a few times. Most notable when going up steep hills (obviously!). Doesn’t seem to be related to temperature either of the engine or the environment. Anyone got any big ideas?

The TPS has been changed with no effect.

Another problem I have is the damn overdrive which works most of the time, but sometimes doesn’t and when it doesn’t all I need to do is toggle the OD switch on and off and then it works fine. Most often noticeable after a drive it for a few minutes cold, then park and turn off for ten minutes or so, then drive it again. Could these problems be related?

Anyone anyone Buhler?

What year L400? If it's a series 2 my money is on your alternator. The diodes start to go and cause hesitation at that rpm.

The overdrive switch may also be on it's way out. May need to replace it.

It’s a 95.

Alternator? Is that testable (ie when it is *starting to go)? But it’s a diesel, wouldn’t the battery cover off a weakness in the alternator? I’m no mechanic here so don’t laugh too hard! How does a flaky alternator cause hesitation?

It does with electric fuel injection, but doesn't apply to you as yours is a series 1 which is mechanical fuel injection. Do you hear a hissing type noise during the hesitation? If so could be over boost. Any turbo work done lately?

No hissing sound, just a short change in the pitch (sound) of the motor as it hesitates. And no turbo work has been done.

Another friend said it might be the transmission valve bodies...whatever the heck that means!

These trannies are pretty solid, but it could be a shift solenoid. Have you tried flushing and filter change on the tranny yet? How's the fluid look? Smell burnt? Can't remember if the series 1 has any other electronics on the outside of the tranny body. Sometimes those can get dirty and all they need is a cleaning.

Well the mechanic will Or already has changed filter and flushed the transmission fluid as that was on the try list.
Could a shift solenoid also explain the periodic overdrive problem?

This is getting a bit out of my knowledge base unfortunately. The best tranny guy I know of in Vancouver is Wilf's transmission. I'm not sure he works on Delicas, but he's worth a try. If it's a solenoid or a valve body issue he should be able to diagnose that.

Well there in lies part of the problem... is it a tranny problem or an engine problem?

Anyone else got any big ideas?
I’ve found this thread from the UK site which describes similar problems...

http://www.mdocuk.co.uk/forums/viewtopi ... 2e3d76b011

Only seems to be happening in second gear too.

Did you resolve this and if so what was the solution?

Nope. Unresolved.

And getting worse