I'm sorry if any of this has been covered recently.</P>


My fiancee has a '98 Mitsubishi Mirage with the 1.5L I4 with120k miles on it. I've been driving it lately because I drive a lot more than she doesand it gets better gas mileage than my Volvo (and uses cheaper gas)</P>


In the past few months I've noticed some noises and other things happening.</P>


A) It sounds like there is an exhaust leak coming from the front of the engine. I assumed this is possibly a leakyexhaust manifold gasket.</P>


B) The accelerator pedal is sticky, especially the first time it's pressed during the day. I'm assuming the throttle body is filthy and I'll get to that today (now that the semester is over).</P>


C) When I turn off the engine, I'm getting increasingly violent vibrations as it shuts down. I'm thinking motor mounts.</P>


D) Starting Thursday, the engine idles poorly, even lopey (when the A/C compressor is not going) as if it's got a hot cam (and I can assure you, it has no such thing). At first I was thinking that theIdle air bypass is dirty/clogged, but I started wonderingabout the timing belt, like maybe it's stretched and the exhaust is opening too soon or staying open too late. Probably not. But I called her father and he says he's never changed the timing belt on this car <IMG src=smileys/smiley3.gif border="0"> She got it at 30k miles....</P>


So obviously I'm going to get the timing belt replaced ASAP, but I can't find any repair manuals for this car specifically *anywhere* (locally). Can someone point me to a good online article that details the changing of the timing belt or, if it's too complicated, how much should I expect to pay?</P>


I'm also looking for thoughts on the above problems, since they should be fairly common. I'm not familiar with little cars like this, I'm familiar with full sized Fords with pushrod V8s, and have just started learning things about OHC engines when I got my Volvo.</P>


Thanks!</P>

I should mention that theengine seems fine once the rpms get up a bit.

for a book there is a chilton's and haynes available for her car you can find them at advanced auto parts or the like I know they will special order for you tho. It is listed as galant mirage colt etc., on the manuel<edited><editID>madmat</editID><editDate>38122.583125</editDate></edited>

give me your email address i'll send you a page diagram to replace the belt ..the 1.5 is one of the easiest belts to replace </P>


check for an oil leak in the right hand corner of the head !! theres an oil port there that likes to leak due to head gasket failure left hand rearlooking from the front of the car right hand front laying under the car looking up from the rear.</P>


NGK SPARK PLUGS no auto lites or ac delco and especialy stay away from bosch platinum..</P>


Power brake the car in forward then reverse have some look at how high that engine wants to jump ...best way to check the mounts ...do not rev it then put into gear ...brake first then gas!!!!!!</P>

you may also want to add some fuel injector cleaner to the gas replace the air and fuel filter ..just a few bucks at the auto parts store ..if you still have problems you can email me directly

You've got mail

Ok I'll get back to you by this evening

I appreciate it