Hello. My wife drives the subject vehicle and is generally quite pleased with it. However, there has been a series of minor to moderately important issues that I suspect are somehow connected. Two years ago, the spark plug wires were replaced (expensive job - requires removing the intake manifold). About that time, the engine check light began going on and off irregularly (this may have preceeded and been the incentive for the wire replacement - I really cannot recall - in any event, the check light issue continued) Last year (new local NJ mechanic, the old one retired) it was missing, and we were told that the plug wires were bad, that the manifold had not been replaced properly, and had sprayed engine oil on them. We paid to have this fixed and all of the wires replaced. A couple of months later, more sporadic engine check lights and misfiring. My wife was visiting relatives in Virginia and took it to a local shop. They told her that the diagnostic codes indicated bad plug wires, moreover, on inspection they claimed that some of the wires were routed incorrectly (insufficient slack) and the remainder appear to be old and shot. They rerouted some of the wires, and tape up the others (not enough time to order a set). Now the check light stayed off and the truck ran OK for a while. Last Friday, my wife is driving to work and the truck stalls, then will restart, but will not idle. We take it back to the second mechanic (NJ, not VA) in whom we have lost faith for obvious reasons (see above). He claims it loses idle speed after it warms up, that it isn't throwing any consistent codes (a single misfire on #4) , and that he thinks it needs a idle air motor, which he claims he can only get from Mitsubishi, at a cost of $410. I am picking up the car this morning with the intention of taking it to yet another mechanic, however, I'm not happy about the prospect of paying yet another high-hour labor bill to subsidize yet another mechanic's wild guess at the problem, and I wanted to get some opinions here from veteran 'Bishi owners about what may be going on, and the best strategy to deal with it. Thanks in advance!

-Samiam

 

take it to a mitsu tech instead of these hillbillies you are taking it too.

plug and plug wire failure is rare. The componants DO wear out, but usually have a life of about 100,000 miles.
a "check engine" light could be one of almost 200 different problems, so have someone tell you what the code number actually is.

the most common failure on any montero sport is probably the oxygen sensor, due to it being leaked on from leaking rear cam plugs.