Hi everyone,
I bought a 2009 Mitsubishi outlander XLS a few months ago, it now has 199600km on it. It has the v6 engine.
I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and it’s pretty darn cold and has been since I bought the car.
a few weeks after buying it, the CEL came on and I got the code in the title - P050.
Experimenting - I deleted the code to see if it was a one off thing, and it took a few weeks to come back on.
anyways, I don’t know what the issue is but I am curious if anyone knows what it may be, or more importantly, how serious it is. Is this only going to affect fuel economy while it’s cold, or is this something more major that I should be more concerned about….?
thanks, appreciate your time
darius

 

from co-pilot AI :

What OBD‑II Code P050B Means on a Mitsubishi Outlander V6

Code P050B – “Cold Start Ignition Timing Performance” indicates that the engine computer (ECM/PCM) has detected a problem with ignition timing during a cold start.

✅ What’s Happening

When you start the engine cold, the ECM intentionally retards ignition timing to heat up the catalytic converter quickly. P050B sets when the ECM sees that the ignition timing is not retarding as expected during those first seconds after a cold start.

📌 Typical Causes

Based on Mitsubishi documentation and general OBD‑II behavior:

• Incorrect or unstable ignition timing
  
• Issues with crankshaft (CKP) or camshaft (CMP) position sensors
  
• Faulty or slow engine coolant temperature (ECT) sensor
  
• Timing belt/chain issues (loose, stretched, or misaligned)
  
• Carbon buildup affecting timing response
  
• PCM software issues (less common)
  

📌 Symptoms You Might Notice

• Rough idle when cold
  
• Idle surging up and down
  
• Hard starting in the morning
  
• Check Engine Light returning shortly after clearing
  

These symptoms match what other Outlander owners report.

🔍 Why It Often Appears on Outlanders

Mitsubishi engines are sensitive to:

• Slight timing belt looseness or misalignment
  
• Weak ECT sensors
  
• Slow ignition timing response during cold weather
  

Your open tab mentions “Ignition Timing Retard Insufficient,” which is exactly what P050B refers to.

If you want, I can walk you through the most likely fix order for your specific Outlander V6 or help interpret freeze‑frame data from your scanner.