My 2015 outlander sport 2.4L FWD CVT transmission failed and am looking for a replacement; The AWD versions seem very common and cheaper to purchase.
Are there interchangeables from other models or it will be easier converting the FWD to AWD

 

Ah sorry to hear. I'm guessing you are over the 100k powertrain warranty? The fwd and awd transmissions have a different part number so I'm assuming they are different. Maybe someone can chime in and confirm.

 

They are different, and is not possible to upgrade to AWD without major fabrication and expense.

You need to fit the same version you are removing as there are 2 types, and after fitment you may need to reprogram the auto transmission computer to get correct operation.

This is called a configuration file, and can be obtained from the donor vehicle using a scan tool to retrieve the file, or from Mitsubishi, if you have the VIN of the donor vehicle

 

Are good condition transmissions hard to come by or do you recommend Rebuild Shops?

 

2015 Outlander sport 2.4L FWD CVT transmission replacement: which year models can best fit (interchangeable) because I want to avoid fixing in the same faulty type

 

What the OP is asking is not simple to answer. One does need to do a serious data mining. If I am correct, 2015 is the first model year when the Outlander Sport (OS) came with the 2.4L engine. Please note that the 2.0 L and the 2.4 L models have different CVTs (check out this forum thread for verification). I do not know for sure whether the full size Outlanders and the OS models equipped with the 2.4L engines have the same CVTs. I suspect not as the OS was equipped with the older 4B12 engines and the 3rd generation Outlanders came with the newer 4J12. The way you can try to figure out is to somehow find old webpages (the links in the above thread are no longer working as they are outdated by now) of dealers (where they list the specs of older (2015 and up) OS and Outlanders) and compare the ratio range (gear ratios would be incorrect to use for CVTs). Nonetheless, you need a ratio coverage of 7, therefore I suspect your transmission is the JATCO JF016E (and the AWD version is the JF017E). The 2.4 L 4B12 engines (in the 2nd generation Outlander) were equipped with the JATCO JF011E CVT, so it is not good for you (ratio coverage of 6).
Keep in mind that the the CVTs (JF016E/JF017E) were also used in other makes/models (Nissan Rogue and Altima) but with different software mapping. So, although the hardware is the same but the software is different. Therefore I would not be brave enough to venture in this direction without serious skills in ECU/ETACS programming skills and tools. In the case of the OS Mitsubishi from 2011 at least until 2015 (I am no longer following it) every year changed the programming of the CVT of the 2.0 L engines. The 2015 programming resulted in a recall. My recommendation is do not rely on anybody's firm advice that this or that model could work. Mitsubishi NA made so many changes especially in the programming that your search could be very difficult to execute with confidence. Your best (economical) bet would be to locate a 2015 wrecked 2.4L OS and pull the CVT from that vehicle.

 

I have the reverse question...
could I put an AWD 2.4l 4j12 engine in a FWD outlander with a 4j12?
would it only require reprogramming the ecu or is it more involved?

 

That would be a straight swap, with no programming needed

 

Thank you Bibby Bibby
you saved me a few hundred $.
Thanks!!!