Just to open up the engine and replace the thrust bearing, it will cost 1300 for the labor alone!

I think on of the problems is. It's that the majority of the people who do get it. Mod their car alot. And therefore Mitsubishi can put the blame on us. It's stupid, but that's what might happen.

but doing mods has nothing to do with the crankshaft coming loose..and the thrust bearing wearing out

Yea, I know... But Mitsubishi will find a way to blame us for it. I read this somewhere. There was a petition like this while back on another forum. But it never went through. I think you can read up on the legal actions they took at www.dsm.org

If there are any mods to the engine Mits. will say that it's responsibility has been voided.

that sucks

Welcome to 2 years ago. There has been class action lawsuits filed, notices to the NHTSA, letters to Mitsu. This is nothing new. Nothing has happened as of yet and I doubt anything will.

Here is how it works:

1) The NHTSA won't do anything until it becomes a safety issue (so more or less until someone dies or kills a bus load of nuns its a moot point).

2) Mitsu will blame everything from your mods, to your finance rate, to the stage of the moon before they acknowledge a recall. The NHTSA will have to force the issue or it will never happen.

3) This problem no longer exists as far as Mitsu is concerned because the model no longer exists. If there still was an Eclipse with a 4G63 turbo engine for sale today, Mitsu would be in a different position than they are now. Now its a defunct car with a dying market and depleting road worthy cars.

4) And because there is no more sales of this car, they will not spend the money to research, find the fix, and recall all the models on a car they can't make any more money on. In fact, all the dying engines is the only way they CAN make any more money on these cars.

Nothing is gonna be done. My friend works at Mitsu and their stance is that they are gonna let time run its course and eventually, there will be no more engines to crankwalk because they will all be gone. They have no idea how to fix it or why it happens and will not recall it. The fix they are doing to all fleet and company vehicles is to replace the thrust bearing and say a prayer and that is it. I was told some guys in his place are trying the 1G block and also trying the 1G tranny and clutch assemblies.

i am takin my car back to the dealership where i originally bought it. they said they want to check the end play to make sure mitsu dealer isnt "blowin smoke up my @ss". i am hoping that they will help cover the cost of this replacement, since obviously it was an existin condition when i purchased the car 2 months ago. man..this sucks...i had a perfectly good 91 nissan maxima..that i traded in for this car..thinking it would be more fun to drive. well, it would be more fun to drive if i could drive it!

Dont't keep your hopes down. There plenty of people out there that crankwalked and came back better then before. Take me for example. I crankwalked and im getting ready to swap in a even better crankwalk-proof engine. 6-bolt! or EVO III !

=^.^=

thats cool. but i dont have that much extra money, plus i live in iowa. heheh..theres no shops that do that kind of stuff here.

I have been running a 6-bolt for over a year. Every check out my license plate?

'CRNKWLKD'

hey, so what is a 6 bolt? i am not familiar with engine terminology really. i am just learning. and how much did it cost?

I've seen numerous posts on people trying to get a recall onthe crankwalk issue..trying to get petitions signed..people to call, it never works, mitsu always find a way to snake out of it. Guess it never hurts to try again tho..I haven't got it..yet "crosses fingers"

hey, how low did you lower your car? what type of lowering springs did you use?

you think that sux, i had my 7blt in my 1G cranwalk
but the 6blt is on the passanger seat, and will be installed september.

well, the good news is that there is a chance that the dealership that i bought the car from might help cover the cost of this repairs. they are drafting up estimates and will call me tomorrow. i am afraid that the thrust bearing will need to be replaced and who knows what else. the funny thing is the manager just asked me if i did any upgrades to the engine. NOPE. i havent done anything except the upgraded bov and air intake. thats it. Crossin my fingers and praying

As for your question about the 6 bolt motor: from 1989 to 1992.5, mitsubishi manufactured the 4g63 with a crank that required "6 Bolts" to attatch either the flywheel or flexplate.
There is a further difference in the 1989-1991 motors in that mitsu used "big rods" on these motors. These rods are noticeably larger in size, and are less likely to break.

Unfortunately, many ppl have found out the hard way that just replacing the thrust bearing does not last long at all. There have been numerous reports of the crank walking within 25,000 miles. Not a good track record IMO.
I think that you could convince the place that you bought the car/the shop doing the repairs, that swapping in a different motor might cost the same, or even less in the long run, than replacing a bearing that is prone to failure. Your average 1989-1992.5 "six bolt" motor will cost about $600-700, plus the labor of pulling your old motor, dropping in the new one, and re-wiring a few odd things here and there. (for info on the swap, see www.magnusmotorsports.com)
Now with labor, that kind of job is going to run about $1000-1400 total.
my guesstimate is that replacing the thrust bearing on the motor, which involves removing the motor, tearing the motor down, polishing the crank, slapping a new thrust bearing in, and then re-installing the motor. (praying ALOT at this point) I figure that this job would cost in the neighborhood of $700-1000.
You should REALLY consider the 6-bolt swap. If that is not feasible, talk to the shop that will be replacing the thrust bearing, and see what kind of warantee on their work they are willing to give. (you may need it down the road)

-Eric McCabe

thanks so much for your help! see, the problem is, i dont think this dealership is gonna want to do the motor swap, because they will think it will cost too much. im just praying that they will help cover anything that they will repair. i bought this car used on may 20th..and had nuthing but problems. i didnt get the extended warranty, and really wish i would have. they are gonna call me today to give me a decision.

Aite, the dealership is finally tearin apart the engine today...to find out what my car will need in repairs

they took the engine apart. no damage to the crankshaft or engine block...just the thrust bearing. i am glad so many ppl informed me about this situation here on dsm. otherwise i would have never known until it was too late. thanks guys/girls