Instead of chasing your tail trying to figure out what company was contracted by Mitsubishi to save a few bucks how about you just support one of the major vendors who have supported the DSM community for YEARS and just order OEM stuff from them?
I understand you are trying to find the original supplier for the OEM parts to save a little money, but IMO its a pointless task. Just support some company like JNZ, Extremepsi, STM, etc.

RamenPride said:

I bought a Contitech Timing belt kit a few years ago, and the numbers on both the timing and balance shaft belt were the same as the OEM part numbers. While this may not be the case now, just thought I'd share.

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The part# is usually on there for cross referencing. If you search an oem part# on the rockauto, autozone, website etc... the replacement parts will come up but they are not real OEM. Sometimes the boxes or part itself will list several part# its just to show that its the same fitment and interchangeable but it does not mean anything about the quality of the part. I have only seen Mitsuboshi and Unitta (Gates) on real OEM Timing belts but its possible that there are others.

iugrad92turbo said:

Are you asking for a exact make for a certain part or oem parts.

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I'm asking who makes the original equipment that is installed from the factory the day our cars rolled out of the assembly line or who still supplies them as OEM. As one poster said the original suppliers often times change. Mitsubishi makes most of it, but it is not the case for all the parts. The ones they do not make are the ones I am curious about and I am wondering where and what factory makes them. It often makes me wonder why anyone says,"Go ahead and put the OEM parts on so you have peace of mind.", when sometimes even the OE manufacturers have recalls.

Parts fail new oem or not depends on when, grab a oem part or get a store part, its a hit or miss ive used parts all over the place oem and not, some last longer than others I never took to the time to figure out what failed first I got parts and away I go.

Can anyone show me any evidence of who makes the hydraulic timing tensioner?

Nope and I didn't too much worry I used the ones from the dealer last for many miles and years. I don't use others but again its my preference and trusted by other dsmers including myself for close to 20 years, cheap insurance on a part that all vendors I see here carry.

Just curious of why you want to know who actually makes all of these parts. What's your purpose?

The part# is usually on there for cross referencing. If you search an oem part# on the rockauto, autozone, website etc... the replacement parts will come up but they are not real OEM

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This. A part number that's stamped on a part that happens to be the same as an OEM part number is NOT proof that's it's an OEM part. In nearly every case, it is used for cross reference.

This is all speculation! Automobile manufactures change parts suppliers like I change underwear. If one suppliers makes a faulty item then the contract is void then rebid to another supplier again and again. Also when a contract ends if another supplier bids lower than the contract holder guess what they now have a contract. I can tell you from experience working at a Chrysler dealer ever time the part number supersedes it tends to come from a new sub-manufacturer.

Also just a heads up the only belt we could put on a Chrysler Under warranty (which included several Mistu engines) was Gates only if a "OEM" could not come in a reasonable amount of time from the distribution warehouse.

DO NOT confuse "OEM"(original equipment manufacturer) with OEM brand they are not the same thing! There is a brand called OEM sold at several parts houses there parts are no different than the cheap stuff you buy at Autozone.

jayson427 said:

Just curious of why you want to know who actually makes all of these parts. What's your purpose?

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I have a few reasons why I want to know.
1. Suplliers and quality changes
2. It is cheaper to buy the parts that come directly from the supplier instead of buying from the dealership or another middle man.
3. Sometimes warranties are offered straight from the factory. Gates has a limited lifetime warranty on most parts. You can not always get that warranty from the middle man.
4. I figured this thread could also shed some light on the subject because I have even google searched the subject, looked on this forum, and other forums with no absolute answers.

OEM parts change over time, like for example some of the posters on here have stated that some of the parts that were made for Mitsubishi are no longer supplied to them. Another good example is the dodge neon getting the alternators supplied by Mitsubishi, this might not be the case anymore because Fiat is a supplier for some of the parts for Dodge and because of the change in ownership. I also heard that Aisin made water pumps for our engines, but some other people on the forum ended up having problems with them, now I do not know if it were user error or what, but I am very cautious with what I do with my vehicles right now especially because I am seriously tight on money. I'm not going to go the cheap way out, but I am at least willing to do some research first. I do not put any parts on any cars that I have not done at least a little bit of research on.

nuclearr said:

This is all speculation! Automobile manufactures change parts suppliers like I change underwear. If one suppliers makes a faulty item then the contract is void then rebid to another supplier again and again. Also when a contract ends if another supplier bids lower than the contract holder guess what they now have a contract. I can tell you from experience working at a Chrysler dealer ever time the part number supersedes it tends to come from a new sub-manufacturer.

Also just a heads up the only belt we could put on a Chrysler Under warranty (which included several Mistu engines) was Gates only if a "OEM" could not come in a reasonable amount of time from the distribution warehouse.

DO NOT confuse "OEM"(original equipment manufacturer) with OEM brand they are not the same thing! There is a brand called OEM sold at several parts houses there parts are no different than the cheap stuff you buy at Autozone.

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I'm well aware of the difference between OEM and meeting or exceeding OEM. (that's what most parts say anyway.) OEM is what was on the car when it rolled out of the factory onto the show room floor or dealership parking lot. this could also possibly include the parts that the dealership supplies.

Can anyone chime in with some actual evidence like any part identification marks that are on OEM parts or reliable website articles or any other such information?

I can definitively say that MHI makes the turbo if it has the diamond star (or mhi) stamped on it. Unless its been tampered with.






You are welcome.

Just like you stated it's usually the middle man that you deal with. If the middle man didn't have a demand or make profit
On the parts we buy then there would be no market for them. Eventually the people that make these actual oem parts would go out of businesses unless you plan on buying bulk parts like most middle men do. I'm sure you can find out but I doubt you can buy all of the parts from a true oem manufacturer. Besides the few timing belt parts and such your really not going to save a ton of money doing so. I totally see where your coming from but from a business point of view it's different.

When I wanted to find the company that made the 2g quarter glass seal, I called the corporate mitsubishi phone number. I gave them the mitsu part number and explained what I was looking for. They told me what company was contracted to supply the parts and gave me all their info. Unfortunately, the company had been sold a few times and the molds were destroyed years ago. The problem you're going to run into is the company's are all under contract and cannot sell those parts to anyone else.

When buying OEM it means that the part meets Mitsubishi specifications. Even buying a part from the original part manufacturer doesn't give you any certainty that the part meets OEM specifications as the parts that fail OEM specs maybe put on the market under the original manufacturer brand after some minor rework. I am not saying that all manufacturer do it, but I've seen them doing it. One factory in Germany where I installed machinery actually produced the same electric motor for two different brands (Mercedes and VW), Mercedes had much stricter static and dynamic tests, those parts that failed Mercedes tests were tested again for VW and id they met those less strict specs were then branded VW.

It may not even matter (i.e. for non engine parts). For the timing belt kit I would definitely go with OEM or Gates if trying to save some money.

vr4scott said:

When I wanted to find the company that made the 2g quarter glass seal, I called the corporate mitsubishi phone number. I gave them the mitsu part number and explained what I was looking for. They told me what company was contracted to supply the parts and gave me all their info. Unfortunately, the company had been sold a few times and the molds were destroyed years ago. The problem you're going to run into is the company's are all under contract and cannot sell those parts to anyone else.

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That reminds me of the 90* gasoline filler neck hose that go on the 1g. Mitsubishi doesn't even supply the part anymore and you have to go to the aftermarket. I ended up getting a Gates one after arguing with the parts guy at Oreilly's that I can buy one from there Oreilly's.

My long time assumption-

Even if we knew who made 'x' part, does not mean that that manufacturer will produce OEM quality with everything they sell.

Its like asking a carpenter to make you a shelf. Okay there ya go, a simple shelf. The next guy wants a shelf but this time hands the carpenter a build guide and blueprints and gets himself one hell of a shelf.

It's about who's askin and to what specs.

hydraulic tensioner for what car?

did you mean to say Mikuni?

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Yes.. meant that one - got some letters mixed in ...

For my setup, I just went to the Mitsu dealership and got my belt kit parts figuring that these would be OEM parts since sold by the dealer. Belt had the correct "MD 326059" number, pulleys and tensioner in their respective boxes labeled "genuine Mitsubishi parts".

No problems since and that was 5 yrs and 31k miles ago.

-DSM

Oh yeah funny thing-

Was searching for plug wires for a 00' Suburban w/ 5.3L. Two choices were for either the round coil packs or the square coil packs (ends up being a tad shorter wire is all)

Guess who makes the square vs round coilpacks? Mitsubishi vs Delphi

I work for an OEM manufacturer of engine components thats supplys just about every car/truck/bus/tractor Brand Name you can think of. We make parts for Service that used to be made by other companies that have gone out of business since those vehicles were originally made. We do not sell parts to individuals or middlemen. The only way to buy our stuff is directly from the dealer of the Brand of car you own.

I think it is an interesting exercise to identify the actual OEM sources because I'm in the buisness, but there is very little chance you'll be able to save any money by doing so.

Sounds like money is a real issue here, as far as whats oem and what isn't.

G-zuz said:

Where did you last see evidence of Aisin making the hydraulic tensioner? I also heard as well that Aisin made the OEM water pumps, but I saw this posted on another thread and in the same thread other posters said the bearing has a tendency to fail and cause the pump to leak coolant or something of that nature anyway. I appreciate those of you who have chimed in with helpful information. Those of you who did not, you know who you are.

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Being that Aisin is a hydraulics company, it would make sense that they would have originally supplied that part, the Dsm transmission pump is even made by Aisin.

Aisin stuff is really good quality nothing to worry about.

Just my two cents here...

Even if you can find out the "original" manufacturer of the part, it doesnt mean you will be able to buy it from them. They might not sell to the general public, the part maybe considered proprietary in design or one of many different variables.

I repair CNC machines for a living and some of the time I go back to the manufacturer of the part and purchase it. Most of the time the manufacturer of said part says the part cannot be sold to anyone but the OEM builder...

chuckstsi said:

Just my two cents here...

Even if you can find out the "original" manufacturer of the part, it doesnt mean you will be able to buy it from them. They might not sell to the general public, the part maybe considered proprietary in design or one of many different variables.

I repair CNC machines for a living and some of the time I go back to the manufacturer of the part and purchase it. Most of the time the manufacturer of said part says the part cannot be sold to anyone but the OEM builder...

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That might be true, but in the event that you could by it directly from the manufacturer it's nice to know. And asides from that at least you could have a general idea of what kind of company makes it.

Have fun chasing your tail. Chucktsi is exactly right. Most OEM manufactures sell their parts under contract only. And quite often, when that contract expires, the mold/blueprint/whatever must be destroyed. This is not just the automotive industry, it's common in all industries.