Altered Mental Status (1G AWD 5spd)

[CrackedDSM]

Got bored today so I decided to do a few things to the DSM. Nothing crazy, but a few things have been really bothering me. I'll post the before and after first, then explain what I did.

Before

After

So much better. I got so tired of the cluster of wires and harnesses, so I went and started to re-route wires and lines where necessary. I did this because I installed my little catch-can setup, and figured since I was in there, might as well do it too.

But, list was

1) Installed the catch-can
2) Moved the SD harness to route behind and around the battery and under everything in that corner
3) Moved the W/T sensor wiring from over the VC/Intake manifold to behind and around it. Still have to extend the wires but that'll come later.
4) One of the biggest, at least to me, was replacing the single ply red coupler with a black silicone coupler and t-bolt clamps to match the piping. This made a huge difference to me at least, and it moved the intake pipe away from the shifter arms.
5) Re-routed some of the vacuum lines on the manifold to be more out of the way.

I'm nowhere near done, I just am out of vacuum lines and stuff. When I get more, I'll re-route the vacuum lines on the manifold and clean them all up, and wrap some of the exposed ketchup and mustard wires on various harnesses with either some sheathing, vinyl tape, or some corrugated wiring cover. I'm also gonna get rid of that random red vacuum line going from the VC to the catch can with a black line that'll run under the UICP. The goal is to clean up the view of the pipes and make them and the VC more the star of the engine bay. The 5 minutes of work I did now made a huge difference, so I can't wait to finish the firewall/IM area too.

 

[CrackedDSM]

Rockauto is useless man. This is the second order in a row from them where I’ve been shipped the wrong part. First was the wrong VC gasket.

This time they sent me the wrong brake caliper and bracket. The brake caliper is right but I have no idea what car this bracket is from. The bolts are super far apart and very short.

And using the automated website is a nightmare. I swear rockauto just isn’t it anymore man.

 

[b00zt3d spyd3r]

Rockauto is useless man. This is the second order in a row from them where I’ve been shipped the wrong part. First was the wrong VC gasket.

This time they sent me the wrong brake caliper and bracket. The brake caliper is right but I have no idea what car this bracket is from. The bolts are super far apart and very short.

And using the automated website is a nightmare. I swear rockauto just isn’t it anymore man.

Had that happen to me a few years ago with a motor mount. Did the whole exchange process they said just keep the wrong one and sent the correct one only time I've had a problem.

 

[CrackedDSM]

Had that happen to me a few years ago with a motor mount. Did the whole exchange process they said just keep the wrong one and sent the correct one only time I've had a problem.

Both times I've had to fight with them over it. For the VC gasket they asked a million questions and needed a million pictures, then acted like I had to send the little $7 gasket set back with a shipping label that I would've had to pay for personally. They only gave me a blanket refund after I went nuclear.

We'll see how this one goes. This more than irritates me considering these brackets are semi-hard to find(although now that I say that, there's one FS on Amazon right now. *facepalm*).

 

[pauleyman]

I don't trust the part numbers anymore. Verify them on another website first. Saves headaches.

 

[CrackedDSM]

I don't trust the part numbers anymore. Verify them on another website first. Saves headaches.

Part numbers were both verified by me. The other caliper bracket was what I needed. I’m curious to do more research later and find out what this is off of. The bolt pattern is super wide. Maybe a lancer or JDM galant?

 

[dwb]

I still shop RA, but lately I've been using Summit Racing. I feel their customer service is better than RA, albeit still the same quality parts (or lack thereof). I bought two 3kgt reman front calipers and both have been garbage. One right out of the box was bad (cross threaded pins). They sent me a replacement caliper no questions asked and didn't request the defective one back. Now a month later I've requested an exchange on the other side because it's dragging, same deal, sending me another one no questions asked. Now I'll have two calipers I can return for core if I want.

 

[Bigmike4g63t]

I have never had any issues with rockauto. I have bought quite a bit from them on this current project.

 

[Stapl3]

If you have a return or problem with a part through RO, it's like dealing with an awful eBay seller 10 years ago before you could do returns easily. They played 20 questions with me and refused to do an exchange after days of going back and forth before they stopped replying all together. I had to do a charge back of like 20 dollars, so petty. Then a few years later I ordered a part and they declined it saying I owed them 20 bucks. It's all good until there's a problem, then the customer is always wrong at RO. It's like they're trained there to do everything possible not to do a return or exchange even if they're blatantly in the wrong.

 

[CrackedDSM]

If you have a return or problem with a part through RO, it's like dealing with an awful eBay seller 10 years ago before you could do returns easily. They played 20 questions with me and refused to do an exchange after days of going back and forth before they stopped replying all together. I had to do a charge back of like 20 dollars, so petty. Then a few years later I ordered a part and they declined it saying I owed them 20 bucks. It's all good until there's a problem, then the customer is always wrong at RO. It's like they're trained there to do everything possible not to do a return or exchange even if they're blatantly in the wrong.

They started to try to do this to me, but I figured out a way to game the automated system. Don't wanna post up how, but I got my money back and it paid for me to buy a new starter and the proper bracket off of Amazon(and they can't ask for proof this way either, they are almost forced to take my word for it). So, yeah. It does help a tiny bit to hear others have the same struggles. It won't/can't last forever.

 

[CrackedDSM]

The hose I needed came in, so I quickly hooked up the catch-can to its final routing. Very happy with it. I need to move that ground strap that goes in front of the BOV, and address the vacuum lines and exposed ketchup/mustard wiring harness at the IM, but I'll do that when my injectors come back from FIC(because the rail and all the harness will have to come out and out of the way anyway). But, much happier with the progress. It's getting there.

But yeah. Day one of the 7 day staycation starts right meow. So, rest coming asap. Soon as the proper Outlander bracket(and rotors) comes in, I'll swap the front brakes which I'm excited about. Got some upgrades, some engine bay appearance stuff, and hopefully a whole new lease on life for the old girl when the injectors come back. Either way, excited for its future and my break. Once I'm done working in the engine bay, I'm gonna take a spray bottle with some degreaser/soapy water and clean the engine bay up more. Want it to be nice to look at even with the little tiny spots that show its age.

 

[CrackedDSM]

Alright, FedEx is officially off my "allowable shipping companies" list along with DHL. Every single package within the past few months from them, with the exception of I think one item, has all been ridiculously delayed with no excuse. There's no hurricane, there's no bad weather, there's no instability in midwest America, and yet a package arrives in some warehouse in MS, AZ, or etc and its just sitting there for a minimum of 2-3 days. It's like they purposefully slow it down and kick it into a corner if you don't pay the $350 for "next day" shipping that still takes 2-3 days as well.


Anyway, f**k FedEx and all of these shipping companies tbh. Sad day when USPS' track record absolutely dominates FedEx. And USPS in my area SUCKS.


Edit: Just for more context, the bracket that I ordered from a private seller on amazon two days AFTER the RockAuto order was shipped, is going to be delivered today. And it got shipped with the absolute cheapest UPS option possible. What the f**k FedEx. Get your s*** together. Hell even the brake line adapters I ordered at the same time, that got shipped via USPS is gonna be here today. Both of those options were significantly cheaper and faster than FedEx. Garbage tier company, man.

 

[CrackedDSM]

On a semi-lighter note, my FIC injectors officially got the clean bill of health from FIC. Sigh. Lol. I knew it was a waste of money, but at least I can add it to the list of "checked out fine".

So they're on the way back to me. Woohoo.

 

[Anfurnyy]

On a semi-lighter note, my FIC injectors officially got the clean bill of health from FIC. Sigh. Lol. I knew it was a waste of money, but at least I can add it to the list of "checked out fine".

So they're on the way back to me. Woohoo.

What fuel filter are you running?

 

[CrackedDSM]

What fuel filter are you running?

Brand new OEM stocker. The car came with a milk crate full of OEM mitsubishi oil and fuel filters.


Honestly, I really think the random issue I have is probably voltage related. I need to prioritize running a new cable from alt to battery, and batt to starter. I hope/think that'll help a lot. Because this engine HATES idling when electrical load is placed on it. If both fans kick on it'll die without throttle input. If one fan kicks on the idle struggles but can usually be saved. Voltage drops a ton when trying to restart it and maybe even too low to actually get the injectors to fire/open as someone pointed out.

Either way, I think new wiring is in the cars immediate future.

 

[CrackedDSM]

Proper bracket came in and I’m pretty happy with it. I included some pictures of the weird random unknown bracket the caliper was originally shipped with VS the proper one.

Dark gray one is the unknown bracket, silver is the outlander bracket.

In this picture above you can see just how much wider the bolt holes are on the gray bracket. I have no idea what this is from man. Weird.

Aaaand here they are. Outlander brackets and 2 piston calipers. Just waiting now on FedEx to stop being a POS and give me my rotors that were supposed to arrive same time as the calipers. Ridiculous.

Anyway. I’m stoked about these upgrades. So curious to see how hard she brakes.

 

[jesse12345]

What's the difference between the outlander and the gsx calipers? I'm assuming their bigger?

 

[SixBolt_16G]

What's the difference between the outlander and the gsx calipers? I'm assuming their bigger?

They are the same caliper and just the bracket is different to allow for the bigger rotor, if im not mistaken.

 

[AWDGrayBird]

On a semi-lighter note, my FIC injectors officially got the clean bill of health from FIC. Sigh. Lol. I knew it was a waste of money, but at least I can add it to the list of "checked out fine".

So they're on the way back to me. Woohoo.

Not a single flow issue or spray pattern issue???

My 3 year old 750s where flowing in the 600s and had 2 with bad spray patterns. 91 octane fuel in the Rockies that bad?

Mine also went to a local injector shop cause I had 24h turn around.

 

[CrackedDSM]

Alright, so my little adapter fittings came in, and this is my plan to use these without changing my already braided steel lines and spending more money.

It’s M10 x 1.0 Male to M10 x 1.0 inverted 45* flare fitting. It’s worth a shot honestly. If it doesn’t work I’ll just post up my lines for sale and buy the proper ones. But I’m pretty optimistic with this. Supposedly my rotors are out for delivery so hopefully I can get this done today. Excited for this though!

Not a single flow issue or spray pattern issue???

My 3 year old 750s where flowing in the 600s and had 2 with bad spray patterns. 91 octane fuel in the Rockies that bad?

Mine also went to a local injector shop cause I had 24h turn around.

Yeah, crazy. I honestly had a feeling though. Apparently these injectors weren’t as old as I thought. PO must’ve bought them shortly before I bought the car. At least I can say without a doubt they’re good though.

 

[CrackedDSM]

Rotors finally decided to come in. These things are bigger than I expected. Lol. Puts it into perspective just how much more braking force I'll have. I only have like 1-1.5 hours left of daylight so no more progress today, but yeah. Excited to get these on the car and see how it'll look.

 

[CrackedDSM]

Alright. I think I’m finished wire tucking. Here’s a nice before and after. I actually cleaned the piping and heatshield and VC a little too to really make it pop. What do y’all think?


Before

After

Brake upgrade coming later today.

 

[Anfurnyy]

Alright. I think I’m finished wire tucking. Here’s a nice before and after. I actually cleaned the piping and heatshield and VC a little too to really make it pop. What do y’all think?


Before
View attachment 749964


After

View attachment 749962View attachment 749963

Brake upgrade coming later today.

That looks loads better!

 

[SixBolt_16G]

Nice! Car has gone through quite the transformation over the last 6 months or so.

 

[CrackedDSM]

Nice! Car has gone through quite the transformation over the last 6 months or so.

It’s true. It blows me away sometimes thinking about it. Especially the difference between now and when I first got it. It’s only been a little over a year and it’s like a completely different car.