AWD rear wheels locked up but front spins

[demografik]

I just have 2 simple questions, you can read the whole story if you'd like.

1. Will it damage an AWD if the front wheels rotate while the rear ones don't?
2. Will the driver side rear wheel spin if something's locking the passenger side one up?

Here's the problem. I just bought a 1g GSX this weekend and on the way home, I felt something like I had just stepped on the brake pedal a couple of times while I was doing about 60 on the freeway, so I figured since it's a DSM something probably broke and pulled over. When I stopped, I turned the car off and popped the hood. Everything looks fine, I turn the key and she starts right up. But when I try to go forward, it won't move. I figure OK, something's wrong with the tranny. It will go into every gear fine, when I put it in neutral and try to push it, it won't move. So I called a tow truck to come flat-bed it, and when he winches it up onto the bed, the front wheels spin freely but the rear ones are locked up. We figure ok, the differential's busted, time for a 4bolt.

Anyway, now it's sitting in a Walmart parking lot, and until today I didn't realize I overlooked something that's probably the cause of it. I know it was probably stupid of me to drive like this, but on one of the rear wheels, one of the lugbolts is stripped on the back side, so it spins with the lugnut when you try to take the lugnut off. Whoever did this, just almost got it off before it stripped, 2 turns and the nut will be off. So, that bolt will go inside the hub a good inch and a half, 2 inches. Now I'm thinking maybe it went up in there and got caught on something, the brake shoe maybe? The only thing is, wouldn't the other wheel spin if that's the problem, or would one cause the other one to lock up too?

 

[Quasimondo]

Your transfer case locked up. The previous owner either never had the transfer case recall done or the replacement part failed.
See here for more info about this recall

If the transfer case has already locked up, it's pretty much done for. Replace that, replace the lug bolts, and you should be back to running at full stregnth.

 

[demografik]

So I can just take it to a mitsu dealership and they'll fix it? Even if it's already broken? Will they tow it there too? haha

 

[Quasimondo]

Nope. Read that link I put there. They will only replace the faulty yoke seal in the transfer case. They will not repair the transfer case if it has already failed.

 

[EclipseTrbo420A]

So I can just take it to a mitsu dealership and they'll fix it? Even if it's already broken? Will they tow it there too? haha

My buddy made the dealership pay for the tows and work three times before he got one that didnt leak after it locked up on him. I was right behind him comming form a car show in the middle of the highway....talk about a WTF moment. Hes all good now DSMLINK estimates him at 420+HP i believe he logged.

 

[demografik]

Oh great. The thing is, it didn't just suddenly lock up while I was driving. It felt like I tapped the brakes lightly a couple of times, which is why I think it might be that bolt. Maybe it was going inside and catching something but since I was going so fast, it just kinda bounced off it, but then when i stopped it got settled against whatever it was catching on.

 

[demografik]

Wouldn't it just lock right up and drag the rear wheels until you stop if it was the xfer case?

 

[Old Mitsu Tech]

Or you can do like I did and purchase an extra transfer case. Just in case

 

[92awddsm]

First off, it is impossible for the stud to move in and out 2" because it isnt even that long to begin with. Second, with a lug nut barely holding it and the thickness of the wheel, it cannot move far enough inward for it to hang up on anything. The most it can move with the wheel installed and a lug nut on it is 3/4-7/8" so that means your estimates are way off.

Anyway, as already stated, you transfer case is locked up. The slight resistence you felt at speed was the bearings coming apart. If you had not stopped when you did, it would have locked up at speed. Call Mitsu and have them run your vin # to see if recall work has been done yet. If not, tell them you situation ans ask if they are going to fix it. If they say no, call corparate and tell them you are a new dsm owner and the tc failed and the local dealer refuses to repair it under recall. If the recall repair has not been done, they cannot legally refuse the repair even if it has failed. Remeber, it failed due to their lack of quality control. And some do replace the whole transfer case during the recall, not just the yoke and seal. I have a new transfer case in my car to prove it.

Another thing to remember during all of this is the recall was issued by the NHTS, not mitsubishi. They will try to get away without doing the work if you just act as if you have no clue about it. Do your research and sound educated when you call them. The last thing they want is a lawsuit which could be backed by the NHTS.

 

[demografik]

Ok, I think the in-depth explanation convinced me. I called the Mitsu dealership closest, the repair dept was closed but the guy was very helpful. Let's just hope the mechanics will be as helpful when I call them tomorrow. Thanks much guys!

 

[eclipsh]

You shouldn't have any problems getting the transfer case replaced. Mine was done just this past fall.

It also doesn't matter if the recall has been done before. They are responsible to replace it EVERY time it goes bad. It is a faulty design and is a saftey hazard which makes them legally obligated to fix it no matter how many times it is done.

It is up to the dealership on deciding if the transfer case was damaged and warrants being replaced. However, if it locked up on you then it is shrapnel inside there. They should replace it.

If they don't replace it I have an extra 22 spline t-case. PM me if you need it or go shearch the classifieds for one.

 

[demografik]

Okay, here's my next dilemma. It's pretty simple but advice never hurts. I live in Dallas and the car is in Austin. That's a 3 hour drive and I don't really want to make that trip just to supervise the beginning of the replacement. I doubt they'll have it done in a day and I definitely don't want to go out there twice if at all possible. The car's locked and I have the key. I guess I can mail them the key? Should I risk that? Will talking on the phone be enough to get them working on it?

 

[eclipsh]

The only way to find out is to call a dealership there and ask.

You should probably expect to pay for towing to get it to them though.

 

[Wpgdsm]

I had this happen to me and I thought it was the T case. I had the dealership change it under recall no questions asked but it wasn't the T case that failed at all, the drivers side rear axle shattered in the diff and got caught in the ring and pinion and locked everything up. Didn't know it was the axle until I got it back from the dealer and the car made it about 50 feet from their parking lot and locked up again. When I opened up the diff the axle was completly ground to powder. All it took was one peice about half the size of a finger nail to stop the car dead in its tracks. So make sure you check everything not just the T case. I went back to the dealer and asked if they even checked to see if the T case was seized, and they said they didn't bother because it was a recall and it had what looked like an oil leak.

 

[demografik]

Is the recall still in effect if the car's been totalled? I called and the mechanic said he's not sure if it's still covered because he's showing that the title says "branded" which, he said, means it's been totalled. He's going to call me back after he talks to his boss and finds out if it's still covered.

 

[RoasT BeeF]

I really dont think that will matter. This is a lifetime recall which means they have to fix it everytime it fails for the life of the vehicle.

 

[demografik]

Yeah, I called mitsu and they said it's still covered. The only thing I'm worried about is the guy asked if it was modded and it looks like people on here have had problems with dealerships doing this on modded cars before..

 

[eclipsh]

It doesn't matter. No ammount of "mods" are going to affect the leaking seal destroying a transfer case. I took my modified car into the dealership and the kid who worked on it came back saying "There's practically nothing stock on that car, it even has an engine swap!" They still replaced the t-case.