2000 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE Electrical System Problems

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I WOULD HAVE TO MOVE THE CABLE HARNESS AND CLAMP AROUND THE BATTERY POSTS TO GET A GOOD CONNECTION SO THE CAR WOULD START. I COULD NOT TIGHTEN THE NUT AND BOLT ANY FURTHER WITHOUT BREAKING THE BOLT THAT SECURED THE CLAMP AROUND THE BATTERY POST. I COULD NOT GET MY AIR CONDITIONING UNIT TO WORK SINCE AUGUST OF 2019 WHEN PARKING MY VEHICLE, THEN REMOVING MY KEY FROM THE IGNITION, THEN OPENING THE DOOR TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE HORN ACTIVATED AND WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL REMOVING THE CLAMPS TO THE BATTERY POSTS. THE FRONT LIGHTS WOULD START TO FLASH IF ALL DOORS WERE LOCKED AND THE CAR WAS IN PARK AND THE TRUNK DOOR WAS OPENED WITH KEY. THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT AT TIMES OPERATE EVEN AFTER THE REGULATOR AND MOTOR WAS REPLACED. THE KEY PHOS WOULD NOT LOCK MY CAR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT FLASH FRONT AND TAIL LIGHTS OR CHIRP TO RECOGNIZE LOCKING SIGNAL FROM THE KEY PHOS. THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATES EXCEPT FOR THE FUEL GAUGE SIDE. THE CLOCK LIGHT DIMS WHEN THE CAR KEY IS PLACED IN THE STARTING POSITION FROM PARK AND WHILE RUNNING THEN BRIGHTENS WHEN THE CAR KEY IS PLACED IN THE OFF POSITION AND AT PARK. THE CAR WAS RUNNING BETTER BEFORE BEING INSPECTED AT JERRY'S MITSUBISHI AT 1906 EAST JOPPA ROAD BALTIMORE MD. 21234 BETWEEN 12-4 P.M. ON 29 JULY 2020. I WAS EXPECTING TO HAVE MY VEHICLE REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF MY APPOINTMENT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PERSON WHO HAD INSPECTED MY VEHICLE HAD LEFT FOR THE DAY AND THAT SOME OF THE PARTS THAT WERE NEEDED FOR REPAIR HAD TO BE ORDERED. I SPECIFICALLY TOLD THE PERSON WHO DID THE INSPECTION THAT I BELEIVED I KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEMS WERE COMING FROM AND THAT I LOOKED INTO THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND SAW THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 99V333001.

Mileage: 200,000

ALSO THE PERSON THAT DID THE SUNVISOR RECALL REPAIR GAVE ME A DIRTY AND/ OR USED PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR TETHER STRAP ASSEMBLY. I WAS ALSO CHARGED 130 DOLLARS FOR A MISCELLANEOUS DIAGNOSTIC WHICH STATES COULD NOT DUPLICATE CUSTOMERS CONCERN AT THIS TIME AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT SAME 130 DOLLARS REFUNDED BACK TO ME AND THE $160 DOLLARS FOR AIR CONDITIONING INSPECTION DEDUCTED FROM THE COSTS OF REPAIRS. I HAD PREVIOUSLY TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TOTOWSONTOWNE GARAGE IN TOWSON MD. FOR SERVICE AND WAS INFORMED TO HAVE THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT SERVICED BY MITSUBISHI BECAUSE HE COULD NOT LOCATE WHERE THE WIRING WAS FOR OR LEADING TO THE COMPRESSOR. TOWSONTOWNE GARAGE NEVER MENTIONED ANYTHING ABOUT NEEDING A CONDENSER OR TIMING BELTS ON JULY 22ND 2020.

Mileage: 240,185

THE 30 AMP FUSE CONNECTION THAT CONTROLS THE A/C-HEATER BLOWER MOTOR, BURNS OUT IN THE FUSE BLOCK. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUSE BLOCK 3 TIMES AND THEY END UP BURNING OUT THIS CIRCUIT. THIS COULD EASILY START AN ELECTRICAL FIRE SHOULD THE FUSE BE FAULTY AND NOT BLOW ITSELF OUT...

Mileage: 185,000

RECALL NOTICE 99V305001 THE TURN SIGNALS WONT CANCEL AND WONT STAY ON AND THE HEADLIGHTS STAY ON. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND MITSUBISHI CUSTOMER SERVICE 800 222-0037 AND BOTH SAY MY CAR IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THE TURN SIGNALS DON'T WORK WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION AND THE HEADLIGHTS STAY ON WHEN I PARKED AND TURNED OFF THE CAR.

Mileage: 99,000

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON INTERSTATE, ONE HEADLIGHT DIMMED AND THEN WENT OUT COMPLETELY. REPAIRSHOP WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR BECAUSE HEADLIGHT SOCKET WAS MELTED. REFERRED ME TO MITSUBISHI DEALER. BEFORE REPAIR COMPLETED, THE SECOND HEADLIGHT WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON INTERSTATE ON SUBSEQUENT EVENING. FOG LIGHTS WERE ALSO NOT OPERATIONAL. ONLY PARKING LIGHTS OPERATIONAL. IT APPEARS FROM OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT THIS IS A CHRONIC LIGHTING SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. *TR

Mileage: 109,000

I AM THE TECHNICIAN WHO REPAIRED THIS DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS A NO START, NO CRANK COMPLAINT. ALSO VEHICLE HAD NO DASH OR ACCESSORY POWER. THE MAIN IGNITION FEED FROM THE UNDERHOOD FUSEBOX HAD NO POWER AT THE IGNITION SWITCH & TESTING PROVED IT WAS SHORTED TO GROUND. THERE WERE ALSO SEVERAL OTHER COMPONENTS WITH NO POWER SUCH AS PIN 16 AT DLC, STARTER & ANTI-THEFT RELAYS. THESE CIRCUITS ARE HOT AT ALL TIMES. AFTER EXTENSIVE TROUBLESHOOTING I FOUND A SEVERELY BURNED AND SHORTED WIRE HARNESS THAT RUBBED THROUGH THE INSULATION FROM CONTACTING THE SHARP EDGES OF THE FENDER SHEET METAL. THIS HARNESS RUNS FROM THE UNDER HOOD FUSEBOX THROUGH THE FENDER WELL TO THE JUNCTION BLOCK UNDER THE DASH. THERE WERE NO BLOWN FUSES FOUND AS A RESULT OF THIS WHICH IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL WITH THE AMOUNT OF CURRENT ON THESE CIRCUITS. THE FIX WAS TO SPLICE/REPAIR THE DAMAGED HARNESS AND RELOCATE THE HARNESS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE FROM THE FENDER SHEET METAL. THIS IS A HUGE FIRE HAZARD. *TR

Mileage: 143,928

2000 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE WITH A SHOCK RUPTURE DUE TO RUST. CONSUMER STATES THAT IT IS RARE THAT RUST IN THAT AMOUNT HAPPEN ON THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. SHE STATES THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT GOING TO INVESTIGATE HER CLAIMS. *KB THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED 3 RECALLS FOR HER MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR FOR HER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAD ALREADY EXPERIENCED THE FAILURES OF THE RECALLS. THE COLUMN SWITCH WAS REPLACED BECAUSE THE UNIT WOULD NOT SELF-CANCEL NOR WOULD IT CANCEL MANUALLY. THE SWITCH WOULD NOT RESET IN AN OFF POSITION WHICH CAUSED THE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ON ONCE THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TURNED OFF. THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED FREQUENTLY, EVEN WHEN TRAVELING ON A STRAIGHT HIGHWAY. THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE NOT STARTING AND ALWAYS ASSUMED THE PROBLEM WAS THE BATTERY WHICH THE CONSUMER HAD REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE LOW OIL PRESSURE LAMP ILLUMINATED FREQUENTLY, EVEN WHEN THE OIL WAS NOT LOW. THE RECALL WAS ONLY FOR V6 ENGINE'S, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HER 4 CYLINDER ENGINE. RECALL NUMBERS 99V333001, 99V305001 AND 00V225001. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. IN NOVEMBER OF 2007, THE CONTACT HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY AND THE NEGATIVE TERMINAL DUE TO CORROSION. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE FUSE AND IT WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V333001 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BATTERY:CABLES). THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THEY HAVE NOT PROVIDED ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

Mileage: 60,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED COMPLETELY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS ALSO UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.

Mileage: 93,000

I AM NOW REPLACING THE SECOND HEADLAMP CONNECTION SOCKET ON MY 2000 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. BOTH HAVE FAILED BY BUILDUP OF CORROSION OF THE SOCKET MATERIAL, DIMMING OF THE HEADLAMP, HEATING AND MELTING OF THE SOCKET MATERIAL TO FAILURE. TWO SAFETY ISSUES EXIST: FIRST THE POSSIBILITY OF A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FROM THE OVER HEATED CONNECTOR AND MELTED WIRING. SECOND THE GRADUAL DIMMING OF THE HEADLAMP LEADS TO INADEQUATE ILLUMINATION OF THE ROAD DURING OPERATION AFTER DARK. THE LOCAL DEALER KNEW THE PART BEFORE I COULD FULLY EXPLAIN, LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THE FAILURE IS WIDESPREAD. *NM

Mileage: 80,000

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE BATTERY CABLE BROKE. THIS WAS THE NEGATIVE POST. THE REPLACEMENT PART HAS BEEN ORDERED, AND IT WILL BE REPAIRED WHEN THE REPLACEMENT PART ARRIVES. SHE CALLED AND CHECKED FOR ANY RECALLS, AND THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY RECALLS.

I HAVE 2 COMPLAINTS. MY WHEELS WERE ALSO DENTED AND FRACTURED UPON INSPECTION AND HAD VISIBLE WEAR TO MY TIRES. TWO DIFFERENT GARAGES HAD STATED TO GO TO THE DEALER AND CHECK ON IT. THEY OF COURSE SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM AND JUST TO BUY NEW RIMS AT $385.00 EACH OR TIRES. OF COURSE, AFTER BUYING TIRES A FEW TIMES, I JUST BOUGHT AFTER MARKET RIMS. THE SECOND COMPLAINT, IS I HAVE HAD VISIBLE CORROSION ON THE BATTERY CABLES ON MY CAR FOR YEARS AND ASKED THE DEALER IF THERE WAS A REASON SO MUCH IS GATHERING, THEY ADVISED NO. WELL, I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY AND STILL AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS SUCH AS: AIR CONDITIONER GOES OUT WITH THE LIGHT BLINKING, CAR DOES NOT START, OR WHILE DRIVING IT WILL STALL AS WELL AS RUN VERY SLUGGISH. I HAVE ASKED REPEATEDLY IF THERE IS A PROBLEM AND THEY STATED NOT FOR MY CAR, DUE TO THE DATE MADE. I FIND THIS A LITTLE ODD, I HAVE ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS OF THE 2000 ECLIPSE, HOWEVER, MY CAR WAS MADE "DURING THE DATES". MY CAR IS A 2000 ECLIPSE GT AND MY BATTERY WIRES HAVE SHOWN VISIBLE SIGNS OF CORROSION FOR YEARS AND NOT BEING A MECHANIC HOW WOULD I HAVE THOUGH ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAN CHANGING THE BATTERY, AS WELL AS GETTING NEW TIRES AND NEW AFTER MARKET RIMS FOR THE SAME PRICE AS STOCK RIMS. *JB

Mileage: 100,000

I WAS DRIVING 60 - 65 ON THE HIGH WAY,ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CAR SLOWED DOWN TO 25 WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND ENGINE TURNED OFF BY ITSELF. I COULD GET OUT SAFELY IN GOD'S WILL COZ A TRUCK WAS DRIVING ON THE RIGHT SIDE WHILE AM TRYING TO TAKE THE SHOULDER OF THE STREET AND MY CAR IS SLOWING DOWN FAST BECAUSE OF THE ENGINE IS OFF, AND THE TRUCK DRIVER BRAKES SO HARD AND LOTS OF CARS WERE ALMOST HIT HIM,THEY BRAKE AS WELL, IT WAS SCARY

Mileage: 97,000

I WAS DRIVING 60 - 65 ON THE HIGH WAY,ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CAR SLOWED DOWN TO 25 WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND ENGINE TURNED OFF BY ITSELF. I COULD GET OUT SAFELY IN GOD'S WILL COZ A TRUCK WAS DRIVING ON THE RIGHT SIDE WHILE AM TRYING TO TAKE THE SHOULDER OF THE STREET AND MY CAR IS SLOWING DOWN FAST BECAUSE OF THE ENGINE IS OFF, AND THE TRUCK DRIVER BRAKES SO HARD AND LOTS OF CARS WERE ALMOST HIT HIM,THEY BRAKE AS WELL, IT WAS SCARY

Mileage: 97,000

2000 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE - HEADLIGHTS SIMPLY DID NOT COME ON. CABLES TO CONNECTIONS WERE TOTALLY MELTED. HAD TO DRIVE HOME WITH PARKING LIGHTS ON. CALLED DEALER AND THE RESPONSE WAS "THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME". I HAD TO PURCHASE NEW CONNECTIONS AND PAY TO HAVE THEM INSTALLED. *NM

WIRING TO HEADLIGHTS , HOT GROUND WIRE, THE GROUND WIRE GETS SO HOT THAT IT MELTED THE PLUGS THAT CONNECTS THE WIRES TO THE HEADLIGHT. THE GROUND WIRE HEATS UP TO WHERE IT IS FLAMING RED AND IT KEEPS POPPING FUSES ONE RIGHT AFTER THE OTHER. *JB

AT APPROX. 55,000 MILES, THE STARTER RELAY BURNED OUT AND VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. SYMPTOMS WERE ERRATIC INDICATOR LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD AND UNPREDICTABLE BEHAVIOR OF ALL ELECTRICAL DEVICES. FOR EXAMPLE, THE CD PLAYER SPONTANEOUSLY EJECTED THE CD. REPLACING THE STARTER RELAY SOLVED THE PROBLEM. GIVEN THAT THIS OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING AND WITH NO CLEAR INDICATION OF WHAT'S WRONG, IT CAN EASILY LEAD TO STRANDED MOTORISTS WHEN THE FAULT IS WITH A VERY INEXPENSIVE, INADEQUATELY DESIGNED ELECTRICAL COMPONENT.*AK

Mileage: 55,000

WIRING HARNESS FOR THE HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLY SMOKED AND BURNED. HEAD LAMPS INOPERABLE. *JB

Mileage: 51,100

WHILE HAVING THE BUMPER FIXED MY COLLISION SHOP DISCOVERED THE WIRING HARNESS IS MELTING. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM AS NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 99V333001 -- RECALL DATE : NOVEMBER 23, 1999 -- COMPONENT: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BATTERY:CABLES -- EXCEPT THAT I DO NOT HAVE A V-6 ENGINE. I BELIEVE ANOTHER RECALL SHOULD BE INITIATED TO COVER ECLIPSE'S THAT DO NOT HAVE THE V-6 ENGINE AS IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM AND POSES THE SAME RISKS AS THE EARLIER RECALL.*JB

HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS MELTED AFTER ORIGINAL BULBS WERE REPLACED WITH CORRECT AFTERMARKET COMPONENT. DEALER COMMENTED THAT EVERY ECLIPSE THAT HAS REPLACEMENT HEADLIGHT BULBS HAS BURNED THE WIRING HARNESS. WHEN THIS COMPONENT FAILS, IT LEAVES THE DRIVER WITH NEITHER A HIGH OR LOW BEAM LIGHT. SHOULD BOTH BURN- OUT IN RAPID SUCCESSION A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WOULD LIKELY OCCUR. ALSO WITH WIRING MELTING UNDER THE HOOD THE CHANCE OF FIRE OR ELECTRICAL SHORTING OF OTHER COMPONENTS SEEMS VERY LIKELY. IN DOING RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM, I FOUND A REPORT THAT STATES THAT MITSUBISHI HAS CHANGED THE WIRING HARNESS TO A HEAVIER GAUGE. MY ASSUMTION IS THAT IT IS TO PREVENT THIS HAZARD IN CARS CURRENTLY BEING PRODUCED. WITH MITSUBISHI'S TRACK RECORD REGARDING RECALLS, I FEEL THIS DEFECT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT ANY TIME IN REGARD TO THIS MATTER.*AK

CAR OPTS NOT TO START DUE TO EITHER FAILURE IN THE THEFT-IMMOBILIZATION SYSTEM OR THE STARTER KILL IN THE CLUTCH.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, ALL OF A SUDDEN SPEED DROPS FROM 5O MPH TO 20 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO EXIT OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE SENT A CERTIFIED LETTER ABOUT THE PROBLEM. A NEW ENGINE AND A NEW COMPUTER CHIP WERE PUT INTO THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK