TL GTVi idling issue fixed.

[bock]

I recently puchased a nice TL GTVi FWD with idling issues.
It run like a dog on the 100k drive home and was as thirsty as hell. The idle was rough and occasionally the car would miss. Also showed CEL and traction control wouldn't work.
On a whim I pulled the front plugs just to see what was in there and how they looked.Black and sooty....okay ,rich mixture. Checked codes and 12 came up,air flow sensor.
Cleaned the MAF sensor ( lets not go feral here, thats whats its generally known as by most mechanics).No real change.
Swapped for another MAF,now good idle but sitting on 1200rpm.CEL gone
Pulled IAC and cleaned,no change,still high idle.
As I'm looking in that area, I notice the throttle stop screw was wound in a fair bit compared to my other Magnas and the "seal " paint was broken.
Reset the stop screw per manual.
Now idles nice,no check lights, car is much better,idles around 800 rpm
I also checked the TPS and traction control TPS, both good. ( They are not interchangeable btw, one rotates clockwise the other anticlockwise) Makes sense when you look at throttle shaft rotation.
Hope this helps if your having idling issues.
I'm guessing at some point before I bought it, the throttle stop screw was played with with to address the rough idle problem.Doing this wont fix the underlying problem, which was the faulty MAF sensor,which is easily checked using the CEL code.

Now, which car to keep? The GTVi or the TJ VRX limited edition with full leather,sunroof, lowered,chipped, extractors,5 speed manual, ratty peeling clear coat. The TJ might be a winner....the GTVi is nice, but the VRX is animal....

[an observer]

Can you keep both? As i say to the wife, the tl will be eligible for club rego in a mere 14 years.

[bock]

I could keep both, they were both ridiculously cheap to buy and get on the road. ( I have a bit of land and spare cars to rat from)

The TJ is a rare beast,if you believe Wiki only 120 manual and 54 auto Pack 2 LE VRX's were made. Not that it makes it worth much,VRX's are still as cheap as chips.

The TL GTVi in 2wd and flame red seems uncommon too. I can find AWD's for sale but not front wheel drive only.

I did not that the GTVi has a slight cammy lope compared to the standard 3.5.....or maybe it's still a bit off song?

One or maybe both have to go,I have a classic yank muscle car in the shed awaiting resto.

[an observer]

If youve got land, consider keeping one and parting the other out. (I gather there is a market, however small, for used vrx body parts, such as bumpers).

Although its one less car on the roads, your donor can be helping keep other cars alive.

[leadfoot6]

I recently puchased a nice TL GTVi FWD with idling issues.
It run like a dog on the 100k drive home and was as thirsty as hell. The idle was rough and occasionally the car would miss. Also showed CEL and traction control wouldn't work.
On a whim I pulled the front plugs just to see what was in there and how they looked.Black and sooty....okay ,rich mixture. Checked codes and 12 came up,air flow sensor.
Cleaned the MAF sensor ( lets not go feral here, thats whats its generally known as by most mechanics).No real change.
Swapped for another MAF,now good idle but sitting on 1200rpm.CEL gone
Pulled IAC and cleaned,no change,still high idle.
As I'm looking in that area, I notice the throttle stop screw was wound in a fair bit compared to my other Magnas and the "seal " paint was broken.
Reset the stop screw per manual.
Now idles nice,no check lights, car is much better,idles around 800 rpm
I also checked the TPS and traction control TPS, both good. ( They are not interchangeable btw, one rotates clockwise the other anticlockwise) Makes sense when you look at throttle shaft rotation.
Hope this helps if your having idling issues.
I'm guessing at some point before I bought it, the throttle stop screw was played with with to address the rough idle problem.Doing this wont fix the underlying problem, which was the faulty MAF sensor,which is easily checked using the CEL code.

Now, which car to keep? The GTVi or the TJ VRX limited edition with full leather,sunroof, lowered,chipped, extractors,5 speed manual, ratty peeling clear coat. The TJ might be a winner....the GTVi is nice, but the VRX is animal....

Imagine that?

A member(me) who posted about this in anticipation of helping another member who admitted his confusion about the correct terminology is being criticised for his attempt to introduce his reasons for using the "official", and by definition, correct terminology into a "technical" forum.

Go figure.

If you have a problem with my position about this, please write to Mitsubishi Australia and berate them for introducing the term "Air Flow Sensor" into the published Mitsubishi Magna workshop manual.

Section 13A - see image below - note Error Code 12.

This is, obviously, a Mitsubishi forum.

Not a Mazda, or Mercedes-Benz, or Mahindra forum(I'm unaware of the terms used in these other forums - but I do know for a fact from personal involvement that the term "Air Flow Meter" was the term used almost exclusively when I was a very active participant at the Nissan R31 Skyline forum).

If the term "MAF" is used elsewhere, that's fine.

Have you heard of the saying, "When in Rome....."?

In other words, "Don't shoot the messenger".

[bock]

The GTVi is too nice to part out.

The VRX LE pack 2,while suffering peeling clear coat, is a nice low km car with a perfect interior.Be a shame to break it up I reckon and it still goes like the clappers.

"Magna VR-X Limited Edition
With build and wholesale between May and June 2001, this vehicle was marketed as the "VRX-tra".[51][52] It featured the above exterior upgrades plus interior upgrades that were part of a "Leather Pack" offered in two parts.[53] The optional "Pack 1" included:

Unique black fabric/Howe leather trim with "VR-X" embroidered front seats in either blue or red with matching door panels, depending on exterior paint (i.e. blue with Pacific Blue, Sapphire Blue and Mawson White paint; red with Sienna Red, Pewter and Sable (black))[53]
Colour-coordinated instrument cluster (blue or red with "VR-X" inscribed rev counter)
Two-tone black leather wrapped steering wheel with perforated silver inserts (which later became an optional accessory for all models)
Silver panels for the centre console
Verada-sourced fittings such as upgraded eight-speaker sound system with power antenna and in-dash four-CD stacker plus upgraded trip computer with dual readout.
The optional "Pack 2" consisted of all "Pack 1" features plus the Verada's electric sunroof with front map and C-pillar lamps.[53] In all, MMAL built 175 of these models, of which 54 were fitted with the five-speed automatic and a sunroof.[54] "

[an observer]

They sound good. When you decide to move one on, hopefully it will go to a new owner that will appreciate it.

[bock]

The VRX has an interesting history.

It was sold new through a Perth dealership in that window around May-June 2001. The factory cams were removed around that time and reground. I'm not sure of the specs but the idle sounds like the old Erson TQ30 which my have in my 69 GTO. The heads have been ported,extractors fitted and a performance chip installed. The surname and address of the first owner matches the name of the sales manager back in 2001.
Who know,maybe someone wanted the hottest Magna back in the day or used it a sales demo car.There wouldn't have been much in the way of Holden/Ford back then that would peg it. This is back before the XR6 Turbo.....maybe the hotter LS powered SS Commodores? Wheel spin is an issue with the open diff so who knows, maybe one day I'll give a run at Kwinana just to get some quarter mile times.