94 Mitsubishi Fuel Pump or Water Pump or ??

Hi DYI, I Have a 94 Mitsubishi Galant. While Driving the other Day I Went to Give it Gas It Just Wouldnt Accelerate. Plus It Sounds Like Metal is Grinding underneath.. All Fluids are Ok..I Read Where I Could Check to See if its the Water Pump by Taking off the Radiator Cap & Letting the Engine get Warm, but There is Water in the Radiator & in the Backup Bottle..So Thought Might be the Water Pump OR Maybe Thermastat Since Its Not Getting the Gas to Shift.It Will Go Forward & Backwards as Long as I dont Accelerate & Its Not Driveable on the Road So, I Really Need Your Help Before I Bring it to the Shop & Need to Know What Im Talking About So I Dont Get Rooked etc. Thank-You for Any & All Help/Replies!!~Roze~

 

Whoa, slow down. You're trying to throw way to much into the diagnosis. A bad water pump will cause leakage and often overheating, but will rarely have an audible grinding noise and won't cause a problem accellerating unless the motor is overheating to the point of seizing. The fuel pump is in the gas tank and if the engine is running, chances are it's not that.

So, a few questions:

1. Is it overheating?
2. Manual trans or automatic?
3. How many miles on the car?

 

Hey Roze

We need more info before we can even hazzard a guess. I doubt it is the water pump or thermostat as a bad water pump would leak coolant and a stuck [closed] thermostat would result in over heating.

Where did the grinding metal sound come from? What happens when you give it gas?

 

What has me thinking is the grinding noise and car wont move. neiter a water pump or fuel pump sounds suspect. Car will move with no water flow (not long). more info please. I dont want to worry you yet but have you checked the trannie fluid?

 

Hi & Thank-You for Your Help..Here are the Answers..
1. Is it overheating? Not Over heating nor Does a Light Come On..
2. Manual trans or automatic? Automatic
3. How many miles on the car? 120,000

 

Hi & Thank-You for Your Reply & Help..
Where did the grinding metal sound come from? Sounds Like Under the Lower Part of the Engine..Like Metal Grinding Together..
What happens when you give it gas? When I Put in Drive & Give it Gas LIGHTLY is will go But, if I Give it LOTS of Gas It Starts Sputtering & the Metal Grinds & Wont Move at All..Maybe its a Gas Line the Needs to be Flushed??? Humm??

 

Hi Mike & Thank-You for Your Reply & Help Too!!
Reason I Thought Water Pump or Thermostat was Because I Havent Had to Add AntiFreeze/Water in Over 8 Months..but It Hasnt been OverHeating Either..So Thought Somehow its NOT Circulating Thru the Engine Causing it to Sputter..Then Thought Fuel Pump/Fuel Filter or Possibly Gas Lines etc Cause Its Not Getting Enough Gas to Make it Go..Yes, I Did Check the Transmission Fluid & Its Fine Also..Could the Transmission be Goin on the Car?? I Find this Really Strange..Im not Mechanic but Know the Basics of How to Maintain Oil, Transmission, Water & Wiper Fluid..HaaHaa.

 

Sorry I Forgot to Include the Following: When I Start the Car Is Sounds Like a Belt is Slipping as is Squeels for Like 15 to 20 Seconds Then Stops..Sometime when I Put in Drive It starts to Squeel Again Until I Let Up on the Gas..Also at Night When Its Not Squeeling & I Turn On the Headlights It Squeels Again..Maybe Its a Transmission Belt?? or the Timing Belt or Drive Belt?? Im Looking in the Owners Manual about Belts but Doesnt Help Me..How do I Know if the Engine is "Free Wheeling" Type or "Interface" Type?? (Reading on the Net Now)..Where Is the Timing Belt Located?? Maybe its the Regulator but What does that do?? Hopefully It Is Just a Belt..Also Reading About Harmonic Balancer Causing Pully to become Disengaged therefore Causing Loss of Power.. Ill Leave it to You Guys the Experts of DYI..Thanks..~Roze~

 

The squeeling noise is from the alternator belt. Worn or loose belts will slip making them squeel upon start up. When you turn on the lights, the alternator has to work harder again allowing it to slip.

I'm afraid the other problem is a lot more costly, sounds like it is a problem with the drive train.

 

Hi Marksr, Thanks again for Your Reply..Now That I Understand about the Alternator Belt Ill Have it Replaced..Now What does the Drive Train Do?? Does it Make the Car Move Forward/Backwards etc?? Can Any Garage do This or do I Have to Bring to a Special Shop?? How Costly Could This Be?? ~Vikki~

 

I don't know a whole lot about front wheel drive cars [except they're harder to work on - less room] I'm not sure if the transmission and transaxle are 2 different components or not. You also have a hub, bearings and joints - all of which might make a noise as you are describing.

Can you jack the front of the car up to inspect further? Spinning, turning and shaking the wheel can give more clues.

Most repair shops should be able to fix your car although some are better equiped than others.

 

Hi Marksr & Again Thank-You for Your Reply..So It Sounds Like the Transmission..I Was Affraid of That..Maybe I'll Have it Towed to Transmission World..I Hope they dont See $$$ Signs in My Eyes..I Think Ill Pass on Jacking up the Car..Im Lucky I Can Open the Hood..HaHa..I'll See if Any Other Posts Happen Today/Tonight & Keep All Who Have Helped Up to Date Here..Thanks Again Marksr & Take Care!! ~Vikki Roze~

 

I have a feeling you are going to get some bad news relating to the tranny when you have it looked at. The grinding noise narrows it down somewhat to something mechanical coming apart. Some of what you've mentioned so far (thermostat, fuel lines, timing belt) are not capable of producing a grinding noise. Grinding noises generally come from things like bearings failing. Could be in the tranny, could be one of your accessories. One thing I would do is loosen your accessory belts (if it has a serpentine belt, take tension off) and see if all the accessories PLUS the idler and tensioner pulleys spin freely with no grinding noises.

Mark's reference to the drive train is auto jargon for the engine, transmission, axles, and related parts. It's just a general term for all the parts and components that work together to propell the car.

 

Thanks Again for Your Reply Tow Guy..Wanted to Let Ya Know There is Really No Grinding Noise..Its Just the Sound of "Tin Clicking" Together..I Know I Need to Replace the Alternator Belt..The Sound is Comming from that Very Same Side..FYI for ALL: I Took the Car Around the Block..I Can get It Up to 25-30 MPH then When I Hit the Gas Pedal Thats When It Starts to "Hesitate" & the Tin Starts Clanging..So Does it Still Sound Like the Tranny?? or Something Much Simpler?? (I Hope) Thanks Guys..~Vikki~

 

That could be a simple fix like a fuel filter. The clanning might be the heat shields as your engine misses for lack of fuel.

 

Hi Again Michael & Thanks for Your Input..I Hope That it Is the Fuel Filter.. Thanks for Letting Me Know about the Clanning Noise & Reason Im Hearing It..I Will Keep Ya Posted as Soon as I Bring it In..Thanks..~Vikki~

 

Tow and fix

 

Hi & Thank-You for Your "Knowledge"...Im Hoping It Is Only the Alternator Belt but I Dont See Where is Has Broken, Freyed or Slipped Off but That is Where the Squeeling Sound is comming From..Would that Also Affect My Car from Not Going over 25MPM in Drive To?? I Look Forward to Your Once Again..Thanks ~Vikki Roze~

 

A worn or loose belt will slip and/or squeel but shouldn't prevent the car from gaining speed.

 

Hi Mark, Yes, Im Hoping Its the Fuel Pump/Filter thats Preventing it from Not getting the Gas..Making it Hesitate..Ill Keep Ya Posted..Thanks Again ~Vikki~

 

Although it's possible, I wouldn't count on either the fuel filter or pump being your problem. Generally a clogged filter or failing pump and you will get the engine stalling; sometimes it will immediately restart sometimes not.

Check engine light hasn't come on?

Other possibility that I don't think has been mentioned - clogged exhaust system, usually the catalytic converter. Somewhat difficult to diagnose.

 

Hi Again & Thanks Much for You Input! I Agree With You on Weeding Out the Fuel Pump & Filter as Its Getting Gas. I Get It up to 30MPH but Any More Pressure on the Gas Pedal It Starts to "Hesitate" so I Have to Let Up in Order to Drive in Low Gear etc..I've Also Been Trying Drive 1 & 2..Seems to Help but Not Past 30mph..Also While "Idleing" In "Drive Mode" It Kinda Wants to "Jump"...No, The Engine Light Hasnt Come on At All..So Even tho I Know Its Difficult to Diagnose You Mentioned the "Catalytic Converter"...Is That Costly?? Please Let Me Know What ya think About "This Posts" info as Well!! Thanks again for Your Help & Time Tow Guy!! ~Vikki Roze~

 

A plugged cat convertor will result in loss of power. There is a test that can be done to check it but I don't remember what it is

Prices will vary depending on what also needs replacing and make of car. I paid about $200 for a cat conv, muffler and tail pipe on my jeep several yrs ago.

 

Hi Mark, Thanks for Your Reply..Yes, I Sounds Like It Could Be the Cat Convertor..I Looked on Ebay & Selling Them Between $25.00 to $100.00...I Didnt Realize a New One Had to be Cut off & Welded On(Labor)..But Still Need to Bring to Garage to Have it Diagnosed before Anything..I Also Wanted to Let You & All Posts Know that When Its in Park Idleing, Smoke is Comming Out & Liquid is Dripping From the Back Pipe..Could That be Gas Dripping?? Does This Help for a Diagnosis?? Well, Thanks Again for You Help & Time..
~Vikki Roze~

 

What color is the liquid?

It could just be condensation - same reason cars often blow white smoke first thing in the AM.

 

What color is the smoke. Is it black, blue or white like steam? Does the car make the clanking noise in park? Does the car have a tachometer (a gauge showing rpm)? I'm not real familiar with your car but have you ever had the timing belt changed?

 

Hi I'm Cold, Thank-You for Your Input...Color of Smoke is "White"..While in Park there is "No Clanging Noise", Does Have a Tachometer, and "No" Never Had the Timing Belt changed? I Know I Need an Alternator Belt bec Its Squeeling..Feels Loose Actually..Maybe Needs Tightning..While in Park the RPM is 1.1..I Bravely Took it on the Road Yesterday & This is What it Does.."
I Put in Drive 1..When I Give Gas "Quickly" it Starts to Hesitate..When I Give Gas "Slowly" it Will Move Forward..I Got it Up to 40mph but It Wouldnt Shift into Next Gear (Automatic)..When I Let up on Gas it Starts to "Buck"..At 40mph the Tack was up to 4rmps..

 

White smoke when the motor is cold is normal, if there is white smoke once the motor has warmed up it often means a bad head gasket or worse.

Not shifting out of 1st gear sounds like a transmission problem.

When was the last tune up?

 

If you drive in drive one it wont shift and your rpm will be sky high. Just put in normal drive. Drive 1 is for steep hills.

 

Hi Guys, Mark, I Havent Had a Tune Up but I Only Bought this Car apx 1 Year Ago..So Dont Know What Work Has Been Performed on It..The Smoke Isnt as Bad After It Warms Up..Also In Reference to Mikes Reply (Hi Mike) I Will Try to Drive Tomorrow in Regular Gear & See What the RPMs are at 40MPH..At What Point(MPH) Should It Shift into the "Next" Gear?? If It Doesnt Shift Then I Guess Its Back to the Transmission..but I Hope Not..Thanks Again Guys..Ill Let Ya Know Tomm the Outcome..~Vikki Roze~

 

The shift speed varies due to load if you mash the gas and put a lot of load on engine it will shift at a higher rpm then if you just granny foot the gas petal. Just put it in drive and take off not to fast and watch the RPM guage you will see it drop when it shifts by a few hundred RPM. You can also use your ears and seat of the pants to determine shift speed.
Not sure what yours is but I would guess around 10-15 mph going into second and around 30-40 going to 3rd.