ClubCJ - The CJ Lancer Club

Hi all,

I bought a 2009 Lancer with CVT auto about 4 months ago from a car yard with 3 months balance of new car warranty which has since expired. It's driving fine but the CVT has started making a metallic scratchy hissing sound. That's the best way I can think to describe it anyway.

I believe it is coming from the CVT as it matches the drone of the CVT. I am familiar with the normal drone or "moo" of the CVT, this is a distinctly different noise that started a few days ago. It doesn't make the noise when cruising at a set speed, but is there with the CVT drone under acceleration.

In terms of volume, to me it's quite noticeable although I drive the car everyday. If I have the radio on at around 30 volume wise (note I generally listen to talkback, not music) I can still hear it. If I wind the driver's window down not surprisingly I can't hear it over the air noise.

The noise is also there under the same circumstances whether in D or sports mode.

The car has done 102,000 kms. I report a whine in reverse at around 98,000 km while it was under warranty and the dealer changed the CVT fluid then. So the fluid in the box is around 4000 km old. The level is good and having been changed under warranty I would imagine it is the liquid gold DiaQueen genuine fluid. It is the same colour - crystal clear.

Does anyone else notice this noise with their CVT?

Can anyone recommend where I can take it to for an inspection? I'm in Perth, WA. I'm assuming if I take it to a dealer, they'll just advise a CVT fluid change again at $800+. Since I'm not under warranty I won't be doing that, I'd rather pay someone else to replace it with the Penrite CVT V fluid.

Without accusing anyone of dodgy practice, do you think their is a change the fluid wasn't in fact changed at 98,000 kms? Does this CVT fluid change colour as it gets old? It is clear as I mentioned above, as was the old fluid prior to them changing it.

On a side note I believe Mitsubishi dealers won't open these boxes anyway. When I rang with a general enquiry after I first bought the car, the service supervisor told me they have no servicing requirements at all. Their instruction from the factory is not to touch them. Although I did note that the service manual states to change the fluid at 90,000 kms, so I'm glad mine was changed for free at 98,000 kms. The dealer said that they don't even do that as part of the 90,000 km service!

Thanks, appreciate any input or advice, as I'm a little concerned at the moment! Cheers.

according to Mitsubishi they only touch the fluid and filter and that's about the most troubleshooting they will do for you. then its rip and replace.

CVT's are still relatively exotic you will be hard pressed for transmission shops to even take a look at it. you would definitely need a shop that would have manufacturer specific tools (JATCO) to test and diagnose. As well as a solid understanding of the metal chain pulley type CVT's
I can't think of anyone i know that has bothered to rebuild one or take it apart to troubleshoot it.

Replacing seals and the metal chain could be an ok job for an experienced shop but your still looking ATLEAST a full day worth of work to drop the tranny pull it apart and replace and clean components. plus new fluid! and after all that might not fix the problem!


20/10 times it will be cheaper to pick up a CVT from a totaled lancer from a scrap yard. and do a rip and replace. and just replace new CVT fluid just to be safe.

Doing a quick search on ebay came up with this listing
http://www.ebay.com/itm/11-MITSUBISHI-L ... db&vxp=mtr

But that is way over priced ive seen CVT's with the wrecker claiming low kms (under 40k) for around 600 mark.

personally if you have replaced the fluid (i would be replacing every 45,000km) or after any time that it gets burnt. (you can smell it and the colour of the fluid changes over time)
After hard driving especially to the point where you get the CVT cool down CEL light.

I would save some money, invest in RAA or RACQ or whatever and drive it till the tranny gives up. There is no point wasting 1k on a repair that may not fix the issue. Your time and time without the car is probably worth more than that

Thanks for all that info.

I've never had the trans temp warning, but I've only owned it for 4 months (and during winter). The "old" fluid looked clear so I would say it was relatively new then as well.

I've been thinking if I should just trade it now and move on, I can tell you though I'll lose a few night's sleep over the financial loss. But I'll be looking at dropping $2k easy already on the trade, possibly more if they pick up on that noise and realise there may not be much life left in the tranny. (I have a conscience so I won't sell it privately if there is an issue). Then there'll be the extra expense to purchase the new car!

Like I say it is driving fine at the moment, but to me it really isn't a normal noise. I was going to try to see if I could organise a time to go to a dealer and take a tech for a drive with me, and see what they thought, rather than just book it in and leave it with them. As you say, the time and being without the car is a hassle.

If the warranty only expired a month ago, just take it back to Mitsubishi and explain that the noise has only appeared since they did the service and you would like them to take a look at it - as this is so close to the warranty expiration, they may slip it in for you, especially as you had work done on the CVT recently...

Just be pleasant about it, and see how you go!

I'm always pleasant

I doubt they would do anything about it considering it is driving fine, at this stage it is just a noise. But as the old saying goes, if you don't ask, you don't get! So it is an option. My closest dealer's service dept is open tomorrow so I'll give them a call.