Need assistance choosing a Montero

[ApocBane]

Anyone here have crankshaft failures?

http://www.mitsubishisucks.com/cars/complaints/usa/models/montero/1994.html

 

[off-roader]

Anyone here have crankshaft failures?

http://www.mitsubishisucks.com/cars/complaints/usa/models/montero/1994.html

It's not the crankshaft that fails. It's the older crankshaft pulley bolts that have frequently failed. Mitsu has released a redesigned bolt and it's pretty inexpensive at the dealerships so you can replace it when you do your timing belt service.

It's been out for a while but many owners who don't keep in touch with their dealerships don't know it's a failure point so they don't ever replace it.

Also have you read some of these complaints on that site? Hmmm, talk about bias...

here's a classic example of the kinds of customer 'complaints' I saw...

ODI ID: 757386 NHTSA Complaint ID: 350457,350458 Make: Mitsubishi Model: 1991 MONTERO 91
Component/Parts: Gas Engine,Tires
Failure Date: December 27, 2001 Complaint Date: January 26, 2002
City/State: FORT IRWIN, CA (California)
Crash: NA Fire: No Injured: 0 Deaths: 0

Complaint Description: i had two tires blow out on me on the way home from north hollywood on 9/19/01. my car is presently at a repair shop, so i don't know the name of the tires. also my thermostat went out on me and my radiator had to be flushed. my engine through a rod or is about to. i'v had problems startin up my vehicle, because the battery keeps moving and has no battery box or post to keep it stablized. i've only had the car 6 months, we just bought it. we got it checked out by winston tires in barstow before we bought it and only minor problems show up. upon winston tires assessment, we bought the suv. also we we not allowed to get a warranty through the dealer, because his loan company wouldn't allow it. instead of letting us know before we drove off with the vehicles, marine corp west wouldn't give us a warranty for this suv. we were already obligated to go through with buying this vehicle without the warranty after we drove off the lot. but it's their fault for not letting us know ahead of time. thank you .

He bought a '91 Montero in 2001 and it had obvious issues (cooling system, tires, etc.) but it certainly didn't come that way from the factory. Also without any indication of mileage or condition, it's tough to consider this a valid example of poor quality from Mitsu Motors. More likely poor user maintenance/dealer repairs.


Now if he/she had complained of valve guide seal issues, etc. then I'd believe them a little more.

 

[4D55 Performance]

97-00SR's: 3.5L sohc v6, 4.2x:1 r&p gears & when optioned with the "Winter Package" a 9.5" locking rear diff. Non-winter packaged vehicles would have come with either open or LSD rear end.
Pros: Less complicated engine w/ SOHC's, nicer interior amenities (heated seats, etc.)
Cons: Slightly less hp/torque. R&P ratio is not as low as the 4.6x gears in the earlier SR (4.2x:1) making it not as easy to upgrade tire sizes and still have adequate power.

The 97-2000 actually produced the same torque as the 1994-96 models and torques the number that really matters. The reason the gen 2..5 feels a little lower on power has to do with there higher gear ratio even though they put out more torque.

1994-96 214hp, 228ft lbs torque and 4.64 ring & pinion
1997-00 200hp, 228ft lbs torque and 4.27 ring & pinion

Just a simple gear upgrade and you should be good to go. Hope this helps.