Hello,
I recently bought a Dec 1998 - built Carisma 1.8GDi GLX Auto, 89000-ish miles, very good overall condition. Next service is due at 92000 miles but I'm about to do it soon as I'm planning a longer journey across Europe and am not sure about latest servicing details. This is my first Mitsubishi, so sorry if any of the querries is inappropriate, I just want to be double sure.

1. Approx. one week after I bought it I noticed white smoke coming out of the tailpipe. "Damned, gasket's gone" is what I thought, but... But I've been driving it so for about three weeks now, checking the oil and the coolant regularly and have not been able to detect any milky emulsion on oil cap or dipstick or any coolant loss.  There are not any oily eyes on the coolant surface either.
The white "smoke" is actually vapour, as it diminishes qucikly, certainly not oil; it does not smell like when you burn coolant (though I am not sure what mixture actually is in the system).
The vapour/smoke appears shortly afterwards the engine is started; when it's warm outside it's hard to notice, but once it's colder and/or rainy the amount of smoke is significant (covers rear quarter of the car easily).
Can this be just down to the damp climate of England? My two mates (French and Englishman) suggested this; though their cars smoke much much less...
(I did not live in England before)

2. The engine makes clicking / tapping noise, at idle, low load, sometimes when the accelerator pedal is eased off at a speed. The noise is like the one of cold ill-valve lash set engine, or sticking tappets. Anyone has experienced anything similar, ideas, remedies?

Putting 1 & 2 together I would go get your engine checked out by a decent mechanic. Sounds like it could be a valve problem like you said but could also be a piston ring or big end problem. May be possible that it's been run on low oil levels and caused damage? Either way get someone to look at it before you're forking out for a new engine.

3. The auxiliary belt squeals, again at low engine speed / load. I checked the tension, should be OK. But it is not... (Am going to change it anyway, hope this will go off).

4. Front brakes squeal, incredibly when the pedal is pressed lightly at a low speed. Discs are scratched a bit, but nothing that would make me think about changing them. The pads seem to be changed recently, still good thickness, original Mitsu parts... Typical Carisma illness?

Check the caliper pushrods are not sticking, this will cause the caliper to press the pads against the disc unevenly and squeal. It also causes the caliper to not release properly so your brakes wear quicker and you may notice slight pull on the steering. The caliper piston itself should be ok as they are quite well made but the pushrods (that guide the caliper assembly) have protective rubber boots on them that can wear over time causing dirt to get into them and then to cease.

Take the wheel off and undo the 2 bolts at the back that hold the caliper assembly on, these bolts attach to the pushrods. Pull the caliper assembly away slightly (so you can access the pushrods) and check the pushrods depress and release properly. No need to detach the brake line or remove the caliper completly as you should have enough room to work with if you just pull it away slightly. If the pushrods are sticking you can try removing them, cleaning them and re-greasing them as a temporary fix but it'll only last you 10k maybe 20k so best invest in new assembly.  I had this problem with my carisma around 90k, cleaned them up and it lasted 10k before I had to get replacments. Got refurbished replacments from findapart.co.uk and they have lasted me another 50k and are still going strong.



5. When do you change the air filter? Mine seems to be never changed, though until 75000 miles the car was serviced by authorized Mitsu dealer.

It'll be on the service schedule to change every other service 30k(km)/18k(mi). If you're planning on keeping the car invest in a K&N lifetime filter and give it a clean every 18/20k(miles), should cost you about £40 but will outlast the car.

6. When do you change the fuel filter? Service manual says nothing about this, is it the one-for-life type of filter?

Again this is on the service shedule to be changed every 60k(km)/32k(mi)

7. Do you change belt tensioner together with timing belt?

You don't NEED to no but what price to you put on a failing timing belt?

Thanks for help
MG
[right][snapback]108955[/snapback][/right]