1991 MITSUBISHI MONTERO check oil

or alcohol
Intermittent ECM ground Test ECM ground
connection for
resistance
Restricted air cleaner Replace air cleaner
Restricted exhaust system Test for exhaust
manifold back
pressure
Poor MAF sensor signal Check leakage
between sensor and
manifold
Poor VSS signal If tester for ALCL
hook-up is available
check that VSS
reading matches
speedometer









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Ping or Knock on Poor Knock sensor signal Test for shorted or
Acceleration open sensor or
circuit
Poor Baro sensor signal Test for shorted or
open sensor or
circuit
Improper ignition timing See VEHICLE EMISSION
CONTROL LABEL (where
applicable)
Check for engine Low coolant, loose
overheating problems belts or electric
cooling fan
inoperative









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NOTE: For additional electronic fuel injection trouble shooting
information, see the appropriate article in the ENGINE
PERFORMANCE section (not all vehicles have Computer Engine
Control articles). Information is provided there for
diagnosing fuel system problems on vehicles with electronic
fuel injection.
IGNITION SYSTEM TROUBLE SHOOTING
NOTE: This is GENERAL information. This article is not intended
to be specific to any unique situation or individual vehicle
configuration. The purpose of this Trouble Shooting
information is to provide a list of common causes to
problem symptoms. For model-specific Trouble Shooting,
refer to SUBJECT, DIAGNOSTIC, or TESTING articles available
in the section(s) you are accessing.
Ignition Secondary Trouble Shooting Chart








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START: Visually inspect Spark Plug Wires, Coil Wires, 

Plug Wire Boots, Rotor, and Distributor Cap for 

signs of damage. 










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OK   NOT OK 




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* To test secondary ignition   * Repair or replace 

system, modify a Spark Plug   damaged components 

by attaching a ground wire   as necessary 

to the body of the plug and  









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\b

widening the gap to 1/4-3/8".

Disconnect spark plug wire 

and insert test plug. Ground 

plug, crank engine, and 

check for spark. 










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GOOD SPARK   NO SPARK 









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* If plug sparks, driveability   * Remove coil wire from the 

problem is most likely NOT   distributor and attach the 

in the ignition system.   modified spark plug. Ground 










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 the plug and crank engine 
 while checking for spark. 









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GOOD SPARK   NO SPARK 









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* If plug has a good spark,   * Proceed to the IGNITION 

the problem is in the plug   PRIMARY TROUBLE SHOOTING 

wires, distributor cap, or   CHECK CHART below in this 

rotor. Replace components   article. 

as necessary.  









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Ignition Primary Trouble Shooting Chart








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START: Visually inspect primary ignition wires for 

broken, frayed, split, or cut wires. Also check 

for loose, corroded, or disconnected connectors. 










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OK   NOT OK 




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* Check that battery voltage   * Repair or replace damaged 

is at least 11.5 volts.   components as necessary. 










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NOT OK   OK 








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* Replace or recharge the   * Check for battery voltage 

battery.   at the positive terminal of 










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 the coil. 









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 OK   NOT OK 




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* Check air Gap of the Pick-Up   * Check resistance of ballast 

coil in the distributor.   resistor (if used) for the 










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 correct resistance value. 
 








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OK   NOT OK  




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* Check Pick-Up coil for   * Adjust or replace as  

correct resistance value.   necessary.  










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NOT OK   OK  








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* Replace Pick-Up coil if   * Check control module for  

not to specification.   good ground connections.  










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OK  




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* If vehicle fails to run at this point, go to  
 the appropriate article in the ENGINE  
 PERFORMANCE section.  









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OK   NOT OK 




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* Check wires from the battery/  * Replace ballast resistor 

ignition switch to the coil.   if the measured resistance 

Also check the coil primary   value is not within 

and secondary resistance.   specification. 










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STARTER TROUBLE SHOOTING
NOTE: This is GENERAL information. This article is not intended
to be specific to any unique situation or individual vehicle
configuration. The purpose of this Trouble Shooting
information is to provide a list of common causes to
problem symptoms. For model-specific Trouble Shooting,
refer to SUBJECT, DIAGNOSTIC, or TESTING articles available
in the section(s) you are accessing.
BASIC STARTER TROUBLE SHOOTING CHART









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CONDITION POSSIBLE CAUSE CORRECTION








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Starter Fails Dead battery or bad Check battery charge
to Operate connections between and all wires and
starter and battery connections to starter

connections for
tight and clean
connections
Ignition switch faulty Adjust or replace
or misadjusted ignition switch as
necessary









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Starter Cranks Battery weak or Charge or replace
Engine Slowly defective battery as necessary
Engine overheated See ENGINE COOLING
SYSTEM article
Engine oil too heavy Check that proper
viscosity oil
is used
Poor battery-to-starter Check that all
connections between
battery and starter are
clean and tight
Current draw too low or See Bench Tests in
too high STARTER article
Bent armature, loose pole See STARTER article
shoes screws or worn
bearings
Burned solenoid contacts Replace solenoid
Faulty starter Replace starter









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Starter Engages Engine timing too far See Ignition Timing in
Engine Only advanced TUNE-UP article
Momentarily
Overrunning clutch not Replace overrunning
engaging properly clutch. See STARTER
article
Broken starter clutch See STARTER article
Broken teeth on engine Replace flywheel and
flywheel check starter pinion
gear for damage
Weak drive assembly See STARTER article
thrust spring
Weak hold-in coil See Bench Tests in
STARTER article









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Starter Drive Defective point assembly See Testing in STARTER
Will Not Engage article
Poor point assembly ground See Testing in STARTER
article
Defective pull-in coil Replace starter
solenoid









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Starter Relay Dead battery Charge or replace

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High Pitched Whine Distance too great Align starter or check
During Cranking between starter that correct starter
Before Engine pinion and flywheel and flywheel are being
Fires but Engine used
Fires and Cranks
Normally









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High Pitched Distance too small between
Whine After Engine starter pinion and flywheel
Fires With Key Flywheel runout contributes
released. Engine to the intermittent nature
Fires and Cranks
Normally









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TUNE-UP TROUBLE SHOOTING - GAS ENGINE VEHICLES
NOTE: This is GENERAL information. This article is not intended
to be specific to any unique situation or individual vehicle
configuration. The purpose of this Trouble Shooting
information is to provide a list of common causes to
problem symptoms. For model-specific Trouble Shooting,
refer to SUBJECT, DIAGNOSTIC, or TESTING articles available
in the section(s) you are accessing.
BASIC SPARK PLUG TROUBLE SHOOTING CHARTS









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CONDITION POSSIBLE CAUSE CORRECTION








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Normal Spark Light Tan or Gray deposits No Action
Plug Condition
Electrode not burned or No Action
fouled
Gap tolerance not changed No Action









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Cold Fouling or Overrich air/fuel mixture Adjust air/fuel
Carbon Deposits mixture, see ENGINE
PERFORMANCE section
Faulty choke Replace choke
assembly, see ENGINE
PERFORMANCE section
Clogged air filter Clean and/or replace
air filter
Incorrect idle speed or Reset idle speed and/
dirty carburetor or clean carburetor
Faulty ignition wires Replace ignition
wiring
Prolonged operation Shut engine off
at idle during long idle
Sticking valves or worn Check valve train
valve guide seals









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Wet Fouling Worn rings and pistons Install new rings and
or Oil Deposits pistons

repair








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One or More, But Carburetor idle mixture Readjust carburetor,
Not All Firing not balanced see ENGINE PERFORMANCE
Voltage Lines are
Higher Than Others EGR valve stuck open Clean and/or replace
valve
High resistance in spark Replace spark plug
plug wires wires
Cracked or broken spark Replace spark plugs
plug insulator
Intake vacuum leak Repair leak
Defective spark plugs Replace spark plugs
Corroded spark plug Replace spark plugs
terminals









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One or More, But Curb idle mixture not Readjust carburetor,
Not All Firing balanced see ENGINE PERFORMANCE
Voltage Lines Are
Lower Than Others Breaks in plug wires Replace plug wires
causing arcing
Cracked coil tower causing Replace coil
arcing
Low compression Determine cause and
repair
Defective spark plugs Replace spark plugs
Corroded spark plugs Replace spark plugs









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Cylinders Not Cracked distributor cap Replace distributor
Firing terminals cap
Shorted spark plug wire Determine cause and
repair
Mechanical problem in Determine cause and
engine repair
Defective spark plugs Replace spark plugs
Spark plugs fouled Replace spark plugs









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BASIC DRIVEABILITY PROBLEMS TROUBLE SHOOTING TABLE








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CONDITION POSSIBLE CAUSE CORRECTION








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Hard Starting Binding carburetor linkage Eliminate binding
Binding choke linkage Eliminate binding
Binding choke piston Eliminate binding
Restricted choke vacuum Check vacuum lines
for blockage

Worn or dirty needle valve Clean carburetor, see
and seat ENGINE PERFORMANCE
Float sticking Readjust or replace
float see the ENGINE
PERFORMANCE section
Incorrect choke adjustment Reset choke adjustment
see ENGINE PERFORMANCE
Defective coil Replace coil
Improper spark plug gap Regap spark plugs
Incorrect ignition timing Reset ignition timing
see ENGINE PERFORMANCE









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Detonation Over-advanced ignition Reset ignition timing
timing see ENGINE PERFORMANCE
Defective spark plugs Replace spark plugs
Fuel lines clogged Clean fuel lines
EGR system malfunction Check and repair EGR
system
PCV system malfunction Repair PCV system
Vacuum leaks Check and repair
vacuum system
Loose fan belts Tighten or replace
fan belts, see ENGINE
PERFORMANCE
Restricted airflow Remove restriction
Vacuum advance malfunction Check distributor
operation









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Dieseling Binding carburetor linkage Eliminate binding
Binding throttle linkage Eliminate blinding
Binding choke linkage or Eliminate binding
fast idle cam
Defective idle solenoid Replace idle solenoid
see ENGINE PERFORMANCE
Improper base idle speed Reset idle speed, see
see ENGINE PERFORMANCE
Incorrect ignition timing Reset ignition timing
see ENGINE PERFORMANCE
Incorrect idle mixture Reset idle mixture,
setting see ENGINE PERFORMANCE









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Faulty Incorrect ignition timing Reset ignition timing
Acceleration see ENGINE PERFORMANCE

Engine cold and choke too Adjust choke and
lean allow engine to warm-
up
Defective spark plugs Replace spark plugs
Defective coil Replace coil









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Faulty Low Speed Clogged idle transfer slots Clean idle transfer
Operation slots, see FUEL
Restricted idle air bleeds Disassemble and clean
and passages carburetor, see FUEL
Clogged air cleaner Replace air filter
Defective spark plugs Replace spark plugs
Defective ignition wires Replace ignition wire
see ENGINE PERFORMANCE
Defective distributor cap Replace distributor
cap









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Faulty High Speed Incorrect ignition timing Reset ignition timing
Operation see ENGINE PERFORMANCE
Defective distributor Replace advance
centrifugal advance mechanism
Defective distributor Replace advance unit
vacuum advance
Incorrect spark plugs or Check gap and/or
plug gap replace spark plugs
Faulty choke operation Check choke and
repair as required
Clogged vacuum passages Remove restrictions
Improper size or clogged Check jet size and
main jet clean, see FUEL
Restricted air cleaner Check filter and
replace as necessary
Defective distributor cap, Replace cap, rotor or
rotor or coil coil









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Misfire at All Defective spark plugs Replace spark plugs
Speeds
Defective spark plug wires Replace spark plug
wires
Defective distributor cap, Replace cap, rotor,
rotor, or coil or coil
Cracked or broken vacuum Replace vacuum hoses
hoses