1998 MITSUBISHI MONTERO distributor

in the section(s) you are accessing.
BASIC GASOLINE ENGINE - MECHANICAL TROUBLE SHOOTING CHART









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CONDITION POSSIBLE CAUSE CORRECTION








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Engine Lopes At Intake manifold-to-head Replace manifold
Idle leaks gasket, See ENGINES
Blown head gasket Replace head gasket,
See ENGINES
Worn timing gears, chain Replace gears, chain or
or sprocket sprocket
Worn camshaft lobes Replace camshaft, See
ENGINES
Overheated engine Check cooling system,
See COOLING
Blocked crankcase vent Remove restriction
valve
Leaking EGR valve Repair leak and/or
replace valve
Faulty fuel pump Replace fuel pump









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Engine Has Low Leaking fuel pump Repair leak and/or
Power replace fuel pump
Excessive piston-to-bore Install larger pistons,
clearance See ENGINES
Sticking valves or weak Check valve train
valve springs components, See ENGINES
Incorrect valve timing Reset valve timing, See
ENGINES
Worn camshaft lobes Replace camshaft, See
ENGINES
Blown head gasket Replace head gasket.
See ENGINES.
Clutch slipping Adjust pedal and/or
replace components, See
ENGINES
Engine overheating Check cooling system,
See COOLING
Auto. Trans. pressure
regulator valve faulty Replace pressure
regulator valve
Auto. Trans. fluid level Add fluid as necessary
too low
Improper vacuum diverter
valve operation Replace vacuum diverter
valve
Vacuum leaks Inspect vacuum system
and repair as required
Leaking piston rings Replace piston rings,
See ENGINES









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Faulty High Low fuel pump volume Replace fuel pump
Speed Operation
Leaking valves or worn Replace valves and/or
springs, See ENGINES
Incorrect valve timing Reset valve timing,See
ENGINES
Intake manifold restricted Remove restriction
Worn distributor shaft Replace distributor









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Faulty Improper fuel pump stroke Remove pump and reset
Acceleration pump stroke

Low fuel pressure Test pressure regul-
ator and fuel pump,
check for restricted
lines and filters
No distributor reference Repair ignition
pulses system as necessary
Open coolant temperature Test sensor and
sensor circuit wiring
Shorted W.O.T. switch in Disconnect W.O.T.
T.P.S. switch, engine
should start
Defective ECM Replace ECM
Fuel tank residual pressure Test for fuel
valve leaks pressure drop after
shut down









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Hard Starting Disconnected hot air tube Reconnect tube and
to air cleaner test control valve
Defective Idle Air Control Test valve operation
(IAC) valve and circuit
Shorted, open or misadjusted Test and adjust or
T.P.S. replace T.P.S.
EGR valve open Test EGR valve and
control circuit
Poor Oxygen sensor signal Test for shorted or
circuit
Incorrect mixture from PCV Test PCV for flow,
system check sealing of oil
filter cap









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Poor High Speed Low fuel pump volume Faulty pump or
Operation restricted fuel
lines or filters
Poor MAP sensor signal Test MAP sensor,
vacuum hose and
wiring
Poor Oxygen sensor signal Test for shorted or
open sensor or
circuit
Open coolant temperature Test sensor and
sensor circuit wiring
Faulty ignition operation Check wires for
cracks or poor con-
nections, test
secondary voltage
with oscilloscope
Contaminated fuel Test fuel for water

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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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

Excessive cylinder wear Rebore or replace
block
Excessive valve guide Worn or loose bearing
clearance









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Gap Bridged Deposits in combustion Clean combustion
chamber becoming fused chamber of deposits
to electrode









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Blistered Engine overheating Check cooling system
Electrode
Wrong type of fuel Replace with correct
fuel
Loose spark plugs Retighten spark plugs
Over-advanced ignition Reset ignition timing
timing see ENGINE PERFORMANCE









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Pre-Ignition or Incorrect type of fuel Replace with correct
Melted Electrodes fuel
Incorrect ignition timing Reset ignition timing
see ENGINE PERFORMANCE
Burned valves Replace valves
Engine Overheating Check cooling system
Wrong type of spark plug, Replace with correct
too hot spark plug, see
ENGINE PERFORMANCE









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Chipped Severe detonation Check for over-
Insulators advanced timing or
combustion
Improper gapping Re-gap spark plugs
procedure









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Rust Colored Additives in unleaded Try different fuel
Deposits fuel brand









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Water In Combus- Blown head gasket or Repair or replace
tion Chamber cracked head head or head gasket









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NOTE: Before diagnosing an electronic ignition system, ensure that
all wiring is connected properly between distributor, wiring
connector and spark plugs. Ignition problem will show up
either as: Engine Will Not Start or Engine Runs Rough.
BASIC ELECTRONIC IGNITION TROUBLE SHOOTING CHARTS









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CONDITION POSSIBLE CAUSE CORRECTION








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Engine Won't Open circuit between Repair circuit
Start distributor and bulkhead
connector
Open circuit between Repair circuit
bulkhead connector and

ignition switch
Open circuit between Repair circuit
ignition switch and
starter solenoid









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Engine Runs Fuel lines leaking or Tighten fitting,
Rough clogged remove restriction
Initial timing incorrect Reset ignition timing
see ENGINE PERFORMANCE
Centrifugal advance Repair distributor
malfunction advance
Defective spark plugs or Replace plugs or plug
wiring wiring









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Component Failure Spark arc-over on cap, Replace cap, rotor or
rotor or coil or coil
Defective pick-up coil Replace pick-up coil
Defective ignition coil Replace ignition coil
Defective vacuum unit Replace vacuum unit
Defective control module Replace control module









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BASIC ELECTRONIC IGNITION TROUBLE SHOOTING
CHARTS - USING OSCILLOSCOPE PATTERNS









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CONDITION POSSIBLE CAUSE CORRECTION








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Firing Voltage Retarded ignition timing Reset ignition
Lines are the Same, timing, see ENGINE
but Abnormally High PERFORMANCE section
Fuel mixture too lean Readjust carburetor,
see ENGINE PERFORMANCE
High resistance in coil Replace coil wire
wire
Corrosion in coil tower Clean and/or replace
terminal coil
Corrosion in distributor Clean and/or replace
coil terminal distributor cap









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Firing Voltage Fuel mixture too rich Readjust carburetor,
Lines are the Same see ENGINE PERFORMANCE
but Abnormally Low
Breaks in coil wire causing Replace coil wire
arcing
Cracked coil tower causing Replace coil
arcing
Low coil output Replace coil
Low engine compression Determine cause and

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