Mitsubishi L200 4WD selector problems (2018)

[C h r i s]

So my L200 has finally decided to play up, after 4.5 years and 46K miles without a single issue, it now doesn't like to go into 4WD mode, and when finally shifts to 4WD doesn't like to shift back to 2WD, using the "new" fangled so called 'super select' electronic control. It'll shift eventually but can take 5 to 10 minutes, not much use when leaving tarmac roads to traverse boggy fields etc.


It's still under warranty, the dealer was quick to imply that this was probably because I didn't select 4WD very often and the system has probably corroded up, however I was quick to point out that it's in 4WD mode at least twice a week, so can't really blame lack of use.

Anyway, I recon I'm not the only person with one of these on here, so anyone else got a similar story and if so how was it resolved? Did the warranty cover all costs?

Cheers.

 

[WH308]

It’s under warranty, tell them it should work as expected, when expected.

This is an area I work in, I would read your owners manual. If it says something like “4WD should be selected at least once per week” then quote this back to them, explaining that you exceed the recommended interval and want this fixed under warranty.

 

[Rural Management Services]

I had a similar issue that was linked to the ABS sensors. When away when I had a set of new discs and pads fitted. So maybe have them all off and clean them? Sensors that is not the brakes unless you need new that is.

Also one morning mine decided it wanted to be mad and would only let me drive in low ratio 4x4. Turns out it was again an ABS sensor cable that was snapped. Easy fix by myself in the end up it made for a lively trip across town at rush hour to by some bits to fix it while stuck in low range.

 

[slider]

I have seen this issue discussed on L200;forums on faceache and I think this issue is either liked to the abs sensor as already mentioned or a vacuum pipe.

 

[C h r i s]

Well its booked in under warranty, but wont be looked at for a couple of weeks so no off roading for me until then.

I think the vacuum pipe problems were for the previous model (up to 2015). ABS sensors check out OK and other systems that depend on ABS such as cruise control work fine. Disks and pads were replaced 3 months ago so still good. Anyway I'll update this post when its fixed, as I guess there will be others coming up with the same problem.

 

[Andy morton]

I have seen this issue discussed on L200;forums on faceache and I think this issue is either liked to the abs sensor as already mentioned or a vacuum pipe.

Just done mine mate , all 4 lights flashing ,
2 of the vacuum pipes had split , all good now , simple fix

 

[Bowland blades]

Not looking to the day i loose my old L200 trojan , it seems they are all too complicated and frankly unreliable and way too much money now !

 

[C h r i s]

Just done mine mate , all 4 lights flashing ,
2 of the vacuum pipes had split , all good now , simple fix

What year is yours? Just had a look under mine, can't see any vacuum pipes near the transfer box. Just a black box of magic with electrical connector.

 

[Andy morton]

What year is yours? Just had a look under mine, can't see any vacuum pipes near the transfer box. Just a black box of magic with electrical connector.

2006

 

[C h r i s]

Ah, I think they changed the system as of 2015

 

[Phil fox man]

mine is an 09 and had the same problem.
bought a vac pump tester off eBay for £10.
checked all the pipes and it was a sticky vac servo on the front diff.i had been wading and then it was stood for a couple of months while I couldn't drive ,oiled it and all ok.
high and low select on the transfer box is a motor and gear.
also on the older ones the vac chamber is prone to corrosion.
phil.

 

[C h r i s]

OK, problem solved, well sort of. Most bizarre so I'll post the results on here as it might help another frustrated 2015 - 2020 L200 owner.

Service manager was initially convinced that I was just yet another 4WD muppet and didn’t know how to use the system, claimed it was transmission wind up...

So dropped it off, half a day later the phone rang and apparently it was now fixed, already. Asked what they'd done and was told, "we just sorted out the transmission wind up, put it in reverse a few times"... I explained that any wind up would have been lost the last time it was driving over cow sh1t at the farm, plus I tend to use reverse most days! So not at all convinced I drove the vehicle away, attempted to engage 4WD, 1 mile later still wouldn’t engage so took it straight back. Mechanic strolled out and claimed he couldn’t fix it as there was nothing wrong.... drove it outside the workshop at 2mph, moving swiftly between forward and reverse and the 4WD was indeed engaging and disengaging. I explained that this isn’t how I normally drive the car, and under normal conditions it wasn’t working, and asked if they really thought I'd have booked it in if there wasn’t a genuine issue. Mechanic answered that they had no idea why I brought it in... so I perhaps lost my rag a little, apparently they don’t like words like "BS" and took great offense, but I digress. I insisted on a proper road test, and low and behold, 4WD was failing to shift, exactly as I'd originally described on multiple occasions.

Mechanic though it was a switch on the front diff. A week later that was swapped, no change.

So after a 3rd attempt at a fix I was asked to collect the vehicle. Same mechanic was reluctant to tell me what he'd done until we went for a (successful) test drive. Everything worked as expected.

His fix..? Well in his words, "desperation" led him to swap the wheels on one side, as the fronts had 6mm tread depth, the rears had 8mm. And that was all.

Casting my mind back the problems seemed to occur 4 weeks after changing just the rear tyres, but I usually swap them an axle at a time and never seen this before.

So if you find yourself in the same situation with a late model L200, maybe try this "fix".