Hey everyone, just brought home my first car. 1993 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS N/T. First of all, the kid put a custom exhaust on it so there is no cat. Just a muffler on the end. Loud and obnoxious, but that's ok. Couple problems. First of all, the clutch was slipping pretty bad last night. It wouldn't really happen in first or second, but accelerating in 5th from 50-60 was a pain as the clutch would just slip. I think the kid I bought it from dogged it on the 1.5hour drive to meet us so maybe it was just hot? Also, it smells like a damned two-stroke so I'm guessing it's burning oil. Oil is pretty black so an oil change is due, along with a new filter. Going to do new plugs while I'm at it. If this doesn't fix it, I could have a blown head gasket... or worse?

Any ideas guys? I'm wanting to get this thing reliable before I start going backwards there.

Congrats on the new ride.

The plugs and oil change are a good idea no matter what. So start there and let us know what you find. While your in there check for leaks. Check the PCV valve is working, etc.

Thanks. I'm definitely happy/proud to own a 1G DSM. I read that the tube (eh?) that comes through the gromet to the clutch, if it is oily that my slave cylinder might be shot. (He replaced master, not slave...) so maybe that could be it. Basically, I need to check everything in the car. Clutch is grabbing better today so it may have just been really hot, since the kid prolly beat it to death on the way there.

Threw my subs and head unit in today... I thought they were loud in the 2003 Cavalier LS Sport they were in... but damn. These Alpine Type-R's (12") may be too much for this car. :]


Going to go over EVERYTHING tomorrow under the hood. Belts, fluid levels, clutch adjustment, plugs, etc.

What does the PCV valve do? Like I said, 15 years old and pretty new to this stuff...

The PCV will vent any excess pressure in the crankcase of the motor. It's cheap and usually overlooked when doing maintenance. Congrats on the car. You probably got a decently reliable model (read: nonturbo...lol).

I had a 1g and had 2 10" Orion XTRs and a JL 500/1 in mine. I pumped 138 on a decent day. For music you have a ringer car.

On the turbo 2.0s the valve covers typically leak around the spark plugs. So some burnt oil could be from there, too.

Congrats on the DSM, dude. Welcome to a world that will teach you so freakin' much about cars.

Also, if you believe the PCV valve to be clogged (remove it and see if it rattles nicely when you shake it, and if it does, it's good) ONLY replace it with an OEM unit from Mitsu. Folks have had a lot of bad experience with those from Autozone and Advance.

Congrats on your Mistu..... hope you like turning wrenches.

*edit: Realized you have a 420a in that thing. Unsure of the reliablilty of those PCV valves being a chrysler product, so diregard the advice.

it's a 1993 GS, shouldn't it have the 4G63 N/A motor???
I thought that the 420A only came in a 2G RS

*Firmly pulls head out of ass and heads to the corner in shame*

Yeah it's a 4g63na...


Congrats on the car! My first car was a 1992 eclipse gs n/a same color lol... They are pretty decent cars to start on. Where are you from btw?

You're actually both wrong. It has the 4G37 in it... yuck! Going to drop in a 4G63T in when I get the funds and whatnot. Did a "tuneup" tonight in about 45 minutes. Jacked her up, pulled the valve cover and started on putting in a new valve cover gasket while the oil drained. Put the gasket in, valve cover on, Mobil1 Oil Filter, Bosch Platinum plugs. Started her up and wow. My mom has to do routine checks on her bus (she drives for my middle school I went to) and she said that they oil in her diesel didn't even look this bad... insane. No more lifter tick. Idles with a nice purrr. Sounds better to boot. No more burning oil smell! At least not from the exhaust. I think it was burning off the block. Figured out where the slave cylinder was when I was under the car (First time ever working on a car, by the way. ) so I'm going to bleed the clutch finally tomorrow. Clutch seems to be grabbing better every day so it might need to be refaced (flywheel anyways.)

Like I said, I love tinkering. Eventually I will have a DD and then this will be a project car. Like I said, going to find a 2.0L 4G63T and strip it down and build it up. I'm going to build my suspension and drivetrain first though. I just need to get some better tools.

I'm from Washington, between East Peoria and Eureka if that helps.

Sorry, my avatar isn't what I got. That was a 93 Talon I was looking at in Pekin but it had a possibly spun rod bearing for $1500 so I got this Eclipse for $100 more plus $30 to fill the tank from 1/4.

I'll put up a new pic for my avatar.

4G37? Someone will have to educate me on this....pretty sure there were only 2 engine options on the 1st gens. But as we all witnessed above, I have the potential to talk out of my ass.

You have ass breath!

4g37 is the single cam 1.8

Yes. Anemic as hell. Good reliable motor hopefully, until I put a 4g63t in it.

Bled the clutch today and there was a big difference on the jack stands so I imagine it helped. Played with the intake and removed the silencer and snorkel for some more throttle response.

I had a 4g37. Just remember it's a stepping stone. There is NO performance coming from that motor. If you feel like doing something to it, make it handle better, and get a better feel for the chassis of the car. You've also done one kick ass thing: get a loud stereo.

Everyone will tell you, and I'll be no different, it's cheaper to buy a turbo model rather than trying to swap motors.

But you're on the right path to proper DSM ownership: tons of maintenance

Yeah. The goal is to make it fast through handling. I don't much care for straight line prowess, just pounding the corners.

EDIT: I found a cable that runs to the front of the car. Looks a lot like a serial port on the end. What would this be for?

Double Post... ehh

Found out what the cable was for! Looks exactly like the PocketLogger cable, and it runs to somewhere in the engine bay. Haven't looked. I assume to the ECU.

Also, disconnected the clutch-cut switch so I can start without the clutch pedal. Starts a little better and a good peace of mind for the throwout bearing.

Found the linkage for the clutch adjustment... fun fun. Going to tackle that tomorrow if I can get a wrench up in there. The seal around the shaft going through has fluid on it. Does this mean my slave cylinder might be bad? Any way I can confirm this?

Topped off my brakes and clutch today. Clutch reservoir was below minimum so I'm going to adjust the linkage tomorrow and do a rebleed for good measure. Having something to do made my Spring Break fly by... but the parties were good so it's all good.

EDIT: Ok, so I adjusted the linkage and rebled. Much less pedal travel, and it engages about an inch off the floor. No gear grinding. Perfection. Replaced the bulbs I had out in the rear. Got a rear wiper blade and also a Haynes manual. I need to figure out how to get the front headlight covers off since the headlights need reaimed and the covers need cleaned.

Yeah the 4g37 is a reliable little thing and can handle a beating...



Well your not to far then... Do you know Darrin or Micah? They are both from Washington and have 2g Eclipse's


Btw I have a nice little project car for you... $1500 and shes yours

I know Darrin. I might know Micah. Does he drive a primered or flat black Eclipse?

Tall, lanky kid?


And yeah, I would hope a little 1.8L could take a beating. My cousin's Ford Probe gets bounced off its redline a lot each day.

Yeah that's Micah... He also has a blue srt4 but not for long


You should come to one of the meets with them... We meet up almost every other weekend...

I might just do that. Hell, if I hear about the meet I might convince my dad to let me drive down in my Eclipse with him. You guys meeting this weekend?

What do you guys do at these meets? Shoot the bird and cruise or what?

Yeah I know who he is now. He supposedly has a loud stereo in that SRT4 but I think I have him beat. Gotta love the tiny hatch of a 1G DSM. :]

Right now I'm trying to get plates and door speakers and an amp for them. Highs are good and loud but mids are just lackluster as hell. CDT Components, SAVE ME!

Also, my passenger side window won't roll down since the night we brought it home. :/ Need to pull the panel off and look around. This Haynes manual is the bee's knees.