SST tranny overheating at the tack! Mitsu need to find a fix!

[eddie]

I'm really surprised people out there bought an Evo X MR with full knowledge that the system gets really hot under hard use and can go into limp mode (written about in many magazines and discussed on these boards), then proceed to take their new MR to the track thinking the same thing wouldn't happen to them?
It's been talked about over and over and over again. If you want to track your Evo X or add serious power, don't buy an MR.
What was it in all those previous posts that confused these new MR owners?

[weneversleep]

Originally Posted by eddie

I'm really surprised people out there bought an Evo X MR with full knowledge that the system gets really hot under hard use and can go into limp mode (written about in many magazines and discussed on these boards), then proceed to take their new MR to the track thinking the same thing wouldn't happen to them?
It's been talked about over and over and over again. If you want to track your Evo X or add serious power, don't buy an MR.
What was it in all those previous posts that confused these new MR owners?

I bought my MR to eventually be used at the track, once the warranty runs out. I did read the forums and knew about the SST overheating issues. Although, I'm sure that in time there will either be a technique (such as discussed above, no LFB) or a fix (trans cooler? software update?) that will make it possible to use the SST on the track.

I am interested, though, because I think I've read every single magazine article about the Evo X. Can you point me to an actual magazine article where the author took the Evo X MR on the track and had the SST overheat? I don't recall ever reading that in a single mag article.

I don't have any regrets whatsoever about my MR purchase, and I love driving it with the SST on the street.

--michael

[UT_Evo]

Originally Posted by eddie

I'm really surprised people out there bought an Evo X MR with full knowledge that the system gets really hot under hard use and can go into limp mode (written about in many magazines and discussed on these boards), then proceed to take their new MR to the track thinking the same thing wouldn't happen to them?
It's been talked about over and over and over again. If you want to track your Evo X or add serious power, don't buy an MR.
What was it in all those previous posts that confused these new MR owners?

That's exactly what I said earlier, my post got skipped entirely.

Look weneversleep: I don't have examples of articles (mostly because I stopped reading articles on the Evos long long ago) but I know there are LOADS of threads out there on EvoM of talk about how bad the SST tranny is going to be, and how bad it is. I feel like people have been talking about it forever and everytime one of these comes up it's like it's some mysterious issue. I even had all 3 Mitsu dealers nearby me tell me before the MR had released that it wouldn't be able to handle the power that the GSR's tranny could handle, and that it was more of the "luxury" Evo. Which, the MR has ALWAYS been.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure someone will figure out how to get around the problem and fix it entirely, it's in the nature of the Evo community. But the point is that it isn't a problem because everyone knew it would happen. It happened before too, just no limp mode, only broken trannies. Don't believe me, do a search for strength on the old MR 6-speed, same sort of overheating problem. Mitsu never fixed that.

[weneversleep]

Originally Posted by UT_Evo

Look weneversleep: I don't have examples of articles (mostly because I stopped reading articles on the Evos long long ago) but I know there are LOADS of threads out there on EvoM of talk about how bad the SST tranny is going to be, and how bad it is. I feel like people have been talking about it forever and everytime one of these comes up it's like it's some mysterious issue. I even had all 3 Mitsu dealers nearby me tell me before the MR had released that it wouldn't be able to handle the power that the GSR's tranny could handle, and that it was more of the "luxury" Evo. Which, the MR has ALWAYS been.

I wasn't trying to rile anyone up about quoting magazine articles--I was just genuinely curious.

As for the SST tranny being "bad"--I couldn't disagree more. I think the SST is amazing. No, I haven't taken it on track yet, but as I said, I expect that minor issue to be taken care of by the time that I do (in a couple of years).

It's funny--I never would have considered a flappy-paddle manual. I've always been a "give me a clutch pedal or give me death". The only reasons that I considered the MR in the first place was because it had 6 speeds instead of 5 (I didn't like the idea of turning high RPMs at cruise on the highway), and because I liked the interior much better than the GSR. But, when I drove the MR with the SST, I was blown away by how the transmission performed. In that short drive, I was a convert, and I bought the MR that evening. And, the more I drive the SST, the more I love it.

Yes, the MR is the more "luxurious", "softer" (but not by very much!) Evo X. I don't care--that's what I wanted. I've been driving around stiff suspension lowered cars for so long, and quite frankly, I wanted a more compliant ride. We're splitting hairs here anyway--the MR is by no means "soft" compared to pretty much any other sedan out there, say my wife's Audi A6 for example. The Evo X MR is still a very stiffly sprung car for a production stock car.

When I eventually take my MR on track, I'll change the suspension out anyway, so it's moot the way it performs on track for me. But, I suspect that even in stock form, I won't be disappointed with the MR's "soft" suspension on track.

--michael

[smgevo]

Who has an upgrade now?

[wilson1]

boy, this is not good for the people who track ......

[unowned]

Originally Posted by DonMitsu

LFB will quickly cause the TC-SST to overheat because of how Mitsu has programmed the software to respond to brake and throttle input. I have been talking to Mitsu engineers trying to find the quickest and best solution. Long term solutions that may evolve include a reflash that would change how the transmission responds to brake and throttle input, and/or a larger capacity transmission cooler.

Don

Don I disagree that LFB when used correctly (i.e only on the brakes when completely off the accelerator) could still cause the SST to overheat. It sounds like amateur drivers are using the accelerator and then hitting the brakes while still on the accelerator which is bad technique and bad for the car.

The SST should be changed to ignore throttle inputs on the transmission whenever the brakes are pressed this way both modes don't try to engage. It's the same way people should be driving in the first place when they race.

[RoundPro]

Originally Posted by wilson1

boy, this is not good for the people who track ......

But once its fixed, the car will be fast and consistent on a track!

[razorlab]

Originally Posted by unowned

It sounds like amateur drivers are using the accelerator and then hitting the brakes while still on the accelerator which is bad technique and bad for the car.

Colin would disagree:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMEqOGejlrw

[EvolutionVI]

I have used my MR a few times on a racetrack and highspeed driving on the German Autobahn

When driving on the Nürburgring Nordschleife,there is no overheating problem as its mostly high speeds and a lot of cooling air for the transmissioncooler.

Highspeed on the Autobahn: No issues yet,even after half a hour over 200km/h and many times over 250km/h....no overheating.

Trackdays @ Hockenheim Formula 1 GP Racetrack: Overheated once after about 15 minutes driving full throttle,was a warm day(outside temp was around 85degree fahrenheit,after just 20 seconds it was ok again.

Searched for a solution and hope i found it:

The Foglights are closing over 50% from the transmissioncooler air-inlet,so the incoming air is just flowing thru less then 50% of the cooler,wtf.

Same on the engineoilcooler side,wtf is mitsu doing,are foglights more important then cooling

Solution: Get a cheap black metal net from the car parts shop and replace the foglights with the net,looks better too,around 1 hour work.

Will go to the track tomorrow again and push that thing hard again

[smgevo]

That is a good idea to start with before upgrading to a larger cooler to see if it fixes the problem for most. Which side is the tranny cooler on? I see coolers on both sides behind the wheel well vents. Looks like there is plenty of room for a larger core. I did not use left foot braking, and in sport mode, the car gave the tranny overheating symbol in the first session out at a road course.

How did you secure the mesh to the bumper cover?

[bvliz]

trans cooler is on the drivers side

[ONRAILS]

the best thing you guys can do is keep your car 100% stock, don't add a FAN or anything they will void your WHOLE warranty.

Mitsu wouldn't warranty my syncros because my car was lowered. And wouldn't cover my spun bearing because my car had be "black flagged" because it had wheels/suspension mods and road raced @ putnam park. Rather than taking them to court i just bought a new shortblock. You guys don't need to add trans coolers, or fans or anything like that. You need to blow those trannies up over and over again and have mitsu fix them and give you rentals while they are being fixed. Then, and only then, will they fix it.

I will never buy another mitsubishi that has a warranty.

Also, i would like to add. Mitsu voided evo 8/9's for roadracing/scca so watch your paper trail

[hancheyb]

I drove an Evo X MR at a local track here last weekend. Overheated in 3-4 laps on a 2.5 mile course with heavy braking/shifting. Admittedly the car was plowing very badly so I was left foot braking trying to get the car to turn in mid-corner. Which happens to be a common application of left foot braking.

This weekend, same car, same driver minus fog lights and no left foot braking. Almost same outside temperature as well. Three 30 minute sessions on the same track, no overheating. Transmission was in S-Sport, no ASC, and manually shifted.

Fans can be taken off if a warranty issue comes up so we added one for good measure. At the end of every session I would turn the fan on during the cool down lap and let the car idle with the fan on. Heat was pouring out of the driver's side fender liner. I'm guessing it has a pump driven off the motor because it kept pulling heat out with the engine idling, but when you turn the car off it would quickly cool down. Needs a gauge to really know for sure.

The fan is going to play a bigger role in autocrossing where the demands on the transmission, while short in time, have many shifts including back to back runs at some events. Since the airflow isn't high like on the track, we can use the fan in between runs and multiple drivers.

On another note, I experienced fuel starvation in left hard hand turns below 3/8 of a tank. Above 1/2 tank it was fine. The data logger showed 1.22g in those turns (98% of max).

[CBRD]

it needs a more adequate cooler in my opinion....

also, to me paddle shift is senseless unless you left foot brake... and left foot braking doesnt mean riding the throttle and gas at the same time.... generally the purpose of left foot braking is to have a dedicated foot for each pedal.... and to have no transition time from gas to brake...

cb