Japanese cars considered a model of quality, reliability and durability. was no exception and Mitsubishi Lancer IX, which, having practically no competitors in its niche, quickly gained popularity among domestic motorists and still holds a leading position in terms of sales. This is greatly facilitated by the unpretentiousness of the car, ease of operation, successful, albeit slightly aggressive design, a wide range of available modifications and options. However, many are frightened off by the dubious ergonomics of the cabin, the high cost of spare parts and materials. Let's try to understand in more detail the strengths and weaknesses model, to determine how successful and promising it is.
Excursion into history
The predecessor of the modern Lancer was the Cedia model, which saw the world back in 2000. It practically did not go beyond the Asian market, but became fundamental in the future model range, embodying technical solutions that in 2003 made it possible to introduce the Lancer IX car in the USA and Europe. The first buyers were inspired by the simplicity and relative cheapness of the model, and after that its other positive qualities were revealed.
In Russia and the CIS countries, Lancer at first could not compete with his "big brother" - Mitsubishi Carisma. Opponent outnumbered new model in the convenience of the cabin, had a more aristocratic design and was in the same price category. However, a year later, in 2004, the production of the Carisma was stopped, and the Lancer gained well-deserved popularity both as a city car and among fans of aggressive driving, which was facilitated by the appearance of the Evolution sports modification.
Let's look under the hood
Mitsubishi engineers decided not to experiment with Lancer power units. Buyers have access to exclusively four-cylinder in-line engines, the volume of which varies between 1.3-2.4 liters. Modifications with a 1.6-liter internal combustion engine are most widely used - they have an optimally balanced ratio of power and fuel consumption (up to 125 hp at 8.0 liters in a combined cycle). A nice bonus of the ninth generation was the introduction of the GDI system. Most cars of this model use AI-95 gasoline as fuel, but there are also versions for AI-98.
The weak points of the engines are the radiator and the ignition system. And if in the latter case it is advisable to install original spare parts, in the event of a radiator breakdown it is better to purchase a high-quality replica. An internal combustion engine with a volume of more than 1.5 liters may have problems with the CPG, especially with careless driving. They are manifested in the "occurrence" of the piston rings, which may be due to insufficiently strong structural material of the block or overheating caused by poor oil circulation. Usually the problem is fixed by boring the cylinders.
With the convenience of controlling the transmission while driving the Lancer, there will be no problems - everyone can choose a gearbox to their liking. Versions are available with five- and six-speed mechanics, a four-speed "automatic" and even a CVT. All boxes are highly reliable and have a long service life, however, manual transmissions of 1.3 and 1.6-liter engines may have problems with input shaft bearings. It is advisable to replace them after 100-150 thousand kilometers.
From the gearbox, torque can be transmitted directly to the front drive axle or, for some Cedia modifications, through transfer case on all wheels. During the operation of both front- and all-wheel drive Lancers, it is important to pay attention to the condition of the CV joints - they tend to wear out. Top tip - don't skimp lubricants, and then the operation of the transmission will be stable and trouble-free.
Looking for body problems
More than 90% of Mitsubishi Lancer IX cars were delivered as a sedan, but station wagons are sometimes found. The workmanship of both types of bodies meets Japanese standards - the metal is high-quality, durable, but at the same time ductile enough to provide load-absorbing deformations in a collision. But in terms of collisions, dents, scratches and other body defects, used Lancers will leave many other sports and pseudo-sport cars far behind - this model is beaten very often.
Pay attention to the state coatings- factory taps have a small thickness, but they are distinguished by durability and uniformity. Damage on such coatings practically does not grow. An increase in thickness, a non-uniform color or an excessive sheen of individual sections of the body will indicate the presence of more or less serious masked defects.
Looking for signs of corrosion. Usually the first to suffer rear arches- the inner seam is almost inevitably covered with rust after 5-7 years of vehicle operation. From there, corrosion spreads to the junction of the arch and wing, in advanced cases, it passes to the outer part of the wings at the rear doors. The presence of such obvious traces of neglect of body care will almost certainly indicate the need for welding on internal surfaces.
Other possible, but much less significant foci of corrosion are thresholds, door opening limiter linings, the door itself (especially in the lower part), hood edges, joints windshield, trunk. Traces of rust are also possible in the cabin, for example, on the trunk and gas tank release levers.
Was there an accident?
Some of the main signs by which the eliminated consequences of accidents are determined do not work with Lancer. So, it would be a mistake to say that the car was involved in an accident if the hood was removed - sometimes this operation is performed in order to raise the back of the hood for the summer. On versions with powerful engines this is the easiest way to improve natural cooling engine compartment running air flow. Both the front and rear optics of the Lancer are made of extremely poor quality soft plastic. Already after 100 thousand km of run, it is overwritten, turns yellow, poorly transmits light and worsens appearance car. So new headlights do not mean that the old ones were broken.
But such an inconspicuous detail as the ears of the front bumper will help to understand whether there was a frontal impact. The plastic of the bumper is durable and can withstand even when the tips of the side members suffer, but the lugs break off in almost any accident, so traces of their restoration should make you think about the condition of the body. In addition, it is important to pay attention to the condition of the front jet thrust- if it was ruined, then the owner did not care too much about the car.
Inspect the bottom if possible. Rock marks and stretched suspension cups speak to the previous owner's aggressive driving style. It is very likely that upon closer inspection, such a car will have replaced body parts or chassis parts that were damaged as a result of recklessness.
Let's take a look in the salon
We’ll warn you right away that tall or overweight people in the Lancer’s cabin will be rather uncomfortable - the low roof and the lack of steering wheel adjustments make themselves felt. But this is common to all instances of the model. What to look for when inspecting a particular car?
The first thing that catches your eye in the interior of used Lancers of economy configurations is the poor quality of the seats. We are talking not only about worn fabric and a squeezed seal, but also about the frame, which can be completely broken by 200 thousand kilometers. These seats need to be replaced immediately. Used seats from Intense vehicles, which can be purchased at a car yard or ordered online, are perfect.
As finishing materials, on the contrary, the basic equipment wins. Its plastic elements, although they quickly accumulate dust, are easily cleaned with special chemical compounds, but it is more difficult to deal with worn leather and darkened silvery steering wheel and torpedo inserts. As a rule, only a replacement helps, which will certainly cost a lot. By the way, often the skin of the front panel is altered to mask the traces of an accident - be careful.
The automatic climate control works great. If it is not there, pay attention to the operation of the stove - the temperature damper cable often sticks and breaks. A common occurrence on used Lancers has become a non-working air conditioner. It can fail for various reasons, but most often the tubes are frayed by the engine crankcase protection. Broken power window cables are also not uncommon. And after a long drive on bad roads (200 thousand km or more), the interior begins to “sing” - plastic parts rub against each other and emit an unpleasant creak. Fixing work will help eliminate this problem.
Electrics and control mechanisms
Both analog electrics and Mitsubishi Lancer IX electronics are extremely reliable and durable. The "weak link" can be called the contact group of the ignition switch, but problems with it are the exception rather than the rule. For the rest, it is enough to adhere to the elementary rules for servicing electrical equipment, for example, every 100-150 thousand kilometers, change the brushes and bearings of the generator, monitor the condition of the plates and the battery charge level. Take care of the starter - when it is overloaded, there is a high risk of breakage of the teeth of the contact pair of gears.
Numerous reviews of the Lancer 9 (Lancerf IX) allow us to judge this car as a fairly high-quality and reliable one. But since there are no perfect cars, there are small disadvantages and weaknesses Lancer 9, which are worth paying attention to both the owners of the Lancer IX, and those who are just going to buy this car.
For each problem, we decided to get the opinion of the editor of the site Lancerix.ru, and part-time, the owner of Lancer 9.
Weaknesses Mitsubishi Lancer IX
Sensitivity to fuel quality
"92nd or 95th?" - a question that is relevant for all owners of Mitsubishi Lancer 9. Disputes over the octane number do not stop among owners to this day. The instruction manual says that you should refuel with gasoline with an octane rating of 92.95 and higher. Often in Russia, the 95th is made by adding additives to the 92nd. As a result, the octane number increases, but the quality of the fuel deteriorates, which affects engine parts. The solution may be the use of 92nd gasoline. The 98th, according to the observations of some Lancer owners, can lead to engine overheating and valve failure.
Note from the editor of the site lancerix.ru: I do not consider the described issue to be a shortcoming or a weak point. I used it myself before (for about a year and a half, 95th gasoline - there were no problems). Today, I have been using the 92nd for more than a year and also no problems arise.
Fuel consumption Lancer 9
Fuel consumption is the first thing the owner pays attention to. For the most popular 1.6-liter engine option among motorists, the consumption is: in the city - 8-10 liters per 100 km, on the highway 6-9 liters per 100 km.
If the consumption increases to 15 liters per 100 km even with a 1.6 liter engine, then this means that you need to pay attention to the catalyst. It is its pollution that leads to such big expense fuel. The problem will be solved by replacing the catalytic converter. Ferrocene deposits contribute to catalytic failure. Ferrocene has a specific brick color and its deposits can be seen on the lambda probe and candles, which in this case will also have to be replaced.
If power is lost and gasoline consumption has increased, then perhaps the reason lies in the throttle. Some car owners are foolishly advised to clean throttle valve, with inept cleaning, this procedure threatens to "swim" revolutions. So be careful.
Note from the editor: I have a Lancer 9 with a 1.3L engine. problems, about the expense, as you know, does not arise.
Air conditioner Lancer 9
By itself, it does not cause problems. You only need to turn it on about once a week. This must be done even in winter. The goal is to prevent leakage of air conditioner seals. You can turn it on in winter as follows: first, thoroughly warm up the interior with a heater, and only then turn on the air conditioner.
Note from the editor: to be honest, I have never heard of this procedure, so I can’t say anything about it, the air conditioner works fine.
Water in the cabin Lancer 9
If the smell of dampness and rot appeared in the car, then most likely this is due to water that has penetrated inside the passenger compartment. In some cases, water can enter through the plug between the passenger compartment and the wheel arch of the left front wheel. The problem is solved simply: you need to remove the mudguard, bend the fender liner and vigorously put the plug in place.
Editor's Note: Haven't encountered this issue.
Soundproofing Lancer 9
Noise isolation leaves much to be desired. This is especially true of thresholds and wheel arches.
Editor's Note: I totally agree. Noise isolation Lancer 9, unfortunately, is inferior to European cars. But this is, in general, weakness almost all "Japanese". Soon we plan to post an article on our site on soundproofing Lancer IX with our own hands.
Fogging headlights Lancer 9
This is due to the design of the headlights and may occur in wet weather. Eliminated by turning on the low beam. If this does not help, then it makes sense to contact the warranty service center. In general, the problem is solved by cleaning the ventilation holes and lubricating them with sealant.
Note from the editor: fogging of headlights can also occur after unsuccessful tuning, when their sealing is broken.
Disadvantages of Lancer 9 optics
The owners have repeatedly noted that the brightness of the headlights is clearly not enough. It is solved by replacing the dipped and main beam headlights with more suitable brightness, or by installing xenon.
Note from the editor: I remind you that the installation of xenon lamps in headlights that are not intended for this is prohibited. But no one will stop you from "collective farming" or installing special lenses.
The rather high cost of official spare parts and maintenance of Lancer 9
For a golf-class car, the Lancer has too high a cost of original spare parts and Maintenance. Of course, you can reduce costs by using suitable non-original parts.
Editor's note: I agree about original parts, but there are a huge number of analogues on the market, so there are ways to reduce the cost of service without compromising quality.
Brake discs Lancer 9
Admittedly weak place Mitsubishi Lancer IX. Already by the first MOT they will need to be replaced, and at high speeds when braking they will “lead”. In some cases, they can crack or even break.
Note from the editor: you, of course, got excited about the first MOT. I myself encountered the problem of driven disks, but this happened during a run of about 80 thousand km.
Suspension Lancer 9
The suspension is hard. So that long trips not very good roads can tire.
Note from the editor: of course, how many people - so many opinions, but I do not think the suspension of the Lancer 9 is too stiff.
Chose between "Mitsubishi Lancer" and "Chrysler Stratus". The second was more liked, but was excluded for some reason. I thought: the car is good, comfortable, but american cars problems with parts and service. It is better to take a reliable and proven option, namely the 9th generation Mitsubishi Lancer.
All the necessary documents for the purchase were completed in one day. And here he is my handsome man - a 2004 car with a 1.6-liter engine, automatic transmission and air conditioning.
The first serious test for the newly purchased car was coming - passing a technical inspection. On the day of the inspection, I purchased the missing set of mandatory equipment - a car fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and an emergency installation sign. During the inspection, no flaws were identified, which means that the car was in perfect technical condition, although it was 5 years old. The only thing the master advised during the inspection was to change the rear silent block (what is a silent block).
After a month from the beginning of the purchase - there were no troubles, the car pleased. The only annoying moment when I came to the garage in the morning and the car refused to start. It didn't take long to find the cause, it was a dead battery. It turns out that I forgot to turn off the interior light bulb, which drained the battery. Well, the knowledge of how to light a cigarette from the battery came in handy and it was not difficult to return the car to working condition. This trouble was helped by motorists in the garage complex, who provided "crocodiles" to charge the battery.
The case of a dead battery was a good lesson. Now, when leaving the car, I carefully inspect the electrical equipment for their "off".
A few months later Mitsubishi car Lancer faced a serious test - a trip to another city to visit relatives 1000 kilometers away. Let's see what the car is capable of. On the track, you can safely go "for a hundred" without any straining. The only thing that does not suit is the low engine power when overtaking trucks. It has to do with the choice automatic box gears. With mechanics, according to experienced ones, the car has decent dynamics. So, if you often drive outside the city, it is better to choose cars with mechanical box gear, and if you rarely leave the city, then optimal choice- with automatic.
Something we are a little distracted from the essence. When I arrived in a foreign city, I got a little lost. In those minutes, I thought, oh, it would be nice if I bought a car GPS navigator (how to choose a car navigator). It will be necessary to buy with the first salary, because this is a useful thing for a car enthusiast, as I myself was convinced from my own experience.
Approximately 10,000 kilometers have passed since the purchase of the car. The most serious malfunction that happened was refueling with low-quality fuel. After the next refueling, the light on the instrument panel came on.. As I later found out, it caught fire due to getting into the tank of the car not quality gasoline. I managed to extinguish the light bulb with my own hands. To do this, fill in 10 liters of high-quality gasoline and reset the terminal from the battery. In the program, the information will be overwritten and the light will go out.
In addition to this light bulb, nothing bad happened to Mitsubishi Lancer. No wonder the ninth generation Lancers are popular among motorists. This is reliable car for their money.
Mitsubishi Lancer 9 in-line four-cylinder engines with a volume of 1.3 and 1.6 with one camshaft and a power of 82 hp. and 92 hp respectively; 2.0 with two camshafts and a power of 135 hp. when operating in the conditions of the Russian Federation, they have a small resource and high oil consumption.
The oil consumption on the Lancer 9 is so high that when the next scheduled maintenance is reached, you can only get by with a replacement oil filter. After all, consumption, or rather "zhor" oil varies from 1 liter to 3 liters per 1000 km. With volume oil system from 3 to 4 liters, for 10-15 thousand km. you will have to add at least 15 liters, and thus change it several times.
In the absence of leakage of oil seals, gaskets and seals, the reasons for oil consumption can be:
- Wear of valve guides and seals
- Wear or coking oil scraper rings, scuffs on the cylinder block
Every cause has its own root cause.
Oil flow through valve seals
Valve seals lose their elasticity and “tan” at different mileage. On one engine, they are replaced at 50 thousand km. run, on the other 150 thousand km. At the same time, at a higher mileage, replacing the oil seals does not solve the problem with oil consumption. Why is that? Valve stem seals fail due to overheating, both visible, when the temperature sensor detects it, and invisible, the so-called internal preheating. In the first case, the cooling system may be the cause. The second case is difficult to diagnose and detect, and is associated with poor fuel quality. The products of incomplete combustion of gasoline form soot and varnish deposits in the combustion chamber. As a result, the thermal conductivity of its walls deteriorates, which causes overheating, which is not detected by the temperature sensor. Besides, self-replacement valve stem seals without troubleshooting and subsequent replacement of valve guides, does not give a positive effect. And Lancer, as he ate butter, so be it. And, if we take into account the pumping effect that occurs when installing new seals on old bushings that have wear, then the flow rate will be even greater than before replacement.
Occurrence of rings and oil consumption
Oil scraper rings in case of overheating of the Lancer motor lie down and lose their mobility - this is one of the reasons for oil consumption. When using poor quality gasoline, the rings coke and also stop working. In addition, if the coke clogged the grooves and the rings lay on it, then their intensive wear against the cylinder walls will occur. As a result of mechanical wear, scoring can occur on the sleeve, which is another reason for oil consumption. The compression rings also cause a pumping effect when the oil scrapers are stuck and the flow will rise. Replacing rings does not work if the cylinder block is not bored under new size or the surface is not micropolished. Wear in the block leads to a change in the geometry of the cylinder: ovality, taper, ellipse, which in turn causes the engine to knock. The knock can also be "rod" due to oil starvation.
The root cause of the "zhora" of oil on Lancer 9
What does the fight for the environment and the reduction of toxic emissions lead to? It is necessary to optimize the clearances in the motor and its parts. The smaller the gaps, the easier and faster they are clogged with products of incomplete combustion of gasoline. It is for this reason that all of the above happens, and that is why all manufacturers write and warn about the use of high quality fuel. Exacerbates the situation and objective reasons:
- Short trips
- Driving an unheated car
- Continuous idling
- Use of gasoline that does not comply with the passport
- Operation at low speeds
These factors do not allow the engine to reach the operating temperature at which coke and carbon deposits will be burned out. The use of AI-98, instead of AI-92, also contributes to carbon formation, since the burning rate of high-octane gasoline is lower. What does not burn forms soot, clogs the catalyst.
How to increase the life of a Mitsubishi engine
Viscosity increase and transition to other grades engine oil do not give sustainable results. Regular use of flushing the oil system before changing the oil - MF5 will keep power unit clean. Flushing the Lancer motor allows you to deeply clean the surfaces of all types of deposits and soot, decoke the rings and restore their mobility.
The use of a ceramic-metal additive for the engine will restore its resource, compensate and protect it from wear. The composition of Engine GA4, designed for 4 liters of oil, does not change the chemical composition and physical properties of the oil. Forms a cermet on conjugated friction pairs protective layer, which restores the geometry of the cylinder, increases compression, as a result of which Lancer 9 oil consumption decreases or even stops, depending on the degree of wear and the causes of "zhora". The composition does not affect and does not restore valve seals, piston rings.
It is possible to optimize combustion processes and get rid of the consequences of incomplete combustion of fuel with the help of an additive in gasoline combustion catalyst, FueleX. The combustion catalyst increases the rate and temperature of combustion, resulting in complete combustion. And as a result, there is no soot, coke and deposits - a clean engine, combustion chamber, catalyst. The use of a combustion catalyst increases the life of the motor.
Weaknesses Mitsubishi Lancer IX
Sensitivity to fuel quality
"92nd or 95th?" - a question that is relevant for all owners of Mitsubishi Lancer 9. Disputes over the octane number do not stop among owners to this day. The instruction manual says that you should refuel with gasoline with an octane rating of 92.95 and higher. Often in Russia, the 95th is made by adding additives to the 92nd. As a result, the octane number increases, but the quality of the fuel deteriorates, which affects engine parts. The solution may be the use of 92nd gasoline. The 98th, according to the observations of some Lancer owners, can lead to engine overheating and valve failure.
Note from the editor of the site lancer9.rf: I do not consider the described issue to be a direct drawback or weakness. I used it myself before (for about a year and a half, the 95th gasoline - there were no problems). Today, I have been using the 92nd for more than a year and also no problems arise.
Fuel consumption Lancer 9
Fuel consumption is the first thing the owner pays attention to. For the most popular 1.6-liter engine option among motorists, the consumption is: in the city - 8-10 liters per 100 km, on the highway 6-9 liters per 100 km.
If the consumption increases to 15 liters per 100 km even with a 1.6 liter engine, then this means that you need to pay attention to the catalyst. It is its pollution that leads to such a large fuel consumption. The problem will be solved by replacing the catalytic converter. Ferrocene deposits contribute to catalytic failure. Ferrocene has a specific brick color and its deposits can be seen on the lambda probe and candles, which in this case will also have to be replaced.
If power is lost and gasoline consumption has increased, then perhaps the reason lies in the throttle. Some car owners are foolishly advised to clean the throttle valve, with inept cleaning, this procedure threatens to “swim” revolutions. So be careful.
Note from the editor: I have a Lancer 9 with a 1.3L engine. problems, about the expense, as you know, does not arise.
Air conditioner Lancer 9
By itself, it does not cause problems. You only need to turn it on about once a week. This must be done even in winter. The purpose is to prevent leakage of air conditioner seals. You can turn it on in winter as follows: first, thoroughly warm up the interior with a heater, and only then turn on the air conditioner.
Note from the editor: to be honest, I have never heard of this procedure, so I can’t say anything about it, the air conditioner works fine.
Water in the cabin Lancer 9
If the smell of dampness and rot appeared in the car, then most likely this is due to water that has penetrated inside the passenger compartment. In some cases, water can enter through the plug between the passenger compartment and the wheel arch of the left front wheel. The problem is solved simply: you need to remove the mudguard, bend the fender liner and vigorously put the plug in place.
Editor's Note: Haven't encountered this issue.
Soundproofing Lancer 9
Noise isolation leaves much to be desired. This is especially true of thresholds and wheel arches.
Editor's Note: I totally agree. Noise isolation Lancer 9, unfortunately, is inferior to European cars. But this, in general, is the weak point of almost all "Japanese". Soon we plan to post an article on our site on soundproofing Lancer IX with our own hands.
Fogging headlights Lancer 9
This is due to the design of the headlights and may occur in wet weather. Eliminated by turning on the low beam. If this does not help, then it makes sense to contact the warranty service center. In general, the problem is solved by cleaning the ventilation holes and lubricating them with sealant.
Note from the editor: fogging of headlights can also occur after unsuccessful tuning, when their sealing is broken.
Disadvantages of Lancer 9 optics
The owners have repeatedly noted that the brightness of the headlights is clearly not enough. It is solved by replacing the dipped and main beam headlights with more suitable brightness, or by installing xenon.
Note from the editor: I remind you that the installation of xenon lamps in headlights that are not intended for this is prohibited. But no one will stop you from "collective farming" or installing special lenses.
The rather high cost of official spare parts and maintenance of Lancer 9
For a golf-class car, the Lancer is too expensive for original parts and maintenance. Of course, you can reduce costs by using suitable non-original parts.
Editor's note: I agree about original parts, but there are a huge number of analogues on the market, so there are ways to reduce the cost of service without compromising quality.
Brake discs Lancer 9
The generally recognized weak point of the Mitsubishi Lancer IX. Already by the first MOT they will need to be replaced, and at high speeds when braking they will “lead”. In some cases, they can crack or even break.
Note from the editor: you, of course, got excited about the first MOT. I myself encountered the problem of driven disks, but this happened during a run of about 80 thousand km.
Suspension Lancer 9
The suspension is hard. So long trips on not very good roads can be tiring.
Note from the editor: of course, how many people - so many opinions, but I do not think the Lancer 9's suspension is too stiff.
Fragile paint finish
Insufficient enamel strength can easily lead to cracks and chips, which in turn leads to rust.
Editor's note: I myself noticed small chips on the thresholds tailgate somewhere to 85 thousand km. mileage
Of the minor shortcomings, I also want to note the dimensions of the trunk, which are very modest for a city sedan, and the location of the washer reservoir under the hood in a cold place is not the best, so diluting the anti-freeze with water and saving money will not work.
In conclusion, we can say that the Mitsubishi Lancer IX still has much more advantages than disadvantages, and with proper timely maintenance, it will faithfully serve its owner without causing any special problems in operation.