99 Transmission Problems

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Hi:  I have a 1999 Sport Limited with 41K on it.  Within the last two weeks I have had some peculiar transmission events.  First my wife left school drove about 10 ft and stopped for a car which was backing out of a parking spot.  When she stepped on the gas, it went no where.  Tried all gears, went no where then when in gear stepped on gas and tires spun and she was off.  Yesterday I was pulling out of a movie theater had driven  a couple of 100 feet, stopped waiting to turn left on to busy road.  When traffic clear, stepped on the gas and nothing.  I put in natural and put in 4w hi with no response, went back to natural took out,  placed in 2w hi and no response.  Put in natural placed in 4w lo, no response. Placed back in 2w hi and no response.  Shut off truck and restarted.  Placed in drive and stepped on the gas and the truck took off.  Oh, just for those wondering, this is all taking place in probably 10 to 20 degree weather but no snow.  The ECU has not output any codes, but I am a manual transmission guy.  This is the first automatic I have had in years and now I remember why I didn't ever want one again!

I have no idea what this is.  I would suggest some sort of electronic issue with a cut-out or by pass?  I took to the dealer today.  They of course have no clue.  Supposedly called Mitsubishi who new nothing about it.  Tomorrow they are going to "go a little deeper"  They will drop pan, change fluid and mentioned that they wanted to change filter.  I said Ok, I understand the concept, but "remember, you did that at 30,000 miles". Well the response I got was a little surprising to me.  They said yes to the fluid change, but that they did not change the filter.  I don't know that I have ever done something like that in my life.

Two questions and any leads would be deeply appreciated.  1) any idea what has gone on?  Has anyone had a similar experience?  and 2) Is it Mitsubishi recommendation to not change filters with the fluid change???

Thanks Larry J

[Stinger_Ray]

Larry,  I posted this under new owner info but copied it here.
You can print this out and take it to your dealer. Let me if you need more info (my dealer name and # ect...)

I have had only one recurring problem with my 2001 XS.
3 different times, all after warming the car up, I have had troudle geting the car into drive. I shifted into drive but the trans did not engage. Reved the engine twice, nothing. Shifted to N and then back to D. It was still several seconds befor the trans cought and the car jumped foward.  
The dealer has had the car for the past week.  

I also have had no answers in 3 visits to the dealer. They claim they spoke to the engineer in charge of the Montero Sport. He was unaware of any other problems like mine.The dealer wanted to put in a new trans but Mitsu woun't aprove.  I was told to bring it back when the problem occurs more often.

Any ideas out there befor I envoke PAs lemon law.  

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Thanks for the info.  I passed it on to the dealer today and guess what?  They didn't seem to be all that interested!  What a surprise.  They did thank me and said keep it handy, but we will have to go through the drill with Mitsubishi, etc.  Well what has happened so far is that they found a deformed O-Ring under the transmission filter.  So at the moment that has been replaced and I am to drive it and see what happens.  That is a possibility as it could effect pressure, but I would have thought unless it just blew into the deformed position that this event would have been more prevelant in the past than it has been.  I presume that you have had your transmission filter change at least more than once and I also susppect that this was not found as you would likely have indicated that fact.  I wish us both good luck and even better cell phone connections on the road!  Larry Johnston