NHTSA Complaint #10072842 — 1997 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE

OCTOBER 20, 2003 I PURCHASED A 1997 ECLIPSE GST FROM CITY LIMIT AUTO IN JOHNSTON, RI. MARCH 14, 2004 I WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN A SMALL CLICK FORMED IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR AFTER REACHING 3,500 RPMS. WITH-IN MINUTES THE CLICK DEVELOPED INTO WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A SMALL HOLE IN THE EXHAUST, PROBABLY THE CAT. NOT WANTING TO RISK IT I PULLED OFF THE NEXT EXIT TO BRING THE CAR TO MY FRIEND'S HOUSE AND HAVE IT TOWED. A STREET AWAY FROM HIS HOUSE (DOING 10MPH IN 1ST GEAR), THE NOISE GREW INTO A LOUD CONSTANT ELECTRICAL BUZZING OR CLICKING NOISE, NO HIGH OIL PRESUE ON THE DASH LIGHT OR GAUGE AND NO OVERHEATING ACCORDING TO GAUGE, WITH-IN 5 SECONDS THE OIL PAN BLEW, WHITE BILLOWS OF SMOKE PUFFED OUT AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. I TRIED TO TURN THE CAR OVER, BUT ALL IT DID WAS CLINK, AND WHEN I GOT OUT I FOUND A LARGE OIL PUDDLE UNDER MY CAR. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT HE REFUSES TO FIX IT. I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT REASON THE ENGINE BLEW, FOR LACK OF MONEY, BUT AFTER READING SOME WEBSITES I HAVE CONCLUDED IT WAS EITHER THE FUEL PUMP, OIL PUMP, OR CRANKWALK. E-MAIL [email protected] WITH ANY INFO. FOR FULL STORY GO TO HTTP://WWW.VPSTREET.ORG/INDEX.PHP?PAGE=CITY THANK YOU.*AK