2004 MITSUBISHI LANCER Electrical System Problems

JUST LEFT A AUTO CAR WASH AND WITHIN ABOUT TWO MINUTES SMOKE RISES FROM THE CENTER FLOOR CONSOLE. I PULLED INTO A NEARBY GAS STATION ABOUT A BLOCK AWAY. PARKED AWAY FROM THE PUMPS. DEMANDED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM THE ATTENDANT. RETURNED TO THE CAR AS FLAMES JUST STARTED TO ERUPT FROM THE CONSOLE . THE DRY CHEMICAL EXTINGUISHER MADE QUICK WORK OF THE FIRE. I DON'T THINK BETWEEN THE SMELL & SIGHT OF SMOKE AND PUTTING OUT THE FIRE FIVE MINUTES ELAPSED. I THINK THE WIRING MUST HAVE SHORTED. THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER NEVER WORKED. THE ONLY OTHER THE DEVICE ON THE HARNESS INTO THE CONSOLE IS THE P-R-N-D ILLUMINATION PANEL. THE FIRE CAUSED THE PLASTIC CONSOLE HOUSING TO MELT DOWN INTO THE TOP OF THE TRANSMISSION LINKAGE. THE TOW TUCK OPERATOR WAS ABLE TO CUT THE MELTED PLASTIC OFF OF THE LINKAGE & I WAS ABLE TO DIVE THE...

MY HOT/COOL KNOB IS BROKEN. MY HEATER FAN ONLY WORKS ON 4, AC ONLY RUNS ON 1,2 OR3. I ALSO HAD WATER ON MY PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR DUE TO CONDENSATION FROM THE AC NOT PROPERLY DRAINING. THE WATER ALSO GOT INTO MY BLOWER MOTOR, WHICH I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED. WILL BE REPLACING HEATER RESISTOR THIS WEEK, SO I CAN USE MY AC AGAIN. HOT/COOL KNOB WILL COST AT LEAST $1000 TO FIX, SO IT'S STAYING BROKEN. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE IDLING, THE DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS REMOVED AND AN HOUR LATER WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, WHICH FRACTURED THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED, THE DEALER WAS ALERTED AND INDICATED THE PROBLEM WAS MOST LIKELY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT DUE TO FLOODING.

I PURCHASED A 2004 MITSUBISHI LANCER RALLIART SEDAN AND PAID IT OFF IN FULL UPON RECIEPT OF THE VEHICLE. IN THE PAST FEW YEARS I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL ISSUES, HOWEVER MY PRIMARY CONCERN TODAY IS A SENSOR THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING REPLACED FOR THE 5TH TIME TODAY. THE SENSOR IS CALLED THE APP SENSOR. WHEN IT GOES OUT, IT CAUSES MY VEHICLE TO RAPIDLY DECELERATE AND THE ENGINE WON'T REV PAST 2,500 RPM'S. THIS HAS BECOME AN ISSUE BECAUSE TWO DAYS AGO THE SENSOR WENT OUT ON ME AGAIN, AFTER BEING REPLACED JUST WEEKS AGO. THIS TIME WHEN THE SENSOR WENT OUT, IT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BE INVOLVED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON I25. I HAVE ASKED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHY THIS PART KEEPS FAILING ON ME AND THEY REPLIED "WE DON'T KNOW, YOUR THE ONLY PERSON WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THIS PART FOR AND DONT...

MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT DOWN THE STREET. *JB

1. AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE FOR AN HOUR OR LESS (DEPENDING ON ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS) A SPARK/STATIC DISCHARGE OCCURS BETWEEN THE EXTERNAL METAL SURFACE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE FIRST OCCUPANT EXITING VEHICLE. *AK 2. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY IGNITE FUMES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS REFUELING OR IN PRESENCE OF OTHER FLAMABLE GASES/MATERIALS. ALSO POTENTIAL COULD CAUSE SPARK BETWEEN THE GAS TANK DOOR AND GAS STATION FUEL NOZZLE. THIS IS AS MUCH OF A DANGER AS AN ANNOYANCE DUE TO THE STATIC DISCHARGE/SPARK IS VERY STRONG. I DO NOT EXPERIENCE THIS IN OTHER VEHICLES. 3. HAVE NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO CHECK IF THIS IS CORRECTABLE. EITHER WAY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE, IF THIS ISSUE IS WIDESPREAD, SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THIS POSSIBLE DANGER.