Hey guys, I'm in serious need for some good advice and help. My engine keeps dying on me. Sometimes it even happens while I'm driving. It just won't start up. But if I wait for a couple of hours and try again, then it starts up. Everything seems to be normal except the check engine light and the battery light in the dashboard. When those two lights are not lit up, the engine won't fire up. But when those two damn lights are on, then the engine starts without a glitch. Now here's the confusing part. When the Check Engine light does finally come on (before I turn the key for ignition), it blinks. First it stays on for awhile, then it blinks once, twice, 5 times, and finally another 5 times. So all in all it blinks following this pattern. 1-2-5-5. Any clue what's going on here? I don't think the problem is mechanical and neither do I think it's the battery cause when my engine doesn't wanna start, everything else like my foglights, air-cond, cd player, blah blah still works fine. It also isn't the starter. The starter is working just fine only the engine won't fire up. HELP!

That is goofy. you CEL are flashing 12 and 55, which are normal codes.

Do the key dance again to make sure you get the same codes.

Nope. That's all it does. 1-2-5-5 then it stops blinking. But like I said, once the check engine light and the battery light comes on, there's no problem starting the car. But when those two lights doesn't come on, then it won't fire up at all. When I turn the ignition key, the engine cranks (starter at work) but the engine won't fire up. Any clue? I know it's goofy as hell. And yeah, I turned the key again and again and I get the same code all the time. And by the way, checked out your website. CUTE COUPLE! Nice cars too!

I suffered from the same thing just a couple of weeks ago. Pain in the ass. I checked everything that I thought it could possibly be. I checked power to the coilpack, had new plugs and wires, battery was fine, ignition relay was replaced and starter was cranking well, etc just like you. Before that the car would die out on me even when I was driving down the interstate at 80mph.

Near the end, the check engine light would not come on. I was like WTF!!!!! I couldnt even do the keydance to check the codes. Finally I had the car towed to the dealership. They checked all the wiring and everything checked out fine.

Turns out that the PCM ( ECU ) had an internal error and had to be replaced.

I dont mean to scare you by saying that but that is what happened to me after I suffered the same symptoms.

He's right^^^^^^^ your ECU/PCM is toast ...get a new one

check your camposition sensor on the dr. side of the valve cover... right next to the intake piping....

Could be cam sensor, I had the same issues and it wouldn't pull a code for it...But in an other view your ecm seems to be acting funny...flashing codes when your not even doing the key dance...Wierd}(

Yeah it is acting very weird. I get the same error codes when I don't do the key dance but even if I did to the key dance, I'll still get the same error codes. Hmmmm..... I checked out a weksite and the reading 12-55 doesn't really mean anything. 55 is just the END OF ERROR CODE while 12 means the PCM was disconnected within the last 50 key on cycles. I'm really lost. I guess I'll have to go back to Mitsubishi and have them check my ECU. Sigh.

Yeah I threw the Camshaft position sensor code also so I went to the dealer and ordered another one. Car runs fine and strong now, but I still have the same code.

I really think that your PCM is "on its way out". My guess is that it will get progressively worse then just take a crap.

I think that the PCM should "only" cost you $532 from the dealer, but hey you get a warranty on it.

Sorry to hear the bad news

Keep us posted

My car has been at my mechanic's place for over three days now and my mechanic has no freaking idea what's wrong with it. My car's doing the same thing to him. One minute it works fine, the next, it just dies. He says the last thing on the list is the ECU or PCM but like you guys adviced, he's checking all the other sensors first. Well, that's the update. I've been trying to look for ECU's online and I've found this website.

www.haltech.com

Any idea what those ECUs are all about? Sounds very high tech man.

Sup man.
If you need a replacement of ECU/PCM, just PM or email me.
I have a couple of them sitting here.
1995, 1996, 1997, 1999.

If you want, PM me and I call sell it to you. They are in perfect working condition.

Gil.:thumbsup
Good luck btw!
Gil

Hey people, thanks for trying to help. I've already bought a ECU off Gil and I'll use that till I rebuilt my own ECU. And Gil, don't worry about selling me the AT ECU. Hehe. Miscommunication that's all.