2014 Mitsubishi Mirage 3-cyl coming to U.S. & Canada this year - 40 MPG (US) combined

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by Miller88

when the harmonic balancer wears out

Is that really a common problem? And wouldn't it be covered by the 10yr warranty?

I think I like it more than the spark. For around the same price you do get more features (not important to me), but much better gas mileage!

I haven't seen a Spark up close yet (never mind driven one). Out of curiosity, I'd like to though.

For 2014 GM actually put the same CVT in the Spark that the Mirage uses (used a 4 speed slushbox before). It seriously raised the Spark's automatic EPA rating (30/39/34), but it's still not up to either the CVT Mirage (37/42/40) or the manual (34/42/37). (Heavier car, less efficient engine, worse aero.)

0.28 is indeed pretty good for a car that short.

The Up is even shorter than the Mirage, I think.

Mirage gets a 0.27 rating in Japan and UK. But they also have a 1.0L engine option, and the size of the grille openings (fixed) on the Mirage vary depending on drivetrain combinations, with the biggest opening for the 1.2 CVT.

[Daox]

Since when do harmonic balancers wear out??? I've never heard of any Metros with that problem (or any other cars for that matter).

[user removed]

Harmonic balancers are pretty robust as long as you dont let a front seal leak or coolant leak saturate the rubber part between the inner and outer iron parts of the balancer. When we found one that was bad we just put a used one on since it was easy to see if the rubber part had been oil (or coolant) contaminated.

I have seen them come apart, also seen them with the belts holding them together. You could pull the outer part off after removing the belts, made a h##$% of a racket.

I would tend to agree that they are a "life of the vehicle" part without contamination affecting them. You might wear one out in 400+K miles since there is some flesing that is absorbed by the rubber. V12 BMWs being inherintely balanced do not have a harmonic balancer. I have not worked on enough 3 cylinder cars to see if that number of cylinders would affect longevity.

regards
Mech

[Miller88]

I4, V6, V8 engines usually have them for lifetime and it's pretty rare to have one wear out.

Who knows where Mitsubishi cut costs, though.

I like the little car. May consider one when the Focus starts to wear out.

Does the engine use a timing belt or chain? Belt is a deal killer.

[sendler]

There are some good numbers coming in on Fuelly for the Mirage where it is showing 42 mpgUS to the Spark's 37 and the Fiesta's 36.
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Mitsubishi Mirage MPG Reports | Fuelly
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Chevrolet Spark MPG Reports | Fuelly
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Ford Fiesta MPG Reports | Fuelly

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

The Up is even shorter than the Mirage, I think.

The up! is 17cm / almost 7" shorter than the Mirage.

Mirage gets a 0.27 rating in Japan and UK. But they also have a 1.0L engine option, and the size of the grille openings (fixed) on the Mirage vary depending on drivetrain combinations, with the biggest opening for the 1.2 CVT.

Grille should be easy to fix
Wider wheels would also make a difference.

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by Miller88

I4, V6, V8 engines usually have them for lifetime and it's pretty rare to have one wear out.

Who knows where Mitsubishi cut costs, though.

Does the engine use a timing belt or chain? Belt is a deal killer.

I have had plenty of harmonics go, our "bad" 6.2 diesel broke its crank after the harmonic flew apart at 200k.

Our 350 had a "pulley" off the bottom that drives the serpentine hammer and was also akin to a harmonic going (same location as the 6.2)

One of our old fords did this as well.

So I will say it depends on what they have the harmonic doing, if its integral to the serpentine pulley or fan drive it will go rather often, if its totally independant it will likely last just about forever.

Ours tended to blow a piece off and die catistrophically.

Yeah and I agree on timing belts, they really suck.

[Miller88]

I can't seem to find any definitive information whether it's a belt or chain.

I know of a few ford 3.0 Vulcan engines that had harmonic balance problems. Don't remember any of them breaking the crankshaft, but a lot of them did eat belts frequently.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by Miller88

I can't seem to find any definitive information whether it's a belt or chain.

Does the Mirage 1.2L engine have chain or belt-driven camshafts?

[Miller88]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Does the Mirage 1.2L engine have chain or belt-driven camshafts?

Good! Belts are asinine. Saving $50 while manufacturing the car to end up costing the owner a $1000 service at whatever interval.

Of course, Chevrolaewoozuki cheaped out pretty bad on some of their engines and the belt tensioner pullies would break destroying the engine!

I'll take a timing chain rattle over having to do timing belts or risking one snapping on me!