I have a 2001 Mitsubishi Mirage..1.8 cylinder I was driving and I stopped at the light and my car just cut off...I put the car in neutral and was pushed out of the street until my mechanic came. He told me to turn the car on and it didn't start up, my horn still blew and there was no sound like the engine was turning over... he said he took the cover off and can tell that I need a new timing belt and the other timing part . He also mentioned that because I tried to start the car up....it may have damaged the engine and I might need a new engine. How do I know if my pistons bent or if I need a new engine? He said he wouldn't know unless he took the engine apart... He also said that he could tell the belt wasn't breaking apart, etc. Also, it would be best to replace the water pump too...I had the car towed to his house where he and another mechanic will replace the timing belt and if everything runs....I won't have to replace the engine and if I do...there will be an additional labor charge along with the cost of the engine...the engine alone could cost me $400.00 labor additional $350.

SOURCE: 2001 mitsubischi eclipse gt spyder 3.0L v6 sputtering

yes you should ask for a refund. no 2 if your having a real fouling problem on number 2 plug it could be a bad piston ring or it could be a bad valve seal. there are different options you can take when it involves an engine. first 2600 bucks for rebuild is way high. as far as 5 days for rebuild that is way too long i have done it in no more than 3. also depending on age of vehicle you can get a fresh reman engine through diamler chrysler mitsubishi for the same price and have a better warrenty. or you can get what is called a used or drop in motor with minimal parts cost at least half the price. when you have a backfire problem and it drops alot of smoke out the rear pipe it could mean you have a timing problem. In the future when you take a vehicle to the shop always have someone with you. also ask alot of questions and if they same kind of of the wall answers take it to someone else. as a mechanic i hate that people get taken advantage of it makes things really hard for good ones to help the people who need it. hope i have help you. please rate this solution and if you need more answers just ask me. thank you and good luck

SOURCE: My 2001 Mitsubishi Galant shut down while driving on the highway.

it is possible that the self starter is damaged cause i had that same problem once and after changing it worked just fine

SOURCE: danger of bent valve and difficulty of replacement with broken timing chain

dealing with timing chains its harder then timing belts i mean if you have the right tools it can be done but it can be pretty difficult when dealing with the timing , and the chance of a bent valves it depends if you have a 2.0L DOHC there is definatelly a pretty good chance that u might have valve or piston damage, if you have 2.0 SOHC u wont have damage at all

SOURCE: 2001 Galant ES-V6 DTC is P0304 - Cylinder #4 misfire

look for weak valve springs.

SOURCE: 1996 Mitsubishi Galant Timing Belt and Oil Pump Timing

THe timing of the oil pump is irrelevent as no matter where it is timed as long as it is pumping oil. you must have a leak from a cam or crank seal or maybe the oil pressure sender. hope this helps. regards Ben.