2023 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Transmission

In the complex and finely tuned world of car care, installing the transmission in a 2023 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is a key step that requires the utmost precision and skill. As a key part of the vehicle’s powertrain system, the transmission is responsible for sending power from the engine to the wheels. This lets the vehicle accelerate smoothly, change gears quickly, and perform well overall. This extensive process includes taking out the old or broken transmission, carefully inspecting and preparing the new one, aligning and installing it in the car, and trying it thoroughly to make sure it works well. As we get into the details of this complicated process, we’ll look at the most important steps, things to think about, and frequently asked questions about installing the transmission in a 2023 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross. This will help us understand the most important factors that affect how well the car drives and how reliable it is.

Continuously variable transmission

Continuously variable transmission (CVT)

The CVT will automatically and continuously change its gear ratio depending on road and driving conditions. This helps achieve smooth driving and excellent fuel efficiency. Also you can manually shift the transmission up and down. Refer to “Sports mode”.

DRIVING UPHILL

• The transmission prevents unnecessary upshifts even when the accelerator pedal is released and ensures smooth driving.

DRIVING DOWNHILL

• According to the conditions, the transmission will automatically shift to a lower gear ratio to achieve stronger engine braking. This may help reduce your need to use the service brake.

Selector lever operation

As an additional safety precaution, models equipped with a CVT have a shift-lock device that holds the selector lever in the “P” (PARK) position. To move the selector lever from the “P” (PARK) position to another position, follow the steps below.

1. Press and hold the brake pedal down.
2. Press and hold the lock button.
3. Move the selector lever to the desired position.

NOTE: The selector lever cannot be moved from “P” (PARK) to other position if the ignition switch is set to the “OFF” or “ACC” position, or if the key has been removed, or the operation mode is put in OFF or ACC, or if the brake pedal is not pressed and held down.

The CVT selects an optimum ratio automatically when the selector lever is in the “D” (DRIVE) position, depending on the speed of the vehicle and the position of the accelerator pedal. The selector lever (A) has two gates; the main gate (B) and sports mode gate (C).

• In the main gate, selector lever has four positions, and is equipped with a lock button (D) to avoid inadvertent selection of the wrong gear.

• The lock button must be pushed while the brake pedal is depressed to move the selector lever.
• The lock button must be pushed to move the selector lever.
• The lock button need not be pushed to move the selector lever.

WARNING

• If the lock button is always pushed to operate the selector lever, the lever may be accidentally shifted into the “P” (PARK) or “R” (REVERSE) position. Be sure not to push the lock button when performing the operations indicated by in the illustration.
• Always press the brake pedal when shifting the selector lever into a selector position from the “N” (NEUTRAL) position. When beginning to drive, do not shift the selector lever from the “N” (NEUTRAL) position while pressing the accelerator pedal. This will cause the vehicle to “jump” forward or backward.

NOTE

• To prevent mistakes in operating the lever, make sure you stop briefly at each position. After operating, check the position in the multi-information display.
• If the brake pedal is not depressed and held, the shift-lock device activates to prevent the selector lever from being moved from the “P” (PARK) position.
• For a shift indicated by in the illustration, depress the brake pedal before moving the selector lever. If you attempt to move the selector lever before depressing the brake pedal, the selector lever may be immovable.

When the selector lever cannot be shifted from the “P” (PARK) position

When the selector lever cannot be shifted from the “P” (PARK) position to another position while the brake pedal is pressed and held down with the ignition switch at the “ON” position or the operation mode in ON, the battery may be flat or the shift-lock mechanism may be malfunctioning. Immediately have your vehicle checked by an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your choice. If you need to move the vehicle, shift the selector lever as follows.

1. Make sure the parking brake is firmly applied.
2. Stop the engine if it is running.
3. Insert a screwdriver with a cloth over its tip into the notch (A) of the cover. Pry gently as shown to remove the cover.
4. Depress the brake pedal with the right foot.
5. Insert a screwdriver in the shift-lock release hole (B). Shift the selector lever to the “N” (NEUTRAL) position while pressing the screwdriver down.

Selector lever position display

• When the ignition switch is turned to the “ON” position or the operation mode is put in ON, the selector lever position is shown on the multi-information display.

When the selector lever position display blinks (if the ambient temperature is low)

WARNING: To avoid unintended vehicle movement, keep brake pedal applied with your right foot and do not depress the accelerator pedal, while the selector lever position display is blinking.

If the ambient temperature is low, the selector lever position display on the multi-information display may blink when the selector lever is placed in the “D” (DRIVE), or “R” (REVERSE) position immediately after the engine has been started. This indicates that the transmission requires warming up. While the display is blinking, the vehicle will not move, because the transmission keeps disengaging until the warm up is completed even if the selector lever is placed in the “D” or “R” position.

When the selector lever position display is blinking, perform the following procedure:

1. Depress the brake pedal with your right foot and place the selector lever in the “N” (NEUTRAL) position for several seconds.
2. Keep depressing the brake pedal and then place the selector lever in the “D” (DRIVE), or “R” (REVERSE) position. If the selector lever position display stops blinking, the warm up is completed and the transmission will function normally.
3. If the display is still blinking, repeat steps 1 and 2 above.

NOTE: While the selector lever position display is blinking, a buzzer will sound intermittently.

Warning display

or

• When the warning display or the warning display appears on the information screen in the multi-information display while you are driving, there could be a malfunction in the CVT.

NOTE

• The selector lever position display blinks at the time of or warning display appears.
• The “A” indicator on the selector lever position display will blink only when there is a problem with the CVT position switch. It is not seen during normal driving.

CAUTION

• If a malfunction occurs in the CVT while driving, the warning display or the warning display will appear on the information screen in the multi-information display. In this case, follow these procedures:
  [When warning display is showing]
  The CVT fluid is overheating. The engine control may activate to lower the CVT fluid temperature, causing the engine revolutions and vehicle speed to decrease, In this case, take one of the following procedures.
  • Slow down your vehicle.
  • Stop your vehicle in a safe place, put the selector lever in the “P” (PARK) position, and open the engine hood with the engine running to allow the engine to cool down.
• After a while, confirm that the warning display is no longer showing. It is safe to continue driving if the display is no longer showing. If the warning display remains or flashes frequently, have your vehicle inspected by an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your choice immediately.
  [When warning display is showing]
  • It may be that there is something unusual happening in the CVT, causing a safety device to activate. Have your vehicle inspected by an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your choice immediately.

Selector lever positions

“P” PARK

• This position locks the transmission to prevent the vehicle from moving. The engine can be started in the “P” (PARK) position.

“R” REVERSE

• Move the lever to this position only after the vehicle has come to a complete stop.

CAUTION: Never shift into the “P” (PARK) or “R” (REVERSE) position while the vehicle is in motion. If the lever is shifted into the “P” (PARK) or “R” (REVERSE) position while the vehicle is in motion, the transmission may be damaged.

“N” NEUTRAL

At this position, the transmission is disengaged. It is the same as the neutral position on a manual transaxle and should be used when the vehicle is not moving for an extended length of time during driving, such as in a traffic jam.

WARNING

• Never move the selector lever to the “N” (NEUTRAL) position while driving since you could accidentally slip it into the “P” (PARK) or “R” (REVERSE) position, damaging the transmission.
• To prevent the vehicle from rolling when stopped on a slope, the engine should be started in the “P” (PARK) position, not in “N” (NEUTRAL) position.
• To prevent rolling, always keep your foot on the brake pedal when the vehicle is in “N” (NEUTRAL) position, or when shifting into or out of “N” (NEUTRAL) position.

“D” DRIVE

This position is used for most city and highway driving. The transmission will automatically and continuously change its gear ratio depending on road and driving conditions.

CAUTION: To prevent transmission damage, never shift into the “D” (DRIVE) position from the “R” (REVERSE) position while the vehicle is in motion.

Sports mode

Whether the vehicle is stationary or in motion, sports mode is selected by gently pushing the selector lever from the “D” (DRIVE) position into sports mode gate (A). To return to “D” (DRIVE) operation, gently push the selector lever back into the main gate (B).

In sports mode, gear shifts can be made rapidly simply by moving the selector lever backward and forward or using the sportronic steering wheel paddle shifter at the steering wheel (for vehicles equipped with the sportronic steering wheel paddle shifter). In contrast to a M/T, the sports mode allows gear shifts with the accelerator pedal depressed.

NOTE

• While the vehicle is stopped, only 1st gear can be selected with the selector lever.
• You can also shift into sports mode by operating the spintronic steering wheel paddle shifter while driving in the “D” (DRIVE) position. Also, you can return to the “D” (DRIVE) operation in any of the following ways. When returning to “D” (DRIVE) operation, the selector lever position display will change to “D” (DRIVE) position.
  • Pull the spintronic steering wheel paddle shifter on the + (SHIFT UP) side for longer than 2 seconds.
  • Stop the vehicle.
  • Push the selector lever from the “D” (DRIVE) position into the manual gate (A) and push the selector lever back into the main gate (B).

1. + (SHIFT UP)
   • Transmission shifts up once by each operation.
2. – (SHIFT DOWN)
   • Transmission shifts down once by each operation.

CAUTION

• In sports mode, the driver must execute upward shifts in accordance with prevailing road conditions, taking care to keep the engine speed below the tachometer’s red zone.
• Repeated continuous operation of the selector lever or the spintronic steering wheel paddle shifter will continuously switch shift positions.
• Shift ranges may not change when the lateral paddle shifters are operated at the same time.

NOTE

• Shift ranges can only be selected in a forward direction from 1st to 8th. To reverse or park the vehicle, move the selector lever to the “R” (REVERSE) or “P” (PARK) position.
• To maintain good running performance, the transmission may refuse to perform an upshift when the selector lever or the sportronic steering wheel paddle shifter on the “+ (SHIFT UP)” side is pulled at certain vehicle speeds. Also, to prevent over-revving of the engine, the transmission may refuse to perform a downshift when the selector lever or the sportronic steering wheel paddle shifter on the “ – (SHIFT DOWN)” side is pulled at certain vehicle speeds. When this happens, a buzzer sounds to indicate that a downshift is not going to take place.
• Downward shifts are made automatically when the vehicle slows down. Before the vehicle stops, 1st gear is automatically selected.
• The upward shift may be made automatically in sports mode when the engine speed rises and approaches the tachometer’s red zone.

Sports mode display

• In sports mode, the currently selected shift range is displayed on the information screen in the multi-information display.

Operation of the CVT

CAUTION

• Before selecting a position with the engine running and the vehicle stationary, firmly depress the brake pedal to prevent the vehicle from creeping. The vehicle will begin to move as soon as the CVT is engaged, especially when the engine speed or idle speed is high, or with the air conditioning operating. Do not release the brake pedal until you are ready to drive away.
• Depress the brake pedal with the right foot at all times. Using the left foot could cause driver movement delay in case of an emergency.
• To prevent sudden acceleration, never run the engine at high revolutions when shifting from the “P” (PARK) or “N” (NEUTRAL).
• Operating the accelerator pedal while the other foot is resting on the brake pedal will affect braking efficiency and may cause premature wear of brake pads.
• Use the selector lever in the correct shift position in accordance with driving conditions. Never coast downhill backward in the driving shift position {“D” (DRIVE) position or sports mode} or coast forward in the “R” (REVERSE) position. Engine stopping and increased brake pedal and steering effort could lead to an accident.
• Do not rev the engine with the brake pedal pressed when the vehicle is stationary. This can damage the CVT. Also, when you depress the accelerator pedal while holding down the brake pedal with the selector lever in the “D” (DRIVE) position, the engine revolutions may not rise as high as when performing the same operation with the selector lever in the “N” (NEUTRAL) position.

Passing acceleration

• To gain extra acceleration in “D” (DRIVE) position (when passing another vehicle) push the accelerator to the floor. The CVT will automatically downshift.

NOTE: In sports mode, downshifts do not take place when the accelerator is depressed all the way to the floor.

Waiting

For short waiting periods, such as at traffic lights, the vehicle can be left in selector lever position and held stationary with the service brake. For longer waiting periods with the engine running, place the selector lever in the “N” (NEUTRAL) position and apply the parking brake, while holding the vehicle stationary with the service brake. Prior to moving off after having stopped the vehicle, make sure that the selector lever is in “D” (DRIVE) position or Sports mode position.

CAUTION

• To avoid transmission overheating, never try to keep your vehicle stationary on a hill by using the accelerator pedal. Always apply the parking brake and/or service brake.
• Do not rev the engine unnecessarily while the vehicle is stationary. Unexpected acceleration may occur if the selector lever is in a position other than “P” (PARK) or “N” (NEUTRAL).

Parking

• To park the vehicle, first bring it to a complete stop, firmly apply the parking brake, and then move the selector lever to the “P” (PARK) position.

When the CVT makes no speed change

If the CVT does not shift while driving, or your vehicle does not pick up enough speed when starting on an uphill slope, it may be that there is something unusual happening in the transmission, causing a safety device to activate. Immediately have your vehicle checked at an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your choice.

NOTE: When the warning display and “SLOW DOWN” or the warning display and “SERVICE REQUIRED” appear on the information screen in the multi-information display, there could be a malfunction in the CVT. Refer to “Continuously variable transmission (CVT): Warning display”.

FAQ