Changes in the Lancer in 2009
Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2026 12:31 pm
Asking the Mitsubishi/Lancer community for some advice. Neither my mechanic nor I can figure it out. There are 185,000 kilometres (115,000 miles) on my 2009 Lancer 5-speed manual. An issue with difficulty shifting out of first gear began to manifest at approximately 120,000km (75,000miles). It would be somewhat "stuck" in first gear during the shift from first to second gear if you pressed the clutch all the way to the floor while the car was running or moving. You would need to give it a strong tug to release it from the first place, but eventually it would come out. Then it's second to third, and so on, without a hitch. The only problem was dropping from first to second. The automobile would also only do this on rare occasions. It would do it multiple times a day on some days, but not all of the time or for many days on others. It appeared to make no difference whether the vehicle was hot and had been through the gears numerous times or icy and was being run through them for the first time. Put simply, it would occur entirely without prior notice.
Then it became a major problem around two years ago. Constantly escaping first place was a huge pain. Feeling rather stranded. Multiple pumps of the clutch would be required. This is bad. Changing gears wasn't too difficult once the car was moving. I hobbled it to my mechanic's shop and patiently waited for him to take it in.
If I recall correctly, he mentioned that the release bearing was the malfunctioning component when he removed the parts. On the other hand, he recommended getting a new clutch since the old one is showing its age and breaking down completely. "Sure," I confirmed. When I got the vehicle back, he had installed a new clutch (an OEM one) and released the bearings, among other things. Easy as pie. He also used the Mitsubishi/Diaqueen 75w-85 gear oil, which was my request.
In any case, the new clutch was fantastic for the first year or two, but then I noticed that it grabbed a bit coming out of first gear again, just like the old one. I ignored it because it didn't do it again.
Every six months or so, it has begun "grabbing" again, and this time it's more consistent. Having said that, there are days when it does it more frequently than others. On some days, it happens when the car is cold and the first gear is engaged. On other days, shifting is fine throughout the day, and then suddenly, it decides to grab first gear.
In addition, ever since the clutch was done, the gear oil, which is Diaqueen/Mitsubishi 75w-90, is changed every 65,000km (40,000 miles) according to the manual.
Then it became a major problem around two years ago. Constantly escaping first place was a huge pain. Feeling rather stranded. Multiple pumps of the clutch would be required. This is bad. Changing gears wasn't too difficult once the car was moving. I hobbled it to my mechanic's shop and patiently waited for him to take it in.
If I recall correctly, he mentioned that the release bearing was the malfunctioning component when he removed the parts. On the other hand, he recommended getting a new clutch since the old one is showing its age and breaking down completely. "Sure," I confirmed. When I got the vehicle back, he had installed a new clutch (an OEM one) and released the bearings, among other things. Easy as pie. He also used the Mitsubishi/Diaqueen 75w-85 gear oil, which was my request.
In any case, the new clutch was fantastic for the first year or two, but then I noticed that it grabbed a bit coming out of first gear again, just like the old one. I ignored it because it didn't do it again.
Every six months or so, it has begun "grabbing" again, and this time it's more consistent. Having said that, there are days when it does it more frequently than others. On some days, it happens when the car is cold and the first gear is engaged. On other days, shifting is fine throughout the day, and then suddenly, it decides to grab first gear.
In addition, ever since the clutch was done, the gear oil, which is Diaqueen/Mitsubishi 75w-90, is changed every 65,000km (40,000 miles) according to the manual.