Subject:	electrical or transmission problem
Question:	I have Mitsubishi Diamante 1997. A year ago my transmission broke, so i replaced it with used one (16,000 miles). After that that i still have some problem taking off. For instance when you stop on red and then take off on green my idle goes up to 2 or even 3 while driving only 10-15 miles an hour, and then after a rough push idle goes down and everything is fine. It happens almost everytime when the car gets in to a stop position and then takes off.
Answer:	Steven, This does sound like there is something going on with the your tranny, but it may not be a mechanical. The '97 model incorporates a "smart" transmission. The ECU (the car's computer) controls very precisely when the car is supposed to shift gears. Unfortunately, this model has known to get "confused" sometimes and not know exactly when to shift. So basically, you are in 1st gear while doing 15 MPH. Your techometer will definately rev to 3,000 RPMs in first gear at 15 MPH. It won't really hurt your engine, but it's very uncomfortable for the people in the car. Something in your car's ECU is not resetting correctly when you come to a stop; that's why you experience an RPM surge on take off. Unfortunately, this may not be an inexpensive fix. You'll want a qualified mechanic (probably a Mitsubishi dealership mechanic) to check out the car's computer. It is possible the new transmission was install improperly, so you can have that check out too. I believe the '97 has a 5 year/60,000 Drivetrain warranty. If you are still within those parameters, get it serviced by the dealership ASAP. The 1997 Diamante is a terrific car. Though it may cost a some money to repair this problem, I say its worth it. That car could easily last you 200,000+ miles if it's properly maintained (regular oil changes, tire rotations/balances, fluid checks, etc...) Hope this was helpful and good luck!