>> My Mom (age 95, lives west of Daytona, FL) called
me tonight and told me that her mechanic told her that
her 1990 (or 91) Dodge Colt Vista cannot be fixed
because the engine computer is bad, and he cannot get
the a good
one.

>> However, assuming mechanic is right, how do I
source replacement parts for her car.  While vehicle
has the Dodge brand, it was made by Mitsubishi.

John,

I drive a 1992 Dodge Colt hatchback, and my wife a '94
Dodge Colt Vista Wagon. In the rest of the world, they
are known as the Mitsubishi Mirage and Expo,
respectively. These cars are indeed prone to ECU
failure, and it has to do with some faulty capacitors
which tend to overheat and leak. Very hot weather
often precipitates the problem. That doesn't
necessarily prove that is indeed your current problem,
but it will cause all manner of trouble, so should be
checked. Rebuilt units can be had for $150-300,
exchange.

Here's a source for rebuilt Dodge/Mitsu ECUs:
http://www.ecmtogo.com/

And here's a forum which I have found helpful:
http://www.4g61t.org

My boring little transportation appliance is evidently
highly regarded as a mild street performance car,
since the forum is populated mostly by
twenty-something boy-racers with a penchant for ground
effects and tuned coffee-can mufflers. So as you type
your questions, be sure to wear your perfectly
hemispherical ball cap backwards and make liberal use
of words like "jive-fresh", "hempyed", and "baloney
skins".

But these guys know a LOT about these little cars and
are very helpful.

Good luck!

Jeffrey Earl
1983 diesel Westfalia "Vanasazi"
http://www.vanthology.com/

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