1998 Spyder Eclipse 4.0 has white smoke and flame shooting out of the intake side

Asked by Stephanie Oct 08, 2017 at 07:14 PM about the 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder 2 Dr GS Convertible

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

My eclipse started cutting off while at red lights
and stop signs. Then started cutting off while
driving. This last time it happened I was driving
down the highway. Since then it wont start. It
sounds like its trying to start in slow motion and I
heard a shot of air coming from the air box. I took
the air box off and disconnected it from the throttle
body. I went ahead and replaced fuel injectors also.
Tried to start it again and a flame shot out of the
intake side of the throttle body then white smoke
that's has a smell of gas. Anyone have any clue
what's going on?

30,955

Tom answered 7 years ago

The timing belt may have jumped out of timing ,,, it can happen if that belt isn't "balls to the wall" tight ... the belt should be changed at 70,000 miles

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224,145

Rowefast answered 7 years ago

Yes, sounds like a timing issue. Check the timing belt as Tom has said, the belt may have jumped and be bad, stripped teeth on the belt, check the timing marks on the camshaft gear and crankshaft gear to see if they are aligned properly.

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