CriticalCommonEngine

Mitsubishi Challenger: 4D56 timing belt and balance shaft belt — a snapped belt destroys the engine

4D56 timing belt and balance shaft belt — a snapped belt destroys the engine is a common engine fault on the Mitsubishi Challenger on the 2010–2015 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $1,200 to $9,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 12 documented faults on the Mitsubishi Challenger.

Vehicle: Mitsubishi Challenger
Engine: 4D56
Years: 2010–2015
Fuel: diesel
System: Engine

This page covers the Mitsubishi Challenger as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Mitsubishi Challenger faults12 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Timing belt yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The 2.5-litre 4D56 diesel in the PB/PC Challenger drives its camshaft with a rubber belt, not a chain, and it is an interference engine: if the belt lets go the pistons meet the valves and the engine is finished. Mitsubishi calls for replacement around 90,000 km. Behind the timing belt sits a second belt driving the balance shafts, and this is the part that catches people out — the balance shaft belt is known to shred early on this engine, and the debris and vibration it throws off can take the timing belt with it. The correct job replaces both belts, the tensioners and the water pump together, so a seller who says 'the timing belt has been done' but paid for one belt only has left the trap fully set. On any Challenger with no belt paperwork, assume the job is due now and price the car accordingly.

What you would notice

A whine, whirr or rumble from the front of the engine that rises with revs
New vibration through the car that was not there before, especially at idle
No timing belt entry in the service book near the 90,000 km mark
Rubber dust or belt debris visible around the front cover
Engine turns over but will not start after a bang or a sudden stop

How to check it

Where to look. Timing belt and balance shaft belt behind the front cover at the accessory-belt end of the engine

Start with the paperwork, because this is the fault where paperwork is the inspection: look through the service book and any invoices for a timing belt entry, note the kilometres it was done at, and check the invoice actually lists the balance shaft belt, tensioners and water pump rather than the timing belt alone.
Take a photo of that invoice.
With the bonnet up and the engine idling, stand at the front and listen along the belt end for a whine, whirr or rumble that rises and falls with revs — a balance shaft belt on the way out is often audible before it fails, or by ear at least gives you a reason to dig further.
Put your hand flat on the top of the engine at idle and feel for a coarse shake that was not in other cars you have driven.
Ask the seller directly when the belts were last done, and if the answer is vague, treat the full belt job as a cost you are taking on the day you buy it.

Parts involved: Timing belt.

What it costs to put right

$1,200 to $9,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“When were the timing belt and balance shaft belt last replaced, and at what kilometres?”
“Does the invoice include the balance shaft belt, tensioners and water pump?”
“Has the engine ever been rebuilt or had valve work?”

Now check the Mitsubishi Challenger you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

ReDriven — 'Used Mitsubishi Challenger (PB/PC) review' cheat sheet: 90,000 km timing belt, reports of premature balance shaft belt failure
Pajero 4WD Club of Victoria forum — '4D56 Balance shaft: what the hell does it do' thread on balance shaft belt failure taking out the timing belt
JustAnswer Australia — '2010 PB Challenger balance belt whining noise' case
Offroad Express (NZ) forum thread '4D56 reliability?' — NZ owners on belt intervals and failures

Mitsubishi Challenger buyer questions

Is 4d56 timing belt and balance shaft belt — a snapped belt destroys the engine serious on a Mitsubishi Challenger?

We rate it critical and common on the Mitsubishi Challenger. The 2.5-litre 4D56 diesel in the PB/PC Challenger drives its camshaft with a rubber belt, not a chain, and it is an interference engine: if the belt lets go the pistons meet the valves and the engine is finished. Mitsubishi calls for replacement around 90,000 km. Behind the timing belt sits a second belt driving the balance shafts, and this is the part that catches people out — the balance shaft belt is known to shred early on this engine, and the debris and vibration it throws off can take the timing belt with it. The correct job replaces both belts, the tensioners and the water pump together, so a seller who says 'the timing belt has been done' but paid for one belt only has left the trap fully set. On any Challenger with no belt paperwork, assume the job is due now and price the car accordingly.

How much does it cost to fix on a Mitsubishi Challenger?

$1,200 to $9,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Mitsubishi Challenger years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2010–2015 Mitsubishi Challenger. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Start with the paperwork, because this is the fault where paperwork is the inspection: look through the service book and any invoices for a timing belt entry, note the kilometres it was done at, and check the invoice actually lists the balance shaft belt, tensioners and water pump rather than the timing belt alone. Take a photo of that invoice. With the bonnet up and the engine idling, stand at the front and listen along the belt end for a whine, whirr or rumble that rises and falls with revs — a balance shaft belt on the way out is often audible before it fails, or by ear at least gives you a reason to dig further. Put your hand flat on the top of the engine at idle and feel for a coarse shake that was not in other cars you have driven. Ask the seller directly when the belts were last done, and if the answer is vague, treat the full belt job as a cost you are taking on the day you buy it. Look here: Timing belt and balance shaft belt behind the front cover at the accessory-belt end of the engine