Mitsubishi Challenger: Suction control valve on the Denso high-pressure pump — hard hot starting and surging
Suction control valve on the Denso high-pressure pump — hard hot starting and surging is a common engine fault on the Mitsubishi Challenger on the 2015 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $400 to $1,400 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
- 2.5L
- Years
- 2015
- Fuel
- diesel
- System
- Engine
What you are looking at
No photograph available
What goes wrong
The 4D56 common-rail diesel uses a Denso fuel system, and the suction control valve is the small electric valve on the inlet side of the high-pressure pump that meters how much fuel gets pressurised. It is a genuine wear item on this engine. As it goes off, rail pressure becomes unstable and the car starts to hunt at idle, surge under light throttle, and crank for a long time before firing — usually worse when the engine is already hot, which is the opposite of what most people expect. The fault code is P0089. The valve itself is not expensive, but the same symptoms can also mean tired injectors, which is a much bigger bill, so it is worth knowing which one you are looking at before you agree a price.
What you would notice
- Long cranking before it fires, worse when the engine is already hot
- Idle speed hunting up and down instead of settling
- Surging or hesitation under light throttle at steady speeds
- Engine warning light with a fuel pressure fault stored
- Occasional stall when coming to a stop
How to check it
Where to look. Suction control valve on the side of the high-pressure fuel pump, at the belt end of the engine
Insist on starting the vehicle from stone cold yourself and count the seconds before it fires, then drive it for twenty minutes, switch it off, leave it for five minutes and start it again — a hot restart that cranks noticeably longer than the cold one is the classic sign. With the engine idling, watch the tachometer needle: it should sit rock steady, not drift up and down by a couple of hundred rpm. On the drive, hold a steady light throttle at around 60 to 80 km/h and feel for a gentle surging or pulsing rather than smooth pull. Ask whether the suction control valve or the injectors have ever been replaced, and ask for the invoices.
What it costs to put right
$400 to $1,400 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.
Ask the seller
- “Has the suction control valve or the fuel pump ever been replaced?”
- “Does it take longer to start when the engine is hot?”
- “Have the injectors ever been tested or reconditioned?”
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.
Where this comes from
- Willy's Workshop (Australia) — '4D56 SCV faults: Triton suction control valve symptoms'
- Go-Parts diagnostic guide — 'P0089 on 2005-2015 Mitsubishi Triton 2.5L 4D56: suction control valve causes and fixes'
- ReDriven — 'Used Mitsubishi Challenger (PB/PC) review': poor running, surging or a faulty suction control valve listed among common mechanical problems
Mitsubishi Challenger buyer questions
Is suction control valve on the denso high-pressure pump — hard hot starting and surging serious on a Mitsubishi Challenger?
We rate it major and common on the Mitsubishi Challenger. The 4D56 common-rail diesel uses a Denso fuel system, and the suction control valve is the small electric valve on the inlet side of the high-pressure pump that meters how much fuel gets pressurised. It is a genuine wear item on this engine. As it goes off, rail pressure becomes unstable and the car starts to hunt at idle, surge under light throttle, and crank for a long time before firing — usually worse when the engine is already hot, which is the opposite of what most people expect. The fault code is P0089. The valve itself is not expensive, but the same symptoms can also mean tired injectors, which is a much bigger bill, so it is worth knowing which one you are looking at before you agree a price.
How much does it cost to fix on a Mitsubishi Challenger?
$400 to $1,400 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 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?
Insist on starting the vehicle from stone cold yourself and count the seconds before it fires, then drive it for twenty minutes, switch it off, leave it for five minutes and start it again — a hot restart that cranks noticeably longer than the cold one is the classic sign. With the engine idling, watch the tachometer needle: it should sit rock steady, not drift up and down by a couple of hundred rpm. On the drive, hold a steady light throttle at around 60 to 80 km/h and feel for a gentle surging or pulsing rather than smooth pull. Ask whether the suction control valve or the injectors have ever been replaced, and ask for the invoices. Look here: Suction control valve on the side of the high-pressure fuel pump, at the belt end of the engine