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Mitsubishi Colt: Allshift automated-manual clutch actuator wear (jerky shifts / failure)

Allshift automated-manual clutch actuator wear (jerky shifts / failure) is a common transmission fault on the Mitsubishi Colt on the 2004–2012 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $900 to $3,500 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 10 documented faults on the Mitsubishi Colt.

Vehicle
Mitsubishi Colt
Years
2004–2012
Fuel
petrol
Gearbox
auto
System
Transmission

This page covers the Mitsubishi Colt 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 Colt faults10 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

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

What goes wrong

Many Colt automatics are not a conventional torque-converter auto or a CVT but an 'Allshift' single-clutch automated manual. The clutch actuator and clutch plate wear prematurely, and a sticky centre-plate on the input shaft causes harsh, jerky take-up from a standstill, delayed or missed shifts, and eventually a refusal to select gears. Stored codes are typically P1710 (clutch actuator) and P1830 (engage error). Ignored, it can leave you stranded. Buyers often mistake the jerkiness for a slipping ordinary auto.

What you would notice

  • Pronounced lurch or jerk pulling away from a stop
  • Long pause between gear changes
  • Transmission warning light
  • Occasional refusal to engage a gear

How to check it

Where to look. Clutch actuator on the bellhousing at the front of the transaxle

  1. Drive it from cold and feel the take-up from a standstill: smooth is good, a violent lurch is bad.

  2. Test reverse engagement.

  3. If you can, scan for P17xx/P18xx transmission codes.

  4. Confirm whether the car is an Allshift by the gear selector and paperwork.

Parts involved: Clutch.

What it costs to put right

$900 to $3,500 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

  • “Has the clutch or actuator ever been replaced?”
  • “Does it jerk badly from a standstill when cold?”
  • “Have any transmission warning lights come on?”

Now check the Mitsubishi Colt 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.

  • Mitsubishi Forums (Colt AMT reverse-gear thread)
  • ColtUK Owners Club (faulty AMT thread)
  • Honest John forum Colt

Mitsubishi Colt buyer questions

Is allshift automated-manual clutch actuator wear (jerky shifts / failure) serious on a Mitsubishi Colt?

We rate it major and common on the Mitsubishi Colt. Many Colt automatics are not a conventional torque-converter auto or a CVT but an 'Allshift' single-clutch automated manual. The clutch actuator and clutch plate wear prematurely, and a sticky centre-plate on the input shaft causes harsh, jerky take-up from a standstill, delayed or missed shifts, and eventually a refusal to select gears. Stored codes are typically P1710 (clutch actuator) and P1830 (engage error). Ignored, it can leave you stranded. Buyers often mistake the jerkiness for a slipping ordinary auto.

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

$900 to $3,500 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 Colt years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2004–2012 Mitsubishi Colt. 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?

Drive it from cold and feel the take-up from a standstill: smooth is good, a violent lurch is bad. Test reverse engagement. If you can, scan for P17xx/P18xx transmission codes. Confirm whether the car is an Allshift by the gear selector and paperwork. Look here: Clutch actuator on the bellhousing at the front of the transaxle