MajorCommonTransmission

Mitsubishi Galant Fortis: INVECS-III CVT Belt and Pulley Wear

INVECS-III CVT Belt and Pulley Wear is a common transmission fault on the Mitsubishi Galant Fortis on the 2007–2017 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $3,000 to $8,000 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 18 documented faults on the Mitsubishi Galant Fortis.

Vehicle: Mitsubishi Galant Fortis
Years: 2007–2017
Fuel: petrol
Gearbox: cvt
System: Transmission

This page covers the Mitsubishi Galant Fortis 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 Galant Fortis faults18 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

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

What goes wrong

The Lancer CJ with automatic transmission uses Mitsubishi's INVECS-III CVT featuring a steel push-belt running between two variable-diameter pulleys. The CVT fluid degrades relatively quickly under load and must be replaced every 40,000km; failure to do so causes belt slippage, accelerated pulley wear, and transmission overheating. Once belt slip begins the wear is self-accelerating and the unit typically enters limp-home mode or fails entirely. Rebuilt CVT units are scarce in the NZ and AU market, making replacement with a used unit the most common repair path, though donor unit reliability is also uncertain.

What you would notice

Transmission slipping or surging during acceleration
Delayed or hesitant response when throttle is applied
Transmission warning light on dashboard
Burning smell from under the vehicle after hard driving

How to check it

Where to look. Transmission tunnel, CVT unit mounted behind engine

Check CVT fluid level and colour — should be clean pink or light red, not brown or dark. Ask for CVT fluid change receipts. During test drive, accelerate firmly from 20 km/h to 80 km/h and feel for smooth progressive response with no surging, hesitation, or revs flaring. If a workshop inspection is possible: Connect an OBD-II scanner to check for stored transmission fault codes before purchase.

Parts involved: CVT belt and pulleys.

What it costs to put right

$3,000 to $8,000 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 was the CVT fluid last changed and do you have a receipt?”
“Has the transmission ever slipped, surged, or shown a warning light?”
“Has the transmission ever been serviced by a Mitsubishi dealer or specialist?”

Now check the Mitsubishi Galant Fortis 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 published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Mitsubishi Galant Fortis buyer questions

Is invecs-iii cvt belt and pulley wear serious on a Mitsubishi Galant Fortis?

We rate it major and common on the Mitsubishi Galant Fortis. The Lancer CJ with automatic transmission uses Mitsubishi's INVECS-III CVT featuring a steel push-belt running between two variable-diameter pulleys. The CVT fluid degrades relatively quickly under load and must be replaced every 40,000km; failure to do so causes belt slippage, accelerated pulley wear, and transmission overheating. Once belt slip begins the wear is self-accelerating and the unit typically enters limp-home mode or fails entirely. Rebuilt CVT units are scarce in the NZ and AU market, making replacement with a used unit the most common repair path, though donor unit reliability is also uncertain.

How much does it cost to fix on a Mitsubishi Galant Fortis?

$3,000 to $8,000 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 Galant Fortis years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2007–2017 Mitsubishi Galant Fortis. 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.