Outlander's Battery Battle: Start-up & Light Issues?

I had similar issues with my 2015 Mitsubishi ASX Diesel last winter. The symptoms were exactly the same, slow cranking, dim lights, and struggling to start, especially on cold mornings. Took it to my regular mechanic, turned out it wasn't just the battery. They found the alternator wasn't charging properly, which was slowly killing the battery. They had to replace both the alternator and battery since the old battery was too far gone from being repeatedly drained. Not a super serious issue if caught early, but it can leave you stranded if ignored. The alternator is a crucial part that keeps your battery charged while driving. When it fails, it's just a matter of time before the battery dies completely. My advice? Get it checked soon. Better to fix it now than wait for a complete breakdown. I'd recommend finding a mechanic who specializes in Mitsubishi diesels, they'll know exactly what to look for.

Hey, thanks for sharing your experience! I went through something really similar with my Outlander last year. Do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the alternator and battery replacement? Also, has everything been running smoothly since then? Just wondering because I recently got mine fixed too, but I want to make sure I wasn't overcharged. These repairs can get pretty pricey!

Hey there! Thanks for asking about the costs. Yeah, after getting my ASX fixed up, it's been running like a dream! The main issue was actually the battery voltage being too low, which was causing those engine control problems. Got that sorted out at the mechanic's for 290€, honestly, a fair price considering the diagnostic work they had to do. They really knew their stuff with Mitsubishis! I'm actually glad I didn't need a new alternator like I initially thought. Since they fixed the battery voltage issue and recalibrated the engine control system, I haven't had any more problems with starting or dimming lights. It's been about 8 months now, and everything's working perfectly. Sounds like you got yours fixed too? These electrical gremlins can be tricky, but once you get them sorted with the right mechanic, these cars are pretty reliable. How's yours running now?

Thanks for the details! Yeah, my experience was quite different actually. I finally took my Outlander to a new mechanic last week, found this great place that specializes in Asian cars. Turns out I needed both a new alternator and battery, just like your initial diagnosis. The total came to about 750€, quite a bit more than your repair, but it included the alternator (480€), battery (180€), and labor (90€). I'm just relieved it's fixed now! The car starts up instantly, and those annoying dimming headlights are history. The mechanic was super helpful, showed me exactly what was wrong and explained everything clearly. Way better than my old mechanic who kept giving me the runaround. Glad I didn't wait any longer to get it fixed. The new mechanic said I was pretty close to being stranded somewhere with a dead battery. Definitely learned my lesson about not ignoring these kinds of issues! Really appreciate everyone's advice here, helped me make the right decision to get it checked out properly. Thanks again!