Outlander Power Loss Mystery: MAP Sensor or Something Else?

Hey there! I've got some experience working on Mitsubishis (I'd say low experience, mostly basic maintenance and a few sensors). Had a pretty similar issue with my 2005 Lancer 2.0L last year. Just like yours, it was running terrible, rough idle, bad fuel economy, the works. Turned out it was exactly what you're suspecting, the MAP sensor wiring harness was shot. Took it to my local mechanic (Mike's Auto, really trust those guys), and they diagnosed it pretty quick. Parts and labor came to about 95€ ($100-ish). Before you commit to anything though, could you tell us: Have you scanned for error codes? Does the problem get worse when it's raining? Any modifications to the intake system? Also, you might wanna check out the Eclipse from those years, they had similar issues and there are some good threads about fixes. Let me know these details and I might be able to help more specifically!

Thanks for the detailed response! My mileage is at 95099 KM and I just had my service last month. Yeah, I've got the codes scanned, throwing P0171 and P0106. The issue definitely gets worse in wet weather, which is super annoying. No mods to the intake system, keeping it all stock. Really appreciate the heads up about the repair costs, that's actually not as bad as I was worried it might be. I'll check out those Eclipse threads too, good thinking!

Hey again! Yeah, those P0171 and P0106 codes are exactly what I saw on my Lancer before getting it fixed. Seeing that your symptoms match up almost perfectly with what I experienced (especially getting worse in wet weather, that's a classic MAP sensor issue right there), I'm even more convinced it's the same problem. Just wanted to add, after I got mine fixed, I learned a cheap fix wouldn't really cut it. My tried to save money with a generic MAP sensor from eBay, and he ended up having to replace it again after just 2 months. I'd really recommend going with OEM parts like I did. Quick tip from my experience, while you're getting it fixed, have them check the intake manifold gasket too. When my mechanic was working on mine, he noticed it was starting to wear, and I'm glad I got both done at the same time. Saved me another trip to the shop later! 95k km isn't bad at all, my Lancer was at 120k when this happened. Been running smooth as butter since the fix. Keep us posted on what you find out! If you need any other info about what to expect during the repair, just let me know.

Thanks so much for all this great info! You've pretty much convinced me it's the MAP sensor, all the symptoms line up perfectly. Really glad you mentioned that bit about avoiding cheap parts too, I was actually just looking at some aftermarket sensors online, but I'll definitely go OEM now. Smart thinking about the intake manifold gasket check too, might as well get everything sorted while they're in there. I've already called Mike's Auto that you mentioned and got an appointment for next week. Fingers crossed it'll be as straightforward as your repair was! I'll definitely update the thread once it's all sorted. Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience, it's been super helpful!