The Mitsubishi F4A42 4-speed automatic transmission was produced from 1996 to 2013 and was installed on popular models of the concern such as Galant and Outlander, as well as cars from Hyundai/Kia. The latest versions of this automatic transmission had the index F4A42-2 and F4A4B, all-wheel drive W4A42 and W4A4B.
This series includes: F4A21, F4A22, F4A23, F4A33, F4A41, F4A42, F4A51, W4A32, F5A51.
In 1996, a new line of 4-speed automatic transmissions was introduced. F4A42, which was the most popular in the series and was installed with engines up to 2.8 liters 250 Nm. By design, this is a conventional hydromechanical automatic transmission, where torque from the engine is transmitted through a torque converter, gear ratios are formed by a pair of planetary gearboxes, gears are changed using five clutch packs, and the gearbox is controlled by a selector.
This automatic transmission had many modifications: with and without an external filter, with and without an overrunning clutch, and four versions of the valve body: with 5 or 6 solenoids, plus there may or may not be an EPC solenoid. In catalogs they are often designated as F4A42-1 and F4A42-2, and the most recent versions as F4A4B.
Specifications
| Production years | 1996 – 2013 |
| Type | automatic transmission |
| Number of gears | 4 |
| Type of drive | front |
| Engine volume, l | up to 2.8 |
| Torque output, Nm | up to 250 |
| Recommended oil | Mitsubishi ATF SP-III |
| Oil capacity, liter | 7.8 |
| Replacing the oil | every 60,000 km |
| Replacing the filter | every 120,000 km |
| Gearbox lifespan, km | ~400 000 |
Gear ratios Mitsubishi F4A42
Using the example of a Mitsubishi Outlander 2005 with a 2.4 liter engine:
| Main | 4.406 |
| 1st | 2.842 |
| 2nd | 1.529 |
| 3rd | 1.000 |
| 4th | 0.712 |
| Reverse | 2.480 |
The transmission was installed on:
- Hyundai Coupe 2 (GK) in 2001 – 2008;
- Hyundai Dynasty 1 (LX) in 1996 – 2005;
- Hyundai Elantra 3 (XD) in 2000 – 2009;
- Hyundai Grandeur 3 (XG) in 1998 – 2005;
- Hyundai Matrix 1 (FC) in 2001 – 2010;
- Hyundai Santa Fe 1 (SM) in 2000 – 2006;
- Hyundai Sonata 4 (EF) in 1998 – 2011; Sonata 5 (NF) in 2004 – 2010;
- Hyundai Trajet 1 (FO) in 1999 – 2008;
- Hyundai Tucson 1 (JM) in 2004 – 2010;
- Kia Carens 1 (FC) in 1999 – 2002; Carens 2 (FJ) in 2002 – 2006; Carens 3 (UN) in 2006 – 2013;
- Kia Cerato 1 (LD) in 2003 – 2008;
- Kia Magentis 1 (GD) in 2000 – 2006; Magentis 2 (MG) in 2005 – 2010;
- Kia Spectra 1 (SD) in 2000 – 2004;
- Kia Sportage 2 (KM) in 2004 – 2010;
- Mitsubishi Airtrek 1 (CU) in 2001 – 2008;
- Mitsubishi Carisma 1 (DA) in 1996 – 2004;
- Mitsubishi Eclipse 3 (D5) in 1999 – 2005; Eclipse 4 (DK) in 2005 – 2011;
- Mitsubishi Galant 8 (EA) in 1996 – 2003; Galant 9 (DJ) in 2003 – 2012;
- Mitsubishi Grandis 1 (NA) in 2003 – 2011;
- Mitsubishi Lancer 8 (CK) in 1996 – 2003; Lancer 9 (CS) in 2002 – 2010;
- Mitsubishi Outlander 1 (CU) in 2003 – 2009;
- Mitsubishi Space Star 1 (DG) in 1998 – 2005;
- Mitsubishi Space Wagon 3 (UG) in 1997 – 2003.
Disadvantages of the Mitsubishi F4A42 gearbox
- This automatic transmission is very reliable and has a fairly long service life, but there is also a weak point: the needle bearing of the Overdrive planetary gear falls apart due to high loads, then the rear planetary gear or ring gear is destroyed, and all these debris scatter throughout the lubrication system and sooner or later end up in the oil pump and it jams.
- The valve body of this transmission is sensitive to the cleanliness of the lubricant, and if you update it strictly according to the manual, its channels will become clogged with dirt after 150 – 200 thousand kilometers. At first, only sensitive shocks or jerks will appear when changing gears, but then the friction discs will start to burn and the transmission will simply slip.
- The weak points of the transmission include thin Teflon rings in the rear gearbox cover, the input speed sensor, and the differential idler gear bearing.
