Major Pajero Engine problems please help

[harks36]

I recently had the head gaskets replaced as it was pushing water out the over flow bottle, whilst they where doing that they replaced the timing belt, and gears. Then when i got it back after 200km it broke the bolt from the harmonic balancer so it had to go back and get that all fixed, then when i got it back i done about 200 kms then the engine decided to shut down, so i got it towed back as it sounded like the timing slipped, the mechanics looked at it and have found that it is over fueling almost hydraulic locking on the fuel, if they crimp the fuel line they seem to be able to get it running a little smoother, so they took the ECU out of my other one thinking that was the cause of it and No it wasnt, so they have tried every sensor swaping it with my other 1 and still no fix. Does any1 have any clues for this, the mechanics dont have the mitsubishi computer to diagnose it, does it have to go to Mitsubishi, for them to fix it, or is it something i can fix, could it be injection timing, please help I love my pajero and I dont want to lose it.

[hudson44]

What model and engine? If its the 3.5 then i would say the Crank angle sensor or plate was damaged when the balancer came loose and its pre-igniting because the timing is out.

[Bitsamissin]

Yep that's the first thing I'd be looking at.
Quite common for the CAS to be taken out if a timing belt lets go due to their location. Remember these are a interference design so if the belt lets go engine damage is very likely (pistons smashing into valves).

[harks36]

hi its a 94 NJ pajero, the mechanic has said he has tried replacing, the ECU, distributor, some sensors like oxygen, he is saying that if they crimp the fuel line it runs smoothly, he is going to check fuel presures tomorrow, does the NJ pajero have any crank or cam sensors, he seems to think it doesnt. Thanks for the help I have spent a small fortune on this, I did notice that in the couple hundred Kms i done it did use alot of fuel, I thought that it may have been cause of the fuel being a little stale as it sat for a month or so whilst i saved up the cash to get it fixed the first time.

[hudson44]

Is it a 3.0lt or a 3.5? NJ's had both. If its the 3.0lt i still think there is a cam timing issue. It may have jumped or wasn't set up correctly. It would take one hell of a lot of fuel to be flowing through the injectors for it to "hydraulic lock". I'd say the "lock" is pre ignition.

With regards to the CAS. The 3.0lt had it incorporated into the dizzy and the 3.5's (being coil pack) had a separate cam and crank sensor on the respective shafts. I'd be suggesting that he pulls the top cover's off and checks the cam timing against the crank.

[harks36]

Hi thanks for that, thats what i thought it may have been, they have spent the last 3 days on this trying to work it out, It all happened after I went through a bit rough road, apparently they have had the timing cover off again for the 3rd time, and they say its right, its sounding more and more that the timing slipped on on side one tooth or something. but there has been no bangs like pistons hitting valves etc. They seem to think it is electrical, like a bad earth or something, cause of the crimping the fuel line thing they are doing to get it to run. It still cranks over and wants to go but seemed to me that it wanted to fire backwards on one bank. i think i need to find a desent mechanic, i would do my own work normally, but i wanted some warranty incase of these problems

[-Scott-]

I'm still trying to figure out what's happening with this "crimp the fuel line".

I don't have any manuals handy, so I'm not sure if the Paj has a return line to the tank?

If it does, and this is the line they are crimping, I would guess this is increasing the pressure in the fuel rail to the injector's design pressure. According to Bosch, if injectors are fed the wrong pressure (too high or too low) they don't spray properly, so fuel doesn't atomise properly, and the engine runs like a dog.

If there's no return line, they can only be crimping the delivery line, and reducing the pressure to make it run better.

Either way, sounds to me like a fuel pressure problem - at least. I also agree with hudson44 - this "lock" issue (if it's during cranking) could be ignition too far advanced.

[harks36]

Thanks for all the advise, i havent heard from them today, they have apparently rechecked the timing and say it right, now they are looking at the fuel pump and regulator, this is so strange. I agree with everyone and think it has the timing out by a tooth or so, and pre igniting, but if they agree to that they will have to pay for it and they dont want to. At least out of all of this i know that all my sensors work, in both of my vehicles and the ECU's are good. I will let you know how it goes when i find out what the problem was.

[harks36]

Hi all, I got my car back, the mechanics told me that they found 3 bad earths under the fuse box on the left hand guard, they also replaced the timing belt cause it had some marks in it that could weakin it. It goes better now than every other time i got it back, Im so glad it is fixed and hopefully it lasts the 100000km before i have to go through this again. Hooray hooray

[hudson44]

I don't want to hang any shyte on your mechanic ( he deserves the benefit of the doubt) But it sounds to me as though the "bad earths" were an excuse. I'll still go with the cam timing being out. Why did he replace the cam belt again if it had already been done? There must have been a reason for the "marks" on it. The fact that it goes a lot better as well would mean that the timing is now correct.

Again i don't want to bag the guy as i don't know the full story and everyone makes mistakes. I'm glad its all ok and you're happy with it, i just hope he didn't charge you the second time round.

[harks36]

Yea Im not happy with them myself, I wont be going back, It did cost me a little more, as I had to give them the benfit of the doubt, as I didnt see it. I have had a good look around the vehicle where they said the earths were bad and i couldnt find any signs of spanners being on any of the bolts. I am a diesel mechanic myself, and i was even questioning myself after they said i was wrong with my diagnoses thats why I got on here to ask everyone else. At least it is going and lets hope its still going for awhile yet. One other thing I noticed when i got the vehicle back, they didnt change the engine oil, after all the system got flooded with fuel and the engine oil smells of petrol, so I will be changing that today.