NA Pajero travels in WA

[Sammyboy]

Hi All, I thought that I would share with you my recent experience travelling towards Esperance in WA... I own an NA Pajero, which I do like alot- I reckon it is an economical outback truck which is relatively competant offroad. I know that some things can go wrong with my truck on these long trips, so I thought that I would take some precautions before I left. I took my car to my regular mechanic and told him to do a big sevice on it (don't hold back with costs or anything) so he fixed the front end replacing bushes and arms, replaced my transfer case with a spare i gave him, and sent it to the auto elecs to fix the air con and ignition wiring (or something like that). I then took it to a diesel specialist and replaced my old fuel injectors, tuned it and played with the fuel pump so it was not blowing any smoke anymore. I then got a replacement rear diff from a wreckers which was then fitted. Everything was all ready to go, so we departed for WA. Everything was fine until day 2, when I noticed that my fuel injectors were leaking... fuel consumption around 12L/100km crusing at 85-95kmh on an open hwy??? Day 4 around Port Lincoln the fuses started blowing so I lost my stereo and air con for about a day or 2 until i managed to fix it. On day 8, that is when disaster stuck... my car refused to shift from 3rd to 2nd, because it was impossible. Then about 20 mins later, my car popped out of 5th gear on the Eyre Hwy, so I turned around and made it back to Cocklebiddy. At Cocklebiddy my gearbox completely seized up and my car was un-driveable. We waited 11 hours for a Tow Truck so we could be taken to Kalgoorlie 640km away. We werestranded in Kalgoorlie for a week. I got my car back with a good second hand clutch in it and a second hand gearbox in it which is by far the noisiest gearbox I have ever owned. In 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th, the grinding sound echoed off objects near the road (not very good for $1500). Before we left Kalgoorlie I had to repair the injector leaks which cost me $200. On the way home (2900km) I was worrried that it was not going to make it. We stopped at a beatiful beach which required 4WD, and when I had to push my car it sounded and felt like something was so loose on it (coming from the front end somewhere) that it was about to break "phew we made it". We then drove from Border Village WA/SA non stop to Melbourne over the next 30 hours and had to drive through severe rainfall and pretty bad flooding between Kimba and Port Pirie. Parts of the Eyre Hwy were flooded and washed away, so we had to negotiate my car (with a trailer on the back) and contend with road-trains travelling twice as fast, one of which nearly took us all out! Finally we arrived home in Melbourne at 3pm yesterday. What's next?? Um I don't know... this gearbox needs rebuilding, my car's fuel economy is something similar to a Ford F250 (so I reckon the fuel pump needs looking at and it needs to be taken to somebody else to tune). Is it the badge on my car that makes it shit, or is it me? Do I give my truck ONE more chance to redeem itself or do I get rid of it? Please tell me your thoughts... Thanksfor listening- Sam

[known 2]

it's not nesecerily your car's make but maybe the people you had work on it did more damage then good or just everything on your car was about to die. is your motor a 2.3td

[Sammyboy]

No, my car engine is a 2.5 4D56

[J Top]

you are being a bit optimistic buying parts for a 20 yr old vehicle from a wrecker and expecting them to be any better than your own.
This model have the weaker box like the L200, the later cast iron box is
far superior.
Overhauled injectors and pumps are almost as good as new but only as good as the technician doing the work. It sounds to me like you have had a raw deal and I would be going back to some of these shops asking for an explanation. Why did you accept the faulty replacement box, at that price from a wrecker you must have a warrenty. I can purchase a rebuilt guarranted box that model for $950 NZ +gst. A clutch is $300 odd. Labour should be $500 max

[Sammyboy]

I don't think that I had much of a choice, because I needed to get home as I had missed heaps of shifts for work and would be short of income for the next month if i didnt get back to work. The last time I had my gearbox rebuilt it cost me $1500 for a fully rebuilt box, brand new clutch and labour to fit it all, so I agree that the price was expensive, but hey, this is Kalgoorlie we are talking about, not Melbourne. If I was to question the quality of the gearbox that they put in, they would probably say "yeah sure that's fine, bring it over and we'll have a look" (three days drive, 3000km away) but I reckon that they'd refuse to co-operate unless I took it to them. As for the injectors and the fuel pump, my injectors were overhauled and my fuel pump had some minor adjustments made (not rebuilt). As for being optimistic at the wreckers, i didn't know what to expect, I just wanted to get home. My other car is an indestructible Suzuki Sierra so maybe I will drive that around for the next few months and save up money to get my gearbox rebuilt and my fuel pump looked at by SOMEBODY ELSE who knows what they are doing !!

[DIRTY ROCK STAR]

I dont know what model your paj is, but my oflks had a mid 80s model and it spat gearboxes regularly. towing a caravan and we got stuck in darwin.
I feel for you havign dramas out there though, i recently drove my 80 series across. no problems, but its been a while now and i will soon be heading back east so im wondering do i drive or freight it back...

It would sound from your story that your mechanic took you for a ride. and yes buying from a wrecker is often not the best way to go.

for your truck, if you have had it for ages and this is the first problem give it another go. if you not long got it and have had nothing but problems flog it off.

My fingers are crossed my 80 makes it back east again.

[Loanrangie]

Sh#t you had a bad run, reallistically you are talking about a 24 yo vehicle that has outlived its lifespan. You have spent in repairs while out west more than the car is worth, if you are happy with the paj in general then i would be looking at a later model for replacement like an early 90's if its in your budget.

[blkmav]

Park it at the beach in SA and buy a late model GQ