IMPORT ADVICE FOR PAJERO NEWBIE

[WillsPaj]

:G'day All,
My first post and first Mitsubishi offroader

I did a deal to help out a rellie get into an auto sedan and now I'm the owner of a 1988 Pajero
LWB Japanese import. I've learnt it's an import from what I've read here and elsewhere, and have a few questions
if anyone can offer advice. I only found out it's an Import by accident!

The 2.5 turbo diesel starts easily, runs well with a defined 'surge' when the turbo spins up, it has 250,000km
on the odo. I've done an engine oil & filter change, previous owner[my BIL]fitted new front disc pads, new airfilter,
and fuel filter. I have the new rear disc pads too but the existing ones are only half worn so I haven't changed em
yet. I've figured out what's wrong with the radio and how to fix it with a frequency expander, but the other issues may be
more difficult to fix!

Are these engines reliable if serviced every 5,000km? I'm a truckie so know how to treat a diesel!

Loud 'clunk' from rear suspension on certain types of uneven bumps, all the bushes on link rear end look like
they are perished to me. Easy fix? Who in Sydney could do it?

The vehicle tracks well on the road, but has more rattles than a millionaire's baby on patchy bitumen. Could it be the suspension
is shot and needs new bushes, dampers and coils? is that expensive? Who does it in Sydney?

Body is rust free, and interior is serviceable with great air-con but I would like to fit a 'proper' alloy or steel bullbar, are
the chassis the same on the Japan models as our Oz ones? It has an Australian Hayman Reese hitch receiver towbar fitted so
at least the rear of the chassis must be the same!

You guys/girls reckon these imports are a good thing? Or should I sell and get an Aussie spec one?

I'll be towing my old 'glass half cabin with this old truck, bit of a drop in power from a '97 Ford six! and
the occasional offroad or beach[Stockton]run. It's not my first 4WD though, drives like a [diesel]car!

Thanks in advance............really appreciate any and all advice and help

[paulv1818]

I did my rear trailing arm bushes myself - easy and straight forward. Go over the front with the grase gun it will make a world of difference. Don't forget the uni's as well.

[WillsPaj]

Thanks for that, I hit the front end with the grease gun already Funny you mentioned the uni's, they are all
sealed units, but only the front rear driveshaft one has noticeable freeplay. Add that to list of things to do!

cheers Will.

[flapyheaded canadian]

the pajero is accually quite a reliable vehicle. the 2.5 turbo is famous for breaking cam shafts. you would be better off with the petrol 2.6 or v6, but its an old vehicle and you prob wont ever get rid of all the creeks and noises

[WillsPaj]

Thanks, I'll baby it and see how long it lasts

Cheers Will.

[Chris_McCartney]

I've had my Pajero roughly 8 months and one of my rear shocks went after 4... I seen it coming but!! The ride quality drops ridiculously when the shocks get worn, got a lift in a SWB with new gas shocks and springs and the difference was very noticeable!! For you guys in Australia theres no shortage of bits for the Pajero (not so easy in the UK)... Ironman shocks are popular over here for the Pajero clubs, and bound to be a lot cheaper in mainland Australia than to import them over here!! Oh, my Pajero is 190,000km, starts every time and never lets me down....unless I let her down! Chris.

[WillsPaj]

G'day Chris,
I have to agree about the worn suspension issues! I just had all the bushes in my coil rear end replaced, as well as front and rear swaybar bushes . I had originally wanted rubber but they are only available here from MMC and are ridiculously expensive so I settled for Nolathane. Drives WAY smoother with no 'orrible noises on bad surfaces. Dampers were deemed OK by mechanic. Only other repair after 255 thousand kays was a front uni joint on the rear drive shaft, replaced with a greaseable one from the OEM sealed type.
cheers Will.

[Chris_McCartney]

They really are bombproof motors!! Pity the bulbs dont last as long!

[WillsPaj]

I hear you Chris. The OEM headlights are woeful too. Wish I could afford HID's!

[Chris_McCartney]

Its the interior bulbs are the worst... Opened my speedo there to change all the bulbs, majority of the smaller bulbs are dead, and only 3 of the 7 larger speedo bulbs were working!! No wonder the interior is so dark in the SWB models!! Who needs HIDs when you can cover the roof in spotlights?! Chris

[WillsPaj]

Yeah, the dash lights are pretty ordinary for sure! As long as I can read the tach OK in the dark the speedo doesn't matter that much I might try a headlight globe upgrade to see how that goes, low beam is awful-about the same as my old '87 Zook Sierra

I wonder if anyone with with one of these turbo diesels has fitted a turbo timer?

cheers Will.

[Chris_McCartney]

Check out http://www.pocuk.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, its the UK Pajero club, lots of topics, a useful one to register...

[WillsPaj]

Check out http://www.pocuk.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, its the UK Pajero club, lots of topics, a useful one to register...

Thanks Chris appreciate it!
cheers Will.

[Chris_McCartney]

Did some searching for you, theres a few guys using Starbo RS50 and RS60 turbo timers after long trips or towing trailers/caravans, apparently they connect to the main wiring loom in the dashboard and are usually fitted in the footwell. Found out they are actually illegal in the UK as you would be leaving your car unattended with the engine running.... still doesnt stop some people fitting them!! I did read about a turbo timer wrecking someones engine though, a guy had one fitted but did not know what it was and an oil pipe burst, he immediately shut off the engine, and a minute later the grinding started... The Pajero engines are low pressure and shouldn't really need a turbo timer, they're only really necessary on high boost performance cars like Lancer Evo's and Impreza's... If you drive 2 or 3 hundred miles every day then definately fit one, otherwise just be an extra minute early for work and let the engine idle a minute before you hop out.... Chris

Heres some info on the GReddy site:-
http://www.greddy.com/tech-support/turbo-timers" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[WillsPaj]

Thanks Chris,
Yeah, I did some research too and a truck mechanic friend said the same thing that the motors are a low boost, unlike some of the new generation tunrbo diesels. I guess that's how they get so much power and torque out such small capacity engines!

Interestingly, I managed to get hold of an original Aussie spec '88 owners' manual via ebay and it mentions only a 60 second cool down before cutting the engine, and then only if the engine has been run at high speed or on boost for a length of time. Didn't say what length of time though It also mentions a 60 second 'warm up' before loading the turbo too, maybe it takes a while to build oil pressure to the bearings?

I think I'll just get into the habit of a minute cool down every time I stop and spend the money elsewhere, maybe mud tyres

cheers Will and thanks for the linky.

[Chris_McCartney]

Once I fitted mud tyres the mile per gallon dropped from mid 20s to 17/18!! Try a set of BFG all terrains or General Grabbers. I've heard of some of the BFG's doing 100000 miles on factory standard Land Rovers, and the Grabber AT2's have a 50000 mile warranty, more than some people keep ther trucks for!! My dad has the Grabbers on his Shogun and they look almost as aggressive as my Cooper Discoverer STT's which are the scariest thing on earth at 60mph on country roads!! Allowing the 1 minute warmup isnt necessarily true, just depends on the climate. If its -10*C outside (like we experience over here in winter) then you dont wana get into the Pajero and start flooring it without letting it warm up, but if its the middle of summer in Australia I wouldnt worry to much mate!! Chris

[Chris_McCartney]

Actually just realised MPG probably doesnt affect you so much in Australia, in the UK its about £1.23 a litre of diesel, thats roughly $2.00 per litre... double what you guys pay in some of our petrol stations!! If you're concerned about MPG then keep the mud tyres for play as on tarmac roads/highways they constantly have you correcting the steering!! Any pictures of your Pajero Will? I'm one of the very few J-Top owners in the UK. In our very few nice days of summer the ladies do love cruising about because the shape means it doesn't mess up their hair and they still get the fresh air!! I'm never finished getting "is that a Suzuki Vitara?", "thats a barbie jeep" and the best one....

Man "what happened the back of it?"
Me (talking about a dent) "the last owner reversed into a lamp post"
Man "no... where the hell is the roof?!"

My sister is currently doing her 1 year working visa in australia, one of my dream places to visit but my mate pulled out of a working year because he's 'in a relationship' haha. Women

[WillsPaj]

think we've been very lucky with fuel prices here in the metro areas, I usually pay around AUD$1.20 or thereabouts, but the Paj is good on fuel for a 1.8 tonne vehicle with all the aerodynamics of a house brick at under 10 litres per 100km. MPG? no idea

It's fitted with 3 Michelin XTZ something or other all terrains and one Pirelli Scorpion all terrain at the moment, I think I recall my brother in law saying at one stage he terminally damaged a tyre which explains the odd one! Being on a shoestring budget I'll be getting the cheapest rubber I can when the existing ones are past their use by date

This is my Pajero as it is at present


Is a J-Top a canvas top? I had a Suzuki Sierra that I built as a hardcore offroader the we called a soft top, was brilliant during our Summers and on the beach. Main problem was is was fitted with huge muddies and offroad mud was flicked everywhere, including inside if the roof wasn't fitted. I bought a 'bikini top' that only covered the front seats, that kept mud out an the rain too while moving. A mate of mine has a generation 2 2.8 diesel Pajero he's had for years, and has now done over 400,000km with no major issues at all.

BTW I'm married to a Pom, my wife Debra and her family are from Stevenage, Hertfordshire. She came to OZ when she was a toddler with the 'ten pound Poms' Lucky for me

I'll take some more pix when I can of the Paj in it's natural habitat, ie offroad!
Cheers Will.

[Chris_McCartney]

That's a nice Pajero Will, did you fit the awning or was it fitted already? Must be great for camping trips and barbeques... along with a sneaky beer?! The J-Top is mohair, which is an overpriced canvas, my dad wants to make a fibreglass hardtop for some reason?! He loves woodworking so I guess he wants to make the full size mould, I told him I want to retrim the interior and he told me "thats too much hassle it would cost a fortune and never look right!" Tomato/Tomado?! Well little does he know I just ordered a sewing machine as I plan on retrimming an old car seat and bolting it to a computer chair base!! Not sure it would take nearly as long as scratchbuilding an entire hardtop?! Anyways check this guy out on ebay this is where I've got all my guides for the retrimming seats, page after page of guides on car upholstery. The J-Top is great in the sun but in winter here when its grey outside and the interior is.... square, 90s, boring grey cloth... it's definately something that needs altering!!

http://www.youtube.com/user/Cechaflo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Oh and I had never in my life heard the word Pom used until I joined this forum!!

[WillsPaj]

G'day Chris,

I fitted the awning myself to a set of cheap roof racks I bought on Ebay. I think the racks would have coped OK with just the awning on them but I wanted extra roof storage for my touring tent and gas bottle so yesterday I had a look at some quality roof storage brands before settling on the Rola stuff, only because my local auto parts store has a 45% clearance on store stock! personally I reckon the Rola stuff is overpriced, but it is good gear.

Funny you mentioned the 'square' design of the Pajero's, not very body friendly for the old bod inside on rough tracks with all those square edges everywhere but it makes it easier to modify I reckon, much easier to cut or fabricate a straight line than a curved one!

Maybe the resin top you mentioned would make your Paj a little warmer in the Winter with fibreglass's insulating properties? Being a Japanese import the interior of my Paj is blue plastic and blue velour like cloth on the seats. I fitted some cheap seatcovers to the front to keep mud etc off them, and will fit a 'throwover' type cover on the back one at some stage. I had toyed with fitting an overhead console for radio etc but I'm tall and the last time I fitted one I kept bumping my head on it over bumps

The only other outside mod I may do soon is a proper bull bar, I'm not sure how the original chromed steel bumper an nudge bar would fare with a wombat or 'roo strike at speed. It's not just the engine and radiator protection a derious bar offers but it'll keep the carcasses out of the passenger compartment!

cheers Will.

[Chris_McCartney]

At least with a boring interior I'm not afraid to mount a torch or sat-nav directly into the dash!!


Your awning looks like a clever design and would be very useful. I like your roof rack, reminds me of an American one I seen on a Jeep, love the rounded edges and black finish. Not sure how the nudge bar would be against wild animals but for you and your family safety I hope you never have to find out.The factory chrome bumpers are not very strong though, I think they should have been reinforced more from factory but they do have the ability to bend, maybe to aid pedestrians or else just cheap to manufacture, mine is not even 1mm thick. You could always try some box section steel, about 5mm thick with the same kind of height as the front bumper and cut it down to the same size, paint it silver to match your doors and fit the original end caps and plastic bumpers then have your nudge bar fitted around this? The extra 4 or 5 mm of mild steel would make a serious difference against one of the inconsiderate bouncy beings... I just noticed me and you have the exact same wheel centre caps!!
Thank God I copied and pasted this after I wrote it 2nd time because this signed me out every time I went to post!!

[WillsPaj]

It must be a forum thing, if I take a while to write[no speed typist!]then add pix I have to sign in again. So I take the precaution of copying what I wrote in case it goes missing

Those centre caps.........do yours rattle? Maybe mine are worn from lots of dust rough roads! At least the wheels are steel, I had a bad experience years ago with an alloy wheel an a large rock. Wheel was only good for a pot plant holder after that

I'll do some interior mods after the outside is up to scratch, starting with some LED interior lighting. The stock interior dome lights are woeful!


Chat soon.
Will.

[Chris_McCartney]

My centre caps dont rattle but you can hear them cutting their way through the air, if you listen closely... My wheels however grind for a good 50 miles every time I take the fronts of and refit them, the J-Top has twin piston calipers up front and huge brake disks, 16x8 goes on no problem but grinds the inside of the calipers on both sides, pretty strange. I think next some 18x8.5 Dick Cepek DC2s or Mickey Thompson Classic Lock II's would be nice (cant get either of them in UK but)... I've ordered some LED dash lighting, seems to work great everywhere except the heater panel, because the LEDs focus too closely and you are left with bright spots on the panel, they look great as indicator/warning lights on the dash tho!! Would a windscreen sun visor not be a good idea in Australia? I see them come and go on ebay quite often... Heres one:-



Chris

[-Scott-]

Those centre caps.........do yours rattle? Maybe mine are worn from lots of dust rough roads! At least the wheels are steel, I had a bad experience years ago with an alloy wheel an a large rock. Wheel was only good for a pot plant holder after that

Will, you'll probably find the rattle is due to the wrong combination of cap & retainer (the spring clip thing that's wedged in behind the wheel). I say this because I have the same problem.

In my case, I believe the rattle is because the spring clip assembly is designed to clip the cap against an alloy wheel, which is maybe 10mm thick in the hub. Steel wheels are much thinner in the hub (maybe 3mm) so the cap can push on too far, so that the clips are only stopping it from falling off - not holding it securely.

In Australia, lower spec models were fitted with steel wheels, and have spring clips that should retain the caps properly against the wheel. The trick is to find them.

With my caps, if I'm careful mounting them, the spring clip will sit into a groove on the protrusion inside the cap, and hold the cap without letting it rattle. Unfortunately, it doesn't work too well, because many of the plastic bits inside my caps have been broken while trying to remove the caps. I'm down to two caps, and each has only half the bits they should have, so they don't sit real well. If your caps are still intact, I advise you to (carefully) remove them yourself before you let anybody try to take your wheels off.

[WillsPaj]

G'day Chris,
That Pajero of yours looks awesome! They have the classic 80's lines, even without the roof. Re the sunvisors, I've seen them on regular sedans[my last vehicle, a Falcon sedan had them avail as a factory option]but not seen them on any four wheel drives that I can recall. be a great idea though!

I removed the drivers' side rear bumper corner and had a go at panel beating it after the previous owner reversed into a shopping centre bollard but it's not repairable, so off to the wreckers to see if I can find one. I was surprised there was no rust in that section apart from very slight surface rust. It is after all right behind the rear wheel! They mustn't use road salt in Japan.

I'm taking the Paj for a run on Saturday to a bush retreat I frequent, it's at the end of about 30km of rough dirt, and their drive is about 3km long down to the river. Interesting to see what difference the new nolathane bushes make to the handling, if any. i's be surprised if there wasn't at least some improvement as the original rubber ones were well knackered!

Speaking of roofless 4WD's, I wouldn't mind a sunroof

cheers Will.

[WillsPaj]

G'day Scott,
Thanks for the info on the caps. All four are still fitted but they are all a little loose, the chrome steel rims are in very good order for such an old 4WD and though heavy at least I could bang one back into shape if a wayward rock dings it. All the Pajero's I've spotted in the wreckers are missing the caps if the wheels are on em still!
I need an ashtray as well, no idea where that went! At least it wasn't smoked in recently

Cheers Will.

[-Scott-]

G'day Scott,
Thanks for the info on the caps. All four are still fitted but they are all a little loose, the chrome steel rims are in very good order for such an old 4WD and though heavy at least I could bang one back into shape if a wayward rock dings it. All the Pajero's I've spotted in the wreckers are missing the caps if the wheels are on em still!
I need an ashtray as well, no idea where that went! At least it wasn't smoked in recently

Cheers Will.

If your caps are still in good condition you should only need the clips.

[WillsPaj]

Thanks Scott,
Cheers Will.

[Chris_McCartney]

My Pajero just died today. Only 190,000KM too and the engine went just under 2 miles from home. Its a sad day for me.

EDIT: It's starting now, either some of the valves went or the timing belt. It starts but makes a very loud knocking noise.

[WillsPaj]

My Pajero just died today. Only 190,000KM too and the engine went just under 2 miles from home. Its a sad day for me.

EDIT: It's starting now, either some of the valves went or the timing belt. It starts but makes a very loud knocking noise.

Chris,
That's terrible news! What will you do? Look for another engine or rebuild the original one?
Hope it isn't the bottom end, and only a cam or valve problem.

Cheers Will.