Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Thinking about buying a 1986 Pajero 2.3 turbo diesel ... what can people tell me about these? What's the general feeling about them? what would fuel consumption be like? How sluggish are they with such a small motor for the size of the vehicle? What would common faults be? This one is a single little old lady owner never been offroad jobby It would be my daily drive (8ks each way) with just a few non-hardcore weekends a year offroad.

well, I just took it for a drive then put a deposit on it... so positive replies only please . Actually hmm looking at redbook now maybe it was the 2.5, came in in Oct 1986. It certainly seemed to pull ok.

Sorry Russell - in light of your posts in General, I was thinking primarily about the engine, about which I know basically nothing.

Early Pajeros are pretty good trucks, generally very good value for money. The gearboxes had a problem with 5th gear dropping out, but Mitsubishi recognised the problem and released a fix for it - I'd be surprised if the problem exists today. Rust is the only other common problem which comes to mind, and I think it's generally pretty obvious.

I do recall hearing (way back then) that the engines respond well to "tweaking" the wastegate - but I don't know what it does to economy or longevity.

It is a relatively small motor for the size of truck - if you don't expect too much, I doubt you'll be disappointed.

Welcome to the fold and good luck.

Scott

Thanks Scott for the info and welcome. I'll probably be bugging you lot a bit to fix the minor bits and pieces I can do myself!! The inspection came through an hour ago -- turned up a few things but nothing too major. Phew, I need a beer. Buying a car is bloody stressfull!

I have the 2.5 diesel engine.
Is your vehicle a SWB or LWB?
mine has pretty good power (but is a SWB) if it is the 2.3 I think they might (some do) have lower gearing (which will limit top speed)

keep in contact on the forum and ask questions, they are a good solid truck.

Thanks for the reply. It's the LWB... it did seem to rev pretty hard at even at 70 km/h, I was wondering about that! I hope you're right and mine's a good solid truck.

It needs the brakes done (shuddering pedal -- new rotors needed?) for sure and the inspector bloke reckoned it would need a new power steering box to fix a fluid leak. Thinking of skipping the latter, that's gonna be expensive right?