Hi all,
So I took my newly bought Pajero in for a bumper-to-bumper check and here are the suggetions:
Service both front drive shafts at R1260 each (I can get that done at CV Specialist for R420 each)
Machine front disks and install new pads @ R1920 (I can get it done at Ferodo for R1100)
Change Cambelt and all other belts as well as waterpump and adjuster. Labour only = R3000 (Dealers charge R5K labour)
Drop Gearbox Sump & pan to change ATF + filter = R1210
Change all lifters and remove engine sludge (heads must be removed for this so new gasket etc is needed) = R4160 labour only.
10 days needed in the shop for the above.
So I took it to SAC in Durban but can only book it in Monday for their Bumper-to-bumper check.
But the Service Manager at SAC frouned upon the "removing the heads" suggestion above.
Any input from you guys?
Any Pajero expert in Durban/Pinetown area?
What do you guys think of SAC?
Cheers
Pierre
Freshman,
I do not know how mechanically minded you are.
I did the following all by myself and please note I am not a mechanic at all. I work out of the manual and advice from friends who has got more experience than me. So far I am lucky nothing broke and all is working well.
I did the following: Replaced all ball joints and steering links as well as pitman arm, Took Cv'S out replaced all seals on front axle , Removed all calipers and installed new seal kits, new shocks, all wheell bearings, rear wheel bearings was done at a eng works because of the press fit - fit for R80,00 a side, replaced the sideshaft seals and wheel bearing seals as well the O ring that seals hub to axle, replaced all waterpipes especially the one in the V-crucial, new waterpump at Midas for R1400,00 All pulleys and tensioners as well as tensioner bolts, Took gearbox out and had it serviced with transfer box for R 13500,00 - while the gearbox was out replaced the rear crank seal, replaced front crank seal,
and I an now busy with the heads which is going to Mitspro for complete overhaul, pressure test and the likes,
removed throttle body and cleaned it properly, removed manifold and had butterfly bushes re-machined with new seals-(special o rings high heat for sealing, radiator is now going for complete check and fix.
Although I did not pay any labour all parts except waterpump is genuine mitsu . My total cost so far is R35000,00
My block is in perfect condition so I am not fidling there. This total price includes school money for taking out the viscious fan and install of electric fan which was soon removed again as well as a free flow exhaust , Dastek chip and dyno tune. This also includes new switches on gearbox, new temp sensors, new spark plug wires, new head gaskets, tappet cover gaskets, exhaust gaskets, exhaust manifold gaskets,new head bolts, oils for diff and gearbox , new antifreeze, oil filter, petrol filter,new power mode switch for gearbox, new diff lock switch rear, new rear fan switch,
and some tools.
Long story short. I try to do as much as possible myself- I must admit not without a lot of swearing and sometimes frustration but most satifying and armed with a lot of knowledge and respect now about how these vehicles are put together.
So good luck and I now also understand why the labour cost can sometimes be high.
Good luck with your venture.
I do not know how mechanically minded you are.
I did the following all by myself and please note I am not a mechanic at all. I work out of the manual and advice from friends who has got more experience than me. So far I am lucky nothing broke and all is working well.
I did the following: Replaced all ball joints and steering links as well as pitman arm, Took Cv'S out replaced all seals on front axle , Removed all calipers and installed new seal kits, new shocks, all wheell bearings, rear wheel bearings was done at a eng works because of the press fit - fit for R80,00 a side, replaced the sideshaft seals and wheel bearing seals as well the O ring that seals hub to axle, replaced all waterpipes especially the one in the V-crucial, new waterpump at Midas for R1400,00 All pulleys and tensioners as well as tensioner bolts, Took gearbox out and had it serviced with transfer box for R 13500,00 - while the gearbox was out replaced the rear crank seal, replaced front crank seal,
and I an now busy with the heads which is going to Mitspro for complete overhaul, pressure test and the likes,
removed throttle body and cleaned it properly, removed manifold and had butterfly bushes re-machined with new seals-(special o rings high heat for sealing, radiator is now going for complete check and fix.
Although I did not pay any labour all parts except waterpump is genuine mitsu . My total cost so far is R35000,00
My block is in perfect condition so I am not fidling there. This total price includes school money for taking out the viscious fan and install of electric fan which was soon removed again as well as a free flow exhaust , Dastek chip and dyno tune. This also includes new switches on gearbox, new temp sensors, new spark plug wires, new head gaskets, tappet cover gaskets, exhaust gaskets, exhaust manifold gaskets,new head bolts, oils for diff and gearbox , new antifreeze, oil filter, petrol filter,new power mode switch for gearbox, new diff lock switch rear, new rear fan switch,
and some tools.
Long story short. I try to do as much as possible myself- I must admit not without a lot of swearing and sometimes frustration but most satifying and armed with a lot of knowledge and respect now about how these vehicles are put together.
So good luck and I now also understand why the labour cost can sometimes be high.
Good luck with your venture.
Hi Pierre,
I don't know if it's a Durban thing or not but there don't seem to be any good Mitsubishi workshops out there. I mean, look at the agents: Pinetown is absolutely SHOCKING (I will never support them again) & Umhlanga is mediocre but I persevered with them whilst under maintenance plan.
There is apparently a chap called Leonard in Springfield Park somewhere who was supposedly the workshop manager for Mitsubishi before he went out on his own - does that make him any good? I think he calls himself I-Africa Motor Solutions. Has anyone here ever used him?
Regarding SAC, unfortunately I haven't heard many good things about their Durban operation.
Since I am out of warranty and motorplan now I am also considering my options so would like to hear recommendations from other Durbanites please
Regards
Bruce
I don't know if it's a Durban thing or not but there don't seem to be any good Mitsubishi workshops out there. I mean, look at the agents: Pinetown is absolutely SHOCKING (I will never support them again) & Umhlanga is mediocre but I persevered with them whilst under maintenance plan.
There is apparently a chap called Leonard in Springfield Park somewhere who was supposedly the workshop manager for Mitsubishi before he went out on his own - does that make him any good? I think he calls himself I-Africa Motor Solutions. Has anyone here ever used him?
Regarding SAC, unfortunately I haven't heard many good things about their Durban operation.
Since I am out of warranty and motorplan now I am also considering my options so would like to hear recommendations from other Durbanites please
Regards
Bruce
Affiliate Member
I can not justify removing the heads just to clean sludge from the engine, a high quality oil would do the same while you drive. To change the lifters? .............If they are shot yes but it can be done without removing the heads.
Every time you pull the heads off it is a risk that the new gasket will not seal as good as the original even if the heads have been skimmed and revamped, what folks don't realise is that the block can also distort although not as frequently as the heads.
preventive maintenance is a good thing up to a point and then the policy of if it ain't broke don't fix it comes in to play.
If the drive shafts are suspect do them and replace rubbers and bushings on the front while you have it accessible,it makes for a safer and better drive. The cam belt and adjuster together with the other belts is always a good investment, keep the old belts as emergency backup.
One important point often overlooked is the hoses, if they burst it can cost you an engine so it might be a good option to change them as well and don't forget the smaller ones as they are more often the ones bursting and creating problems
Every time you pull the heads off it is a risk that the new gasket will not seal as good as the original even if the heads have been skimmed and revamped, what folks don't realise is that the block can also distort although not as frequently as the heads.
preventive maintenance is a good thing up to a point and then the policy of if it ain't broke don't fix it comes in to play.
If the drive shafts are suspect do them and replace rubbers and bushings on the front while you have it accessible,it makes for a safer and better drive. The cam belt and adjuster together with the other belts is always a good investment, keep the old belts as emergency backup.
One important point often overlooked is the hoses, if they burst it can cost you an engine so it might be a good option to change them as well and don't forget the smaller ones as they are more often the ones bursting and creating problems
Henk Bannink
Some people are wise, some people are otherwise
Some people are wise, some people are otherwise
Hi all,
Paw:
I don't think you can call yourself "I am not a mechanic" anymore. I mean after all that I recon you are self-qualified
Thing is - I have to look at the cost of my own man-hours as well. No use "saving" money by doing it myself if I potencially can earn more doing what I'm doing in the time I would have worked on the Pajero (remember I will take much longer as well).
Bruce:
I did a HelloPeter.com search on SAC Durban and found only a few reports - but all good reports. But then again it might be the Mechanic's best buddy doing the reports
Still when I spoke to the service manager (Jan) yesterday I got a good over-all impression. Will feedback if I decide to use them. Also - thanks for the tip on the local Dealers - will not use them then.
Henk:
Thanks for the tip on the waterpipes - will replace those as well.
Paw:
I don't think you can call yourself "I am not a mechanic" anymore. I mean after all that I recon you are self-qualified
Thing is - I have to look at the cost of my own man-hours as well. No use "saving" money by doing it myself if I potencially can earn more doing what I'm doing in the time I would have worked on the Pajero (remember I will take much longer as well).
Bruce:
I did a HelloPeter.com search on SAC Durban and found only a few reports - but all good reports. But then again it might be the Mechanic's best buddy doing the reports
Still when I spoke to the service manager (Jan) yesterday I got a good over-all impression. Will feedback if I decide to use them. Also - thanks for the tip on the local Dealers - will not use them then.
Henk:
Thanks for the tip on the waterpipes - will replace those as well.
Freshman,
I did all the work in my own time meaning weekends and at late afternoons till dark. Must say the PJ is not a second vehicle and I have the time to do these things at own pace and naturally when cash flow allows.
Being winter on the highveld now means not much gets done because it is bloody cold and darkness decents quickly on you and I dont work in the dark even with good lighting available. I think working in dark is just a means of screwing up.
It does take time yes as I said it is not a crucial vehicle .
I did all the work in my own time meaning weekends and at late afternoons till dark. Must say the PJ is not a second vehicle and I have the time to do these things at own pace and naturally when cash flow allows.
Being winter on the highveld now means not much gets done because it is bloody cold and darkness decents quickly on you and I dont work in the dark even with good lighting available. I think working in dark is just a means of screwing up.
It does take time yes as I said it is not a crucial vehicle .
Hi Paw, yes that helps a lot if it is not your everyday car.
Mine is, so I have to try and reduce down-time to the minimum.
Other thing is, if you work for yourself there is no "after hours". I can potencially make more coding software after-hours than working on the car after-hours especially if you consider that I would take twice as long compared to a qualified mac.
Time = money.
Cheers
Pierre
Mine is, so I have to try and reduce down-time to the minimum.
Other thing is, if you work for yourself there is no "after hours". I can potencially make more coding software after-hours than working on the car after-hours especially if you consider that I would take twice as long compared to a qualified mac.
Time = money.
Cheers
Pierre
OK Guys, some feedback from my visit to Steves.
They did not find too much wrong with my truck.
Brakes needs to be done and I'm having the driveshafts done tomorrow. All at other places.
The autobox filter & oil change, as well as the cambelt, lifters, adjuster & waterpump along with the sparkplugs and all v-belts I will have Steves do as they were not too bad on pricing.
One thing they did which was nice, was to give me prices on parts by Agents and Aftermarket so I can compare.
I will mostly go with Agent part for the crucial stuff like the cambelt and waterpump.
Having said that - I got a price of R198 per lifter from the Agents which adds up if you X 24.
But they got the Agent price as well as a aftermarket price of...wait for it...R40 each - wow cheap hey!
Sound too good to be true. I'm a bit sceptical but also aware that the Agents over-charge on everything.
I wonder if these R40 jobbies are the new spec big-hole lifters.
You take on this??
They did not find too much wrong with my truck.
Brakes needs to be done and I'm having the driveshafts done tomorrow. All at other places.
The autobox filter & oil change, as well as the cambelt, lifters, adjuster & waterpump along with the sparkplugs and all v-belts I will have Steves do as they were not too bad on pricing.
One thing they did which was nice, was to give me prices on parts by Agents and Aftermarket so I can compare.
I will mostly go with Agent part for the crucial stuff like the cambelt and waterpump.
Having said that - I got a price of R198 per lifter from the Agents which adds up if you X 24.
But they got the Agent price as well as a aftermarket price of...wait for it...R40 each - wow cheap hey!
Sound too good to be true. I'm a bit sceptical but also aware that the Agents over-charge on everything.
I wonder if these R40 jobbies are the new spec big-hole lifters.
You take on this??