Hi All Pajero Fundi's
I need some advice based on your past experience/knowledge
My traction control lights i.e. traction control active and traction control on/off lights comes on when i am going up a long uphill at speed i.e. Gbox gears back to 4th to maintain speed of 120 - 130 km/h.
Some times the traction control lights as indicated above comes on, disengaging the speed control (when using it) and i notice a slight decrease in power delivery.
What could be the cause of this? I have been advised that it could be the Map sensor?
I am scared that it could be the Auto Gearbox that is slipping?
Your feedback will be appreciated before i take it to the agents for costly repairs.
Hi Rassie,
As far as I know the traction control system uses the ABS sensors on the wheels to determine if there is any wheel slip . This will then activate or deactivate the traction control. If this is the way that the Pajero traction control works then the problem is rather sensor/electronics related. I would think that there is some sort of communication between the speed control and traction control as well, causing the speed control to deactivate when traction is lost.
I've heard of deflated tyres causing the traction control to kick in due to the difference in rotational speed.
As far as I know the traction control system uses the ABS sensors on the wheels to determine if there is any wheel slip . This will then activate or deactivate the traction control. If this is the way that the Pajero traction control works then the problem is rather sensor/electronics related. I would think that there is some sort of communication between the speed control and traction control as well, causing the speed control to deactivate when traction is lost.
I've heard of deflated tyres causing the traction control to kick in due to the difference in rotational speed.
The M-ASTC (Mitsubishi Active Stability & Traction Control System) does indeed make use of the ABS wheel speed sensors and the hydraulic brake booster, but the system also incorporates some of its own bits (e.g. an accelerometer to determine rate of acceleration/yaw and a steering wheel angle sensor).
The fact that both of the M-ASTC lights come on are an indication of a system fault in that system. Perhaps you should go to the agents and have the fault codes read using an MUT-II tool.
Have you experienced any problems with your ABS system? Does any ABS warning lights come on? Do you have a flashing center diff lock light or problems getting the low range lamp to illuminate? If not, then I think the problem would effectively be either with the steering wheel angle sensor or the yaw sensor.
Have you recently had the battery replaced? If so, the steering wheel angle sensor needs to be recallibrated:
1. Turn the ignition switch to the ON position.
2. Rotate the steering wheel to more than 8° while stationary
3. Return steering wheel to straight ahead position, and then keep it there
4. Drive the vehicle in the straight-ahead direction at 35 km/h for 1 second or more.
3. Ensure that the active stability control system OFF indicator has turned OFF
The fact that both the M-ASTC lights light up seem to indicate that it is not just a steering wheel angle sensor callibration issue, though. The sensor might be faulty.
It might also be that the accelerometer (which is installed under the center control) has come adrift or is faulty and is feeding spurious information to the M-ASTC ECU.
Reading the error codes with the MUT-II tool will definitely help to pin-point the issue.
I doubt whether you need to worry about the gearbox. One of the things that the stability control system does is to apply the individual wheel brakes and reduce engine power as needed to maintain/enhance stability. If the system is faulty, it could be applying the brakes or cutting engine power inappropriately and this could explain the loss of power and cancellation of the speed control (due to brake application) that you experienced.
I would suggest that you have the system seen to as soon as possible, because inappropriate activation of brakes can be dangerous.
The fact that both of the M-ASTC lights come on are an indication of a system fault in that system. Perhaps you should go to the agents and have the fault codes read using an MUT-II tool.
Have you experienced any problems with your ABS system? Does any ABS warning lights come on? Do you have a flashing center diff lock light or problems getting the low range lamp to illuminate? If not, then I think the problem would effectively be either with the steering wheel angle sensor or the yaw sensor.
Have you recently had the battery replaced? If so, the steering wheel angle sensor needs to be recallibrated:
1. Turn the ignition switch to the ON position.
2. Rotate the steering wheel to more than 8° while stationary
3. Return steering wheel to straight ahead position, and then keep it there
4. Drive the vehicle in the straight-ahead direction at 35 km/h for 1 second or more.
3. Ensure that the active stability control system OFF indicator has turned OFF
The fact that both the M-ASTC lights light up seem to indicate that it is not just a steering wheel angle sensor callibration issue, though. The sensor might be faulty.
It might also be that the accelerometer (which is installed under the center control) has come adrift or is faulty and is feeding spurious information to the M-ASTC ECU.
Reading the error codes with the MUT-II tool will definitely help to pin-point the issue.
I doubt whether you need to worry about the gearbox. One of the things that the stability control system does is to apply the individual wheel brakes and reduce engine power as needed to maintain/enhance stability. If the system is faulty, it could be applying the brakes or cutting engine power inappropriately and this could explain the loss of power and cancellation of the speed control (due to brake application) that you experienced.
I would suggest that you have the system seen to as soon as possible, because inappropriate activation of brakes can be dangerous.
Gerrit Loubser 
2003 Toyota Land Cruiser 100 VX TD
2003 Mitsubishi Pajero 3.2 DiD LWB A/T Gone & missed
1999 Nissan Patrol 4.5E GRX M/T: Gone & missed
1996 Toyota Land Cruiser 80 VX 4.5 EFI A/T: SOLD
2003 Toyota Land Cruiser 100 VX TD
2003 Mitsubishi Pajero 3.2 DiD LWB A/T Gone & missed
1999 Nissan Patrol 4.5E GRX M/T: Gone & missed
1996 Toyota Land Cruiser 80 VX 4.5 EFI A/T: SOLD
After lurking on this site my first contribution ... :
Dear Rassie,
Did you get any solution for your problem ?
Greetings !
A
Dear Rassie,
Did you get any solution for your problem ?
Greetings !
A
Hi Rassie,
I replaced my MAP sensor and also cleaned the intake to the MAP sensor. My problem is solved, and has been for 12000 km. I had the same problem. Uphill the traction control light comes on, and loss of power. Mine was so much that the car in the left lane, which I was busy overtakng, overtaked me again.
The agents wanted to replace my diesel pump.
Cheers
I replaced my MAP sensor and also cleaned the intake to the MAP sensor. My problem is solved, and has been for 12000 km. I had the same problem. Uphill the traction control light comes on, and loss of power. Mine was so much that the car in the left lane, which I was busy overtakng, overtaked me again.
The agents wanted to replace my diesel pump.
Cheers
Hallo Rassie,
Before you check any electrical things make sure your tyre pressures are correct, and then check the gearbox oil level !
I had exacrly the same problem on my Pajero while towing my boat to Cpt last December
At the end of rhe day I thought maybe the gearbox is slipping because of the oil level, which I never checked because I dont see any leaks or something. When pulling the dipstick fore gaerbox it was clean and dry ! I checked the book to make sure I was doing it correct and again the dipstick showed no oil.
I took it to a gearbox service station and had the oil filled up. Then I drove it to the Kalahari towing a very big trailer. Just outside of Vryburg, the same happened as you describe and I experienced before ! Only this time I told my wife that today is the day that I will drive this gearbox, IN SY M....R, luckily this did not happen. They are stronger than I thought ! I stopped for diesel and found that the oil was running out of the gearbox and there was a rather large puddle of oil underneath the car.
I drove it all the way to the farm and back towing this trailer back heavily loaded, and I had no problems again.
I did check the oil level however after I arrived on the farm and it was at the correct level. This indicated to me that the mechanic that filled it with oil over filled the gearbox and caused the oil to over heat and push out of the breather, also causing the slip in the gearbox because of the over heated oil !
I am replacing the gearbox oil filter and oil now before I drive down to Cpt again !
I spend money looking at various things, even removed the CAT !
Before you check any electrical things make sure your tyre pressures are correct, and then check the gearbox oil level !
I had exacrly the same problem on my Pajero while towing my boat to Cpt last December
At the end of rhe day I thought maybe the gearbox is slipping because of the oil level, which I never checked because I dont see any leaks or something. When pulling the dipstick fore gaerbox it was clean and dry ! I checked the book to make sure I was doing it correct and again the dipstick showed no oil.
I took it to a gearbox service station and had the oil filled up. Then I drove it to the Kalahari towing a very big trailer. Just outside of Vryburg, the same happened as you describe and I experienced before ! Only this time I told my wife that today is the day that I will drive this gearbox, IN SY M....R, luckily this did not happen. They are stronger than I thought ! I stopped for diesel and found that the oil was running out of the gearbox and there was a rather large puddle of oil underneath the car.
I drove it all the way to the farm and back towing this trailer back heavily loaded, and I had no problems again.
I did check the oil level however after I arrived on the farm and it was at the correct level. This indicated to me that the mechanic that filled it with oil over filled the gearbox and caused the oil to over heat and push out of the breather, also causing the slip in the gearbox because of the over heated oil !
I am replacing the gearbox oil filter and oil now before I drive down to Cpt again !
I spend money looking at various things, even removed the CAT !
Hi Everyone,
I still have problems with both the traction control lights illuminating at the same time. It seems to be getting all the more frequent and not only while towing anymore. It is also more noticeable when it is very warm weather and mainly on a uphill. The lights come on and I loose power. I can also hear a whistling noise from the gearbox, and the footwell next to my left foot where the gearbox is, is warm.
What is the purpose of the MAP sensor and where is it ?
Strange enough, I took the car up the Matroosberg 4x4 route an then I have no problems. Only when driving on the open road and when towing.
Any idears on what might cause this please ?
Regards
Tolla
I still have problems with both the traction control lights illuminating at the same time. It seems to be getting all the more frequent and not only while towing anymore. It is also more noticeable when it is very warm weather and mainly on a uphill. The lights come on and I loose power. I can also hear a whistling noise from the gearbox, and the footwell next to my left foot where the gearbox is, is warm.
What is the purpose of the MAP sensor and where is it ?
Strange enough, I took the car up the Matroosberg 4x4 route an then I have no problems. Only when driving on the open road and when towing.
Any idears on what might cause this please ?
Regards
Tolla
Hi Tolla,Tolla wrote:Hi Everyone,
I still have problems with both the traction control lights illuminating at the same time. It seems to be getting all the more frequent and not only while towing anymore.
Regards Tolla
What sort of load are you towing?
Hallo Andrew,
I tow a 5 m semi ridgid inflatable. Problem is that it is now doing the same on a uphill without towing.
Regards
Tolla
I tow a 5 m semi ridgid inflatable. Problem is that it is now doing the same on a uphill without towing.
Regards
Tolla
This problem is becoming a very common phenomenon lately. I am personally also currently trying to assist a friend with advice on how to tackle this. Now reading all the threads on this topic I find the following commonalities in many cases:
1. Both the ASC and traction control lights come on and stay on. In our case it went off by itself over night and power was back the next day.
2. When these lights are on, a power loss is noticeable mainly when going up hills.
3. The gearbox changes down and stay in 4th It will only respond with tiptronic action.
4. Many people experience this problem WHILE TOWING and so did my friend. Can this be a clue?
5. Mitsubishi could not find any error codes logged and could not get the problem to reoccur.
Now for my theory, please help develop this:
1. The ECU’s on the new cars are often very sensitive to voltage fluctuations and can easily decide to go into a limp mode without an error code as a result.
2. Trailer wiring is most often tappet directly off the existing wiring of the car’s tail lamps and brake lights. (On my own car I go through a relay system.)
3. In my friends case we know a globe on the trailer had fused sometime during the trip. This could have caused a spike on the already overloaded brakelight/taillamp circuit.
4. Can dodgy wiring on the trailer perhaps cause this problem?
5. Can dodgy wiring to the trailer plug at the towbar cause this problem? (For those cases where it happens without a trailer on tow.)
1. Both the ASC and traction control lights come on and stay on. In our case it went off by itself over night and power was back the next day.
2. When these lights are on, a power loss is noticeable mainly when going up hills.
3. The gearbox changes down and stay in 4th It will only respond with tiptronic action.
4. Many people experience this problem WHILE TOWING and so did my friend. Can this be a clue?
5. Mitsubishi could not find any error codes logged and could not get the problem to reoccur.
Now for my theory, please help develop this:
1. The ECU’s on the new cars are often very sensitive to voltage fluctuations and can easily decide to go into a limp mode without an error code as a result.
2. Trailer wiring is most often tappet directly off the existing wiring of the car’s tail lamps and brake lights. (On my own car I go through a relay system.)
3. In my friends case we know a globe on the trailer had fused sometime during the trip. This could have caused a spike on the already overloaded brakelight/taillamp circuit.
4. Can dodgy wiring on the trailer perhaps cause this problem?
5. Can dodgy wiring to the trailer plug at the towbar cause this problem? (For those cases where it happens without a trailer on tow.)
Willie from Jo'burg
White Gen 3 SWB Pajero 3.2 DID
White Gen 3 SWB Pajero 3.2 DID