Pajero Owners Club of South Africa

Hi All,

about a month ago, I finally took my Pajero in to Malcolm Saich (the best Mackie in Strand) at that time, I was experiencing starter motor lock up problems, and a noticeable amount of blue smoke (not clouds, but you could see it if idling).

I went to Malcolm, told him to do a full service, plugs filters etc, told him to put in Delo400 oil, and also check all my diff oil levels etc, and brakes. Once that was done he was to then put it on the dyno, check emissions etc, to find the route of the blue smoke.

So, a week later, he tells me, hes fixed the starter motor (had sand in it, causing it to stick/lock)did the plugs & filters, but 1st wanted to check the engine before he put the oil in. He'd checked the brakes and all the diff oils, and even cleaned my throttle body(which I'd also asked him to do) I then sat down when I asked him what the cost would be (I had told him to try keep it down) he told me.... when I got up of the floor, I asked him to confirm the amount, he said, its just a rough figure, but at the moment its just under R1, 700.00 yup, that's all.
Moving on to the next problem, the then tested it, and found problems with the Valve lifters & valve stem seals etc.
He explained to me that we could probably get it all sorted, replace lifters, new seals etc pushing my TOTAL bill up to about R7K. Including the above-mentioned service.
I said go ahead, thinking in terms if some of the prices I've seen on this forum for the very same problems,
Truth be told, thanks to Pajero club, the second I saw the blue-smoke-of-death, I knew I was going to be in for at least 10K.
2 days later, Malcolm phones me again, sounding very stressed (I'm thinking the place burnt down with my Pajero in it)
No, he explains, I need to come down and make a decision (words I'm sure we all dread from our trusted mackies (if they're not willing to make the call, then it must be bad) true enough, its bad, I get down there, and he explains to me
(shows me) that when he took of the top, there was major sludge fouling caked all over it, almost like tar, which made him think to check the top & bottom rings on the pistons housings, and as suspected, there was major fouling there too and gaps on5 of them.
So then, I lit up a cigarette, while he explains to me that he can do a temporary fix (which would only last about 5,000kms, and would probably then make matters worse, or I could fix it properly.
I decided to go the proper route, as A) I have no plan on selling my Pajero B) since the Paj had no service history, I can now start on a clean slate with a re-conned engine.
So, At the same time, in order to make the most of a bad situation, told him to do cam-belt change, new tensioners, check pulleys etc, water pump change, thermostat, replace all the rubber tubing, one or 2 other things he has suggested, that since I don't have my N6, I cant remember what they are, he would then also raise all my breather tubes on all my diffs & transfer case & gearbox, and (as per his advice) put petrol filters on the end of all of them - thus if there is any water ingress, it will filter out any particulates.
So, out came the engine, new pistons were ordered, small end bearings, all rings, all seals, new valve stems as well, had the block re-bored, ever so slightly, so that it doesn't run hotter, and if need be can be re-bored again in 20 years.
Bottom of block has been 60% re-assembled (looks really good) pistons have been balanced, and all is set to be completed within the next 2 weeks (in order to cut down on costs, they work on my Pajero as a 'project' after hours) reducing my labor billing drastically. Then hes still to raise the body a bit, in terms of stability, check the wheel alignment etc, and clean out nicely (hopefully showroom condition engine bay) etc etc.
How much is this all setting me back? don't know yet, but hes keeping it within budget, which is R20K.

So, does anyone else have any suggestions on what else to check/replace while the engine is out
I would really appreciate tips

Thanks

Mcnoogle,
I do not know what motor it is you have. Perhaps a 3.0 L , a 3.5 or diesel.
On a 3.5 I can only tell you what I did.
In repairing all the things the have already mentioned I changed all the pulleys, new crank angle sensor,cam sensor as well as the knock sensor after reading that the knock sensor can really mess up the fuel consumption.
I addition I replaced the oil pump , water pump , all seals and gaskets, o rings , all waterpipes ,
replaced a new powersteering pump hose which was leaking a bit.
You can check the waterpipe that runs through the V for wear and that O ring it is very important to prevent it from leaking. Whilst the motor is out check the vacuum lines to underbody as well as the reservoir whilst it is open from the top.
I have now also taken the decission to paint the whole engine bay with white stonechip and second coat with black.
I picked up a few rust spots and decided to cover it.
Check your exhaust manifolds for cracks as it does happen to the 3.5.
I took electrical cleaner and sprayed every electrical connector clean.
I washed all parts with parafien as well as all manifolds especially the intake manifold on top of motor. You will be surprised at the ammount of gunk coming out of it.
Check the injectors and the injector seals where it fits in the intake manifold.
Maybe have your alternator tested whilst it is out at a Bosch service center.
A mouth full but I know now once my motor is back in it will be brand new. I think the only thing that will not be new is the hydraulic tensioner as I can not find one now.
Good Luck.

Might also be a good idea to have the radiator cleaned inside and out and maybe bend back all the fins to the right place if you are cleanng it yourself.

CATS

Thanks Guys,

Have made up a checklist using the above info and handed to Malcolm.

Should be finally getting Bismark back this week.

Cant wait.

Cheers
Ned