Pajero Owners Club of South Africa

Hi,

It appears I am suffering of fuel starvation issues with my 3.5 petrol 2001 model Gen3. This has happened once before in northern Zimbabwe after having to fill up with some local dodgy Zim blend fuel. In the Zambezi valley it was hot and slow going and the vehicle sputtered and would not rev and drive and just died. Added our spare jerry after checking all components and after waiting around 30 minutes. It fired up and we did around 8000km's since this event until yesterday at the GTG.

Similar conditions, rather hot day and driving slowly, then splutter and dies.It does not start and have to leave for 30 minutes or so and it will go again, forced drive back to lapa and after a tow from Jotto, thanks again. Stood at the lapa for 45 minutes and was fine again. Fired up and drove home no problems at all. Car was not overheating at all, all is good there and no warning or error lghts.

This link sounds similar and affects Gen3 prior to December 2001, mine is November 2001 model, so sounds like the possible cause https://www.pajeroclub.co.za/forum/view ... =24&t=1760

I am going to Kgalagadi in April and can't have this happen there with wife and little one in the car.

Any suggestions welcome, and will need to test a lekker traail again at least before going.

Cheers

David

Check the following for proper working order:

• Fuel filter
• Fuel tank ventilation
• Fuel line leakages (either letting air in, or fuel out)
• Fuel line running close to an exhaust component, which will cause the fuel to vaporise and cause a vapour lock

Thanks Gerhard,

Will check these,

How many filters are there, and should I be checking the fuel pump as well which sounds like a likely suspect in the mix. It only happens under these conditions, I have done 2000km trips and no problems, just slow and hot and it dies, wait 30-45 minutes and good to go again till next time....

David,

If your fuel system is similar to mine, I would like to suggest the following:
a Remove the fuel pump and check that the "filter" is clean. Unfortunately it does not have a separate fuel filter. In my Paj the pump and filter is in one unit.
b. On Sunday I mentioned the possibility of the bottom of the tank being pushed in during some off road trip. Check!
c. Check the fuel line placement of a newer model Pajero. If yours is running close to the exhaust pipe, move it away from the heat.
d. The "air lock" mentioned by somebody else is very likely if the supply pipe is running closes to the exhaust.
e. I know the next is quite a bit of work and a lot of money (R550 to R1100) but install a second pump and when your Paj start with its tricks, activate the second pump. It must have the same delivery pressure as the Paj pump (about 5 bar). This will not be a waist because you will be able to use it to transfer fuel when you buy one of my tanks. The biggest problem when you add another pump is to make sure that it does not leak fuel anywhere!! In fact if you had a set up like mine, I would have said run a second supply line right up to the engine - this will sort the problem of overheating and the possibility of a blocked pipe.

Cloyd

Hi David

Replace the feul pump, had this issue on several of my cars over the years, know it (symptoms) by now.

Johann

Thanks All,

will starting working through these from most likely/cheapest and work from there.

Much appreciated

Hi David,

My buddy had the same problem with his Pajero 3.5 V6 GDI. The fuel pump (bosche i think) is quite pricey about £500 here...the bolts on the top of the pump are small and corode easily (esp in uk with grit during winter) He bought the pump but never replaced it (mitsu snapped two of the nuts off trying) all he has had changed were fuel line filters which are small and hasnt had a problem since. Some guys here apparently pop a normal fuel filter just before the standard one to prevent muck building up in the small one.
Another interesting thing we found out is that some of the older models have dodgy fuel pumps which have bits breaking down in them. Mitsu havent owned up to the problem though.

Try new fuel filters first.
cheers

Thanks Dizzyg, will check it out over the weekend.

Haven't had a chance to dig into this one yet, but had an issue again yesterday. This time I was at builders and was on a call still idling for a few minutes and it simply died. Went in and bought some goodies and it started straight away, with no issues, this time the tank was a tad below quarter, again rather hot day. I haven't had a chance to change anything as yet. This was after going to Pilanesburg last weekend and doing several game drives with no issues, again very hot conditions.

Is this the right items to perform for now and should I be doing any other low cost checks

Remove petrol pump and replace bag filter
Check all securing bolts for any earthing issues and clean as necessary
Install fuel filter in line in engine bay
Check fuel hoses for routing and any damage holes

After this, the focus moves to the fuel pump itself due to cost and believe the other items are good measures and preventative maintenance.

Is there anyone else that has had this issue?

Thanks

David

Paj is at Mitspro, decided to replaace fuel pump and filter, price of pump not too expensive around R700 for a bosch unit. Will see if this does the trick.