Pajero Owners Club of South Africa

My Pajero Sport

Vehicle has been intermittently hunting for about a year and consumption has always been high. (12.5 L/100km best ever)
only recently did the fault present itself when i could get to dealer at the same time. Also, presence of mind to keep engine running while I called the 'technician'(they don't like being called a mechanic)

Went for a drive to demonstrate.
Kept engine running, he hooked up the computer, no fault codes.
He declares there is nothing the matter, based on that alone.

Asked about a faulty sensor, he says there will be a fault reported for that....
wow! so what this means is we no longer need 'technicians'

Fault disappeared when restarted.

Car goes in for three days.
Get it back with "cleaned EGR valve" on job card.

A week later it surges again.
Take it back again.

Here's how the conversation goes...
Alan - So what do you think the problem is?
Dealer - Probably carbon build up in inlet manifold.
Alan - Okay lets open up and have a look.
Dealer - Ohh , ummm , mitsubishi do not pay for this, we've had other Tritons not getting warranty approval for this fault because of 'poor quality' fuel.
Alan- What's the cause?
Dealer - Are you only using 50ppm diesel?
Alan - Yes, maybe 1 in 10 tanks is 500ppm if i'm far out.
Dealer - Did you use the diesel system cleaner?
Alan - Yes, at 10 000km intervals after someone warned me about this scenario. Note: not by you, my dealer, so thanks for nothing. Dealer - We recommend that every third tank should have cleaner in it.
Alan - Really? at R110 per bottle? Give it to me in writing, or show me a technical specification from Mitsubishi...!
Dealer - We'll get back to you on that.
Alan - There is zero mention of 50ppm fuel only in handbook or other documents.
Dealer - Yes, its there.
Alan - No there is nothing in my book, have a look...
Dealer - oh, maybe it's in the newer books. Anyway, you will have to pay for this and we will submit the claim.
Alan - Okay, I'll pay.

This is what my inlet system looked like 3000km ago (92 000Km)
Dealer - So, as you can see, its all carbon'd up. Fuel is really bad in South Africa. contaminated.
Alan - Wow ! So you must have like 10 or 20 cars a day in here!
Dealer - Not really.
Alan - What does Mitsubishi say?
Dealer - Will not pay due to contaminated fuel.
Alan - That was quick, who came to look?
Dealer - Our technicians (there's that name again)
Alan - So YOU told Mitsubishi it's fuel?
Dealer - Yes
Alan - What is this diagnosis based on?
Dealer - We just know.
Alan - how do I get it to stop?
Dealer - 50 ppm only and use fuel line cleaner.
Alan - This is not right, i want a written, technical explanation from you, my dealer on how this happens.
Dealer - (shrug of shoulders)
Alan - Doubtful that Mitsubishi would have not encountered this issue in testing, and still used the motor.
Dealer - (shrug of shoulders)
Alan - Why are the other models with same motor, and in fact all the Mercedes diesel models not lined up here?
Dealer - We'll appeal to Mitsubishi and refund you if they accept the claim.
Alan - how will they change their minds if they never see the vehicle, and you tell them it's contaminated fuel?
Dealer - we'll do our best. Here's the bill.
Alan - Are you sure that there are o sensors giving incorrect levels or temperature maybe? Maybe its over fuelling, or pressure is wrong?
Dealer - there are no fault codes, our technicians have checked. ( shrugs again)
Dealer - It's two years old now , are you going to trade it in?

End of conversation

So i pay the R2350, and drive to Jhb , East London and back to PE.

Starts surging again......

So, what to do?

Still believe its a faulty sensor or similar that would not show up as a fault code.


5000km on warranty left.

Titan,
this whole scenario makes me wonder should I go for a Mitsu after all. I wil and can not afford fuel cleaner every so many km's as 50 ppm is a good diesel and I do not need this kind of attitude when problems occur, If they know diesel in SA is apparently bad why don't they make a plan. I drive D4D Auto Bakkie for close to 195000 km and I put in 500 or 50 whichever I get hold off when refueling with no problems at all and I mean none. Makes me wonder now! It seems more of a attitude problem than anything else here.

Alan

Please post which dealer you have been dealing with, and specifically, which technician, and if so the dealer principal. Include the job card if you have it.

Mitu have, in their words, seen us as ombudsmen in certain respects, to their service levels.

While we get the impression that the dealers are wagging Mitsubishi's dog, this kind of thing is unacceptable.

I know you are going to get in touch with our contact, so please copy admin@ in your correspondence.

Alan

Please post which dealer you have been dealing with, and specifically, which technician, and if so the dealer principal. Include the job card if you have it.

Mitu have, in their words, seen us as ombudsmen in certain respects, to their service levels.

While we get the impression that the dealers are wagging Mitsubishi's dog, this kind of thing is unacceptable.

I know you are going to get in touch with our contact, so please copy admin@ in your correspondence.

Dear paw_by_paw

Please understand one thing here.
The support structure behind vehicles is the issue, not the machine.

If there was a general engine problem, dealerships would have no room to move with all the breakdowns.

These guys do not have a clue what's causing the problem.
They are switching sensors and parts from their service bakkie in an attempt to figure it out.
(according to them, the EGR valve and most sensors on the 2.5 are the same!)

The pressure to get work out means they cannot afford to spend the time needed to diagnose issues beyond the usual day to day stuff.

Mostly it's the poor attitude and lack of respect that makes them so ineffective at solving all but the simplest of problems. You all know what I mean, that vacant stare as you just about want to scream obscenities about his hairstyle.

Example:
When I drove a Colt Double cab a while ago, the clutch needed to be replaced.
I popped in to check up on them(!) . The mileage made me wonder about propshaft universals and I did a rudimentary check on the floor. One of the sets was seized to such an extent that it supported the weight of the other spigot! When I showed this to the foreman, guess what I got? Shrug of shoulders... They farmed it out, the propshaft place only replaced the carrier bearing. As soon as I got the vehicle back, there was a rumble. Long story short: took it to another Propshaft guy myself, and got credit from dealer after spectacular fight.

There are certainly no 'technician's' trawling the web or Mitsubishi technical archives to figure this one out.

It's all about attitude and respect and there are no pills for this.

Titan,
I did mention a attitude problem though,but I am still even more concerned about the fact that the parts used are from a 2.5. That is many moons old stuff. I took a Sport for a test drive again today and do have my reservations now. I am in no way downing the Mitsu product here as I am still a owner of a Pajero and proud of it. But my take now on a Sport as I experienced it : First that blank dash does not really find my eye, secondly I missed the last row seating arrangement and I asked if it can be delivered without those seats and unfortunately the answer was no.
My problem I have is that those seats are a serious waste of nice packing space . Yes you can remove it altogether and make a plan with a Marine Ply Board to cover that hole.
Performance wise : It was sluggish from pull away- actually more than expected.
The gear changes are smooth - very smooth(Auto) but on overtaking it felt sluggish again- it feels that the gearbox gears down but throttle responds only about 2 seconds later?
The front seats are very narrow for me and as I was sitting with the door closed it took a bit of effort to get the seat adjusted because of space between door and seat edge.
I am sure in time you will use to it.I mainly wanted to go for a Sport because of the 4x4 system on the fly thing.
The Toyota has a problem with the selection as the vehicle will have to be virtually on a standstill before selecting even 4 high. Just my few pointers and If a choice has to be made between a new D4D which apparently our supplier can deliver at a very good price as I heard today somewhere in the region of R380,000 full package - leather seats,towbar, smash & grab, car kit , runner boards and Bull bar, So when choice is a matter I will have to seriously considder my options here. Just my opinion and no downgrading to specific brand here. I am not a huge Toyota fan but money matters especially when Tax is involved.

Hi paw_ papaw

It's really a personal choice.

You either a Coke or Pepsi person...
Hot or cold milk
Etc etc

The seven seats apparently help with import duties and so on. It's classified as a station wagon...
They really not as intrusive as the two huge lumps in the Toyota.

Performance.. With a bit of practice and getting to know the 'box, often find myself having to slack off in the middle of an overtake maneuver because of catching rep-mobiles who are also passing,
Screaming at them , "come ooooonnn" , " I'm in a Bakkie! " , Its just technique...
Tiptonic is your friend here.

My choice was based on my need to get through 300-1000 km a day in peak season.
Two years old, 96 000 km..... Soon be part of hi miler club!
She really is a mobile office/workshop with parrot car kit ( ***** rating)
iPad mounted on the dash for GPS / mail/ utilities ( see other post ) not so boring now.
So I'm constantly on the phone and not wanting to worry about gears.

Did you drive the new model with Aircon in the roof lining for back seats?
The new seats are bucket type now, my arse not so narrow, so flat seats preferable.x