Pajero Owners Club of South Africa

Hi guys and gals, I have had a whining noise coming from the engine for a while. I have a 2000 3.5 V6 with 163000km's on the clock.
On the last service I replaced the LH idler pulley (batery side)on the fan belt thinking it will solve the whining. (The puley felt a bit loose)
Before that, on 150000, I replaced the Fan belt as it did show signs of wear.

However lately the sound is getting louder. It comes and goes, but is almost always there, when the engine is warm. It is almost the sound of the power steering when you crank the steering wheel all the way left or right, but you can still hear the two sounds separately with the steering turned all the way to max. Therefore I am not convinced that it is the Power steering pump. It is most apparent driving straight so the power steering really is not working hard at that time.

I might be imagining it, but it almost sound like a belt running into a plastic or other cover. The Fanbelt is visible and it looks ok.

Can it be coming from the Cambelt inside, and what sound would a cambelt make it was starting to get worn? I was only planning to do the cambelt at the 180000km service, but would like your advice.

Get a stethoscope or long screwdriver and pinpoint the noise origin.

Maybe worn alternator bearings or even waterpump giving notice of failure?

CATS

Sent from my GT-P7100 using Tapatalk 2

MMC 3.5 V6 wrote:Hi guys and gals, I have had a whining noise coming from the engine for a while. I have a 2000 3.5 V6 with 163000km's on the clock.
On the last service I replaced the LH idler pulley (batery side)on the fan belt thinking it will solve the whining. (The puley felt a bit loose)
Before that, on 150000, I replaced the Fan belt as it did show signs of wear.

However lately the sound is getting louder. It comes and goes, but is almost always there, when the engine is warm. It is almost the sound of the power steering when you crank the steering wheel all the way left or right, but you can still hear the two sounds separately with the steering turned all the way to max. Therefore I am not convinced that it is the Power steering pump. It is most apparent driving straight so the power steering really is not working hard at that time.

I might be imagining it, but it almost sound like a belt running into a plastic or other cover. The Fanbelt is visible and it looks ok.

Can it be coming from the Cambelt inside, and what sound would a cambelt make it was starting to get worn? I was only planning to do the cambelt at the 180000km service, but would like your advice.

Follow CATS advise and try to isolate the sound, I had a similar problem, turned out to be my plastic idler pulley, I took the micro-V belt off and found the pulley to be very rough when turned by hand. The other smooth steel one was also on it way out so I am going to replace that as well. There is also a tensioner pulley that can be making a noise.

I don't know which Paj you have but my Gen 3 you need a 1/2" power bar or socket ratchet to release tension of the microV belt by inserting it in the square hole and turning as directed in pic (put a 6mm allen key in to hold open) and then you can spin all the pulleys and accessories by hand to see which one is grinding/on it way out. Hope this helps.

Hi, many thanks for the advise. Stripping something seems a bit safer. I must say the idea of long screw drivers at the rotating pulleys is a bit un-nerving. I am busy with studies now, so this work will need to wait about 14 days.hope nothing major goes wrong in the meantime.

Hi MMC
I had the same problum with my 2002 3.5 A/T,I got my Jerry 4 weeks ago and the noise started 2 weeks ago, so i took him around to my mac, and he told me, it was the pulley and then he found out it was 3 x pulleys, as per Cats pic, they where all stuffed. i just bought the car and im not to happy about this, and by the way the pulleys are R6500.00 each from the stealers (and no stock).i got hold of the dealers where i bought Jerry, and after a bit of "Consummer act talking" they have agreed to replace the pulleys at there cost, Jerry was dropped of yesterday. MMC my Mac did tell me i was lucky nothing snapped or it would have been a lot ot RRRRRRRRRRRRRR. TRY AND GET IT FIXED ASAP, or your stress level will start to rise.
Good luck
Irish

Thanks Irish,
I will start with the getting the parts then if their stock is out. The imperial Mitsubishi dealer is closest to me in Kuilsriver, Cape.
During the last service, I replaced the Alternator Idler pulley (p/n MD368209 @ R464.90) and the imfamous crank bolt with the new design type, to avoid the other origin of big RRRRRRRRRRRRR's. The Center bolt on the crankshaft pulley was relatively cheap (p/n 1100A141 @ R52.25). The fitment of these items + a regular service cost & replacing the front brake dust covers came to R6061.

Hello from a wet Cape Town

I have a Paj 3.5 GLS 1995 which has recently developed an intermittent whine - it started after the heads were done which I understand bears no relation to this problem.

The sound has been traced with a stethoscope to the oil pipe leading to the oil cooler.

My Mac is convined that it is the oil pump ... he removed the belts (after replacing one pulley) and still she whines ... cambelt replaced and starter motor removed and checked.

I did have the same on my Pajero a few weeks ago. The problem was the front bearing on the air conditioner compressor. Replace the compressor with a exchange unit and problem was solved

Hi
Did the sound come and go with the engagment of the Air cond Pump clutch?

It is winter now, so I do not run my A/C at all, but the sound returns as soon as the engine is warm (Say ~20min after on temperature and slow trafic driving, just before I arrive at work in the mornings).

Replacing the AC compressor is usually a expensive excercise. How much did it cost?

Nobody seem to think it has anything to do with the Cambelt, so hopefully that is good.

Hopefully it is only one of the pulleys and not Alternator, waterpump or AC compressor.

MMC,

Why not listen with the A/C being turned on and off, maybe you will learn something?

Same for the power steering, get somebody to turn the steering while you listen, maybe the noise changes as the pump takes up load?

Same for the alternator - listen with headlights on and off.

My 1998 3.5Blister picked up this symptom, I remember it was one of the pulleys. It would go away after spraying some Q20 on the bearing. I do not advise spraying oil on the bearings as it will only accumulate dust over time. I found a pulley with some play on it and out of "desperation" applied the oil. It immediately stopped the whine and then I knew which pulley to replace.