Pajero Owners Club of South Africa

Hi all,

It has been a while since I was on the POCSA.
I thought I will ask my questions here.
I recently upgraded my Paj again, from a 3.8v6 to a 3.2 Diesel. This is my first Pajero Diesel. Reason being family grew and 3 doors don't cut it anymore

I have noticed the paj is fairly dead until around 2100rpm, then suddenly it starts accelerating as the turbo boosts. This happens at a constant lightly footed acceleration. Is this normal? Makes for a crappy driving experience in my eyes. I have also noticed that sometimes at an intersection or turning into a side street coming from a stop, you will punch the accelerator to take a gap, and its like nothing happens for 2 or 3 seconds, as if it just idles then suddenly revs a bit and starts going. This is a safety risk and extremely frustrating. I have a feeling there is a underlying fault somewhere perhaps?
Also, when cruise control is on, and you on a level piece of highway. the car starts jerking like crazy, as if it it brakes and accelerates. when you control it with the foot, all is well, no issues?

The other day also, I was turning a traffic circle, when I tried to accelerate, the car was off, it turned itself off mid corner. Had to stop in the middle of the road, in peak hour traffic, switch to Park, restart engine, and off we go like nothing happened. Started as normal as well. AC was on though.
When you ease into the throttle, she does pull like a train though.

Oh yes, and she rattles.... A LOT. That I am sorting, one roll of double sided tape at a time.

Any ideas what the issues are, or suggestions? No errors logged or CELs.

Hi there. I am also relatively new to Pajeros, only got my 3.2 in November. But I can answer some of your questions.

RicG wrote: ↑Tue Oct 04, 2022 10:03 am I have noticed the paj is fairly dead until around 2100rpm, then suddenly it starts accelerating as the turbo boosts. This happens at a constant lightly footed acceleration. Is this normal? Makes for a crappy driving experience in my eyes. I have also noticed that sometimes at an intersection or turning into a side street coming from a stop, you will punch the accelerator to take a gap, and its like nothing happens for 2 or 3 seconds, as if it just idles then suddenly revs a bit and starts going. This is a safety risk and extremely frustrating. I have a feeling there is a underlying fault somewhere perhaps?

Punching the accellerator on a big and heavy diesel bus like this won't change things much beyond the expression on your face...
This is not a high-revving petrol V6. That being said, it does sound like your car might have more turbo-lag than I would like.

RicG wrote: ↑Tue Oct 04, 2022 10:03 am Also, when cruise control is on, and you on a level piece of highway. the car starts jerking like crazy, as if it it brakes and accelerates. when you control it with the foot, all is well, no issues?

I found that too. It is irritating, although it does not happen all of the time.

RicG wrote: ↑Tue Oct 04, 2022 10:03 am The other day also, I was turning a traffic circle, when I tried to accelerate, the car was off, it turned itself off mid corner. Had to stop in the middle of the road, in peak hour traffic, switch to Park, restart engine, and off we go like nothing happened. Started as normal as well. AC was on though.
When you ease into the throttle, she does pull like a train though.

I have not had the car switch off on me like that. That sounds worrying. Rather have it checked out by a proper techie.

RicG wrote: ↑Tue Oct 04, 2022 10:03 am Oh yes, and she rattles.... A LOT. That I am sorting, one roll of double sided tape at a time.

Yes, she does. Even on the highway. I am hoping it is the third-row seat or its storage bin.

Thanks for the reply!

The acceleration issue is intermittent. sometimes it accelerates as normal, sometimes its as if it idles, then suddenly comes alive.
I did notice the other day, that the car is chipped. It has a RaceChip installed. Not sure if that is where the issues come from.
The car only cut out that once, but from what I read up, it sounds like it might be SCV issues? not sure really. Never happened again.