[troos]

'lo you all.

Forgive me for sharing my sad weekend with you.

My Pajero is currently at a reputable workshop near Cape Town. Brought it there to have my 4x4 control unit checked out for at times it behaves funny, and to have my front brakes checked and replace what is necessary.

The reason for having the 4x4 control unit checked out is that in many cases moving from 4H to 4HLc the Lc light starts to blink (the 4 green lights are off). The only way to correct this is doing the ignition switch salute (switch engine ignition off and on). Having the 4HLc mode set before this procedure, the indicator on the dashboard tells me 4HLc is engaged (which I assume is true). The reverse, going from 4HLc to 4H, has in many cases the same symptom.

So the service manager of the reputable workshop phones and states 2 of the 5 switches on top of the gearbox are broken and need to be replaced. I give permission to replace. later I receive a phone call informing me the problem is not resolved, even after replacing all 5 switches. They will do some checking to what the problem is, it could be vacuum pipes. Next day I phone to get a status. I'm informed they think its an electronic problem, they will continue to search for the problem.

I getting nervous about this. The Pajero is in the workshop since Wednesday. The service manager wont commit to earlier than next Wednesday to have the Pajero fixed. The bill is just increasing all the time. I'm concerned the mechanic working on my Pajero seems not to be able to resolve the issue. Is this really such a complex issue to resolve?

The sad part of it all is that my planned holiday for next week is on hold, close to be being cancelled. That too some end constitutes bad planning on my side, but then I would not have guessed in my wildest dreams this would take a week to have resolved. Its a Pajero afterall........

The good thing about this post is that your weekend is better than mine! So, enjoy!!

Regards

[4ePikanini]

Don't pay for stuff that didn't solve the issue. Tell them to put the old switches back.

And if they want to charge you for the time tell them that you are not financing their tuition fees.

They must solve the issue and only charge you for that.

If they are funny about it, lightly mention your lawyer and new protection act.

In my signature is my site. On it there are links to the 4x4 lights issue that I've covered. Maybe print it out and take to the workshop.

Good luck

[RoelfleRoux]

Troos,

The symptoms you describe sound like vacuum pump on the 4x4 system..

[Davidvan]

Troos,

To resolve this issue should not take longer than a few hours for a reputable service agent. Mine were replaced a few months back and the labour charge was 1 or 2 hours, so if the car is there for a long time they may not necessarily have experience with the Pajero vacuum system, so I would be cautious of the dealer currently working on the vehicle.

I would suggest querying the dealer as 4ePikanini indicated, this is definately not a serious nor big job to do and sounds like you need to consider a different service agent to check out. You can test the sensors with a 12V tester as well, if faulty they will indicate (I saw this at Hattingh motors when mine were a problem).

Cheers

David

[troos]

Thanks for your input guys, much appreciated.

I'm getting all the more worried as the reputable workshop is a Mithu workshop....

I'll take up the issue with the service manager tomorrow with the input I got from you guys.

Regards

[Davidvan]

I found the parts that were replaced, will send pics and part numbers from the office.
Looks like there were 6 switches replaced on mine to address similar issue as you indicated.

These were replaced in the engine bay.... If memory serves me correctly, almost like a switch.

Mitsu agent are prob best to resolve issue U having though.

Will send in a short while

David

[Davidvan]

Here are the parts which were replaced on mine to resolve a very similar issue as indicated, worth checking out, there appear to be 6 items/switches, 2 were faulty but decided to replace all, now shifts very quick in an out of 4x4, typically 1-3 seconds.

May be worth checking these out if not done so already

[Davidvan]

Based on 4ePikanini's details (thanks for all of this 4e Pikanini), I had my sensors replaced, which can be seen on the below link which resolved my issue which was not vacuum related but sensor related which ended up with the same result of the flashing dash lights:

https://4epikanini.webs.com/gen3pajero4x4system.htm

Hope this helps

David

[4ePajero]

Just (another) reminder that the "disco" lights MIGHT indicate a problem with the system, but NOT necessarily.
These swithes don't "switch" anything except the "disco" lights on the dashboard.

The vacuum system does however engage/disengage the front differential.

Thus, flashing lights might, but do not necessarily indicate a problem with your 4WD system.
Check whether 4WD engages before you decide where to spend money.

PS My Gen1 Pajero has a SuperSelect transfer case, but no dash lights. The switches' wires were removed!
Fortunately my front hubs are auto-engaged.

[Davidvan]

Thanks for clarifying Gerhard, makes sense too.

On mine, vacuum is checked and 4x4 used regularly, nice to see lights static too though , gives that peace of mind feeling that all is good.

Thanks

David