Pajero Owners Club of South Africa

My Pajero 2001 3.2 Did was fine one day and then stood for about 4 days in the cold and when I started her up there was a whistling/hooting sound (sounds very much like Thomas Train just before crossing a road coming from right in front of the driver. The sound can also be heard from outside and seems to be coming from thr brake booster area and is definately linked to the braking system as it hoots about 2 seconds after I used the brakes. Brakes still opperate fine and pedal is still firm.

Any ideas on possible cause and where I can diagnose this in the Centurion area?

CATS
ps - Luckily we have the fuvuzellas hooting during this period so my hooter still goes unnoticed but it is getting on my nerves and has not gone away in the last week as I initially hoped it would.

Cats,
I think you have stumbled onto one of the few Gen3 shortcomings. My 2000 DiD LWB started whistling at me a week or so after crossing the Namib desert. I cleaned the outside area around the booster and even squirted some Q20, but it made no difference. I sold it a month or two later (scheduled sale - nothing to do with the brakes), still whistling when I brake.

The 2003 DiD LWB had a complete booster failure at about 90 000km, BUT that was after extensive panel beating in that area a month or so before. The bill was R13 000, but luckely still under warranty. Turbonutters (on the 4x4 Forum) did his own booster repair for R1 500.

The 2006 DiD picked up the whistle not too long after a tough and dusty Southern Namibia and Richtersveld trip. The whistle lasted about two days and went away completely. The car was still very new, less than a year old. I pushed very hard on the brakes and still believe that made the whistle go away. You can loose nothing by giving it a try a few times.

There are a few similar posts on the web and the general consensus is that it will not lead to a failure - who knows.

Good luck and please keep us posted.
Roelf

Cats,
I have been wondering:
Where does the air get pumped into the booster? Do you think it is possible to feed some lubricant into it? What are the likely side effects of lubricant in the booster system?
Hopefully, I clever guy will come to our rescue.

Roelf

Thanks for your comments. Will try giving it a hard push tonight.

I have done a bit of research on the net and it seems that the ABS models are equiped with a so called 'brake booster accumulator' which works by vacuum generated 'aparently' by a small electric pump. This accumulator has been a recall item in some countries and it seems in SA there also is an 'old' and new accumulator (new one has pinkish/purple dot on top). Mine is already a new one accordin to the dot colour. Interesting that your problem relate to some dusty driving, maybe it is only a dusty pipe or something.

When I phoned Mitsu to get a price on this item from the parts department they immediatly recognised the part and knew the price(R2400 incidently) off hand and also knew that it was in stock!! Maybe someone just enquired about it before me, or maybe this is more of a common problem than what Mitsu is prepared to admit. Who knows.

Anyway I have booked for a service with them to sort out. Will update on progress but hope it won't be a bank breaker.

CATS

OK,
Thanks
Roelf

Hi Cats

I have the same problem on my 2000 3.2 and after consulting the ex workshop mananger from MM, he had a look at my vehicle. I told me that this was a recall modification that MM did to the gen 3's and the the units with the pink dot werer the replacement items. It was supoosed to have sorted out the problem. Only way to repair, was to have a new unit fitted and your quote on pricing is abou the same as he quoted me. He said the noise is irritating, but would not do anything as it was a release of built up air pressure

I still have my Paj whisling at me

Guys,
So is it pressure or vacuum? I'm just curious.
Seeing that this is a fairly common symptom and a recall item, I think the more we get to know and understand about this, the better for all of us here.
Roelf

brake boosters work on vacuum

RoelfleRoux wrote:Guys,
So is it pressure or vacuum? I'm just curious.
Seeing that this is a fairly common symptom and a recall item, I think the more we get to know and understand about this, the better for all of us here.
Roelf

Not sure - Will ask this afternoon when I pick my car up. Apparently it is the brake booster accumulator. Will ask for old part to try and see why it makes that peculiar noise. Good news is that it turned out slightly less than initially quoted on the parts side, but I suppose they will make it up on the labour cost!

CATS

Cats,
It would be great if you could get inside this thing and figure out what is the story.