Pajero Owners Club of South Africa

I drive a 1998 Pajero SWB and the car has given me excellent service. Now have 184 000 on the clock. However, every 6 months or so I will get into the car and when I turn the ignition, everything is dead. Not even a faint light on the dash. When I take the terminals off and clean them properly and tighten them again the car starts fine. Have some of you experienced a similar problem? And what would rectify the problem so that it does not occur so regularly? I spoke to someone else and he seems to think it is because of battery corrosion. It is also a bit frustrating because the idling is then out and it takes about 25 kms driving for the idling to go back to normal.

Nico

This is what I use, and it has served me well for many years.

Mix CopperSlip and Bi-carb of soda into a paste.
Smear on terminals and all exposed steel near the battery.

DIY "No-Corrode"

Thanks Gerhard for the info. Nico

4ePajero wrote:This is what I use, and it has served me well for many years.

Mix CopperSlip and Bi-carb of soda into a paste.
Smear on terminals and all exposed steel near the battery.

DIY "No-Corrode"

Before applying the mix, you may want to firstly clean the terminals - hot water (almost boiling) with a strong mix of Bi-carb of soda cleans it well - rinse with clean hot water afterwards, and let dry.

Also check that the terminals are still fit - i.e. tightens properly around terminals, and no loose wires.

If you have paint damage in the engine bay due to battery acid, clean and seal it urgently - it is the breeding ground for enemy # 1 - RUST

Anton

Question to the chemists

In the couple of hundred thousand kays i have done in my Colt, my Scenic and my Pajero I have NEVER had corrosion.. not even a spot on my battery terminals. I have never used any preventative measures either, so why am I not getting any corrosion ?

Sealed, maintenance free batteries?
It is the acidic vapour that condenses (as acid) on everything around it and causes the corrosion.

Personally I think that is more luck than wisdom but my brother has mentioned that he has had much less drama with his batteries since moving down to the coast, I just think he has bigger corrosion to worry about than just a battery

I have exactly the same problem with excessive corrosion but more frustrating is also the "erratic idling" after the battery has been disconnected. This happened once before and also came right by itself after a few kilos of driving, I have however disconnected the battery again just a few days ago and now have the erratic idling problem again but this time it is not going away, I must have driven at least a 100kilos already and it is still not idling properly...does anyone have any idea what the cause/remedy can be for this