any pajero experts

Sounds like you should sign up over at the Pajero Club.

Heaps of good info over there.
Actually I think you can browse without being a member.

Pajero Club Forum

Cheers

Timing belt and every 5 years or 100km from memory...I'm on my third.
As the previous post the Paj forum is the place.
Dean

hi, Check out the Pajero club, also there's some on face book too. Pajero 4x4 club Australia is very helpful and lots of info :)

Definitely a timing belt on the 3.5L engine. They are supposed to be changed every 100000 km or 5 years, whichever comes first. It is a job which should take between 5 and 8 hours, depending on previous experience. Whilst you are at it, replace the water pump, the crankshaft and camshaft oil seals and possibly the timing belt tensioner, because to get back in and replace them later requires stripping the engine down to the timing belt level anyway.

2001 model - it is well past the 5 year period (unless the previous owner replaced it lately). I would replace the timing belt etc as a matter of course because the engine is an interference engine - if the belt breaks, the valves hit the pistons and that is expensive. I would use the almost certain need to change the belt as a lever to get the price down by about $1000, cause that is probably what it will cost you to replace the belt.

They are basically a very good vehicle if service regularly, although on petrol they can be thirsty