Pajero-2007 NS Diesel

Submitted: Sunday, Mar 20, 2011 at 07:23
ThreadID: 85107 Views:14300 Replies:5 FollowUps:7
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Good morning all,

Does anyone own one of these vehicles that could give me some clues on anything I need to know when I go looking to buy one.

Cheers,
Mike
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Reply By: Wilko (Parkes NSW) - Sunday, Mar 20, 2011 at 08:20

Sunday, Mar 20, 2011 at 08:20
Hi Mike,

Ive got one as a work car. IMHO its better on road then the Prado but not as good off road. On dirt Outback roads it is stable.

I tow a 1.2tonne boat and it does it easily on undulating country. Its got a 3 tonne capacity

I've had 2 issues with it. Both were sensor issues. One was a sensor in the motor and the other was the particulate filter in the exhaust,
Both made the Pajero go into limp home mode but were easily fixed. I've done 190k km and its been reliable.

I believe you need to have a good look at the hinges on the back door. Its a heavy door (with the tyre on it), and can drop on the bushes ive driven hard over rough country.

I'd take a look on one of the Mitsubishi owners websites for more info

Cheers Wilko
AnswerID: 448696

Follow Up By: Member - Mark (Tamworth NSW) - Sunday, Mar 20, 2011 at 12:30

Sunday, Mar 20, 2011 at 12:30
One More
I have a 2007 NS with 175 000km. Only problem sounded identical to Wilko's. A ECU (or similar acronym) sensor got sooted up, whch was repaired under the 160k power train warranty, the Mitsubishi mechanic said it was common. In addiiton it needed the particulate filter warning sensor "reprogrammed" but they all should have been done in 2007, there was a recall.

Ours has towed a heavy Kimberly Kamper over plenty of corrugated central Australian roads for our family of 5 without any problems. Minor issue is though improved, the tailgate dust sealing still isn't perfect.

We bought a Pajero over a Prado as it offered superior value for money, superior handling on bitumen and dirt roads and a superior power train. However everyone states that real off road (not dirt road), Prados are superior. They also state Prados have superior NVH and superior re sale value (but if you are buying a 2nd hand one you are a winner there anyway). The Prado may have a better rear seat configuration, it may be able to be split, I am not certain.
IF faced with the same decision today, I would purchase another Pajero, so guess you would say I am a happy customer.
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FollowupID: 720965

Reply By: MrBitchi (QLD) - Sunday, Mar 20, 2011 at 10:43

Sunday, Mar 20, 2011 at 10:43
Have a look Here for all things Pajero :)
AnswerID: 448711

Reply By: Member - Mark (Tamworth NSW) - Sunday, Mar 20, 2011 at 12:31

Sunday, Mar 20, 2011 at 12:31
One More

I have a 2007 NS with 175 000km. Only problems sounded identical to Wilko's. A ECU (or similar acronym) sensor got sooted up, which was repaired under the 160k power train warranty, the Mitsubishi mechanic said it was common. In addition it needed the particulate filter warning sensor "reprogrammed" but they all should have been done in 2007, there was a recall, though mine was never a problem.

Ours has towed a heavy Kimberly Kamper over plenty of corrugated central Australian dirt roads for our family of 5 without any problems. Minor issue is though improved, the tailgate dust sealing still isn't perfect.

We bought a Pajero over a Prado as it offered superior value for money, superior handling on bitumen and dirt roads and a superior power train. However everyone states that real off road (not dirt road), Prados are superior. They also state Prados have superior NVH and superior re sale value (but if you are buying a 2nd hand one you are a winner there anyway). The Prado may have a better rear seat configuration, it may be able to be split, I am not certain.
IF faced with the same decision today, I would purchase another Pajero, so guess you would say I am a happy customer.
AnswerID: 448725

Reply By: Mike DiD - Monday, Mar 21, 2011 at 13:57

Monday, Mar 21, 2011 at 13:57
Before taking it any significant distance from a Dealer, make sure that it's been serviced by a Dealer and two stupid faults in the Engine software and one dangerous aspect of Stability Control have been corrected.

Considering how reliable Pajeros used to be, I have to assume the Engine and Stability Control software was designed by a vacation student. It might have been ok in Japan where you're never more than a 100km from a Dealer, but totally unsuited for vehicles which are promoted as suited for remote area travel.

1. The Engine software will suddenly decide the Particulate Filter is blocked and put the engine in Limphome Mode - there is no power, you can't go over 60 k and getting up steep hills is impossible. The ONLY way to fix this is to get the vehicle to a Dealer.

2. The Intake Manifold Sensor blocks up with soot, the ASC and ABS light come on (no, not the Engine Warning !!!!!) and it goes into Limphome Mode. Switching off the engine and restarting restores normal operation for a while. The Sensor port needs to be replaced.

3. In 2WD if you drive off a loose or rough surface onto a road at normal speed, the Automatic Stability Control will cut power for several seconds, leaving you stranded across a traffic lane.
AnswerID: 448840

Follow Up By: Member - Leanne W (NSW) - Tuesday, Mar 22, 2011 at 12:53

Tuesday, Mar 22, 2011 at 12:53
Hi Mike,

I have an NS Pajero that has had the first two problems supposedly fixed (I say that because it is now behaving like the intake manifold is blocked again - rough idle), and the third problem drives me crazy. Our driveway is dirt, and comes off a highway - I often get left with no power after turning from the driveway onto the road. Is there a specific fix for this problem?

Cheers

Leanne
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FollowupID: 721217

Follow Up By: Mike DiD - Tuesday, Mar 22, 2011 at 13:33

Tuesday, Mar 22, 2011 at 13:33
How long ago did you have the Sensor Port problem checked ? They didn't replace the Intake Manifold as some others have needed. They only replaced the Sensor Port on mine a few weeks ago.
I didn't have Rough Idle Problems, just going to LimpHome mode with absolutely no warning - just like the DPF Fault.


ASC cutting power at low speed in 2WD was fixed about a year ago - I assume it was a part of the countless software fixes they've done - although they'll never admit to fixing problems that "never existed". I'll check next time I have a chance to make sure it has returned in a later "fix".
I had a NP Diesel Auto with ASC that NEVER ONCE displayed this problem, so it is possible to have ASC without this dangerous safety problem.
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FollowupID: 721221

Follow Up By: Member - Leanne W (NSW) - Tuesday, Mar 22, 2011 at 16:14

Tuesday, Mar 22, 2011 at 16:14
Hi Mike,

I had my intake manifold replaced mid to late last year. Next time I have it serviced, I will get them to check the sensor port and see if it needs to be replaced. Mine didn't go into limp mode with this problem, just idled really rough for a few seconds when stopped, eg at lights, before idling smoothly again. Sometimes the idle would be so rough that it would feel like it was about to stall, even though it's an auto. I had all of the injectors replaced (thankfully under warranty) while they were trying to work out what was causing the problem. In the end, I suggested to them that it could be the intake manifold after what I had read on the Pajero Club Forum.

Twice it went into limp mode and needed to be towed to the dealership, but this was fixed with the DPF fixes.

I have always had my car serviced at the same dealership where I bought it, and have almost always got it serviced every 15,000km, but they have not told me about the ASC fix. My car still has this problem, it did it yesterday afternoon!

I have been very disillusioned with this vehicle because it has been so unreliable, and will not keep it after it has run out of warranty. I had an NL Pajero for 9 years previously, and always thought the Pajeros were good value for money. Next time I will look for something else, but not sure what.......

Thanks for your help, I will book it in to get the ASC problem fixed soon.

Leanne
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FollowupID: 721236

Follow Up By: Mike DiD - Tuesday, Mar 22, 2011 at 17:00

Tuesday, Mar 22, 2011 at 17:00
Hi Leanne

" I suggested to them that it could be the intake manifold after what I had read on the Pajero Club Forum."
- did they also tell you that people on forums don't know anything !!! That's what they told me when the ASC+ABS light came on with LimpHome and I told them it was an Engine Sensor Problem - "Don't be silly, the Check Engine Light would have come on" they told me.

They insisted there were no Engine fault codes - the problem was due to a faulty battery. So I bought a new battery - the same symptoms again. They said "we told you you'd have to bring it in to have the Steering Sensor recalibrated" - I said "no, it does that automatically". They did the Hotfix on the Intake Sensor but said "It needs a wheel alignment, the steering wheel isn't centred, that's why the ASC light came on" hoping to get me to pay them for more non-warranty work.

The steering wheel is perfectly centred and the ASC+ABS light with LimpHome has not recurred and I have not had a wheel alignment. Tell them the ASC fault is a serious safety problem that endangers lives. In the interim, make sure you're in 4WD when pulling out.

This is the 5th Pajero since 1990 - but the reliability is no longer there.


I checked for the ASC fault in 2WD when engine cold - there's a street nearby, tar but dip and slope change where I could induce the fault EVERY time - absolutely no trace of power cut or ASC light flashing.

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FollowupID: 721240

Follow Up By: Member - Leanne W (NSW) - Tuesday, Mar 22, 2011 at 20:35

Tuesday, Mar 22, 2011 at 20:35
Hi Mike,

I get the sense that the mechanics think "you're a female - what would you know about cars?" whenever I complain about a problem. I admit that I don't know much about engines, but I can tell when it is not running very well. My engine was idling rough for nearly a year before it was fixed. Each time it was serviced, they "couldn't find anything wrong with it". Then they suggested I go for a drive with the mechanic so I could "point out when it was happening". I am sure they thought that it would result in nothing. Anyway we went for a drive, and sure enough the car played up. It was so obvious that I didn't need to point it out to the mechanic. The car was then in being 'fixed' for over a week. It was a frustrating time because I was left with no vehicle during this time. One injector was replaced (they told me it was faulty), and they assured me that the problem was fixed. Anyway, it wasn't, so the car was soon back in and had all the injectors replaced. Problem fixed for a short time, but then recurred. This is when I went back and told them what I read on the forum. They replaced the manifold, and it ran really well after that.... until recently it has started occasionally idling rough again.

Getting the DPF issues sorted out was a rigmarole similar to getting the intake manifold sorted out. I have had enough with this car. I can't rely on it to do an outback trip, nor do I want be stuck with the cost of repairs when it is out of warranty. I don't feel like buying another Pajero again!

My NL Pajero that I had for 9 years was great, except for a ticking noise coming from the engine at times. The oil light would also take a long time to go off after starting the car. It was checked out numerous times by 2 dealerships (we lived in Perth for 12 months), but the cause was never found. I traded it in on my NS Pajero, and a mechanic from my local dealership ended up buying it. He rang me before he bought it to find out everything about it, and I warned him about the ticking noise. He said he had heard it, but couldn't see the cause. He had it for 12 months, then the engine blew up on him. At the time, he did tell me what the problem was, but I can't remember now. It was what was causing the ticking. He replaced the engine, and the car has been fine ever since. He still has the vehicle today.

It is a shame because the Pajeros do drive very well on the road, and come with a lot of features for the money you spend. Perhaps I have just been unlucky.....
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FollowupID: 721261

Follow Up By: Mike DiD - Wednesday, Mar 23, 2011 at 21:07

Wednesday, Mar 23, 2011 at 21:07
Hi Leanne

I knew the standard reply I was going to get, every time I reported a problem to one Service Rep - "all cars do that" !!!! So don't feel to be bad about treated as if you can't possibly know anything about the complexity of modern cars - I'm sure that attitude works for them 95% of the time, to get customers to withdraw a fault report.

In the previous 17 years of owning Pajeros. I was never left stranded and they never put me in a dangerous situation.

Maybe we're going to the same Dealer ??? You can contact me on mikeausf@gmail.com.
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FollowupID: 721388

Reply By: Member - onemore - Tuesday, Mar 22, 2011 at 03:41

Tuesday, Mar 22, 2011 at 03:41
Thanks for the feedback everyone, I found a good one with low km's, off to the bank I go.

Cheers,
Mike
AnswerID: 448918

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