Pajero Timing Belt

[NEWBY]

Well my 2002 Pajero has just over 100k on it and I guess I should get the timing belt changed.

Now who is Brisbane can do the job well and not charge the earth?

I have heard differing stories aout buying hte belt yourself to save $'s as you can save upwards of $200 if doing it this way. Any truth to the storey?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Lee

Mate if your Pajero is a DID diesel then you never have to replace them until they get noisy apparently. If it is petrol then take it to a Mitsubishi DEALER and pay the "premium" price as their Technicians ARE FACTORY TRAINED...I used to be a Mitsubishi dealer and I grew up in workshops. These days I own and operate a dealership in Gladstone but not mitsubishi. New cars are complex and dealers invest tens of thousands of dollars in FACTORY APPROVED tools and diagnostic equipment. I think from memory it is about $16,000 to replace a motor. Spend the money and use a dealer mate. We see many backyard mecanical jobs gone wrong. We also see many "old mate mechanic down the road who does a better price" messes. Lots and lots of them.
These days we lose so much of our productive time with our mechanics at training with the factories. I have 5 franchises. how the hell can 1 mechanic down the road be up to date with the ver changing technology of todays cars???? He cant Not a hope...Impossible...
USE A DEALER MATE... They know what the hell they are doing...If you want to know who the better dealer is, PM me and I will make a call to one of my old connections and find out who is at the top of their game down your way.

[harry_h01]

I use the Car Clinic at Nundah for my Challenger. I know it isn't a Pj, but they have the same engine.

Harry

[Noelm]

what Newby says is correct, but you also see a lot of FACTORY TRAINED mechanics stuff things up as well, all backyarders are not crap, but I do belive that most are "tinkerers" and will do a "cheap" job for you, but cheap is not always good.

[FNQCairns]

I think we all wear goggles, hang around a hospital and one could be excused for believing virtually everyone in society is quite ill, around a electrical store and we all have a plasma TV.

Cars are getting much more complicated although so much remains the same as it was 20 years ago, there are 2 places i fear to go on typicaly modern cars and that's the auto gearbox and the injection pump. Everything else with the exception of the security system gizmo's is pretty much leggo like and fair game near as fair as 20 years ago.

So IMO have a go!! out of warranty especially in all of the leggo like areas, for 20 years no vehicle of ours has seen professional help except for those things where the tooling is entirely prohibitive or rarely needed like air conditioning, and tyres for example.

Viewed objectively they are a mugs game, if it does not do work to make money then the odds to come out on top are far better gambling away the same costs over the same time frame.

Still drivable cars sold to the wreckers are getting younger with every year that passes.

cheers fnq

[Argle]

Unfortunately some (not all) dealers dont have a bloody clue!! I enquired as to having my 60k service done and they quoted me a price, that seems cheap says I does this include doing the valve set that the service books states is required, oh no they say thats not often needed we can just tell if the do. How do you do that I ask? "Oh we just listen to them - you can tell if they are a bit noisey!!!" I then asked about the top timing chain guide which is known to fail on occasion and how would they check that for excess wear - "Never heard of that happening sir" It was at that point my relationship with Dealers ended and I went to the "bloke up the road" who does the work by the book and is familiar with the car and the engine. Im sure there are good dealers out there Newby but geez you guys make it hard for people to find you!!!

Cheers
Scott

[Noelm]

just on the "same technology as 20 years ago" why don't cars use timing chains that never need changing EVER? I am sure a belt is cheaper to make, but at manufacturing level, a chain would also cost bugger all, now I also know there is quad overhead cams and all sorts of things, but a lifetime chain would seem like a great idea to me, hands up anyone who has changed the timing chain on their Commodore or Falcon (or their old "red" holden motor)

[4x4frog]

If you are attempting this yourself also have a look at things like the idler and adjuster pulleys and their bearings. If they are hardened plastic like some modern engines, change them too.
I have spoken to friends who are mechanics with customers who skimp on those items at their own peril many times.
Also, cam shaft seals are usually a recommended item. Call a dealer and tell them you want a price on the whole TB change kit and see what's included to give you an idea of what you'll need.
What's the water pump life on those things like. The cars I deal with normally recommend WP and cam seals with every TB change as these are minor expenses for major hassle if they blow.

[NEWBY]

I use the Car Clinic at Nundah for my Challenger. I know it isn't a Pj, but they have the same engine.

Harry

Different motor mate. Challenger has a 3 ltr triton motor.

[FNQCairns]

just on the "same technology as 20 years ago" why don't cars use timing chains that never need changing EVER? I am sure a belt is cheaper to make, but at manufacturing level, a chain would also cost bugger all, now I also know there is quad overhead cams and all sorts of things, but a lifetime chain would seem like a great idea to me, hands up anyone who has changed the timing chain on their Commodore or Falcon (or their old "red" holden motor)

Stuff that hardly never needs maintenance??no cream in that!! The Holdens had gears i did 2 of the fibre ones..thank god there was no interference. The chains are noisy and high in mass but I think I used to get up to double the life out of them.....couldn't complain about that!! my old Nissan td4.2 has solid metal gearing here and I love it very dearly for this.

Have alook at that new Yamaha SHO outboard, talk about an upcoming nightmare for some poor bugger sooner or later.

cheer fnq

[NEWBY]

what Newby says is correct, but you also see a lot of FACTORY TRAINED mechanics stuff things up as well, all backyarders are not crap, but I do belive that most are "tinkerers" and will do a "cheap" job for you, but cheap is not always good.

This should answer most above I think.
Yep, factory trained boys do stuff it up too sometimes BUT when they do, no problems it is covered by a nationwide 12 month warranty if genuine parts are used by factory approved premises. I am pretty sure that applies to most manufacturers now. Another way to find the better dealers is to enquire with the factory who has won presidents awards, distinguished dealer awards etc etc. The criteria to win the national awards is extreme to say the least and it is usually the best of the best that get them.
At the end of the day, piece of mind that the job "should" be right due to factory training etc and the nationwide 12 month warranty is worth a few bucks. Imagine the car failing on a boat ramp or even worse out in the middle of the bush.

[Scalem]

Mate if your Pajero is a DID diesel then you never have to replace them until they get noisy apparently.

My 1997 2.8 ltr Turbo Deisel started making a weird noise/ vibration which ended up being the timing chain. In the deisel what happens is the timing chain auto tensioner goes out to the maximum, and the chain becomes too loose, which was the vibration. Unfortunately the head has to come off, which meant valve grinde, head shave. At 300K the mechanic did a cold compression check and the average was 370psi across the 4 cylinders which is pretty good considering this number of K's, so she now has 350K and going strong. The Turbo also had some maintenance while we were there, so it now has full boost ( for a standard turbo setting)

My water pump gave out at about 280k, which was way overdue, but I noticed water loss before it was too late. Good car still, hanging on to her as long as I can.

Scalem

[trueblue]

my 94 NJ 3.0 litre petrol motor has 320,000 klms on it. Its not getting any more major services, and whenever something gives out next it is heading into Motorcare at Bowen Hills for a full rebuild, new heads and an open flow sports exhaust and extractors.

[NEWBY]

Well my 2002 Pajero has just over 100k on it and I guess I should get the timing belt changed.

Now who is Brisbane can do the job well and not charge the earth?

I have heard differing stories aout buying hte belt yourself to save $'s as you can save upwards of $200 if doing it this way. Any truth to the storey?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Lee

how did ya go mate? Did we all confuse you enough that you just sold the thing instead???