Masker,
There isn't really anything to update at the moment. I first received a phone call from Mitsu HO requesting me to consider the two days in December for the job. On my agreement I received an e-mail from their marketing manager confirming the appointment and naming the two experts who will "fix" my dash. I then called the Nelspruit dealer to add the 90k cam belt service onto the back of the dash job and they were fully in the picture and are ready to go.
I have a Paternoster trip to get under the belt in November and then the first Tuesday in December is the start of the dash-job.
This support gesture from Mitsu has changed my whole perception of my car. If only the manufacturers will realise how important reaction and feedback can be in the SA car market.
There isn't really anything to update at the moment. I first received a phone call from Mitsu HO requesting me to consider the two days in December for the job. On my agreement I received an e-mail from their marketing manager confirming the appointment and naming the two experts who will "fix" my dash. I then called the Nelspruit dealer to add the 90k cam belt service onto the back of the dash job and they were fully in the picture and are ready to go.
I have a Paternoster trip to get under the belt in November and then the first Tuesday in December is the start of the dash-job.
This support gesture from Mitsu has changed my whole perception of my car. If only the manufacturers will realise how important reaction and feedback can be in the SA car market.
This is very good news... If they can sort this out I think they will have quite a few loyal supporters shouting from the rooftops.
I'm holding thumbs and eagerly await your feedback in Dec!
I'm holding thumbs and eagerly await your feedback in Dec!
If petrol heads sit on a forum at this time on a Sunday, can only mean there isn't a Grand Prix on 
Alas, we don't own a TV currently 
I'm just killing some time - shopping with the wife...
I'm just killing some time - shopping with the wife...
D-Day!
The red beast went in yesterday afternoon. The dash repair job is scheduled for today and tomorrow. The 90k service is tagged onto the tail-end of the dash job. I expect to get the car back on Friday, so we will have to wait for the rest of the week before I can give any feedback impressions.
I'll try to wrestle the RunX keys off the missus to dash over the mountain this afternoon for a hospital visit to the Pajero sickbay. Maybe even find one of the dash experts for a chat and if I'm really lucky, a decent picture or two.
Roelf
The red beast went in yesterday afternoon. The dash repair job is scheduled for today and tomorrow. The 90k service is tagged onto the tail-end of the dash job. I expect to get the car back on Friday, so we will have to wait for the rest of the week before I can give any feedback impressions.
I'll try to wrestle the RunX keys off the missus to dash over the mountain this afternoon for a hospital visit to the Pajero sickbay. Maybe even find one of the dash experts for a chat and if I'm really lucky, a decent picture or two.
Roelf
Roelf, it will be interesting to see a pic off this long awaited bracket. I have asked the guys on this side but they did not come forward. IIRC you had the bracket fitted before right?
Chris
Chris,
Yes, I had the brackets (I believe there are two) fitted after the 75k service. When I handed my car in for the 75k service, I asked the service advisor to check the dash out and that was when i first heard about the brackets - this thread is all about that.
This issue eventually spilled over to the SA4x4 forum.
I was eventually contacted by Mitsu-SA H/Q, that was when the current repair job was scheduled (also somewhere in this thread).
My info is that two experts from Mistu-SA H/Q will be "fixing" my dash.
I have no additional info, but somehow suspect this could be the first time this "repair" is on offer. There are even butterflies in my belly over this whole issue. A semi-decent dashboard on a nice Gen4 could just about combine to form the most desirable 4x4 SUV out there - in terms of price, ability, safety and comfort.
Yes, I had the brackets (I believe there are two) fitted after the 75k service. When I handed my car in for the 75k service, I asked the service advisor to check the dash out and that was when i first heard about the brackets - this thread is all about that.
This issue eventually spilled over to the SA4x4 forum.
I was eventually contacted by Mitsu-SA H/Q, that was when the current repair job was scheduled (also somewhere in this thread).
My info is that two experts from Mistu-SA H/Q will be "fixing" my dash.
I have no additional info, but somehow suspect this could be the first time this "repair" is on offer. There are even butterflies in my belly over this whole issue. A semi-decent dashboard on a nice Gen4 could just about combine to form the most desirable 4x4 SUV out there - in terms of price, ability, safety and comfort.
WOW, double WOW...!!!
The dash is perfect... it is stable, solid and rattle free.
I'm grateful to Mitsu-SA and Braam for initiating and facilitating the fix.
I'll try to carry over what I have learned from this exercise:
1)The brackets are simply 3mm thick aluminium strips that are cut to length (15-20cm) and bent to fit. Two of those are installed.
2)At the same time is a brace manufactured from the same aluminium strip and installed.
3)The plastic clips and foam rubber "packings" are renewed.
4)The job lasts about 4 hours.
In spite of my joy and gratitude, is there a nasty taste in my mouth:
Why is such a magnificent beast not fitted with those brackets at manufacture?
Why are there not enough properly trained technicians to do a proper and correct fit (when the dealers eventually decide to apply the fix)?
I was too late to see the open dash, but the expert from Mitsu-SA H/Q showed me the old brackets (75k service fix) that came out. The alu-strip is much thinner and the brace wasn't installed.
I urge Mitsu-SA to expedite the roll-out of this field fix by properly training enough technicians to successfully carry out the work.
My faith is completely restored in my beast and I'm convinced that enough people in the Mitsu-SA stable care sufficiently to systematically fix our Gen4 dashboards.
Regards
Roelf
The dash is perfect... it is stable, solid and rattle free.
I'm grateful to Mitsu-SA and Braam for initiating and facilitating the fix.
I'll try to carry over what I have learned from this exercise:
1)The brackets are simply 3mm thick aluminium strips that are cut to length (15-20cm) and bent to fit. Two of those are installed.
2)At the same time is a brace manufactured from the same aluminium strip and installed.
3)The plastic clips and foam rubber "packings" are renewed.
4)The job lasts about 4 hours.
In spite of my joy and gratitude, is there a nasty taste in my mouth:
Why is such a magnificent beast not fitted with those brackets at manufacture?
Why are there not enough properly trained technicians to do a proper and correct fit (when the dealers eventually decide to apply the fix)?
I was too late to see the open dash, but the expert from Mitsu-SA H/Q showed me the old brackets (75k service fix) that came out. The alu-strip is much thinner and the brace wasn't installed.
I urge Mitsu-SA to expedite the roll-out of this field fix by properly training enough technicians to successfully carry out the work.
My faith is completely restored in my beast and I'm convinced that enough people in the Mitsu-SA stable care sufficiently to systematically fix our Gen4 dashboards.
Regards
Roelf