Pajero Owners Club of South Africa

Hi there,

I bought a 2000 Mitsubishi Pajero Exceed SWB V6 3.5L this week, car works good besides a bit of rough idling and a bit of power loss (guess it's from standing quite a few months).

It seems as though I had the wrong idea about the whole Pajeros and their 4x4 diff locks thing. Why I say this is because I tried to get the car stuck this afternoon, and got it right, having the left front and right back wheels spinning and not getting grip while the other 2 wheels stood still, trying to get up a little hill.

Obviously I wasn't really stuck, I just drove it into this specific position to test the diff lock function.

Right, so,

2H - The car spins the right back wheel.
4H - The car spins the right back wheel and the front left wheel.
4HLc - The car spins the right back wheel and the front left wheel.
4LLc - Same as 4H and 4HLc.

Are you telling me that the Lock on the diffs only allow a power distribution of 50/50 to the front and rear diffs and does not actually lock both diffs??

If so, the 4x4 on these are really not as great as I expected.

If not, there must be something wrong with my car's diff lock! Should I check all the vacuum pipes and relays??

I was under the car a few minutes ago and could swear I saw a diff lock on the front diff.

Regards,
Brian

Hi Brian. Welcome to the forum.

Your car is doing what is should, I humbly suggest you do some more research into how the different 4 wheel drive system work, and WHICH diff locks are activated by the super select transfer case(short stick), before slating them.
Simple explanation:
2h = rear wheel drive with open rear diff.
4h = ALL wheel drive, all diffs open.
4hlc = same as above with locked CENTRE diff, open front and rear diff.
4llc = same as above, but low range.

Some pajero are equipped with a limited slip rear diff, some with a lockable rear diff, and even some have a limited slip lockable rear diff lock(early gen3). The later models had traction control, some even have reaction control with a rear diff lock.

I boils down to knowing your vehicle, any 4x4 without rear diff lock will get stranded in a severe cross axle situation, and you need to lock the axle(s) diff to gain traction.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

Hi Nick,

Thanks for the reply, I did some more research after posting here and that is what I gathered. From other posts, I saw that it's possible to install an ARB kit to allow for the actual diffs to lock.

Do you know anything about these?

Are they expensive or difficult to install?

Is there anyone on here that has an aftermarket diff lock installed/a lockable diff installed?

Regards,
Brian

Most early Gen 3s have a rear diff lock.
I think the exceed should have it.
It's activated by a switch in the center console, the lock that is engaged by the small stick (HLc & LLc) is the center diff lock, and it locks the torque to 50/50 between the front and rear axle.
What you have seen at the front and assumed to be a front diff lock, is probably the actuator responsible for engaging the front axle's mechanism when switching into 4WD.