Hello all,
I've been wondering about maintenance on our older vehicles. My own Pajero will reach the age of 10 years old this year and come very close to 300,000 km. No major problems thus far.
Lately I've been reading a lot about major engine failures (all vehicles in general) and in most cases the failures seem to have been caused by some minor component going bad setting off a chain reaction. With minor components I mean things like a worn O-ring, stuck solenoid or inaccurate readings from some sensor.
So my question to you is: have you ever proactively changed any of the smaller components (especially solenoids, sensors and seals) as preventative maintenance? If so, what have you changed? If not, would you consider it and what in your mind would be good candidates?
Hi Pantoffel,
That is a long list of items you are talking about.
Scratching here could start an itch somewhere else.
My Pajero popped the little spring in the fuel cap (R18) and then the little plastic cap on the rear seat tilt mechanism, followed by the plastic cover on the front passenger seat rail. We all know how that ended.
What am I alluding to here?
Maybe all these little things have the same sell by date. Maybe drive you car till the first little thing needs replacing. If you are scared that a little thing will cause major damage, then consider trading up (just not a bakkie)
That is a long list of items you are talking about.
Scratching here could start an itch somewhere else.
My Pajero popped the little spring in the fuel cap (R18) and then the little plastic cap on the rear seat tilt mechanism, followed by the plastic cover on the front passenger seat rail. We all know how that ended.
What am I alluding to here?
Maybe all these little things have the same sell by date. Maybe drive you car till the first little thing needs replacing. If you are scared that a little thing will cause major damage, then consider trading up (just not a bakkie)
Pantoffel, I support your idea here but must admit that one must use one's discretion and apply it to specific vehicles. No one knows your vehicle better than you do and therefore nobody better to decide what goes and what does not. Also one must weigh up the cost vs the inconvenience. Anything safety wise gets priority.
I have had my 2009 3.2 did SWB going on 6 months now. I noticed that the battery was not new and when cranked the engine seemed slow. Tested it was ok and went on holiday. Came back and especially lately noticed an increased "laziness". Out it came and new one in. The 460A battery now tests at 410A. It was going to let me or my wife down sometime. I also get frequent requests for second hand batteries.
The DID oil pressure switch is renowned to leak. It will be replaced at the next major service.
The coolant thermostat is not a problem item but it will be replaced at major service.
Radiator cap - same faulty or not.
Fan belts - I normally take these right off and inspect them. Replace if even slightly defective.
Radiator - fine seeds get trapped in the rad core. I take it right out flush it and then clean the core externally in my pool. New coolant.
Brake lights and tail lights - the vehicle was sold / roadworthied with one of the brake lights blown! - the others must be about due to blow.
Windscreen wipers - replace just before summer.
Differential oils - some manufacturers claim filled for life. I prefer to replace at major service.
Transmission & t/box oil - same.
On a DID pajero that is about what comes to my mind. Let's see what other members can suggest.
I have had my 2009 3.2 did SWB going on 6 months now. I noticed that the battery was not new and when cranked the engine seemed slow. Tested it was ok and went on holiday. Came back and especially lately noticed an increased "laziness". Out it came and new one in. The 460A battery now tests at 410A. It was going to let me or my wife down sometime. I also get frequent requests for second hand batteries.
The DID oil pressure switch is renowned to leak. It will be replaced at the next major service.
The coolant thermostat is not a problem item but it will be replaced at major service.
Radiator cap - same faulty or not.
Fan belts - I normally take these right off and inspect them. Replace if even slightly defective.
Radiator - fine seeds get trapped in the rad core. I take it right out flush it and then clean the core externally in my pool. New coolant.
Brake lights and tail lights - the vehicle was sold / roadworthied with one of the brake lights blown! - the others must be about due to blow.
Windscreen wipers - replace just before summer.
Differential oils - some manufacturers claim filled for life. I prefer to replace at major service.
Transmission & t/box oil - same.
On a DID pajero that is about what comes to my mind. Let's see what other members can suggest.
Pantoffel, I support your idea here but must admit that one must use one's discretion and apply it to specific vehicles. No one knows your vehicle better than you do and therefore nobody better to decide what goes and what does not. Also one must weigh up the cost vs the inconvenience. Anything safety wise gets priority.
I have had my 2009 3.2 did SWB going on 6 months now. I noticed that the battery was not new and when cranked the engine seemed slow. Tested it was ok and went on holiday. Came back and especially lately noticed an increased "laziness". Out it came and new one in. The 460A battery now tests at 410A. It was going to let me or my wife down sometime. I also get frequent requests for second hand batteries.
The DID oil pressure switch is renowned to leak. It will be replaced at the next major service.
The coolant thermostat is not a problem item but it will be replaced at major service.
Radiator cap - same faulty or not.
Fan belts - I normally take these right off and inspect them. Replace if even slightly defective.
Radiator - fine seeds get trapped in the rad core. I take it right out flush it and then clean the core externally in my pool. New coolant.
Brake lights and tail lights - the vehicle was sold / roadworthied with one of the brake lights blown! - the others must be about due to blow.
Windscreen wipers - replace just before summer.
Differential oils - some manufacturers claim filled for life. I prefer to replace at major service.
Transmission & t/box oil - same.
On a DID pajero that is about what comes to my mind. Let's see what other members can suggest.
I have had my 2009 3.2 did SWB going on 6 months now. I noticed that the battery was not new and when cranked the engine seemed slow. Tested it was ok and went on holiday. Came back and especially lately noticed an increased "laziness". Out it came and new one in. The 460A battery now tests at 410A. It was going to let me or my wife down sometime. I also get frequent requests for second hand batteries.
The DID oil pressure switch is renowned to leak. It will be replaced at the next major service.
The coolant thermostat is not a problem item but it will be replaced at major service.
Radiator cap - same faulty or not.
Fan belts - I normally take these right off and inspect them. Replace if even slightly defective.
Radiator - fine seeds get trapped in the rad core. I take it right out flush it and then clean the core externally in my pool. New coolant.
Brake lights and tail lights - the vehicle was sold / roadworthied with one of the brake lights blown! - the others must be about due to blow.
Windscreen wipers - replace just before summer.
Differential oils - some manufacturers claim filled for life. I prefer to replace at major service.
Transmission & t/box oil - same.
On a DID pajero that is about what comes to my mind. Let's see what other members can suggest.
Thanks gents,
I've received mixed responses to this question. Mostly the responses have been "don't scratch if it doesn't itch". Even a technical manager from Mitsubishi told me this today. So it seems general consensus is: follow the normal service schedule and leave the rest until it breaks.
With some work, I could probably accept that. It feels wrong though. In my daytime job, everything I do is proactive. All my work revolves around forecasting, planning, anticipating, risk mitigation and as such, every activity I engage in, in some form is proactive.
Getting back to my original post though, like oom Roelf said the list can be exhaustive. I think though if one filters it down to less expensive items, that are critical to the vehicle's operation that have been known to fail / degrade or could fail at a certain age one could probably compile a respectable list.
I like what peterpot has done with his list.
Candidates I might be able to add:
- Timing chain top guide. Replace maybe once every 100k km. Been known to fail as per a few other threads I read.
- Glow plugs
- Fuel pump suction control valve (SCV). It's a R2500 part and will require some labour but once every 100k or 250k might be worth it as many guys have reported poor performance or a kind of surging experienced which often turns out to be out of spec SCV. Why not just replace it periodically?
- Battery. Sounds silly but my car left me stranded once on an overland trip. It was the battery. No signs of slow starting. Fine one day, dead the next day. Probably well worth replacing once every 2 or 3 years.
- Solenoids on auto box that handle gear changes.
- Speed and timing sensor that feed the fuel pump. Not sure whether it's feasible.
- Standard sensors. Coolant, vehicle speed, MAP, MAF, TPS and other position sensors. Surely these are bound to fail at some point right?
- Fuses. All fuses! Perhaps, when aged, fuses can start to fail at less than rated current.
So I'm probably going overboard a bit and should either limit the list to components known to fail or let this go all together but hopefully we'll get one or two more inputs and we'll see where those go.
Remember, that when I say proactively replace something, it doesn't mean every service or every 2 months. These are probably items to replace once every 100k km or once off at a specific stage in the vehicle's life like at 250k km or 300k km.
Let' see...
I've received mixed responses to this question. Mostly the responses have been "don't scratch if it doesn't itch". Even a technical manager from Mitsubishi told me this today. So it seems general consensus is: follow the normal service schedule and leave the rest until it breaks.
With some work, I could probably accept that. It feels wrong though. In my daytime job, everything I do is proactive. All my work revolves around forecasting, planning, anticipating, risk mitigation and as such, every activity I engage in, in some form is proactive.
Getting back to my original post though, like oom Roelf said the list can be exhaustive. I think though if one filters it down to less expensive items, that are critical to the vehicle's operation that have been known to fail / degrade or could fail at a certain age one could probably compile a respectable list.
I like what peterpot has done with his list.
Candidates I might be able to add:
- Timing chain top guide. Replace maybe once every 100k km. Been known to fail as per a few other threads I read.
- Glow plugs
- Fuel pump suction control valve (SCV). It's a R2500 part and will require some labour but once every 100k or 250k might be worth it as many guys have reported poor performance or a kind of surging experienced which often turns out to be out of spec SCV. Why not just replace it periodically?
- Battery. Sounds silly but my car left me stranded once on an overland trip. It was the battery. No signs of slow starting. Fine one day, dead the next day. Probably well worth replacing once every 2 or 3 years.
- Solenoids on auto box that handle gear changes.
- Speed and timing sensor that feed the fuel pump. Not sure whether it's feasible.
- Standard sensors. Coolant, vehicle speed, MAP, MAF, TPS and other position sensors. Surely these are bound to fail at some point right?
- Fuses. All fuses! Perhaps, when aged, fuses can start to fail at less than rated current.
So I'm probably going overboard a bit and should either limit the list to components known to fail or let this go all together but hopefully we'll get one or two more inputs and we'll see where those go.
Remember, that when I say proactively replace something, it doesn't mean every service or every 2 months. These are probably items to replace once every 100k km or once off at a specific stage in the vehicle's life like at 250k km or 300k km.
Let' see...
I think anybody that is associated with a production environment will agree with you. Scheduled maintenance will win over breakdown maintenance.
BUT, then you need experienced technicians with a proper standard operating procedure. Even the manufacturer can't offer that.
You are thus left with what you propose. Make a shortlist, research replacement options and techniques and find the right "expert" to do it.
I recommend you make friends with Peterpot, I'm sure he can be a worthwhile ally.
BUT, then you need experienced technicians with a proper standard operating procedure. Even the manufacturer can't offer that.
You are thus left with what you propose. Make a shortlist, research replacement options and techniques and find the right "expert" to do it.
I recommend you make friends with Peterpot, I'm sure he can be a worthwhile ally.
Thanks thanksRoelf_le_Roux wrote:I think anybody that is associated with a production environment will agree with you. Scheduled maintenance will win over breakdown maintenance.
BUT, then you need experienced technicians with a proper standard operating procedure. Even the manufacturer can't offer that.
You are thus left with what you propose. Make a shortlist, research replacement options and techniques and find the right "expert" to do it.
I recommend you make friends with Peterpot, I'm sure he can be a worthwhile ally.
Some people may add a waterpump in there as well at around 250000kms mark. Mine was replaced on my old car around there and still looked in mint condition so not sure.
I will rather focus on rubber components than electrical. In the past no one trusted electrics in vehicles but to be honest they ussualy outlast the vehicle these days, with the exeption of maybe the alternator which agan is actually mechanical.
I would rather replace vacuum pipes and waterpipes on the Pajero.
Possibly clean the MAF/MAS never sure what the Pajero has sensor? I have read a few cases of surging or low power reported due to that.
CATS
Sent from my LG-H815 using Tapatalk
I will rather focus on rubber components than electrical. In the past no one trusted electrics in vehicles but to be honest they ussualy outlast the vehicle these days, with the exeption of maybe the alternator which agan is actually mechanical.
I would rather replace vacuum pipes and waterpipes on the Pajero.
Possibly clean the MAF/MAS never sure what the Pajero has sensor? I have read a few cases of surging or low power reported due to that.
CATS
Sent from my LG-H815 using Tapatalk
2009 Pajero 3.2 DiDc Lwb GLS (Gen4) - Casper (Starting to grow on me)
2001 Pajero 3.2 DiD Lwb GLS Manual (Gen3) - Snoopy (SOLD but not forgotten)
2008 Pajero 3.2 DiDc Lwb GLS Auto (Gen4) - Silvester (SOLD)
2001 Pajero 3.2 DiD Lwb GLS Manual (Gen3) - Snoopy (SOLD but not forgotten)
2008 Pajero 3.2 DiDc Lwb GLS Auto (Gen4) - Silvester (SOLD)
CATS wrote:Some people may add a waterpump in there as well at around 250000kms mark. Mine was replaced on my old car around there and still looked in mint condition so not sure.
I will rather focus on rubber components than electrical. In the past no one trusted electrics in vehicles but to be honest they ussualy outlast the vehicle these days, with the exeption of maybe the alternator which agan is actually mechanical.
I would rather replace vacuum pipes and waterpipes on the Pajero.
Possibly clean the MAF/MAS never sure what the Pajero has sensor? I have read a few cases of surging or low power reported due to that.
CATS
Sent from my LG-H815 using Tapatalk
Thanks meneer! That's makes sense.
Why'd you replace the water pump though? Just to be safe?
Preventative maintenance.
In hindsight I think I should just have left all be and just service and drive it.
CATS
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In hindsight I think I should just have left all be and just service and drive it.
CATS
Sent from my LG-H815 using Tapatalk
2009 Pajero 3.2 DiDc Lwb GLS (Gen4) - Casper (Starting to grow on me)
2001 Pajero 3.2 DiD Lwb GLS Manual (Gen3) - Snoopy (SOLD but not forgotten)
2008 Pajero 3.2 DiDc Lwb GLS Auto (Gen4) - Silvester (SOLD)
2001 Pajero 3.2 DiD Lwb GLS Manual (Gen3) - Snoopy (SOLD but not forgotten)
2008 Pajero 3.2 DiDc Lwb GLS Auto (Gen4) - Silvester (SOLD)