Reading 4 min. Views 848 Posted on October 20, 2016

We will give advice on how to choose the right Mitsubishi Pajero 2 with a minimum number of "jambs".

Another popular SUV in the Russian secondary automotive market is. Its second generation was officially sold on the territory of the Russian Federation, and many copies traveled all their lives only on Russian roads. However, not so few second-hand copies of Mitsubishi Pajero 2 imported from other countries, including from the Middle East, today travel around Russia. In this article, we will tell you how to choose the right used copy of the Mitsubishi Pajero 2 SUV.

History of Mitsubishi Pajero 2

The second generation of the Mitsubishi Pajero SUV was released in 1990, a year after the introduction of the larger competitor Toyota Land Cruiser 80. However, the Japanese automobile manufacturer Mitsubishi made its bets not on body dimensions, but on the versatility of the design, off-road patency and asphalt leashes for such a large SUV . Mitsubishi Pajero 2 already had top trims equipped with many luxury options.

For Russian motorists, the Mitsubishi Pajero 2 SUV is the same symbol of the 90s of the twentieth century as the 600th Mercedes-Benz, Gelendvagen and Jeep Grand Cherokee. At the same time, Mitsubishi Pajero 2 could provide its owners, indeed, with the real quality and reliability of its design.

It is worth noting that the Mitsubishi Pajero 2 already had an independent front suspension and high-power gasoline engines. A four-channel anti-lock braking system, a body level adjustment system and a standard winch were installed on it. At the same time, ride height adjustment and controlled shock absorbers were available for the Mitsubishi Pajero 2. Of the other newfangled interior options, it is worth noting heated front seats, heated mirrors and wiper zones, shock-absorbing seats, an electric sunroof, and standard navigation.

Even then, the Japanese automobile manufacturer Mitsubishi offered a branded Super Select all-wheel drive transmission for the Mitsubishi Pajero 2 SUV. Currently, used copies of the Mitsubishi Pajero 2 are chosen by hunters, fishermen and people living in a forest area or in the mountains.

Mitsubishi Pajero 2 will currently have many pockets of corrosion.

Mitsubishi Pajero 2 frame

The frame of the Mitsubishi Pajero SUV has a closed profile and tubular cross members. This design significantly reduces the durability of the frame. It cannot be called hermetic. Therefore, it is completely quickly clogged with sand and dirt. Due to high humidity, the frame begins to rot from the inside. Even in the thickest parts of the frame of used Mitsubishi Pajero 2 specimens, there are through holes. Therefore, we can safely say that almost all used copies of the Mitsubishi Pajero 2 had to be repaired. The frame number is located above the rear right wheel. This zone is considered the most severe among corrosion damage. Accordingly, at present, many Mitsubishi Pajero 2 buyers have difficulty registering a car.

When buying a used copy of the Mitsubishi Pajero 2, the new owner must clean the frame of dirt at least twice a year. Such work is carried out using Karcher or compressed air. After cleaning, it is desirable to re-treat the frame with an anti-corrosion compound. Many owners of Mitsubishi Pajero 2 in Siberia simply fill the internal cavities of the frame with grease based on aluminum shavings. Such a recipe can significantly increase the durability of the frame.

Mitsubishi Pajero 2 body problems

Most used copies of Mitsubishi Pajero 2 on the Russian secondary market are over 20 years old. This means that the body panels will be in serious condition. Yet there are many owners who regularly check the anti-corrosion treatment and update it. Such copies of the Mitsubishi Pajero 2 will have a more or less tolerable body condition. To date, the original front fenders, plastic moldings, wheel arch extensions, sills and bumpers for the Mitsubishi Pajero 2 are already in great short supply.

Mitsubishi Pajero 2 interior problems

Salon Mitsubishi Pajero 2 for its time was decorated richly.

The main problem of the interior of the Mitsubishi Pajero 2 SUV is the weakness of the sealing of the doorways. From this, the wind noise in the car is already at a speed of 80 kilometers per hour. Most elements of the interior of an SUV have a simple design and this is a plus for its durability. The oldest copies of the Mitsubishi Pajero 2 SUV will no longer have seat shock absorbers, plastic will creak everywhere, and the seats will lose their shape. The climate system of this SUV is rather weak. The air conditioner evaporator and the stove radiator have a weak resource. However, the stove radiator for 2 is suitable for the domestic model VAZ-2109. Also, the main problem of the Mitsubishi Pajero 2 interior is the sagging of the door hinges. From this, the doors will close without a noble sound.

The Mitsubishi Pajero SUV, whose production started in 1982, became famous for its simple and reliable design: frame, leaf spring rear suspension, rigidly connected front axle, reduction gear. Initially, the car was offered with a three-door body with a metal or canvas top, but in 1984 a five-door modification appeared with three rows of seats in the cabin.

The car was equipped with four-cylinder gasoline engines with a volume of two liters (including turbocharged) and 2.6 liters, as well as a three-liter V6 engine. Turbodiesels had a volume of 2.3 and 2.5 liters, in addition there was a version with a 2.3-liter naturally aspirated diesel. A four-speed Aisin "automatic" was offered as an option.

In the countries of North and South America (except Brazil), Spain and India, this model was called because of the dissonance of the name Pajero in Spanish, and for the UK market it was renamed Shogun. In 1987–1989, a copy of the SUV was sold in the USA as. And after the production of the first Pajero was discontinued in 1991, the production license was sold to the Korean company Hyundai, which created its SUV on this basis.

2nd generation, 1991

The second generation of the SUV was, in fact, a deep modernization of the previous model. Nevertheless, Mitsubishi Pajero began to look more modern, slightly increased in size, and springs appeared in the rear suspension. The car was still offered in three- and five-door versions, and the three-door could be equipped with a canvas removable top, while the five-door had a high-roof option. The transmission has also changed: now the Super Select 4WD transfer box was installed on the Pajero with four drive modes, a reduction gear and a lockable rear and symmetrical center differential. ABS was included in the list of equipment.

Mitsubishi Pajero was equipped with 2.4 (112 hp), 2.6 (103 hp) and V6 3.0 (150, later 180 hp) gasoline engines, as well as a 2.5-liter turbodiesel that developed 100 hp. With. In 1993, a 3.5-liter petrol "six" with a capacity of 194-204 hp appeared under the hood of the car. s., and a year later - also a 2.8-liter turbodiesel (128 hp)

In 1998, a small restyling of the model was carried out, the updated cars could easily be recognized by the “bloated” wheel arches (for expensive versions). At the same time, frontal airbags were included in the standard equipment of some variants. In addition to Japan, Mitsubishi Pajero was assembled in India and the Philippines, and these enterprises continued to produce the second generation of the model even after the appearance of the third Pajero in 2000.

3rd generation, 1999

The third Pajero, which began to be produced in Japan in 1999, received a load-bearing body instead of a frame and independent spring suspension of all wheels. The Super Select 4WD II transmission was upgraded - the central differential became asymmetrical (33:67), and all actuators acquired servos.

Cars with a V6 3.5 GDI petrol engine (202 hp) with direct fuel injection, as well as a 3.2 Di-D turbodiesel with a capacity of 160–165 hp were delivered to Russia. With. In the “base”, the SUV had a manual gearbox and a seven-seater saloon, for a five-speed “automatic” you had to pay extra.

Mitsubishi Pajero for other countries also installed gasoline engines V6 3.0 (180 hp), V6 3.5 GDI (220–245 hp) and V6 3.8 with a capacity of 218 or 250 hp. There was also a 2.5-liter turbodiesel developing 115 hp. With.

Mitsubishi Pajero

Description Pajero

Mitsubishi Pajero is a popular frame SUV that takes place above / and is the flagship of Mitsubishi. It has been produced since 1982, but the car is rarely updated, so today only its 4th generation is sold.
Pajero performs in the same class with cars such as /, Nissan Pathfinder, Land Rover Discovery, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and the like.
The 1st generation Mitsubishi Pajero engines are the 2.5-liter 4D56 diesel and its predecessor 4D55. The range of gasoline engines is slightly wider and includes 4G63, 4G54 and 3.0 liter 6G72.
For the second generation, Pajero replaced 4G63 with 4G64 and 4D55 with a more modern 4M40. The V6 line was replenished with 3.5 liters. 6G74.
Mitsubishi Pajero 3 diesel engines are the popular 4M40, 4M41 and 4D56. The line of gasoline engines was left without 4-cylinder power plants and here only V6: 6G72, 6G74 and top-end 6G75.
In 2006, the 4th version of this SUV was released and there were no big changes here. The old 4D56 was dropped and the 4-cylinder 4G64 became available in the Chinese market.
Select the model you are interested in below, and we will tell you about the characteristics of Mitsubishi Pajero engines, what are their main problems and what causes them. What kind of oil to pour, how often you need to change it and how much to fill in when replacing. You will learn the engine resource in practice, how to increase power and more.

The Mitsubishi Pajero, unlike many modern SUVs and all-wheel drive crossovers, is a real SUV, and in terms of cross-country ability it is considered one of the best in its class.

The model first appeared on the automotive market in 1982, and the second-generation Mitsubishi Pajero 2 car became truly a legend - a car in this body has been produced for ten years, and such instances are still often found on the roads of our country.

There are many fans of Pajero-2 in Russia - there is a club of Mitsubishi Pajero lovers, races are regularly arranged on cars. It should be noted that in India, the Pajero version of the 1997 model (in the 5-door version) is still being produced and is called the Pajero SFX.

In 1996, Mitsubishi began to produce another model of a similar plan, and it was given the name Pajero Sport. It should be noted that the 2nd generation "Sport" is still being produced, and since 2008 the machine has been assembled in Kaluga.

A bit of history

The first prototype of the Pajero model was presented at the Tokyo Motor Show back in 1973. The army version of the Mitsubishi Jeep was taken as the basis of the SUV, and according to the designers' idea, the car was supposed to be a light all-terrain vehicle with a canvas roof. But the market forced the developers to make significant changes to the model, and in 1976 a deeply modernized version of the car was already shown in the Japanese capital - it noticeably “grown up” in size and began to be equipped with a more powerful power unit. The platform of the SUV has also changed - now its basis was no longer the military Japanese Jeep, but the civilian pickup truck of the American company Dodge. Although the car was appreciated by experts, the Japanese began mass production of the Pajero-1 only in 1981.

The debut of the first Pajero took place in October 1981, and the first cars were produced with a short base in a 3-door version, in the 5-door version Pajero went from 1983. The SUV was equipped with both gasoline and diesel engines with a volume of 2 to 3 liters, and there were a lot of diesel engines on the model - they took root well and proved themselves on the good side. Pajero-1 was produced by the Japanese until 1991, and then the license for this car was sold to the Korean concern Hyundai, and the model was subsequently produced under the Hyundai Galloper brand.

Mitsubishi Pajero-2

The Mitsubishi Pajero-2 brand began to be produced in 1991, at first two types of engines were installed on the Japanese all-terrain vehicle:

• 3-liter V-shaped gasoline engine 6G72 (6 cyl., 12 valves, two per cylinder);
• 2.5-liter diesel 4D56 (4 cyl., 8 valves, two per cylinder).

Like the first Pajero, the second-generation model has a frame structure, and because of this, the weight of the car is not at all small - about two tons. Pajero-2 was produced in two bodies - SWB 3-door station wagon ("shorty") and LWB 5-door (extended version), and each version had two options:

• "three-door" with a metal and fabric roof (folding, with electric drive);
• "five-door" with a regular and high roof.

Unlike its predecessor, the Mitsubishi Pajero-2 already has a fundamentally different wheel drive, the transmission can be switched in three positions:

• driving rear wheels;
• both driving axles in the usual all-wheel drive version;
• both drive axles with locked differential.

This type of transmission is called Super Select 4WD, and it is very convenient for the driver - the car owner can choose the option of connecting axles, depending on road conditions.

Torsion bars are installed on the Pajero-2 front suspension, springs and double trailing arms are installed on the rear axle.

According to the comfort of the suspension, cars can be divided into two types - with a conventional "hodovka" and with adjustable shock absorbers, moreover, you can increase the car's ground clearance without leaving the passenger compartment.

Although the ground clearance of the car is already not small (200 or 225 mm, depending on the type of shock absorbers), the Pajero-2 is often tuned, and the cross-country ability of the SUV after the suspension lift becomes truly fantastic. There are legends about the driving performance of the Pajero-2, and not in vain - the car crawls through the swamps and climbs steep hills, the SUV has won the Paris-Dakar rally more than once, and is one of the leaders in these competitions.

The second Pajero is equipped with a five-speed manual and four or five-speed automatic transmission, a total of seven types of gearboxes are installed:

• "mechanics" V5M21, V5MT1 and V5M31;
• 4-speed "automatic" V4AW2, V4A51 and V4AW3;
• 5-speed "automatic" V5A51.

The gearbox has slightly different gear ratios, but they differ not only in this - each type of manual transmission or automatic transmission is suitable only for a certain engine model, and the gearboxes are not interchangeable with each other.

In 1997, Pajeo-2 was restyled:

• the front bumper was updated, it added fog lights;
• front optics supplemented with xenon lamps;
• climate control began to be installed instead of air conditioning;
• changed the grille;
• R alloy wheels come standard

If at first the Pajero-2 was equipped with only two types of internal combustion engines, then in the future the range of power units expanded significantly, and the following gasoline engines were installed during the entire existence of the model:

• 2.5-liter 4G54 - 8-cl. /103 l. With. (this engine was also installed on the Pajero-1);
• 2.4-liter 4G64 - 8-cl. /112 l. With.;
• 3-liter 6G72 - 12-cl. /150 l. With. and 24-cl. /181 l. With.;
• 3.5-liter 6G74 - 12-cl. /194 l. With. and 24-cl. /208 l. With.;
• 3.5-liter 6G74 GDI - 24-cl. /245 l. With.;
• 3.5-liter 6G74 MIVEC - 24-cl. /280 l. With.

You can easily determine whether a 4- or 6-cylinder gasoline engine on a Mitsubishi is by the model name - the very first digit means the number of cylinders.

The range of Mitsubishi Pajero 2 diesel engines is much more modest - only three types of internal combustion engines are presented here:

• 2.5-liter 4D56 - 8-cl. /105 l. With.;
• 2.8-liter 4M40 - 8-cl. /125 l. With.;
• 2.8-liter 4M40 EFI - 8-cl. /140 l. With.

The brand of turbocharged diesel engine 4M40 EFI differs from 4M40 in the presence of electronic control of the injection pump.

The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport has been produced since 1996, in Japan it is called the Challenger, and in the USA it is sold under the Montero brand. In total, for 2016 there are three generations of an SUV - the Pajero Sport-1 model was produced until 2010, its platform is the Mitsubishi Pajero-2. The SUV in the Sport variant has almost the same suspension as the base car, but differs in design, smaller dimensions, and it is endowed with more sporting qualities. The car was restyled more than once, in the year 2000, the springs on the rear axle were replaced with springs.

The debut of the second generation Pajero Sport (base - Mitsubishi Triton) took place in the fall of 2008, the car was presented at the Moscow Motor Show. This SUV is available in both 5-seater and 7-seater versions, the main production of the brand was established in Thailand. "Sport-2" was produced until 2016.

Since August 2015, in the same Thailand (Laem Chabang), the assembly of Pajero Sport -3 has been established, the well-known L-200 pickup truck is taken as the basis for the new brand. Also, the new model will be produced in Indonesia, it is planned to start production of the car in April 2017.

In February 2012, "Sport-2" was restyled, the new model was presented in three trim levels:

• intensity;
• Instyle;
• Ultimate.

The line of power units Sport-2 (2008-2016) has the following types of engines:

• diesel 2.5 l 4D56 178 l. With. (3rd generation DI-D);
• diesel 3.2 l 4M41 160 l. With.;
• gasoline 4G69 2.4 l 162 l. With.;
• gasoline 3.0 l 6B31 220 l. With.;
• gasoline 3.5 l 6G74 189-222 l. With.

The Pajero Sport 2 car is available with two types of transmission:

• mechanical 5-st. checkpoint;
• automatic 5-st. Checkpoint.

Even the basic version of Pajero Sport-2 includes:

• front airbags;
• ABS and EBD systems;
• full power package;
• air conditioner;
• audio system with four speakers.

In a simple configuration, alloy wheels R16 are installed, in a more equipped version of the "Instyle" installation of 17 alloy wheels is provided.

Mitsubishi Sport-2 has the following technical specifications (five-seat version, diesel 4D56):

• dimensions (L / W / H) - 4.7 / 1.82 / 1.84 m;
• number of rows of seats - 2;
• wheelbase - 2.8 m;
• curb weight - 2.04 tons;
• maximum vehicle weight with a full load - 2.71 tons;
• the maximum weight of the towed trailer is 2.5 tons;
• fuel tank capacity - 70 l;
• compliance with environmental standards - Euro-4;
• rear suspension - dependent, front - independent.

In the Instyle configuration, xenon headlights are installed on the Pajero Sport-2, factory tinting is in progress, and roof rails are provided.

This is one of the most important parts of this machine and at the same time one of the most expensive to repair. Even with a completely acceptable resource for cardan shafts and gearboxes, there are enough problems. I already talked about the rear axle in the first part, this is a very expensive unit, which is easily damaged by careless off-road driving. What about transfer boxes?

They are divided into “full-fledged” Super Select and “just” 4WD, that is, a hard-wired part-time. Each transfer case is available in two versions, "large" and "small", for the corresponding gearboxes and rear axles.

The “part-time” 4WD, which is simpler in design, nevertheless, does not differ in absolute buglessness, because here the pneumatics are in charge of connecting the axle shaft of the front axle (excluding rare budget purely mechanical versions). The system is not very complicated: vacuum from a vacuum pump (on diesel engines) or from a collector through a vacuum tank and a pair of actuators is supplied to the actuator. A pair of sensors and a control unit are in charge of everything. However, there are enough failures on age machines. If the four-wheel drive light flashes while driving, it always means something is going wrong.

At Superselect, the device is more complicated, there are more sensors and actuators, and at times. It also has an interaxle differential, which means that in addition to modes with a drive to the rear axle, a simple and reduced all-wheel drive mode, it can also “perform” permanent all-wheel drive with a “center” lock.

The standard troubles of all handouts of age-old machines are chain stretching, bearing damage and oil leaks. Plus, on all Pajero transfer boxes, all-wheel drive system sensors cause a lot of trouble.

In addition to controlling the rows and locks in the transfer cases, the Pajero can also control the rear axle locks, which ... yes, you guessed it, there are several options. There is a basic version without blocking at all, there is an “automatic” version with a viscous LSD clutch, and sometimes a rigid pneumatic one. Naturally, the resource of the viscous coupling is finite, and the pneumatics are simply buggy, so the blocking efficiency decreases with age.

All systems should be checked upon purchase: if the car seems to be driving, but something is flashing on the “tidy” or not immediately connected, then the cost of restoration can be ridiculously high. After all, you don’t need a Jeep without all-wheel drive, do you?

Mechanical boxes

With them, too, not everything is so simple. The “mechanics” of the V5M31 series are considered unambiguously reliable, it is aggregated with a “larger”, more durable transfer case and basically its problems come down to oil loss and wear of the second and third gear synchronizers. It was used regularly with engines 2.8 and 3.5, but it is also found with a 3.0 engine on restyled cars. The manual transmission of the V5MT1 series is slightly weaker, more prone to oil leaks, sometimes loses synchronizers and clutches of frequently used gears, but rarely breaks completely.

Pictured: Mitsubishi Pajero Wagon GL "1991–97

It was used with engines 2.5 and 3.0 before and after restyling. On older machines, it may also have problems with bearings and shafts, but this is more likely a consequence of oil loss or water ingress than a purely resource problem. This box is aggregated with a “small” razdatka, and with a 3.0 engine, its resource may already be too small.

Manual transmission V5M21 comes across only with gasoline four-cylinder engines 2.4 and 2.6, and even their low power cannot withstand. Damage to bearings and shafts is common, but machines with these engines are rare in general and their age is usually maximum. It is combined only with a “small” razdatka, which is not in danger with such motors.

Pictured: Mitsubishi Pajero Metal Top "1991–97

automatic boxes

Probably, you can not say that there are a lot of automatic transmission variations on the Pajero?

The four-speed Aisin AW03-72L can be found mainly on the simplest modifications of the Pajero II Wagon with a 2.4 engine until 1994, as well as on the American Montero II, even with V6 3.0 engines, which are clearly redundant for it.

Pictured: Mitsubishi Pajero Wagon "1997–99

The automatic transmission is well known from Toyota - it was installed on Hulux pickup trucks with 2.0–2.7 engines, as well as Cresta / Mark II / Chaser, Crown and many other models with engines of a similar size. And she has proven herself very well. If you do not forget to change the oil and do not overheat, it can travel several hundred thousand kilometers. Resource limitation is mainly due to friction clutch wear, less often due to pressure loss by pistons or valve body seals. It rarely gets dirty even with a “standard” oil change interval every 60 thousand, since the blocking of the gas turbine engine rarely works and wears out little.

On the Pajero, water is also added to its enemies - when overcoming the fords, water may enter the ATP, and if the oil system is not immediately cleaned, the emulsion will quickly kill the cardboard clutches.

Rear cardan shaft

original price

55 362 rubles

No less reliable is the automatic transmission of the Aisin AE30-43 / AW30-70LE series. These boxes are perhaps more reliable than the machines themselves. They were already installed with all motors until 2006, and this is really an excellent "automatic". Boxes were also used on Toyotas and Lexuses, in particular on the GS430, LX470, Cressida, all the same Crown, Mark II and others. Failure, again, most likely after an unrealistic run or serious overheating. It is extremely difficult to disable it somehow, it can withstand loads and is more serious than even a 3.5 engine can create.

Automatic transmissions developed by Mitsubishi itself of the V4A51 series are no longer as reliable as the Aisins of the old series, but still quite strong. Before a run of 200 thousand kilometers, it almost always passes, more is no longer a fact. In addition to purely resource limitations, there are electrical problems with sensors and wiring, and contamination of the valve body. The resource of the gas turbine blocking pads is large, but hardly more than 250-300 thousand kilometers. They are found mainly with a 2.8 diesel engine and on cars produced after 2000 with an Indian-assembled 3.5 engine.

The five-speed V5A51 is made on the basis of a four-speed and is also a development of Mitsubishi itself, in terms of reliability it is not much inferior to its predecessor, but the car with it is noticeably more economical. It was mainly used on cars with 3.5 engines after 1998, and after the cessation of production of Pajero II in Japan - on regional assembly cars with all engines.

Petrol engines

The engines on the Pajero II are mostly already familiar to those who have read. But in addition to gasoline 2.4 series 4G64, 3.0 6G72, 3.5 6G74 and diesel 2.5 4D56, older gasoline engines 2.6 4G54, a new turbodiesel 2.8 series 4M40, as well as several new variants of the 6G74 engine .

Gasoline in-line "fours" on the Pajero II are rare and basically it's the good old 2.4 4G64 in different versions. The power system is always distributed injection, reliability is at the level of one of the best engines of the 4G63 series, in fact it differs only in cylinder diameter and piston stroke. On a heavy SUV, power is no longer enough, but nevertheless, the engine can travel several hundred thousand kilometers without serious problems. Unfortunately, cars with this unit are mostly versions before the intermediate restyling of '94. This means that the oldest, worn out and with a spring rear suspension, that is, not the best option in principle.

The extremely rare 2.6 4G54 engine is most often found in a carburetor version on cars from 1990-1992, and after that - sometimes in a version with distributed injection. It is considered phenomenally reliable and indestructible, but, alas, it will not work to check. This is a real rarity, almost a legend, because it was on this engine that Mitsubishi first tested the combination of electronic injection and turbocharging, however, in this version it was not installed on the Pajero II.

Pictured: Mitsubishi Pajero Metal Top "1991–97

The title of the most common engines holds the V6 3.0 of the 6G72 series in two forms, until 1997 - the SOHC version with 12 valves and after - also SOHC, but with 24 valves. The power and ignition systems are also different. 12-valve engines have a coil and distributor ignition system, 24-valve engines have a more traditional ignition module.

The motors are extremely reliable, the block is cast iron, the piston group is moderately conservative. Timing belt drive, and the belt is thick and of high quality. On older engines, problems are often associated with gradual coking of the piston group due to oil leaks through valve seals, because the crankcase ventilation system is far from perfect and requires regular maintenance.

The control system on both 12- and 24-valve engines is not sinless, but reliable enough. Failure of lambda sensors and intake leaks are its main problems, which further lead to the destruction of catalysts. Which in turn can lead to accelerated wear of the piston group.

If you keep the oil level at the upper limit, then the second drawback in the form of the vulnerability of the crankshaft during oil starvation is also not a problem, but for off-road rides it is recommended to even exceed the maximum level by another liter.

Pictured: Mitsubishi Pajero Metal Top "1991–97

Problems with the crankshaft pulley also occur: unfortunately, the key is cut off when the old star is used in the timing drive, and the pulley for the drive of additional units scrolls on the shaft. To prevent such troubles, it is recommended to change the pulley mounting bolt to a new one every time the belt is replaced, and the crankshaft star - at the slightest loosening. By the way, do not count on 120 thousand kilometers of the belt resource, in our conditions it is recommended to change it every 60–90 thousand maximum, and with the replacement of all rollers, checking the operation of the hydraulic tensioner and replacing the front cover oil seals.

The engine cooling system was initially rather weak, and over the years its capabilities have not improved. Radiators clog easily, especially on versions with air conditioning, where the “sandwich” of radiators is dirty not only from the outside, but also from the inside. The resource of the pump is very modest, and the reliability of the hoses is also in question. Yes, and a viscous coupling with a fan is also far from eternal, the fan simply loses its blades, the viscous coupling not only wedges, but sometimes begins to slip due to oil loss.

More powerful engines of the 3.5 6G74 series initially with an ignition system with a module, without a distributor, are otherwise similar to the 6G72 series. After 1997, you can also find a DOHC version of this engine with a power of over 200 hp. s., and the MIVEC version with phase controllers was installed on the Evolution version. On late-release Japanese cars, you can even find a GDI version of the engine, which is equipped with first-generation direct injection and should be avoided by force.

Diesel engines

Diesel engines are mainly represented by an older 2.5 4D56 series engine, which is considered not the most successful Mitsubishi unit, and a more recent 4M40 series engine from commercial vehicles with a volume of 2.8 liters. The latter turned out to be noticeably more reliable, but, unfortunately, more expensive to restore.

The 2.5 4D56 motor has already “lit up” in the story about, but I will repeat here. The design, proven over the years, turned out to be not adapted to increasing power. Version for 99 l. With. can still be considered relatively strong, but more and more powerful options under continuous load receive a lot of damage: the cylinder block, camshaft failures, cylinder burnout ...

Radiator

original price

48 460 rubles

Even the timing belt on a diesel 2.5 is characterized by an unstable service life, it often breaks during a “children's” run of 30–40 thousand kilometers due to problems with camshaft lubrication and breakdowns of rockers. Fuel equipment until 1994 is considered frankly unreliable, after - much better, but not perfect. In general, this is the case when you can, with a clear conscience, say an unequivocal “no”.

After 1994, another engine for Pajero II appeared, this is a 2.8-liter 4M40 engine. This series of diesel engines, unlike the very old 4D56, has a seriously reinforced design, and a chain that is quite reliable is used in the timing drive. The motor easily handles the modes in which the good old 4D56 gave up - continuous movement at high speed and long full load when driving uphill and with a trailer. If you need a diesel, then you already know what volume it will be.

Pictured: Mitsubishi Pajero Metal Top "1991–97

What is the result?

The main conclusion that a potential buyer of the Mitsubishi Pajero 2 should make for himself is that you should not rely on the archaism of the design, which will provide a trouble-free 20-year service life. Pajero and often break if not looked after. Therefore, diagnostics should be comprehensive and thorough, with a check of the machine's performance in all modes, including "ground".

As for the optimal modification, everything is not obvious. The most enduring versions are with the most powerful engines, petrol 3.5 and diesel 2.8. Some mechanical boxes are less reliable than "machines". Superselect is predictably more expensive than "part time" in operation, but will provide more freedom of action. For moderate operation “city-cottage-forest on holidays”, the option “petrol 3.0 with automatic transmission” is quite suitable.

Would you take a Mitsubishi Pajero 2?