Cold Starting
As the mornings get colder I’ve noticed the Pajero isn’t enjoying getting going so much. This has previously just been a problem with getting away from a standing start. The first couple of yards from where I park is a very slight incline and it’s coughed a little and lacked power until on the flat where it’s fine.
This morning my outside thermometer read 6 degrees and it felt pretty cold. For the first time since I’ve had her she actually coughed a little on starting the engine - before even setting off. I could imagine that if we were down near 0 degrees she might be struggling to start at all, though I’m only guessing of course.
Pajero Insurance
I’ve had several emails from people asking me who I got Pajero insurance from. Well, there’s a quick and easy answer obviously but I thought it would be good to discuss the options and the peculiar nature of insuring a Pajero.
So what do you do when you’re first considering buying a model of car that you’ve not had before and you’re not sure of the insurance costs? A sensible person gets a few quotes first to see how much the insurance will be before looking for the car to buy. I’ve never been especially sensible so I usually buy the car first and worry about the insurance after, which is exactly what I did with the Pajero.
Pajero Pitman Arm Recall
Since I’ve had the Pajero I’ve known that there was a manufacturer recall on Pajeros/Shoguns/Monteros for the replacement of the Pitman arm. Briefly, Mitsubishi realised at some point that this model had a defect with its Pitman arm that could lead to steering failure. Obviously they had to recall all vehicles involved to replace them. So a couple of weeks ago I thought I’d better look into this and find out what it’s all about and whether my Pajero need sorting out.
She Got Mucky
Went on my first ever off-roading day on Sunday (August 5th). It was arranged by Andy (ukrabbiter) through the POCUK forums and took place at Briercliffe quarry near Burnley. Just the four of us involved: Andy, Gareth (LFM), Dennis (denjo) and of course me.
I’d known about it for a few weeks and so I couldn’t wait to get started when the day finally came. And what a day! Following the lousy summer we’ve had this had to be one of the warmest, most beautiful days of the year. It’s about half an hour’s drive from my house through some lovely scenery and the site itself is in the middle of nowhere. Really nice location.
Japanese Brochure
I found some images of a brochure for my Pajero model - Bluemoon - through Japanese Google. Yes, I really am sad enough to be searching Japanese Google! Anyway, I have three images of the brochure that you can view by clicking on the “Pajero Photos” link up above.
Still In Love
Well, I’ve had my Pajero for 5 weeks now and we’re still very much in love! Due to a heavy workload I’ve not been able to blog about the truck too much but I hope to make up for that in coming weeks. Also due to work I’ve not really done a great deal with it - either driving or working on it. Really it’s just been a case of local driving and checking fluid levels.
Pajero Books and Manuals
Being a Japanese import, the owners manual for my truck would be written in Japanese and would therefore be totally illegible to me. Well I didn’t get this manual with mine anyway, but I thought it would be interesting to have one - in English of course. I also fancied a Haynes manual.
What does this do?
The thing about my Mitsubishi Pajero is that it has lots and lots of toys and gadgets. Fine if you know what they all do but I hadn’t a clue. And it’s not like just having to work out the electric mirrors and lights on a ‘regular’ car, there’s all sorts of weird and wonderful buttons and switches to suss out. I don’t even know what to do with the four wheel drive selector yet.
The Big Day
I’ve been like a little kid waiting for Christmas this week. Driving my wife nuts I think. Just can’t wait to get my hands on my ‘new’ Pajero. It’s been about three years since I’ve had a new car but I can’t remember feeling like this for many years. The last ten years or so has just seen a steady flow of very good but boring family saloons. I think that this totally different type of motoring experience is exciting me in the way a new hot-hatch would have done when I was 17, or perhaps when I passed my motorbike test.
Bought My First Pajero
This is where the story begins.
After searching for several weeks (seems like years) I’ve just bought myself a Mitsubishi Pajero. It’s a 2.8TD Auto Bluemoon Limited Edition - 1995 with 71000km (44000 miles) on the clock.