Buying Advice

[Clem]

Hello Everyone,

I've been in the market for a new to me expo type vehicle for sometime and I've found two candidates that I would like to hear the forums opinions on.

This rig will primarily be a family (me, wife, 5 & 2 year olds) camping and exploring rig to be built up slowly as the family grows and gets more adventurous. I've found this book (http://www.amazon.com/Northern-California-Backroads-4-Wheel-Trails/dp/0966497651/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319069115&sr=1-1) and plan on tackling the easier trails first and working my way to the more difficult trails as funds for mods become available.

The candidates:

1) 1999 Montero (expo white:sombrero with full winter package and 95K miles. Recent tuneup but timing belt never changed. No service records, but stated maintained regularly. Current owner (soccer mom) bought vehicle at 50K miles. Didn't know about locker so probably never used and 4x4 only used maybe twice. I'm thinking it will have the blinking front light when I try to get it into 4wheel drive. Besides factoring the timing belt and looking for smoke after idle, what else should I be thinking about?

2) 1999 Montero (blue/grey) with full winter package and 185K miles. Just tuned-up to pass smog (plugs), new O2 sensors, new catalytic converter, coolant flush, new breaks, pajero front lights and rear step. The current owner has only had for a couple months. He had the compression checked by his cousin who said it was good but didn't remember the pressure. What should it be? This one has blinking front wheel light when in 4x4. Went off after use of 4x4 at Holister OHV park, but has since returned. Owner thinks the sensor is bad. Maybe just needs more use? Opinions? This one had the timing belt changed 30K miles ago so I have awhile before that needs to be done, but I imagine the valve guide seals are shot since the cat was bad. Thoughts?

The owner of 1) wants $1,000 more than the owner of 2). Should it be a no brainer to go with the lower mileage truck? What would you do?

Thanks in advance for your opinions and thoughts ,

Clem

 

[shmabs]

Clem,

Without seeing the rigs its often tough for others to arm-chair quarter back, but here goes. Also my opinion is virtually worthless.

I work on vehicles on the side of my 'real' job and i have found that soccer moms usually fit into two categories

a. "i know nothing about cars and take it to a mechanic for the simplest of things"
b. " i know nothing about cars, therefore i shouldn't concern myself with lights and strange noises, they will fix themselves"

With that being said i would go with the first rig based on two factors alone. It has about half the milage of the other candidate, and second it most likely has never been wheeled. You KNOW the second one has, i know some people are very gentle wheelers, but others are not. Questionable maintenance history is never good but at 100k if everything seems solid and the vehicle doesn't seem to have been abused you can (relatively) "catch up" on preventative maintenance.

YMMV

Mike

 

[4D55 Performance]

I would go with the low mileage rig. I have an 09 Jetta with 80K miles on it and I have only changes the oil and tires. It still has over 50% of the brake pads, it's not throwing any codes etc. A Montero with 95K miles is like my Jetta, they are very well built vehicles that should make it 100K miles with very minimal maintenance required. You can hope she changed the fluids at least once but chances are she didn't. I would recommend changing the fluids when you purchase any vehicle. Also remember that a vehicle with nearly 200K miles will be needing a new suspension, front end and possible engine and transmission work in the next year or two. I would stay as far away as I could from the high mileage vehicle.

 

[scrubber3]

I think the winter package= rear locker. Lower mileage is always better especially if the one just had a catalytic converter replaced. Most cats that go bad are either fuel related or are due to head gasket leaking coolant. It will cost less in the long run with the white one sir. JMHO.

 

[off-roader]

If you can afford it, #1.

 

[Clem]

Thanks for the comments everyone. I was leaning towards the low mileage one and you all have confirmed my feeling.

Does anyone know what Mitsubishi specified compression should be for 99 3.5 V6?

Other than use, is there any other trick to getting the front 4x4 light to stop blinking? Has anyone ever had the sensor go bad?

Thank you,

Clem

 

[off-roader]

other than use, is there any other trick to getting the front 4x4 light to stop blinking? Has anyone ever had the sensor go bad?

ygm

 

[SOFpirate]

For the blinky light of doom fix ...


Keep trying to go into 4WD ... forwards and reverse .. with some neutrals thrown into there. Also, wheel the $#!T out of the truck. For some reason, damn near abusing mine fixes it everytime.

A nugget of information for you:

The 4x4 system on a Montero is backwards of any other you've dealt with. When the system fails via the vacuum solenoid, the system "fails" to 4wd. You won't witness any binding or any real noticable difference in the drivability of the truck. Unless you have the CDL engaged, and I hope you don't. The maximum forward speed for the system WHILE SHIFTING BETWEEN 4 AND 2 is 100km/h or 62mph. After that, once the truck is in one or the other mode ... there's no maximum forward speed.

Endgame ... wheel the piss out of it, grease your actuator shaft, and have a good time.

 

[4D55 Performance]

For the blinky light of doom fix ...


The maximum forward speed for the system WHILE SHIFTING BETWEEN 4 AND 2 is 100km/h or 62mph.

The max speed for shifting from 2wd to 4wd is 100km/h or 62 mph, but Mitsubishi recommends you stop the vehicle when shifting from 4wd to 2wd.

 

[scrubber3]

Check the resistance in the solenoid. Should be 45 ohms. If not replace it. I'll almost bet my right arm that's what it is. Part number is MB620532. Its called a valve free wheel clutch solenoid.(comes as a pair) Cost about 100 bucks. This is original mitsu part. Hope this helps.