Stuff you learn(t) the hard way by being your own mechanic

[dave303e]

I sold mine to my old man because I needed a bakkie(loading sand and building supplies) but I have since laid down the law in terms of buy back, he is not allowed to sell it unless I have the first option.

I took that vehicle a few places it shouldn't have gone, it also did a lot of work pulling the usual suspects out the mud at the dairy.

[The Ouzo]

3 minutes ago, Hairy said:

 

A friend has one of those, amazing cars.

He did how ever go and test drive the new Pajero Sport, and subsequently bought a new one. He had a brief moment where he thought he would trade in his old SWB, but decided that this would be stupid and ended up giving it to his son.

Now both the new and old cars have seen off-road work, the old SWB extensively so .... at least he did not buy it to park outside on the pavement at the local Vida.

The old Pajero's were VERY capable offroad, the new Pajero Sports are an improvement on them.

I've taken a Pajero Sport through the official Mitsubishi SA Offroad training programme that all customers go on when they purchase a new 4x4. You arrive at an obstacle and think for sure you will be getting at least a little bit stuck with some maneuvering to get out, but the vehicle is so capable that you just cruise through like its nothing.

[tubed]

1 hour ago, Jewbacca said:

I am so happy after selling my Defender 90..... I had it for a long long time. We were bonded.

Blinkered.

It's gone, I have a super generic family car that does 5 to 5.5L per 100km, fits everything in it, goes 140kph at 2200rpm and I can hear the radio.

I don't leave a pool of oil in every parking bay, I can visit Witsands, my wife will go places with me in the car, I have air bags and safety AND my tires don't cost 15k to replace. 

It also managed to get out of Afri ski and Lesotho fully loaded in a snow storm this year, so it's an ok piece of kit. 

I miss my Defender, but I miss her like I miss my crazy ex from 20 years ago. I remember the fun times, but I'm glad she is gone

Do you still while driving now out of habit greet other LR owners with the knowing wave.....and then wonder why in your new vehicle nobody greets you. It must be quiet, but perhaps a bit lonely in that new vehicle.😉

[Jewbacca]

1 minute ago, tubed said:

Do you still while driving now out of habit greet other LR owners with the knowing wave.....and then wonder why in your new vehicle nobody greets you. It must be quiet, but perhaps a bit lonely in that new vehicle.😉

All the time when I first sold it! hahaha

Now I quite enjoy the anonymity of a bog average soccer mom car.

[MORNE]

4 hours ago, dave303e said:

That is why you should own a Pajero 3,2 DID SWB.

It'll do everything the landy does just with airbags, aircon, cruise control, heated leather seats and no oil leaks.  Not great(but not landy) fuel economy. But you still have that urge to look back and admire it every time you walk away from it. Something sensible cars never provide...

my mother owned a pearl white one (the nice looking last iteration), full house with sunroof and everything up until she emigrated. When she left she 'gave' me the thing because she didn't want to sell it. It had 40k km on it. Being a 25y old ish at the time and having to spend (back then) around R650 to fill its tank with diesel was just batchit crazy to me. So I kept on driving my 1983 golf Gti haha. Passed the Paj on to my now wife to drive around, since someone had to and she lived closer to her place of work back then. She loved it too....It is a womans 4x4 afterall 🤗.

But what got me in the end was when i had to take it for it's routine 60k km service at the dealership. it was still on motorplan...and the list of things they replaced..or had to replace that back then amounted to a R12k invoice,  just made me realise that once that thing was out of warranty/motorplan....you will be keeping it for life to make it worth the investment...why people DO drive them to to infinity...thay cant afford not to haha. It was pretty...but the SWB is borderline as useless as a Jimny. absolutely no space to pack anything other than a few shopping bags lol. The epitome of an urban mom SUV. It's (like the Jimny imo)...a toy at best.

PS: Our 2.5DiD Fortuner in 2014 cost R2400 to service at 60k km. Our 2017 Rav4 VX 2.5 just had it's 75k km service...R2200. 

 

Edited August 24, 2022 by MORNE

[Eddy Gordo]

Those SWB Pajeros are nice, but a little too small. Almost like an oversized Jimny

[dave303e]

28 minutes ago, MORNE said:

my mother owned a pearl white one (the nice looking last iteration), full house with sunroof and everything up until she emigrated. When she left she 'gave' me the thing because she didn't want to sell it. It had 40k km on it. Being a 25y old ish at the time and having to spend (back then) around R650 to fill its tank with diesel was just batchit crazy to me. So I kept on driving my 1983 golf Gti haha. Passed the Paj on to my now wife to drive around, since someone had to and she lived closer to her place of work back then. She loved it too....It is a womans 4x4 afterall 🤗.

But what got me in the end was when i had to take it for it's routine 60k km service at the dealership. it was still on motorplan...and the list of things they replaced..or had to replace that back then amounted to a R12k invoice,  just made me realise that once that thing was out of warranty/motorplan....you will be keeping it for life to make it worth the investment...why people DO drive them to to infinity...thay cant afford not to haha. It was pretty...but the SWB is borderline as useless as a Jimny. absolutely no space to pack anything other than a few shopping bags lol. The epitome of an urban mom SUV. It's (like the Jimny imo)...a toy at best.

PS: Our 2.5DiD Fortuner in 2014 cost R2400 to service at 60k km. Our 2017 Rav4 VX 2.5 just had it's 75k km service...R2200. 

 

OK I'll bite....

I'd rather be put in a convertible series 1 Land Rover Defender as a daily driver for a 50km commute during a cape winter than own either of those though. Plus the Fortuner insurance costs will make up the 10K difference in service fees within a year anyway. And when last did you look back at your fortuner as you walked away and think- man that is a cool car.

But yes SWB Pajero's are small ish(hence I ended up selling mine) but they are far bigger than a jimny inside and perfect for a bachelor though. Mine lived with the back seats flat. If it is just 1 or 2 of you there is plenty of space for all manner of adventure

[dave303e]

Also for the Land rover fans and DIY mechanics, I have been eyeing this out for a while, I am not sure if it is sacrilege or genius but it is some serious power output. Would make an awesome plaas vehicle in bakkie format, capable and just plug it in each night. Conversion comes as a kit

 

https://www.electrogenic.co.uk/cars/land-rover-defender-high-voltage

[Hairy]

50 minutes ago, dave303e said:

OK I'll bite....

I'd rather be put in a convertible series 1 Land Rover Defender as a daily driver for a 50km commute during a cape winter than own either of those though. Plus the Fortuner insurance costs will make up the 10K difference in service fees within a year anyway. And when last did you look back at your fortuner as you walked away and think- man that is a cool car.

But yes SWB Pajero's are small ish(hence I ended up selling mine) but they are far bigger than a jimny inside and perfect for a bachelor though. Mine lived with the back seats flat. If it is just 1 or 2 of you there is plenty of space for all manner of adventure

If you watch a Fortu'nah driver, you will note they always close the door silently, and slink away from the car stealthily in the hope that nobody they know could possibly see them driving that thing

[PhilipV]

2 hours ago, MORNE said:

my

PS: Our 2.5DiD Fortuner in 2014 cost R2400 to service at 60k km. Our 2017 Rav4 VX 2.5 just had it's 75k km service...R2200. 

 

But the Fortuner costs another 2400 at 70k, and at 80k, and and then 9500 at 90k. 

I hope the rav at least has 15k service intervals?

I have one Toyota left in my fleet, it's paid off, does its job, and none of my driver's get the same gag reflex  like I do when they need to drive it. So it's safe. 

 

 

[ChrisF]

6 minutes ago, PhilipV said:

But the Fortuner costs another 2400 at 70k, and at 80k, and and then 9500 at 90k. 

I hope the rav at least has 15k service intervals?

I have one Toyota left in my fleet, it's paid off, does its job, and none of my driver's get the same gag reflex  like I do when they need to drive it. So it's safe. 

 

 

 

Yes, the RAV4 has a 15k service schedule in SA. (Shorter in some other markets)

 

EDIT .. 15k for the petrol models, not sure of the diesel models.

Edited August 24, 2022 by ChrisF

[117]

The irony of Land Rovers in the thread title... 

[tubed]

Apologies - I seem to have derailed this thread from bikes to LR's.

So back to things I have learnt.

Suddenly/ inexplicably my 1x10 setup wouldn't work and I needed a longer b screw for an XT derailleur. A few bike shops later and all I could get was too short or wrong thread. Until a genius online suggested just put the shorter b screw in from the other side where it usually protrudes to create the push against the derailleur. So simple, so effective, so satisfying.

[mazambaan]

16 hours ago, dave303e said:

OK I'll bite....

I'd rather be put in a convertible series 1 Land Rover Defender as a daily driver for a 50km commute during a cape winter than own either of those though. Plus the Fortuner insurance costs will make up the 10K difference in service fees within a year anyway. And when last did you look back at your fortuner as you walked away and think- man that is a cool car.

But yes SWB Pajero's are small ish(hence I ended up selling mine) but they are far bigger than a jimny inside and perfect for a bachelor though. Mine lived with the back seats flat. If it is just 1 or 2 of you there is plenty of space for all manner of adventure

To keep the derailment going; Pajero's are great (I am considering a Sport or Isuzu Mux after my Fortuner (Tuna;s seem to be getting stolen at accelerated rates)) BUT you must check the timing chain on that 3.2, even before the intervals given.

LR Disco 1 starter motor; removed on my lawn using just about every wobble and universal joint extension in my toolbox. That Disco did 320 000km (inc Moz, Zim, Nam, Bots & Lesotho) when I sold it, mechanicals never opened (elec windows and door locks a pain as was the cooling system (replace plastic plugs and new expansion bottle)) and its still going.

[dave303e]

To help get the thread back on track, something I can suggest to Scott owners- Get a syncros multitool, it has everything needed for your bike.

I always try to do as much of the work/maintenance on my bicycle with the toolkit I carry. Obviously knowing certain things are impossible(removing bottom brackets, pulling cassette's etc) but what it does is it gives you a trail knowledge, when something goes wrong you know you have the tool to be able to fix it. You also then can make sure your multitool matches your bike, or if you need to change bolts in places to allow you to be able to fix them on trail.

And back off topic, ya that timing chain block and timing have a close eye kept on them.

[reteid]

On 8/23/2022 at 8:26 AM, tubed said:

I always chuckle to myself when I see my boets permanent marker arrows on the inside of his cranks - clearly he learnt the hard way.....

 

i also drew tippex directional arrows on the inside of the crankarms to remember which way is loose.