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@MMansoor @Vaibhav @Ahmad Shaker @Waqas Parvez @topgear @Santoso Marjuki- See you boys here pretty soon! @Sunil Mathew, @JeromeFJ, @Davie Chase, @Looper, @Anoop Nair, @Ranjan Das - Thank you gents! Looking forward to driving with you soon! Doc @M.Seidam - Thank you so much for the wishes, and the guidance so far. I am going to be counting on getting more wisdom and advice from you in the drives to come. @Hisham Masaad - you're the first one to give me the confidence to really push it, in Faya. Will join your crazy Badayer drives soon @Shaaz Sha - you've given me some excellent training to prepare for this step-up! Thanks! @Islam Soliman - thank you! Hoping to learn a ton on how to tame a LWB with you! @Gregory - It’s been a while since we’ve been on a drive together. I hope we fix that soon! @Thomas Varghese - thank you! See you this weekend @Tbone - Thank you! So happy to see you leading drives again. Will join one soon! Still think about that drive in Tawi Nizwa... @ShereenMK - Gotta get my PCRs done and see that beautiful LC of yours in AD soon! @Tareq Al Turq@Karthik Raptor - thanks guys!

🐅🐅🐅 Happy Chinese New Year to those celebrating! 🐯🐯🐯

For many among us, switching between 2WD and 4WD happens with a lever or a flick of a switch, and as soon as your green lights on your dashboard are illuminated to confirm you are in 4x4, you are happy and good to go. That is, until the system fails on you all of a sudden, and you are left frustrated, not knowing what to do.🥵 I recently found a nice diagram that shows the functionality of a Part-Time 4x4 system, that uses vacuum (created by your engine) to operate the 4x4 system and engage or disengage your front axle and turn your car from a 2WD into a 4WD. I am not a specialist in this matter, but merely collected what i could find and what i have encountered on my own Pajeros. A few items we will be discussing which are vital components to the 4x4 system and also the first ones to check in case of any issue: Vacuum solenoids. (VSV1 and VSV2 on the diagram) These are basically just relays or valves which open or close based on a 12V signal and will block the vacuum or let it pass through. They are located in the engine bay next to your air filter box. Due to engine heat, wear and tear, they eventually break down but can be replaced in a matter of minutes. Vacuum Actuator This actuator works like a cylinder. When applying vacuum to it, the piston will start to move. This actuator is mounted on the front axle and will engage or disengage the axle from the front differential. The actuator is being controlled by the solenoids VSV1 and VSV2. Now lets look at above diagram and chronologically explain what happens when we engage the 4WD system. Don't forget to put your vehicle in N first and keep your foot on the brake whenever switching to 4WD or back to 2WD. Engage 4WD: 1) In the old pajeros (up to 2000) when selecting 4H, you are mechanically coupling the transfer case to activate the front prop shaft. On the newer Pajero models, this happens with an actuator motor. Upon selecting 4H, the dashboard indicator will start to blink to indicate that the 4x4 engaging process has started. 2) The front axle has a vacuum actuator (like below photo) which will now disengage as well and couple the front wheels to the front differential. 3) Once the system has detected through the sensors located on the transfer case and the front axle that the vehicle really is in 4WD, the lights on the dashboard will stop blinking. 4WD is now engaged. If they remain blinking this indicates that either there is something wrong with the vacuum system, or the sensor is not detecting the actual position. 4) As your car is now in 4WD, the power coming from the engine will be distributed via a 30/70 ratio between front and rear axles in 4H, or 50/50 ratio in 4Hlc. Once you are back onto tarmac, you will want to get the car back into 2WD: Engage 2WD: 1) Move the transfer case lever back to 2H. The lights will start blinking on your dashboard. 2) The transfer case will disengage the front prop shaft, and the front axle vacuum actuator will start to disengage the front axle. 3) Once the sensors on the front axle, and the one on your transfer case are showing the correct position, the lights will remain (rear wheels only). Question: If in 2WD your front prop shaft is being disengaged by the transfer case, then why do you need the vacuum actuator to disengage the front axle as well ? Well, at this stage you need to start thinking in reverse. What i mean with that, is that when you are in 2WD, the engine is not providing power to the front axle, BUT, because the front wheels are turning they are turning the front prop shaft and the front differential. All this is basically lost energy and would only increase fuel consumption, so by disengaging the front axle with the vacuum actuator, the front axle will actually be "freewheeling" and avoid your prop shaft and front diff from rotating. And this is the main reason why 2WD saves a bit on fuel (less rotating mass to carry along). Additional point: The Pajero has a front independent suspension with CV axles, which are basically always rotating (even in 2WD). Many 4x4 vehicles that have a serious lift, suffer from premature wear on these CV axles due to the increased angle. Installing manual locking hubs on the wheels is a good option, as it basically disengages the front wheels from transferring movement towards the front axle, with as a result that your CV axle doesn't have rotate in 2WD (which could be a good recovery option if it breaks down in the desert), but also would mean that you can remove all this vacuum and freewheeling stuff. Many oldskool offroaders go for this option as less electronics and less solenoids in the desert improves reliability. Troubleshooting: If at one point your 4x4 indicators keep blinking, have a look at the following 1) Open the engine bay and look where the vacuum solenoids are. (nearby the air filter box). Inspect the electrical connection and the vacuum hoses that are connected to it. A cracked hose will not be able to create vacuum and will be the reason of your failure. 2) Look underneath the car and locate the vacuum actuator at the front axle. There will be 2 vacuum hoses connected to it. Inspect both hoses, and also pull back the rubber booth to see if the piston is not blocked by any debris or sand. You can use a brush to clean the piston that moves back and forth. If your car is in 2WD and you pull off one of the vacuum hoses on this actuator, you should actually see it slowly closing. 3) Be aware that sometimes the system only engages or disengages after driving a bit forward or backward. Many times i have seen the blinking lights disappear only after 10-15 seconds of driving. It is good to engage the 4WD system every week. Not using it often gets the system to seize up. Note: Mitsusbishi has thought about this system quite well, and did not want to leave anyone stranded in case the solenoids fail. By Default, if there is no vacuum, the front vacuum actuator should close by itself and keep the car in 4WD. This basically means if you pull of one of the vacuum hoses, your front axle should be engaged and it should work in 4WD. Of course you will have blinking lights because the sensor will be confused, but at least you could continue to drive in 4x4.

Congratulations @munkybizness

Well done Mayank @munkybizness, congratulations.

Congratulations @munkybizness

Well done and Congrats @munkybizness

Well done and well deserved @munkybizness congratulations 👏🏼👏🏼

Congratulations @munkybizness very well deserved , keep on rolling fast but safe 👍

Congratulations @munkybizness

Trip Report: We all had a extended duration of drive in the technical tight dunes which I suppose everyone enjoyed!!😃 After the initial 90 min , getting to Murquab was a breeze, with some nice tall dune crossings. Thanks @Jessica Lambert for being perfect 2nd lead in the challenges thrown. @Alain Canivet-Abikhalil was the savior , tugging shoveling and advising all over the place. Thank you so much for your presence, and help which was a delight to watch. @Adnan Halepota swept all together, thanks buddy. Some learnings: 1. Momentum and approach is important - try not to force your way through the dunes. 2. Straight dunes crossing comes smoothly with practice. 3. Gravity is your friend - never fight it. 4. Please bring the mandatory gear required for the drives - shovel, programmed radio which is charged, off road flag, deflator and a compressor. Have a nice week at work!

Well done @KAMALIO!

Thanks @Rizwanm2, excellent video, fully reflecting the scale of these bowls and dunes! For this last epic part, I've run out of batteries on both cameras, so I only have a few minutes. But all the other raw videos are here (will be a 4K, sorry for making everyone scroll a lot). Thanks @Gaurav and all for excellent drive!

Congrats Mayank. Well deserved.

Congratulations bro. @munkybiznessWell deserved

Congrats @munkybizness See you soon.

Congratulations @munkybizness 👏👏

Congratulations @munkybizness! Enjoy IM level 👍🏼

@Josh T. Thanks! I need to get my PCRs sorted to join a drive you’re on. I need some of that Shaheen churnin’ 🌪 Doc @Chaitanya D thank you 🙏 I hope I make it into your night drive this weekend 🤞 @Rizwanm2 - thanks, and thank you for making the convoys I'm on with you so fun! I saw your dashcam videos from the Quaa drive and damn! You rode that bowl like a baws, as you usually do. I want some of that "fun" too soon 🚀

I need solid recommendations on where to get good Boba in Dubai so we can swap notes 🤓

Congrats @munkybizness!

Enjoy your new journey @munkybizness. Congratulations!

Congratulations buddy @munkybizness👏

On the Sunday drive, you are currently waitlisted for your 1st drive, and will be given priority over 2nd drive WLs. So most likely you will find a spot on Sunday drive by Thursday / Friday. Hang in there.

Congratulations

Congratulations

Congratulations @KAMALIOwell done

Well done @KAMALIO, congratulations

Well done @Max Beloenko, congratulations

Congratulations @Trekado

Congratulations @KAMALIO

Congratulations @KAMALIO! Well done! See you my friend!

Congratulations @Trekado - enjoy the new level

Congratulations @KAMALIO! Enjoy the new level!

Congrats @KAMALIO, see you soon on drives!

congrats @munkybizness well deserved see you in the sand again soon

Congratulations @KAMALIO

@munkybiznessCongratulations. well deserved buddy.

Congrats Mayank @munkybizness... see you on IM drives

Congrats 👏

Congrats! 👍

Congratulations! 👏

Congrats Man Well Deserved 💪💪

Congos @munkybizness well deserved.

@Gaurav - thank you! But mostly, thank you for this amazing club of beautiful people that I've grown so fond of and look forward to each week. I hope I get to be on one of your drives soon Thanks @Srikumar! We need a drive together soon!

Congratulations Mayank....

Thanks @Russ! I'm eagerly looking forward to the step-up required. @Frederic - Thank you!! I've been hooked to this thing because of you, and people like you.

Congrats @KAMALIO !

Well deserved !!