Frederic

@Gaurav any idea all 3.5 models came with this air inlet on the bonnet ? I have seen it on the Diesel version Shogun models in UK but not yet on GCC models.

Very nice ! Welcome @Rami Hanna !!

Agree I think this covers the load well. Dune bashing is a more thrill seeking part of the off-road experience. My personal preference goes towards regular off road and taking the time to enjoy the scenery, have a bite, meeting people, and make it a relaxing experience as a whole.

I once heard a story about this but was never able to get it confirmed so it could be a myth * The gas-stations have underground tanks that are being refilled every couple of days. When the underground tank runs empty, the truck will deliver and refill but this happens with high pressure and flow, which throws up all the dirt and debris inside the tank. Because of that, gasstations will keep that tank out of order for a while so the dust and dirt can settle down and sink to the bottom of the tank. Of course smaller gasstations which only have 2-3 underground tanks don't have the luxury or the time to keep that tank out of order and as a result put them immediately available. When you are the unlucky customer to pass by that station when the tank was just refilled you might have dirt going into your tank. Similar goes for smaller gasstations that don't clean-out their tanks on a preventive basis. Imho the amount of dust or debris from the producer itself will be minimal. It's in the storage that it might go wrong. In my home country we have underground tanks in our house to store the diesel that we use to heat up the house. After a refill the supplier always tells me to let the diesel "settle" for at least a day before switching on the burner. For the same reason as mentioned above.

Count me in !

Interesting. I switched from the OEM filter to the K&N model and both original and K&N model seal off pretty good. But it's good news that the rev fluctuations are not happening. The MAF sensor can indeed have an effect too, but they are indeed pretty expensive (+/- 2000AED) and imho not worth buying second-hand unless you are able to measure them on a scope for any dips or fluctuations. Cleaning the MAF on Mitsubishi is also a bit tricky (vortex system) so be careful when doing this.

Interesting topic. Might be worth installing an oil pressure gauge to keep an eye on what’s happening on or off road.

Brilliant....you have any space left next in that bush ? I'll have the Rick and Morty Monopoly Edition or the 49 USB port hub

I should touch wood then. Ordered quite some stuff already there and due to import (which is mentioned in the item description) it can take a while but never had any issues yet. Longest I had to wait was around 20 days.

I noticed desertcart having it too. But probably more expensive.

I've recently read a few stories on the net of people that encountered spiders, snakes, and scorpions during their camping trips. Even a British expat that got stung in 2013 by a black scorpion: https://www.thenational.ae/business/travel-and-tourism/british-expat-in-uae-warns-campers-after-scorpion-sting-left-him-in-a-coma-1.477595 When i go camping with friends and family, we always keep a close watch on our surroundings. A few months back i was in Al Qudra late in the evening and was surprised to see a humongous creature which to this day i am not fully sure if it was a big camelspider or desert scorpion. It was easily 15 cm long and pretty fat. I quickly walked back to the car and did not return on my steps What are your experiences, stories, and hints that we can take along on our next trips ? - UV Lights ? - Boots ? - How to train children to avoid lifting stones and searching in crevices or rocks. TIA

Hi Gaurav, Good to hear that you're getting back on the bike, it is definitely relaxing. I am not an avid biker, more like a recreational one. I live next to the Al Qudra Cycling track so that helps too. In general i have to say that the infrastructure in Dubai is still quite weak when it comes to cyclists, but there is slight improvement. If you want you can also rent a bike near to the Al Qudra lakes (Giant store). My best advice would be to start slowly and enjoy every ride. Your stamina will quickly improve but it is important to not overdo it and to keep an eye on your heart rates. If you monitor those properly your physical strength and stamina will improve without pain or injuries. Good luck !

Maybe a stupid question but have you cleaned the valve already ? It is not a complex thing to do and maybe worth giving it a try before ordering a new one. You mention the revs are fluctuating; if i am not mistaken many issues such a fuel injectors, fuel pump, etc.. could be related to this. You might want to get these checked too.

Hi Gaurav, Can you define "clean" ? What are the things from your experience we should be looking at when buying a vehicle this age ? I normally check the following stuff: * History of the car IF available * Mechanical condition without going too deep in the details. Look for specific known issues on the type of car you're planning on buying. Taking a technician along to look underneath the car. * Visual condition: How well has the car been taken care off. If an owner doesn't do the basic cleaning than most-probably the servicing was also done poorly. * Mileage: does it look realistic to the car's condition ? Very high mileage while the car looks brand new is also something suspicious imho. * Test drive it. Should quickly tell you the condition of brakes, clutch, etc.. * Sand: the presence of red sand in the small crevices of the interior would mean it has been offroad and especially in more remote places. Which doesnt have to be a bad thing but it indicates the car was really used offroad, I personally have two cars. One car that is relatively young and should be very reliable for me and the family. (no risks). My other car is my daily drive and considering i am spending less i am also less afraid to take some risks and go for a more rare and old model. This one is also my daily driver and "hobby project" as we all have Really nice and honest review ! Definitely a car that i loved when i was growing up. The richest guy of my hometown had a full option Cherokee and back then he had quite some looks. It is a classic now and the design is timeless and can proudly be put next to a Wrangler. (note: not the many Wranglers i see in my community which are heavily modified purely for the looks and have never seen any sand).

The Mighty Paj’ rides again ! Hope to see it soon in real life as I’m planning to join you guys on one of the future newbie drives!

@Bean i am with you on the Focal speakers, but when going for high-end speakers your total chain will need to be up to spec: 1) Proper amplification of these speakers through an external amp (not the headunit amp). 2) Proper cabling as mentioned above. 3) Acoustic insulation if your car is not built to acommodate such kind of speakers. (rattle-free body). We all love the high-end stuff, but it comes down to how much you want to spend and how high you want to raise the bar. In a rough and loud 4x4 it doesnt make that much sense to spend your dimes on high end stuff. Just my two cents of course

Woaw that’s fantastic news ! The Comeback of the mighty Paj’ awaits !!

Thanks guys, i've put it back somewhere in the middle now and the car runs fine. I still need to find someone to have a look at the low power issue that i feel on this car. Runs fine on idle, consumption is around 15l/100 km, but every corolla or even yaris can pull away from my like i'm standing still. I think my 0..10 is in the region of 17-18 seconds which makes me think something is wrong. * Air filter is clean * MAF sensor cleaned and signal verified: look ok. * Fuel filter underneath the car replaced. * No engine check lights. It's of course an old car that probably lost a few horses throughout the years... but i feel more could be wrong. To be continued

@Barry Thanks i was afraid of that. I'll bring it to the workshop to get the setting back to normal while connected to gas analyzer.

@Gaurav strangely enough it it mounted on the MAF bracket but is a complete standalone sensor. It looks actually very similar to a throttle position sensor, but it is clearly not. Will try to search one more time in the service manuals of the pajero.

Hi @Gaurav yes the MAF sensors (vortex) are pretty expensive. I cleaned mine thoroughly a few weeks back with electronic cleaner spray, and it performs well. A new one was around 1600-1800 with the H@btoor guys. In my case when i disconnect it automatically brings on the engine check light and the car runs according to a default program setting. (no acceleration at all until you reach 2500rpm then it shoots up, but dies back immediately) So back ontopic now: anybody has any idea what this sensor located next to the MAF sensor is doing ? (see on picture the one with green and white wire on connector). TIA, Fred

Hi @desertdude no worries, i unplugged the MAF sensor cable temporarily because it was sitting in the way of taking the picture

Guys, I've been breaking my brains over this one: On my 1999 Pajero there is a sensor mounted on a bracket next to the MAF. (see pic). It has no mechanical connection to anything. It just sits there. There is a little hole in the sensor that allows me to turn it left or right. When i do so, i hear the idle speed slightly going up or down. I tried different settings and the engine performs the best when it is disconnected. * Is this some sort of choke throttle sensor that was never mechanically connected to the air inlet ? Although EFI does this automatically i'd assume ? * Some temperature measurement maybe ? Disconnecting it doesn't even bring up the engine light.

@Sertac it was a 1.4 XS model

My very first car. Always a fun to drive and never let me down. Only the brakes had the tendency of overheating. I wonder who's fault that was