Keithryan

Thanks, got it. You can remove your post now. I will send you photos in a bit. 

29 minutes ago, Per A said:

Can't PM as im not cool enough user...

Can you post a pic?

You and me both... If you don't mind, can I have your mobile number? I can WhatsApp you the pics so we don't bother the nice people here with our back and forth.

Hi Per.

I think PMs are not possible on this site anymore. Anyway, I have stock 17s from on a 2014 Pajero and can consider changing to 18s as I am not really interested in doing offroad activities. Let me know if you're interested in an exchange.

Thanks. 

Came across this. I have mixed feelings on this. I mean, if one wants to build an offroad toy I am pretty sure one wouldn't even consider a subcompact car. But props to him as it looks badass in a kind of weird and novel way. 

How do you think this will fare in the desert?

Hello all, or at least to those still interested.

I did my 120K servicing a couple of weeks back and asked the garage to include the rear axle cleaning & greasing to get a shot at fixing this issue. And although I don't use the car daily, during the times I did there was no 'tok' sound to be heard anymore. I drove in heavy traffic multiple times already and every time was intently listening to confirm this and I am really glad to say that it was resolved. I had a couple of job done as well (i.e. full brake overhauling) during the servicing so I will not attest the fix to the axle cleaning & greasing 100%. Maybe around 98% only...

Hopefully this also helps those experiencing the same before they go wild replacing unnecessary stuff. 

16 hours ago, Barry said:

Following on from the school run thread, @Frederic made a good point. 

The small car is expected to make way for the big car. 

This is one thing I hate. I get sick of people tailgating me and flashing their lights every day, no matter what lane I’m in. 

I drive a fiesta. It’s a small car but it has a modified engine twice as large as the standard car and probably more horsepower than the guy who dreams of owning a land cruiser but could only afford a prado. My brakes are also modified. Nothing gives me more pleasure than brake checking the guy behind with the flashing headlights then accelerating away faster than he can only dream to. 

If you tailgate smaller cars, you are a loser. No ifs, no ands, no buts. The real reason is you are trying to compensate because you have a small p****. 

I've been here in the UAE for 12 years and this part still annoys me. I can understand when there is a clear path in front, but during a light/medium traffic where there are also cars in front of me, do you expect me and all the cars in traffic to move out of the way for you? I mean, I also want to go fast but obviously there is some traffic in front of me. 

And add to the tailgaiting the way they park, haphazardly occupying 2 spaces. We get it, you a VVVVVVVVIP, hence you park that way. Seriously, I don't know whether to get upset or pity them.

This might help:  http://www.t3atlanta.com/blog/car-tips/what-happens-if-you-overfill-auto-oil/

1 hour ago, Michael sammy said:

And it was just as simple as cleaning the axel and greasing, 400 AED they charged me with 3-month warranty if the problem appeared again they will fix it for free.

Thanks @Michael sammy for the detailed explanation. This here ^^ was among the diagnosis I got and this came from no less an ex-Habtoor mechanic (who has his own garage now) so it is possible that this might also work in my case. Sometimes its just the simplest explanation that makes sense.

I am inclined on getting my 120k service done in his garage so I will definitely bring this up with him again to include among the services to be done. 

Thanks again. 

9 hours ago, Michael sammy said:

I shall do that Tomorrow, happy to help others. 

Hi @Michael sammy. Thanks for asking. No, the 'tok' sound still lingers. And I haven't gone to a new garage since I posted this thread. So we look forward to seeing your detailed explanation on how you solved yours. 

Thanks @GumbyAKhan. Sorry to hear that it didn't solve everything. 

I will have to get mine checked as advised here as it seems different from what you've experienced. Here's hoping its indeed just the rear diff bushing for me..

That's messed up. Was the glue included or did you apply that yourself? Asking you this so I can remove my cheap suction-grip phone holder on my car and avoid a similar fate.

On 7/17/2019 at 3:49 PM, shadow79 said:

If there is sound plus light jurks felt on steering while accelerating or breaking then it also could be the front arms

The sound diagnosis is really a pain 

Sometimes all the bushes are cracked and yet the customer asks to only get the one which is making that particular sound while others are gonna fall apart anyway...

Thanks @shadow79. Fortunately there are no light jerks on steering while accelerating nor braking. 

Hey @GumbyAKhan, any update on this? Has it resolved all issues?

15 hours ago, desertdude said:

Checking worn bushes is the easiet thing to do. Get a rod or a long screw driver  a jiggle all the joints and see for excessive play in any.

14 hours ago, shadow79 said:

Not always that wiggle test works I had to change a bush which looked perfect but still made sounds as they become old they loose their consistency to stay in one place under load

One of the garage I went to did lift the car and checked for excessive play around all 4 tyres as well as the steering box, transfer case, and drive shaft. They visually checked and tried to wiggle, shake, prod, etc, just to see if there is any movement that will produce a metallic clunk (aka 'tok'). But as expected, it didn't rear its ugly head.

On another forum, a similar issue was brought up and a couple of ideas floated around by those is that there might be issues with the stab link, or brakes, or the bolts & nuts of the arms (loose), and even ball joints. 

But considering that the sound isn't always there - not heard while driving on rough patches, not heard during turning, heck it doesn't even come during the morning traffic (might it be that heat, afternoon and after car has completed warmed up, also plays a factor?) - does this still seem like a bush issue?

15 hours ago, desertdude said:

WTF is a spanner test?

I thought so. Guess I was taken for a ride by the garage then.

Also, if I tell the mechanic this, can they check and test all the rear bushes without having to take the car in a traffic, stop-and-go situation? 

Asking this as I've already suggested this to the garage who last worked on my car. The garage told me that they ran a 'spanner test' and found nothing. So I am starting to doubt the reliability of the 'test' they did. 

1 hour ago, GumbyAKhan said:

Just a clarification, this sound feels like coming from the base of the car right, somewhere around the front or right beneath your seat? Cuz that's where I'm getting the clunking sounds from 

It's definitely from the rear, but not beneath my (driver) seat. But pretty sure it's on the left side. I should probably get someone to drive while I stick my ear on the floor on the 2nd or even 3rd row. 

Are changing the rear bushes as well? If yes, then I will really look forward to hearing how it goes. Hopefully it does the job for you. 

I've been following this thread and didn't see the OP's response, if already resolved. But TBH, I don't know what a 'backlash' sound is..

Following that thread as my Pajero also has this clunk sound (more like 'tok') upon accelerating in traffic. I don't hear it during the first few minutes/hours of driving and it occurs almost only during my drive home while traversing medium-heavy traffic (think Dubai-Sharjah on E311 at 5:30pm on a Sunday). During stop and go, I would step on the brakes until car is almost at a standstill or fully stops. Then upon letting go of brakes and stepping on the gas, the 'tok' sound comes (after 1 second during acceleration). Just a quick 'tok' sound and nothing after.

Note that I don't slam on the gas like a cab driver, just your normal relaxed driving. Even at the most deliberate gas-stepping (like how we did it during our driving license exam), sound still comes. I am no sound expert, but I think it is coming from the rear, middle part (probably closer to driver side than to the right side).

I've also tried to get it checked (thrice already so far) by different garages by replicating a stop-and-go traffic, but as expected the MF'ing sound doesn't show itself when a mechanic is on board. The mechanics who pretended to have heard something each had a differing take - one said it might be the rear axle which may need cleaning (apparently a common issue with Pajeros) and one said it that it could be the drive shaft.

I see on the aforementioned thread that this could also be rear bushing related. Given the above symptoms, might it be the same for my car? Or is this something else?

I also think that this 'challenge' is more applicable to us in the lower income tier - those whose daily drive are also used in dune bashing as compared to most here who have a separate toy for dune bashing.  I am not saying that I have used my car for dune bashing, just in case the future buyer of my car is reading this...

Anyway, I noticed that the thread title/topic was slightly edited. I posed this topic more out of curiosity and as a point of discussion. Because at some point, we were a 4x4 used car buyer and later on a used 4x4 seller (or vice versa). And during the time we were wearing the buyer hat, we were as expected more critical if a vehicle was offroaded/dune bashed as compared to when we are the seller (with selling spiel such as: "I've only done a couple of desert drive more comparable to a Gulf News drive so car's definitely not abused"...)  

2 hours ago, Sidshk said:

But Isn't 4X4 are made to for off road driving ? Then why we are hesitant to buy ? its just a question out of curiosity 

Exactly. This is the ironic part of it. It is being used as how it is intended to be used but somehow it becomes detrimental to the seller's case. 

More often than not, when seeking for advice when buying second hand cars (SUVs in particular) we are told to ensure that said vehicle is not used offroad. It is suggested that we check every nook and cranny for traces of sand, etc.. This is particularly a head scratcher if coming from someone who regularly goes for desert drives.

Does this mean we don't find our cars worthy (perceived or real) of having equal value against the same model which was not used offroad? Or have we already accepted this fate, that our offroaded cars once we do decide to sell will not get a fair shake when compared to cars used as city dwellers only?

Maybe it's unrelated but I'm surprised no one has yet to point out that the OP's tyres are 2014 model.

On 4/22/2019 at 2:08 PM, Barry said:

Did the mechanic fill the lifters with oil before starting the engine? 

Try taking the car for a good run, keep the RPM at 3-4K for 10-15 minutes. You should hear any rattly lifters disappear one by one. 

Thanks @Barry, the good 'ol rev to 3K for 15 second intervals to bleed the lifters. I will try this with no expectations (but with high hopes) since I understand that this works for rattly lifters from start-up.

52 minutes ago, Gaurav said:

Which engine oil (brand and spec) you are running and how old it is?

 

Hi @Gaurav. The garage drained my creamy oil and have put in Valvoline 5w40 during this job. Do you think that oil type will be a factor even at this stage where all 24 lifters are now new? 

FINAL UPDATE:

So I got the car on Saturday and while it did sound quieter, I will be the first to admit that there is still a rattling sound. This is still present on idle once the car reaches its operating temp (around 45% of the temp gauge). The ticking/tapping sound was reduced, but a rattling sound is still there.

Perhaps my expectations of a totally quiet Pajero is unrealistic as this sound seems to be common on Pajeros as I have a friend who just bought a brand new Pajero 3.5 had this sound as well (although a tad softer). Or maybe I am just telling myself this to make myself feel better?  

Anyway, at least now I can go on knowing that my lifters are brand new and everything else on that side of the engine is in perfect condition. On to the next mod/fix I suppose.