The Mitsubishi Pajero Owners Club®

Darfash · Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2019 15:26 Post subject: Winter Pack Batteries

Hi

Stupid question probably.
I'm having problems starting our lwb Pajero in the mornings, black smoke on start up , after three or four efforts to get the old girl going, then runs fine all day.
I want to charge one of the batteries up before the heavy snow starts, but the question is do I have to disconect both batteries or can I get away with just disconnecting one of them and leave the other on connected up (its 2 months old now)?
Cheers for any answers and any suggestions on poor starting would be an added extra.

Darfash

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peteinchad · Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2019 20:17 Post subject:

You should replace the batteries as a pair. Putting a new one on with an old one will cause the old one to discharge the new one more quickly. Ideally the pair should be the same make and the same capacity.

As for your question - you can disconnect the positive lead of the one you want to charge and wrap the terminal on the loose lead with a thick plastic bag to insulate it - do not let it touch anything as it is connected to the other battery via the starter motor terminal.

NDZ · Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2019 22:31 Post subject:

Black smoke could be a glow plug fault, also worth fitting new air & fuel filters and running some injector cleaner through. Should only cost around £50 for the lot but I'd make sure you get branded glow plugs (check correct voltage) and I suspect that would improve the starting or at least provide some more clues. Do you have an EGR blank or have you ever cleaned the intake manifold & intercooler?

Darfash · Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2019 15:57 Post subject:

Hi

Re: starting issue. It had new filters in June when I bought it, not sure about blanked off egr, but I'm now disabled and crawling around cars is not what I'm capable off any more. I've run injector cleaners through for three weeks now, no idea if intake manifold have been cleaned. I will try replacing the oldest battery first and see if this helps. This is a shame because the car is in bloody good condition otherwise. So it will be booked into the local garage soon, hopeful we won't get snowed in for the next few weeks, as this is what the car was originally bought for. It was fine starting until the cold weather set in.
Thank you for your advice.

Darfash

Simon_W · ******* Joined: 21 May 2013 Posts: 4881 Location: Watford

As Peteinchad wrote earlier, don't just replace one battery. All you will do is to bring the new one down to the level of the older one. Even if they are identical brands/rating etc.

You need to determine a few things before just replacing parts.

Is the engine cranking over fast enough? Is the glow plug rail getting 12v on start? Is each glow plug working properly?

Darfash · Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2019 13:43 Post subject:

Hi

Garage changed all plugs but still the problem persists, they suggested it was the solenoid, so have to wait until I can get the car back into the garage again.

Any other suggestions would be ratefully accepted.

Cheers
Darfash

Simon_W · ******* Joined: 21 May 2013 Posts: 4881 Location: Watford

Mark3 · Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2019 16:48 Post subject:

Mark3 · Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2019 17:02 Post subject:

Darfash · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2019 22:03 Post subject:

Hi

Garage had a mess around with the solenoid and it seems all to be OK now. Just a small puff of white smoke on start up now. Will keep it going now until winters' end and then spend some more money on it in Spring.
The garage that did the work put me ahead of everything they had booked, and did a good job on it considering the time limits they had to do it.

Anyway thank you all for your replies and interest.

Darfash