Who can change my timing belt?

Dear Paul
Thanks for the goodwork, I have just bought a Mitsubishi Pajero year 2004, with a GDI engine 6g74 3500cc; mileage 101,000 km. I know that the timing belt needs to be changed at 100,000km do you know of a garage which speciliases in Mitsubishi GDI engine vehicles that can do a good job? I am told that GDI engines are very sensitive and most mechanics in Uganda do not know anything about them ( including those in the local Mitsubishi dealership) as these were meant for the local Japanese market. Jackson Kato.

Jackson, the GDi - gasoline direct injection technology is sensitive to fuel quality (octane rating and detergency or ability to clean intake valves) and quality of engine maintenance parts such as filters and spark plugs. This engine also requires regular periodic change of engine oil with the correct manufacture recommended multigrade oil. A number of private Mitsubishi mechanics have caught up with the technology and can change your timing belt. I also believe that the local Mitsubishi dealership Victoria motors are competent enough to handle the technology in the 2004 Pajero and can change your timing belt. So you can comfortably choose which one suits you.
Hello, I own a CRV Honda. How good is it and what is bad about it? How is it compared with RAV4? That is in terms of fuel consumption and spare parts availability. Help me such that I don’t make a wrong choice when buying. Thank you.

You have not mentioned the model year of Honda or RAV4 you are looking at. However, in case you are looking at the first or second generation Honda CRV or Toyota RAV4, they come with either 1.8 or 2.0 litre engines.
The fuel economy statistics are close either in urban or on highway traffic they are between 12-14km/litre. Fuel economy will greatly depend on how you drive or load the car, maintenance regime (type of engine oil, fuel choice, service frequency and use of genuine parts, tyres). Both Honda and RAV4 are built by manufacturers renown for high quality products.
These two vehicles are robust, practical and suitable for family recreation and personal transportation on road and medium off road conditions in our suburbs and villages. Honda CRV parts tend to be pricy with limited availability. However, there are more Honda parts dealers down town today and the list grows as the Honda used car presence grows.

Hello Paul, I have just bought a used Toyota Raum 2003 at 130,000 kilometres. What are the service issues I should attend to before settling down to enjoy this car? Kaweesa John.

John, Toyota would recommend that you undergo the 100,000 kilometre service B inspection.
At this mileage, you should consider replacing the long life fuel filter located in the fuel tank to avoid damaging the fuel pump and injectors. Your engine has a timing chain system, which does not require replacement unless it is damaged by use of the wrong engine oil grade. Choose a suitable multigrade engine oil with SAE 15W40.
Check colour or condition of all fluids and replace where they have changed colour. Pay particular attention to the colour of gearbox oil and brake fluid.
These fluids should not be dark with a strong smell. Drain and renew the engine coolant every two years. There are two types of coolant, the ready to fill pre-mixed coolant or the concentrate which you mix with water on a 50:50 ratio. Good is a heat transfer medium, corrosion inhibitor and a lubricant to protect the water pump. Check or replace spark plugs, air and AC cabin filters, wiper blades, brake pads. At 100,000 kms, you should check or replace all fluids and filters.
Endeavour to use genuine service parts as they will protect your car better. Check the condition of tyres and confirm that the tread depth is not below the safe limit or suitable for winter only road conditions. Winter type tyres will fail when driven in our hot weather.

Dear Paul, I drive a Mercedes C200 1998 model. It is a pleasant car to drive. Recently a light ESP BAS lit up on my dashboard. Whilst the car runs well, I am worried that this might mean something has broken down.
Dan Byamugisha.

Dear Dan, the ESP (Electronic Stability Programme) and BAS (Brake Assyst) are electronic passive safety systems. ABS and BAS are integrated with on board computers and designed to enhance your safety during emergency braking or when you drive over slippery terrain.
Occasionally, these systems report faults due to voltage fluctuation when your car battery powers down.
When the fault light persists after charging the battery, you will need a qualified technician to pin point the cause of the fault with a computer diagnostic tool. Areas to check should include the steering angle sensor, Brake switch and ESP computer.

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By Paul Kaganzi
0772316145
send sms: mycar (space) your comments and questions to 6933, or email them to [email protected]