My L300 is in serious trouble

nicholas.delica · Post by **nicholas.delica** » Tue Dec 27, 2016 11:37 am

Hello All,

Iv been following this forum and the other for a couple years now and been patiently waiting till id be ready to spring on a Delica. Well 4 months ago that happened and i picked up a 1992 L300 with around 168,000 kms on it, iv been driving it for about 3 months now and other then getting new glow plugs after extreme cold start issues its been running tip top, no issues with the trans and no bad sounds.

A couple weeks ago i started getting a small minor oil leak i took it into a well respected local shop that has Delica experience and they hit with me a doozy.

Here is there quote for the work i need done immediately:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9W8h0 ... aaEpJ/view

It seems the bulk of the 5000$ is in the 2200$ injection pump

What im struggling with is whether or not i have any other options:

Could i do any of this work myself? I have access to a dry area and tools plus weekends id be happy to give up to do this.

If i get all this work done and bite the bullet will i just have more issues down the road? She might just be a lemon?

Thankyou for your time and im sorry to bother all of you with this newbie centric post

-Nicholas

Post by **thelazygreenfox** » Tue Dec 27, 2016 5:55 pm

quote won't open.
MD

nicholas.delica · Post by **nicholas.delica** » Wed Dec 28, 2016 6:02 pm

oops, hopefully this works better:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9W8h0 ... aaEpJ/view

nicholas.delica · Post by **nicholas.delica** » Wed Dec 28, 2016 6:02 pm

oops, hopefully this works better:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B9W8h ... BDLUlaaEpJ

north54 · Post by **north54** » Wed Dec 28, 2016 7:34 pm

What are you talking about as far as oil leak goes? drip every now and then? I've had a small oil leak in my Deli since I got it 3.5 years ago and it still keeps going...

The slight oil leaks seem to be quite prevalent in Delicas and can mean a variety of things from a leaky head gasket to a defective engine oil drain bolt washer.

If your timing belt is definitely due for a change then bite the bullet and get that changed asap or you won't have an engine in the future.

Did the shop mention where your leak is coming from? I couldn't see anything in the quote they gave you...

Post by **Big-Bird** » Wed Dec 28, 2016 7:38 pm

The fuel pump rebuild by itself isn't a very hard job....The timing can be finicky.

All the other work they quoted you... Belts, seals, waterpump....Are general maintenance items that can be done by anyone with decent mechanical aptitude. It's just time of course.

Did you contact Commbs Country Auto and get a second quote?

Mcgoo · Post by **Mcgoo** » Thu Dec 29, 2016 9:02 pm

You can get a timing belt kit with water pump for $179 on ebay here in australia the dearest timing kit is $500!

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

ChuckBlack · Post by **ChuckBlack** » Thu Dec 29, 2016 10:40 pm

I get all my stuff front Rising Sun Imports!!! The timing belt kit is around $500 and comes with all you'll ever need! crank and balancer Seals, WP, tensioners, belts! I've had a oil leak too since my i had mine too... the way i see it... rust protection!

helibrian · Post by **helibrian** » Thu Dec 29, 2016 11:35 pm

I would take the top timing belt cover off and see if there's oil on your belt and if it's coming from the fuel pump. 10mm socket with a small extension and ratchet is all you need.

helibrian · Post by **helibrian** » Thu Dec 29, 2016 11:38 pm

Also I too have had a loonie size oil leak for 10 years. I just don't park in my father in laws driveway.

sk66 · Post by **sk66** » Sat Dec 31, 2016 11:16 am

$2200 for a pump replacement instead of just replacing the seal in it? It can all be done with basic tools/skills, but it will take quite a bit of time... I would guess ~2 full days. The information on how to do all of it is available online here and elsewhere.

Post by **Growlerbearnz** » Tue Jan 03, 2017 9:28 pm

That quote makes me very uncomfortable. Please, please get a second opinion.

$1200 for the items in the timing belt kit is outrageous, and they're easy to replace yourself if you have a bit of mechanical inclination, and follow Tojo's thread and the workshop manual.

The only time you'd rebuild your injection pump to the tune of $2200 is if you were having serious drivability issues- black smoke, won't start, cutting out. Even then, $2200 is on the waaay high end and would have to include rebuilt injectors.

An injection pump rebuild kit is $32: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mitsubishi-Di ... 1840489414

*checks airfares to YVR*... Hmm. For $5000 I could buy all the parts, fly to YVR on Air New Zealand, pay myself $125/hour to install them over two days, and fly home again. Hypothetically, of course, as I'm currently on vacation at the beach.

sealica · Post by **sealica** » Wed Jan 04, 2017 2:07 pm

I can't open the quote. Which shop gave you the quote?

Post by **Growlerbearnz** » Wed Jan 04, 2017 4:37 pm

sealica wrote:I can't open the quote. Which shop gave you the quote?

Try again, I've fixed the links.

ynwa · Post by **ynwa** » Sat Jan 07, 2017 9:39 am

Hey, fellow Victoriite, Victorian? Unfortunately Marigold seems to have a monopoly on JDI vehicles and they know it. I've heard some pretty terrible stuff about that shop and the condition of my L300 van when it had apparently been in there recently.

Oh, the top of the timing cover should have a sticker with a mileage number on it. This will be when the timing kit was last changed (hopefully).

A little oil leak could easily be the $4 half-moon plug at the back of the rocker cover. If it runs well and looks balanced, I wouldn't panic, but see if you can give it a good degreasing and then follow the leak from the bottom up. You might just find it's leading up to the back of the rocker panel.

We need another JDI shop in Victoria!!