Hi guys,

I'm new to the forum, there's lots of good info on here. Good job guys.

I'm a chef by trade, love fixing my own cars even though the piss me off every now and again. I bought a 97 tf magna advance, 420k, silver and automatic with 24v 6g72.
My other rides are ng pajero 3.0l petrol and a 1964 Rambler American missing motor and box (will either rat it or burnout car) :)

I've already had what seems to be the standard immobilisor problem which is intermittent. Had it towed to Mitsubishi who checked it out with their computer and diagnosed as the light ring around the ignition barrel. They cleaned up the connectors and now it starts. Great success.....

My other problem with the car happens with spirited cornering. It's kinda hard to explain.. When midway through corner turning the wheel, the steering is slightly unresponsive then kinda catches up causing the need to back off the steering to correct the cars direction. I get a slight dip on the loaded side of suspension at the front then it settles and holds its line...

It's very inconsistent doesn't do it when just cruising around and not on spririted tight cornering. Mostly long easy bend at speed.

I was thinking it could be a few things.
Powers steering pump on its way out?
Front shocks, springs, bushes?

Any questions about my terrible explanation...

Any ideas?

Thanks

Is the fluid level low?

When midway through corner turning the wheel, the steering is slightly unresponsive then kinda catches up causing the need to back off the steering to correct the cars direction.

Suspension settling as weight transfers during cornering, rear suspension geometry changing when the body leans and doing some rear wheel steering.

If you are used to a rear wheel drive with a solid rear axle, all I can say is . . . .welcome to front wheel drive!

Lancer (2004) is classic for this, turn into a corner, body settles at cornering angle, steering needs to be unwound a bit to maintain correct cornering. As you say, most noticeable on long sweeping corners at speed. After a while you can get to predict it and use it to your advantage (ie adapt to it). Nothing to do with understeer, low fluid, mechanical problems, etc.

The fluid level was high, I have corrected this, also looks like coca cola. Will have to change at some point. Madmax that makes sense. I've had fwd cars before but very used to the pajero and I've only had the car for a couple of weeks so being really picky on how it handles. I'll just pick a line to the apex a bit wider to allow for the correction.

Thanks for the input

Dayne

Suspension settling as weight transfers during cornering, rear suspension geometry changing when the body leans and doing some rear wheel steering.


I have been driving the car for a while now and it does settle for a second or so then transfers load on and off the outside tyres rhythmically. Would I be correct in thinking my shocks have had it or could it be sway bar?

I had my camper trailer on the back today and its a bit unsettling as the weight transfer kind of give the trailer the death wobbles.

With 420,000 km on the car, more than just worn out shocks would be at work making the trailer unstable. lol

It would be rear shocks, sway bar, front shocks, front steering components, rear and front ball joints, wheel bearings on all 4 corners . . . . the list goes on and on. (Now you know why you got it cheap, at least I HOPE you got it cheap. lol)

A few ex taxi TL/TWs advertised locally a while back, with about half a million km on them, second engine, third gearbox, that sort of thing. I personally wouldn't want one if they gave them away (priced at about $3K, bloody cheek) because it would take so much time, money and effort just to get it back to somewhere near original safe and predictable handling.

Yeah go it cheap, the tyres and rego that were on the car pretty much covered the cost of purchase. It has been looked after thankfully. It's in great condition for its mileage. Ill have to get under the car and have a look I've just been lazy. There so low compared to my 4wd. I can just pop my head under and look with that.

Before going to far I'm going to do springs and shocks, swaybar links and I have I rear sway bar on its way (hopefully it will arrive soon. )
Also ill have a look at ball joints while I'm under the car.

I have always owned high mileage cars I like them cause I do the work on the myself. Parts are cheap.
This magna drives extremely nice and stable on the road compare to some cars I've owned. It's just this cornering that makes me uneasy. :(

Ill just replace stuff as I need. Ill start with shocks and springs and go from there.

Check the belt tension on the power steering pump. I also had issues with my springs when they were near end of life causing like a steering lag/jam.