Delica Canada | Mitsubishi Van Club

Green1 wrote:The best thing people can drive in lousy weather is a rear wheel drive vehicle... if the conditions suck, you know about it!

If I have to get out there in lousy weather, I want to do it in my 4x4 deli - that and proper tires, and a health dose of good sense! The only thing really "dangerous'" about driving in the winter (or anytime, really) is other drivers running into you (usually in 4x4's, it's true!). The snow and ice are rather "hazards" and as such can be mitigated with care and attention

The snow and ice are rather "hazards" and as such can be mitigated with care and attention

basically that was my point.
A cautious driver will be good in any vehicle, and will prefer the 4x4 for it's ability to work in the lousy conditions.

But those people who can't figure out that snow and ice are not the same as dry pavement, need a car that will remind them. If pushing on the accelerator doesn't help them accelerate, they might realize that the brakes and steering won't be ideal either. If they have a 4x4 they get over-confident and assume that because the accelerator works, the brakes will too... this can be disastrous.

(on a mildly related note... anyone else watching "Canada's Worst Driver" and thinking that the people on the show are much better than the people they keep seeing on the roads....)

jfarsang wrote:Also anyone who has a limited slip rear differential (look for the red/orange 2"x3" sticker on the inside driver side door jam)

Drive carefully (feather the throttle) in snow/ice/slippery conditions.

The rear end tends to kick out sideways a lot more compared to the stock Delica (open differential).

Upside - great for traction off road.

Downside - cuts loose easier on slick surfaces but can be more predictable once you get used to it.

hi jfarsang, i just would like to make sure as to what diff i have. are you specifically referring to the said sticker?if yes, it means i have ls(rear), right?

Snow is melting + rain = huge puddles and small lakes on the side of roads.

Delica's not the best at hydroplanning. Watch out for the long/deep water spots on the roads.

jfarsang wrote:Snow is melting + rain = huge puddles and small lakes on the side of roads.

Delica's not the best at hydroplanning. Watch out for the long/deep water spots on the roads.

The narrower the profile of your tires, the less likely the vehicle is to hydroplane. The 235s aren't bad (haven't h-planed yet), and I imagine the original 215s are pretty good (but that's an odd-ball size over here, apparently). For those of you with big fatties - s l o w d o w n ! You'll appreciate the control.

..just got back from doing the crow's nest to Kelowna from Vancouver then the connector from Vernon to Kamloops for the second time this year...just got back yesterday. 100km crosswinds on the Vernon -Loops connector at -12 (not including wind chill of course...see photos under my name)...roads were a total sheet of ice, many cars/trucks in the ditch...Deli handled like a champ with 250lbs in the rear driving in 2whd....Deli's are no worse on ice than my Vitara or my syncro Doka which were both wider and longer wb...people who own Deli's I think believe they are invincable and drive like they are a Dakar contender......experience in winter conditions is everything. The cocky will always pay the price in the end.
**side note...before you blame the truck/van ...ask how good are your tires?

.Deli's are no worse on ice than my Vitara or my syncro Doka which were both wider and longer wb

My Delica is by far better on both snow and ice than either my work van (2004 Ford E250) or my previous car (1983 Mercedes 300SD) both of which are significantly longer and wider.
I attribute the success of the Delica to 2 things:
- tires. sure I run all seasons, but I'm starting to think that these Hankooks are amazing!
- LSD. take enough of it and... oh... wait... I meant Limited Slip Differential. It just seems to go no matter what the conditions.

As for spinning out or sliding on the ice... it's ice. it's supposed to be slippery. and it doesn't matter what you drive, you WILL slide at some point. 4x4s are notorious for over-confidence, and the Delica is no different. you have to remember that just because your vehicle GOES better does NOT mean it will STOP better. remember, 4 wheel brakes have been on all cars for almost 100 years now 4x4s don't have anything better, and in fact the larger/heavier vehicles have more inertia which makes them even worse.

Drive for the conditions! 4x4 lets you accelerate quicker, but it doesn't let you drive any faster (safely) nor does it let you brake any better. It may get you out of a ditch, but it will not stop you from getting yourself into one.

hi, if i have the said orange sticker, does it mean or does it follow, i have limited slip rear differential? does it need to have a corresponding switch to turn it on/off? anybody got the actual/physical thing? photos would be a great reference, so i could be pro-active and take good care of it using the right oil for it. i only have on jack so i could not test it yet via rotating(same direction, opposite means open diff) 1 rear tire procedure. tia.

There is no switch or anything, the vehicle will look the same whether it has LSD or not. Mine doesn't have the sticker, however it does have LSD.

An alternative to jack work is as follows (assuming you can find such a place) drive up a hill with one side of the vehicle on ice, the other side on pavement or gravel. if you make forward progress you have LSD. (my back alley is perfect for this, the shaded side stays icy long after the sunny side is clear)

Another way is to look it up... on the VIN plate is a model number, compare it to this site (example: my model is Q-P35W-HSRGT2 (Produced from August 1991) and if you look under "exterior equipment" it says "LSD (Limited slip differential) Present"

shinta wrote:hi, if i have the said orange sticker, does it mean or does it follow, i have limited slip rear differential? does it need to have a corresponding switch to turn it on/off? anybody got the actual/physical thing? photos would be a great reference, so i could be pro-active and take good care of it using the right oil for it. i only have on jack so i could not test it yet via rotating(same direction, opposite means open diff) 1 rear tire procedure. tia.

For an explanation of an LSD, see Wikipedia.

For oil, make sure it is LSD oil -- I'm sure the specs are on this forum somewhere.

As for what started this thread, maybe Jesse just scares other RHDs off the road? It isn't the drivers, it is that the vehicle is frightened, tries to run, and loses control.

That's my theory. I have tried to sell it, but no one believes me LOL

Erebus wrote:

shinta wrote:hi, if i have the said orange sticker, does it mean or does it follow, i have limited slip rear differential? does it need to have a corresponding switch to turn it on/off? anybody got the actual/physical thing? photos would be a great reference, so i could be pro-active and take good care of it using the right oil for it. i only have on jack so i could not test it yet via rotating(same direction, opposite means open diff) 1 rear tire procedure. tia.

For an explanation of an LSD, see Wikipedia.

For oil, make sure it is LSD oil -- I'm sure the specs are on this forum somewhere.

As for what started this thread, maybe Jesse just scares other RHDs off the road? It isn't the drivers, it is that the vehicle is frightened, tries to run, and loses control.

That's my theory. I have tried to sell it, but no one believes me LOL

thanks Erebus, you reminded me that i am already getting out of topic :) ill just pm Green1, as i still have additional/followup clarifications...

Green1 wrote:There is no switch or anything, the vehicle will look the same whether it has LSD or not. Mine doesn't have the sticker, however it does have LSD.

An alternative to jack work is as follows (assuming you can find such a place) drive up a hill with one side of the vehicle on ice, the other side on pavement or gravel. if you make forward progress you have LSD. (my back alley is perfect for this, the shaded side stays icy long after the sunny side is clear)

Another way is to look it up... on the VIN plate is a model number, compare it to this site (example: my model is Q-P35W-HSRGT2 (Produced from August 1991) and if you look under "exterior equipment" it says "LSD (Limited slip differential) Present"

hi Green1, hope you don't mind that pm you. im already getting out of topic there. pls allow me a couple more questions:
i dont have a back alley as perfect as yours :) but i could jack both the rear wheels up then turn one of the rear wheel, if the other wheel turns in the same direction then i have lsd, if the other wheel turns in the other direction after turning one of the rear wheels then it is open diff. i got this procedure from one of the threads. but currently i dont have the luxury of having 2 jacks to be able to accomplish this.

i have the same vin as your Q-P35W-HSRGT2 but there is also a p35w on 1997, 1995 and so on. how i wish i have the latest year model :) hehehe i guess ill never find my rigs exact year model as i dont have the seatbelt reference as well, also from one of the thread here.
i'm sorry i'm not familiar with the "exterior equipment". can you point the exact physical location? would you happen to have a picture so i could verify mine?

shinta wrote:

Green1 wrote:There is no switch or anything, the vehicle will look the same whether it has LSD or not. Mine doesn't have the sticker, however it does have LSD.

An alternative to jack work is as follows (assuming you can find such a place) drive up a hill with one side of the vehicle on ice, the other side on pavement or gravel. if you make forward progress you have LSD. (my back alley is perfect for this, the shaded side stays icy long after the sunny side is clear)

Another way is to look it up... on the VIN plate is a model number, compare it to this site (example: my model is Q-P35W-HSRGT2 (Produced from August 1991) and if you look under "exterior equipment" it says "LSD (Limited slip differential) Present"

hi Green1, hope you don't mind that pm you. im already getting out of topic there. pls allow me a couple more questions:
i dont have a back alley as perfect as yours :) but i could jack both the rear wheels up then turn one of the rear wheel, if the other wheel turns in the same direction then i have lsd, if the other wheel turns in the other direction after turning one of the rear wheels then it is open diff. i got this procedure from one of the threads. but currently i dont have the luxury of having 2 jacks to be able to accomplish this.

i have the same vin as your Q-P35W-HSRGT2 but there is also a p35w on 1997, 1995 and so on. how i wish i have the latest year model :) hehehe i guess ill never find my rigs exact year model as i dont have the seatbelt reference as well, also from one of the thread here.
i'm sorry i'm not familiar with the "exterior equipment". can you point the exact physical location? would you happen to have a picture so i could verify mine?

you should be able to do this with one jack on level ground, you don't have to go very high and since the wheels are off nothing bad will happen if it tips (just keep your feet out of the way :))

jfarsang wrote:On my way back and forth between Vancouver and Whistler I saw 4 Delica's in ditches over the past 2 weeks.

In the past 4 days driving around Vancouver, Langley, White Rock, N/W Van, I saw 7 Delica's in one form or another stuck on the side of the road, in a ditch or sandwiched up against another vehicle or something permanent.

That's 11 Delica's !!!! And that's only what I've seen.


Last night crossing the burrard street bridge a white crystal roof flew passed me and almost clipped an oncoming car, spun around and hit the side rail on the bridge. This was at 7pm last night. Totally out of control passing me, rear end slipping left to right.

I was very surprised to see so many Delica's with crushed body parts, sideways in ditches, etc...

konadog wrote:I heard third-hand about one that ROLLED and landed on its wheels somewhere north of Nanaimo - Camping kit spread all over the road and smashed windows all 'round

Great! This should help ICBC in it's new "fact finding mission" (i.e., "Is this vehicle insurance renewal for a right hand drive vehicle, sir?")
Let's hope this study is more sophisticated than the last one in that they take into account bad road conditions and/or Bozo driving technique that would have had the same result whichever side one was driving from.

As an aside, speaking of Bozo driving: over the holidays I was driving a little too fast and thinking of other things when I hit some bumpy ice on a side road in 2wd. The van skidded 90 degrees left towards an open field I over steered right a few degrees then left to dead straight. I thought she handled beautifully. Never left my lane; although I did use all of it. Could have been embarrassing after she handled so well in the deep snow!

-jim