I dont usually do this but I've had such poor luck when it comes to buying vehicles and if I can save someone else a headache I will.
The service there before you buy I car it top rate no issues there, but if you have any issue's after there is a problem. I was having a problems scince day one with heavy black soot so I told him about it as they had just rebuilt the injector pump. They said the injector pump just had to "break in" so I drove a 2000kms still had the problem and told them again....they said it is a "old school diesel" and thats the way they burn, even though my friend bought a 94 paj too and it was totally different. So I took it to CVI and had a Parjero tune which took care of the black soot but a couple weeks later I was having some issue with HUGE plums of white smoke coming out. Asked them about it and he said well you said you burnt bio diesel so maybe that did something, I told him it was b5 bio diesel and it was a few weeks ago.....but of course it would not do it there so I could show them....
Then most recent the water pump went (japanoid does not change the water pump and rad like other companies do FYI). So he said its not covered under the 3 month warranty (other companies will give you a year FYI) but I didn't read the fine print and its actually 3months or 3000kms so he said he would give me a deal on the water pump for $175.00, when I told him that I saw some for $150 from Max Overdrive he then agreed to give me that price so total cost to put in the water pump taxes all in was $300.00.
I then asked him if I bought 3 oil filters and a fuel filter as I'm moving out of town if I could get a break on the price and he said no the oil filters are 32.95 each and they only make 2.50 on each. I fint that hard to believe as I can buy them for 25.00 each from other places.
Oh and I'm still getting the plums of white smoke but I give up.......
You've got air in your fuel system and/or clogged nozzles.
Remove the injectors and have them cleaned properly and the correct psi and spray pattern coming out. Edwin at CVI can do it with his eyes closed he's that good.
Reassemble and install.
Replace the fuel filter.
Bleed the filter and then crack the injector lines open to bleed them as well.
Also have the timing checked. If it's off, you'll get white smoke.
That is what should have been done from square one.
As a precaution, keep a close eye on your coolant level to see if it drops.
I've seen Pajero/L300 gas tanks with small pin holes in them visible only once the tank was removed and checked with a flashlight. Air was seeping in through a few pin holes on the top of the tank which would have been impossible to diagnose without removing it. That caused the plume of white smoke as well.
I had similar bad luck with Japanoid. Obviously a dealer that is importing JDM vehicles will have the occasional lemon that may slip through the cracks and you can't fault them for that.
I had several mechanical issues with my Delica. You take a risk purchasing a 15 year old vehicle and every one of them will vary mechanically. My repair bills totaled $3000 over a short few months. But that was not the main issue that concerned me. Being new and overly excited to get my first Delica I overlooked many things when I went to view my vehicle for the first time. When I arrived I noticed two small rust holes about the size of a dime on the passenger body that had been touched up. When I asked about them I was told to "keep an eye on that". If I was smart that would have been the red flag that should have made me get my deposit back and walk. It was not until the winter was over and I crawled underneath that I noticed the entire vehicle had been sprayed with a can of matte black paint to cover up all the rust on the frame , springs etc. Also, the wheel wells were coated with rock guard in an attempt to mask the rust. Over a few months that rust came through and I realized the entire undercarriage and wheel wells were rusted.
What is underhanded about the situation is that I payed the same price as others who purchased vehicles of a higher grade. It was knowingly doctored and rust issues were masked in order to push a low grade Delica through to someone who had little experience with importing vehicles.
I know that there has been debate about posting individual experiences with different dealers and that everyone's experiences are of course going to be different. However, if legitimate experiences and not slander are presented then it may save someone from making the same mistakes. In a small community such as this word of mouth goes a long way. If I hadn't rushed into the situation I would have done my research and purchased from Mardy.
It seems that if you have a good experience with any type of business you tell 3 or 4 people. If however, you have a bad experience you tell 13 or 14. That is how good a good business survives and a poor one eventually folds.
I hear ya I'm just posting my problems so other can be aware and make there own decisions. I was just hoping that they would have been more understanding about my situation rather than give me really poor excuses. If they would have said were sorry you got one that has these issue lets fix it or try and figure out what it is rather than brush me off until the warranty is up and say too bad that will be $$$ dollars.
My problem with them was nowhere near as serious, but it is still enough for me to warrant mentioning it on this forum since it is a DONT BUY A CAR FROM JAPANOID kinda thread...
I bought it there in august, has a problem with the EGR right off the bat. Took it back after a trip to kelowna where if any of you remember I had crazy hot floorboards and tranny etc that was not normal. When I got back to Van they said it was due to a blocked EGR, and cleaned it. I had to leave the day after for a roadtrip to Calgary, and when my girlfriend went to pick up the truck, she drove off with it sounding like a helicopter and smoking like crazy. She turned around right away, and they realized that they didn't bolt down the EGR valve after cleaning it!!! Now not only is this troublesome since I know these engines can't handle high temps, they really didn't do anything to rectify the problem or give me any incentive to return. I of course voided my warranty by the time I returned from Calgary.
By revelstoke there was a slight whining noise, not from a turbo, not from a wheel bearing, but from the alternator or something like that that only happened intermittently, and only when going 30-50km/hr with light gas applied. Finally after checking a bunch of things, I took it in for that, a broken oil temp sensor, a leaking rockercover gasket, and a stuck handbrake light. I asked them to change the oil sensor like they promised, and to replace the rockercover which was spiting oil since we got it. They agreed to cover the oil pressure censor, the rocker cover, and to test drive it for the whining noise. I told them very clearly to call me if any other charges will ensue. David agreed and said they would 'take care of it' (they say that alot) and I even asked him to write it down on the work order, which he said he wouldn't need.
I picked it up the next day, and I was charged for fixing the turbo (the turbo was fine) they said it was the culprit of the the oil squirt AND the whining noise, meanwhile you can clearly see it seeping and spitting from the rockercover.. and the noise is still there.
They charged me an hours labor for that, and an hours labor for the brake light sensor that was sticky in the console. The truck still whines, still spits oil, and yes, the brake light switch is fixed.. They didn't put the console back together properly, and not it doesn't line up as it should. I told David, the head of service, the japanese dude, and Shogo about my concerns, and how I will be returning when I have time to drop it off for a day or two for them to take care of. I haven't, i just simply don't trust their mechanics abilities nor their service managers word or advice. Its pretty sad that Im busy enough to be willing to pay for small jobs such as that, and they can't get it right. Im doing it all myself.
I guess I could even get into them selling the vehicle with non DOT approved tires, giving me a credit (which I basicaly paid extra for) for tires, and then keeping the ones they took off. They kept the tires!! lol They didnt ask me if I wanted the white writing on the tires inside or outside, or anything like that either. Nor will I get into the fact that many parts underneath were sprayed matte black to cover up surface rust on the frames, shocks and alloy rims. Like I would care about that on a 15yr old vehicle, its really stupid.
All in all, I wouldn't go back now that Im more informed both on these vehicles and their import practices. THe sad thing is, and I even told Shogo this, is that we went there to purchase a vehicle solely on the fact that they got good reviews on this site. I didn't want to bitch and moan earlier since I was planning on taking it back to get them to fix what they claimed to be fixed, but ^&%$#@ that.... I'll do it myself and go elsewhere for major fixes in the future.
And yes, their maintenance parts and services are overpriced.
I have moved this thread into "Dealer Feedback, Beefs & Bouquets". I have left a shadow post in the former forum that will remain there for a week or two.
Falco.
Sent from my smart pad, using a pen.
Seek Beauty... Good Ship Miss Lil' Bitchi
...... Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare. ~ Japanese Proverb
I think the title of this thread should be amended to: DON'T BUY A CAR FROM JAPANOID - OR HAVE IT SERVICED THERE FOR THAT MATTER.
And I'm serious. I brought my van in for servicing, and the work they did was not only incomplete, it actually made the situation worse. This being Japanoid, of course, they continued to throw labour and parts charges at me, until I was nearly $2,000 in the hole for a job that should have cost no more than $300. I have since found a mechanic who knows his way around JDMs and doesn't charge an arm and a leg for parts and service, but the damage for me is certainly done.
I do not and will not recommend Japanoid for service, and based on the continual feedback from this forum, for new purchases. In my opinion - and this is my opinion only - Japanoid is focused on maximizing its profits by selling as many JDMs off of its lot as possible, at the expense of service.
Sure, their people will tell you all the right things about their parts/service/compliance, but I don't believe you should pay attention to the lip service. Again, this is my opinion only, and others are welcome to disagree. I wish not to single out any of the employees at Japanoid, as I'm sure they are frustrated about being undermanned and underresourced.
But I don't want anyone to emulate my "throwing good money after bad" situation that dealing with Japanoid put me in. They do not have the know-how nor the customer service that is required for dealing with JDM vehicles.
Actually, I had a good experience at Japanoid. Their prices are not cheap but any work they have done for me has been good. Just thought I would mention that for what it's worth.
Falco.
Sent from my smart pad, using a pen.
Seek Beauty... Good Ship Miss Lil' Bitchi
...... Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare. ~ Japanese Proverb
Pajero wrote:I hear ya I'm just posting my problems so other can be aware and make there own decisions. I was just hoping that they would have been more understanding about my situation rather than give me really poor excuses. If they would have said were sorry you got one that has these issue lets fix it or try and figure out what it is rather than brush me off until the warranty is up and say too bad that will be $$$ dollars.
i have a way better one that that
i bought gas lc the rear brake seized a week after i had it, destroyed the rotor. the put the wheels on and i wen to kamloops on the way back my truck was wobbling so i walked beside the truck while someone else drove and noticed3 of the wheel nuts were broken off. i had to spend the night in cad tire waiting for a friend to deliver the wheel bolts. they tightened them too much and they snapped off. after that i was doing about 120 on the coke and the rubber peeled off the rim. not dot approved tires.
i checked the lights and they werent dot..
i had my pajero belts dont there as well. they quoted me 650. when i arrived it was 1000. i said nothing paid it and walked away. then my truck wasnt starting so i went to a cool guy named jesse in langley and he tightened the bolt for the glow plug. jpanoid told me it was the computer. i was changing my oil filter and noticed my wires we all cut for emission for some reason. i called them and they said oh we dont have that plug in, waited 3 months and they said it hasnt come yet. i told them to go blow smoke. all there pricing is over the top, i go to max overdrive for parts, i have had the best luck there.
I am definitely sold on the don't buy and don't service it there aspect, but they already got my money and a close friend's.
I won't mention any names at Japanoid as many of them are from my backyard on the Shore, and we happen to know of each other; hence the reason I went to them in the first place.
Me - purchased a Deli Crystal Lite; tune ups very quickly become tune downs, they know Pajero's as that is what a few of them drive. My perception is that they don't know jack!@#$ about Deli's or enough to enlighten an owner. Perception equals reality! I refused to return for service, went to RJD Service on the Shore, and then was fortunate enough to deal with Mardy. I am happy with my Deli only now, but I was questioning it while dealing with Japanoid.
My friend - introduced him to Japanoid to purchase a Sambar for his business. Literally at the end of the warranty period, engine went kaput! Replaced engine at a cost of almost $4000, and then couldn't pass Aircare. He had to replace the catalytic at that point at further cost. He has spent 2/3rd's on repairs that he purchased the van for. Oh, and he happens to know a couple of the guys at Japanoid as he is from the Shore as well! When he purchased the Sambar, he was told that he should not exceed 80-90k, as it was virtually a 600CC motorcycle engine. He asked about driving it to Whistler, and was told okay, but take a break in Squamish, don't drive straight through as it is more of a city vehicle.(I was present throughout the entire sales process) Spoke with a few who know Sambars who exclaimed that they should not be driven over 50-60k. I researched this info for my friend as I felt guilty for taking him to Japanoid.
Why did I go to Japanoid in the first place?
I figured a large operation with sales and service would be of benefit, rather than deal with an individual importer; I knew the individuals involved; and I knew that they were BCIT trained. Now I realize that yes, bigger operation means bigger bills! They have 7 staff to pay for!
I had no misconceptions about my purchase like most; I did not expect a 15 year old vehicle to be driven brand new off the lot.
I am one that will waive your flag louder and prouder than most when I am done right; when done wrong, well, you get the idea!
Falco - I am happy that you have had a positive experience, that is how it should be.
They had a gorgeous Landcruiser for sale a while ago that I was tempted to buy.
I scouted it out and was turned off.
RHD headlights (non-DOT)
old Japanese tires with heavy weather cracking (non-DOT/no load rating)
Transfercase was leaking bad at the trans seal ($$$ to repair providing no damage)
Rear right coil mount was cracked (had a lift on it that was poorly done)
On the outside, it looked great. Lifted, big tires, detailed, waxed, etc... and a hefty price tag.
In reality after looking at it, I could have bought one in that shape in Japan for less than $3,000 at auction.
With that said, I know many who have good experiences with them in the past.
I don't refer anyone there if asked because I just don't get a good feeling about them.
Sometimes they do good work and other times they give people the shaft.
I do know that from a repair service standpoint, they charge above average for average work completed.
Here's another reason I cringe at the thought of returning to Japanoid. Apparently they didn't have enough room to store my van overnight in their garage, so they left it in the cold New West night - where it was left to defend itself against the New West criminal class.
Needless to say, when I picked up my van the next afternoon, the side of my door was full of unsightly screwdriver/knife marks from someone trying to break in.
Mitsuballistic wrote:Here's another reason I cringe at the thought of returning to Japanoid. Apparently they didn't have enough room to store my van overnight in their garage, so they left it in the cold New West night - where it was left to defend itself against the New West criminal class.
Needless to say, when I picked up my van the next afternoon, the side of my door was full of unsightly screwdriver/knife marks from someone trying to break in.
Thanks a lot, Japanoid.
If I'm not mistaken, you should be able to get ICBC to go after Japanoid to pay for the damage as they are responsible for your vehicle's storage while in their shop.
Good Ship 
