Delica Canada | Mitsubishi Van Club

I hear about all these great trips in a delica but no one talks about breaking down and trying to get it fixed !
We just purchased a 95 spacegear, and would like to do some travelling in the southern states, but are worried if we have
problems, were do you tow it to ? even here in Vancouver it can be a problem. I would love to hear other peoples experiences. Steve C

I would be interested in having this discussion too. We are planning to go to the southern states (once our van arrives!) and do some dispersed camping on BLM land. It really excites me but I am also anxious about what to do if issues arise. I'm planning to bring a tool kit (though who knows if I would know what bolt to turn!) And a lot of extra water. I wonder if it would be worth it to try to find contact info ahead of time in case the worst happens. Tow trucks and diesel shops maybe? But where does that end? I wonder if a more experienced delcia owner would print off some of the documents on this site (wiring diagrams etc) to have on hand? Or is that unnecessary as any shop will have internet.

Best,

TJ

I've done a few trips in the US through Utah, Nevada... etc, but I was lucky enough not to have any problems. I did prepare for them.... Here's what I did:

Print off the Delica L400 Users manual - http://www.delica.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?f=71&t=7500 I have it in my glove box and is an excellent reference for general questions.

1)- Have a good toolbox - A good method is every time you do work on your Delica, make sure a matching tool is in your toolbox. We could probably start a whole thread on what's in your toolbox....

2)-Cary a good air compressor, and tire plug kit. Also make sure your spare tire is good and an acceptable back-up for the terrain you are in. Practice changing it BEFORE your trip...haha

3)- I bring a "short" oil filter in case something bad happens and I puncture one. I wouldn't run the short filter for the full life of the oil, but it's compact (easy to pack) and could get you out of a jam until you can order parts. - http://rs-import.ca/shop/step1.php?numb ... 0122101546

4)- pack some spare oil

5) I always carry a tube of JB Weld, and High Temp Silicone Sealant, some pieces of rubber and hose clamps to patch a leak. Again not a permanent fix, just gets you out of trouble, or to the next town.

6) I carry a small netbook for emails, but it also has all of the electronic copies of the manuals on it (Electrical / Mechanical). If you don't have a laptop, buy a cheap memory stick so you can take the manuals with you.

7) If I'm going off-road, I have a great GPS loaded with the route, and I also carry a SPOT GPS beacon in case I really get into trouble and need help. http://findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=100

That's all I can think of for now.... I'm sure I've missed something.... Oh yes, Don't forget to have fun!!

We may drive to San Antonio sometime this summer...

One thing I would like to take with me is a list of part numbers in case we need to replace something.
Other than that, make sure your A/C works!

Triumph73:
What air compressor do you use? I am in the market for a new one

Thanks!

I have this one:
http://www.amazon.ca/Viair-00073-70P-P ... compressor

The unit has it's own in line 15A fuse so I bought a plug to connect it directly to the battery. If I had it to do all over again I would probably buy the next size up, not because this one hasn't worked well.... I just seem to use it more lately for airing back up that I thought I would.

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-mari ... 75_007_506
You only need the 12" one, the compressors has a long enough cord I think.

http://www.amazon.ca/VIAIR-85P-Portable ... compressor

wear parts like brake pads, hoses, CV boots, seals sensors can all be purchased from the JDM guys that sell and service the Delis. Vancouver, Richmond, Victoria, New Westminster all have Mitsu JDM dealers. Amazing Auto, CVI, Rising Sun Imports, Rocky Mountain Imports, Maximum Overdrive, Coombs Country Auto and Right Drive Parts in Toronto just to name a few.


They are able and willing courier parts to customers in the USA and Canada. The Deli's are no more complex than domestic cars.....Brakes, oil, damaged seals, leaks, broken belts, hoses....any tech can fix this stuff.

Its the fuel system and maybe the transmission that stumps non-mitsu techs....but there is hope!
Caterpillar has a line of small digger equipment and many of these use the Mitsubishi 2.8 Diesel engine...same as the L400. A good diesel tech can clean injectors, setup a mechanical fuel pump.....but these are rare problems provided you have done good upkeep on your Mitsu.

I like the idea of having a printed manual but a memory stick is another option. Have a few spare parts on hand...i.e. belts, oil filter, fuses. a well stocked tool kit is a must on a trip. Make sure your spare tire is the same size as your other tires...using a smaller spare can stress the differential gears.

The US Mitsubishi dealers sold the Montero Sport with the gas 3.5L and this little gem shares a few parts with the L400 Spacegear...brake pads, calipers, some drive line seals and a fair number of engine sensors...weird but true!

Bush mechanics can get you out of sticky situations.
Creative problem solving is the best tool.

However a good kit with the basic hand tools necessary for dissembling and assembling your car is important:
-a few spanners
-a few sockets and driver
-screw drivers
-pliers
-hammer
-air pump

And also a kit for quick bush fabrication:
-utility knife
-hack saw
-wire brush
-wire or cable ties
-hose clamps
-JB weld or similar putty
-butane lighter and solder
-etc............

So you can perform repairs like this :)

Triumph73 wrote:I have this one:
http://www.amazon.ca/Viair-00073-70P-P ... compressor

The unit has it's own in line 15A fuse so I bought a plug to connect it directly to the battery. If I had it to do all over again I would probably buy the next size up, not because this one hasn't worked well.... I just seem to use it more lately for airing back up that I thought I would.

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-mari ... 75_007_506
You only need the 12" one, the compressors has a long enough cord I think.

http://www.amazon.ca/VIAIR-85P-Portable ... compressor

The 85P seems reasonably priced. Are the Viair compressors loud? How long does it take to air up?

Thanks!!

The compressor is reasonably quiet.

Regarding the fill speed, I think there are charts on their website. It only takes a couple minutes per tire. If I'm close to a gas station though I use their compressor so I don't have to dig out all of the gear....lol.

Thanks! I may order one this week along with some tire plugs!

It might be worth taking some metric tools with you, even if you're not adept at using them. Any decent diesel mechanic (or farmer) should be able to handle most things that you'd need done. But having selection of metric wrenches, sockets, and hex keys with you will help a lot, probably.

Parts could also be a problem, of course, but there's only so much you can take with you.

I spent a fair amount of time travelling around the US and Canada and luckily didn't have too many issues. The two times I did, I took the vehicle to a mechanic in the area that had good online reviews and I was able to get most parts from parts stores in the area. For the items I did need to order, I called RMI and they were shipped very quickly. In the end, I was only delayed a total of a couple days for both repairs.

I did take a few spare parts with me, but I don't think there's much need to go overboard with what you bring or to worry much.