I'm looking at buying a 1995 Montero LS and am learning a lot here. I'm glad to hear the 3.0 V6, though underpowered is pretty reliable.
As for the reliability going to Subaru... look at their head gasket plague that is affecting the 2.5 boxer 4 for all models. That is insane!
My 1990 3L V6 has been well cared for since new. Currently showing 170K, it uses NO oil, but has either blown head gasket or a cracked head. It smoked so badly you could not see the car next to it. I use a product called K&W Nanotechnology, and when installed according to their directions, it will run perfectly for about 7500 miles between treatments, then start smoking again without warning. A new application makes it like new again. I LOVE my Montero and hope to be buried in it (with over 500 K on it). I also own a 2007 Lexus, If it is only half as good as the Montero I will be happy.
Why not repair it? No shops will do the repairs I need. No mechanics left, they tell me. All are computer experts and no one wants to get their hands dirty.
02/09/08 My vehicle is a 1991 Montero LS 3.0 V6. For fear of not being able to knock on wood while I am typing this, I feel reluctantly obligated to say that I have only had routine maintenance done on my "Flying Ace" since purchasing it many years ago. I have not experienced anything mechanically wrong with this vehicle to date. Current mileage 190,000+. My only complaint was the sound system... I had to break down and replace it with my Alpine/Infinity package. Now this vehicle totally rocks, and I'm a happy lady.
Hi folks.
Bought my 1990 Montero LS 4x4 about 3 years ago. Love it - Used it for elk hunting and off road.
Up grades: am running aggressive 31 inch B.F. Goodrich tires and have ice breaker chains for all four wheels.
Installed a big sun roof, Alpine radio w/XM radio/Garmin 660 GPS, Warner hubs, built a front bumper and installed an 8000lb. winch, four off road lights, Cobra CB, air horns.
Have all new hoses & belts.
Plan to replace the engine soon - would like to install 350 chev - can't find an adapter?
Also plan to put Detroit locker in the rear end and AB air lockers in front end.
Hunting buddies call it the "Little Billy Goat". Have spent a lot of time pulling the big Dodge four wheelers out of ditches :-) Matter of fact the last three hunting seasons they park their big rigs and ride with me :-)
Have pictures of plowing snow up to the head lights.
NOTE: Had new brakes put on - they did not replace the hose over the rear end and it broke/split coming down off the mountain.
Challenges have been minor: electric windows switches need to be tuned up.
She's a keeper and doesn't have all the darn plastic bumpers and stuff like the new ones.
I bought my Montero a few years ago. I have never been happier with a vehicle.
It's a 1991 LS, with 177,000 miles and everything works. From the air conditioning to the fog lights. And it has very little rust.
I have never driven a vehicle that got better traction. I have never gotten stuck and that is saying a lot with northern Michigan winters.
After my Chrysler minivan died with 276000, I started looking on Ebay for my favorite SUV, a 1990/1991 Montero.
I found one outside NYC with 187,000 miles and won the auction on it for 2300.00.
I love the roominess of it, I'm 6'5 with some extra lbs., so getting behind the wheel of some SUV's can be a chore, not with this car.
When I went to tune it up, it was easy to work on and parts are very cheap in price. The chrome bumpers have no signs of rust, and what little rust there is I'm having removed. The only downfall is the gas mileage... Yikes!
With gas costing 4.00 a gallon, it's an expensive car to run around in. I'm averaging about 17 mpg city/hwy, but I bought it to be part of the family.
It's great off road, and I love taking on the dunes of the Cape. Hopefully it will give me many years of pleasure.
Update 1st June 2009:
A year later and I blew a head gasket coming back from New Hampshire, but I've purchased a new water pump, timing belt and head set for it to be back out on the road soon.
Plus with all these new parts and labor it's still only setting me back 900.00 dollars or so...
The engine came out so well, that I through a new Sony CD player and amp in, and might aswell have all the body work done.
With Bodywork,Stereo,and Engine all straightened out,it'll last me for many years to come
I live and work in Guatemala Central America. I love M=my 91 Montero LS 4X4 LWB. With 240,000 miles, sure a few things are wearing out like the windows are somewhat slower going up now, and the AC compressor gave up. But reliability; there is not a better vehicle going.
Never been stuck, the 4WD in this rig will pull you out even up to the axle, or walk up a 30% grade from stand still without hesitation.
Also I have towed a large and heavy a 20ft travel trailer without overheating, nor valve chatter that you have the tendency to see with other 6cyl vehicles.
And gas mileage, for an 4X4 the best at still 20 to 22 per gal.
Now I am an American made fan on other vehicles, but this is the second 4X4 first gen Montero I've owned, and I have no complaints, and would yet buy another when the opportunity arises.
I have a 1991 Mitsubishi Montero and it is the best vehicle I have ever owned. I bought it almost new with less than 3,000 miles on it, and paid $10,700.00 for it. It now has over 365,000 miles and it is still going strong. Other than normal maintenance, I have replaced the A/C-Heater fan once, the shocks once, and the A/C compressor went out about a year ago. But it still gets over 20 miles per gallon, uses zero oil, and on the last compression test it was still obtaining over 95% on 5 cylinders and 88% on the sixth. That's not a bad record for a vehicle that had over 300,000 miles on it at the time. But then I have always serviced it every 3,000 miles or 3 months, whether it needed it or not.
It is also a strong, sturdy vehicle. In 1997, my son took it skiing with 3 fraternity brothers. On the way they flipped it on black ice, and rolled down into the ditch. Everyone was wearing their seat belt and none of them had a single injury. What's more, the insurance company rolled over and paid for all repairs, less my deductible of course. It seems Monteros had increased in price and value so much in the intervening years that mine was actually worth more, 6 years later, than it was when I bought it.
Am I a satisfied customer? You bet!
My 19 yr old son bought a beautiful black '91 Montero with 181K and is overall a great vehicle. I am an S10 fan and tried to steer him in the direction of a 1st gen S10 Blazer but we saw this in a car lot and picked it up for 2K (he was financed for 1K!!) The thing runs good BUT it smokes white and I figure gasket or cracked head. The compressions are all over the place with the right bank being the culprit of the white smoke. The oil pressure is minimal and doesn't pump more than 30 psi even over 3K rpm. Also sounds like a wrist pin when revving the engine. I want to rebuild it. He has driven it 5K and it leaks oil pretty bad too but hasn't gotten worse in the performance dept. and gets 20mpg. It has automatic and auto hubs. Are there lock-out hubs available to get a little better mileage? Are there upgrades I should look at for this rebuild... like hi-volume oil pump? Thanks for any help.
I bought my 1989 2-door V6 Mitsubishi Montero new. It now has 88,000 miles, and runs very well. In all, I replace the head gasket in 1997, fuel gauge in 2004, both master and slave cylinders in 2008. Yes... those were the major repairs done. It's been to the Canyonlands National Park twice, and roamed the deserts of S. California numerous times. I think this will be the only vehicle I own in my life...
I have a 1994 Montero LS. It is a great truck. It had 160,000 miles and I have never had a problem with it. These trucks are built to last. The only thing I have done to this truck is basic maintenance (brakes, oil change, shock, and fluid changes). I take this truck offroading a lot. I have never been stuck and not to mention, it is stock. The body and frame are well built. Planning to keep it for many years.
I own a 91 Montero LS and am the 3rd owner. My aunt bought it used in 93 with less than 10,000 miles on it. I then bought it from her at about 115,000. This is a GREAT running vehicle. I ended up replacing it with a Jasper engine at about 150,000 miles (the engine was starting to tire and compression was pretty low on all six cylinders). I now have 180,000 miles on it and it runs just as good now as the day it was new. Transmission is solid as a rock. Paint is in fantastic shape for an 18 year old truck. Everything still works, power windows, locks, sun roof, etc. A/C is cold. 4 wheel drive is the best I've ever used. It's never been stuck. I even bought a second truck to use for parts for the other one in the event I'm in an accident or need other hard to find parts. I plan on keeping this truck for many years to come!
I own a 1991 Montero. It has brown mucky looking stuff on the oil dip stick and has been overheating. Does anyone have any ideas. I've been told I need a head gasket kit. Does that sound right?
That "brown mucky looking stuff on the oil dip stick" is oil mixed with coolant that is getting into the crankcase through a leaking head gasket and/or cracked block.
You will need a new head gasket at the very least. This is not a minor repair. If your Montero is rusted out and/or has any other serious problems, it may not be worth fixing either.
I bought my 1991 Montero LS with 80k miles in 1995... It is the best car I have ever owned... at 268k miles the crankshaft has gone out... I am torn... put a new engine in it... or sell it to someone that will appreciate the perfect condition that it is in.
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