Mitsubishi Pajero Nav/Audio Dead: What's the Real Cause?

Hey there! I have some experience with car electronics and had a similar issue with my 2004 Mitsubishi Pajero (also dealt with a Lancer before). My infotainment system went completely dead last year, and it turned out to be a defective main control unit. Took it to my trusted workshop, Mike's Auto Electronics, and they had to replace the entire head unit. Cost me around 815 Euro, but it's been working perfectly since then. What's the exact behavior when you try to turn on your system? Does it show any signs of life at all? Also, have you noticed any other electrical issues? This info would help me give you more specific advice based on my experience. Feel free to share more details about your situation! Best regards

Hey, thanks a lot for your detailed response! When I try to power it on, there's absolutely no response, no lights, no sound, nothing. Haven't noticed any other electrical problems though. Everything else works fine. Just had my last service done at 76,968 KM and they didn't mention anything unusual about the electrical system. Starting to think it might be something more serious than just the speakerphone mic like I initially thought. Did your mechanic check the wiring before replacing the whole unit? Just wondering if I should prepare myself for a similar repair cost or if there might be a simpler fix. Thanks for your help!

Hey again! Yeah, based on what you're describing, complete silence and no lights, it sounds very similar to what I experienced with my Pajero. My mechanic actually did check all the wiring first (spent about an hour on it) before concluding it was the head unit itself. That's their standard procedure to avoid unnecessary replacements. In my case, they found that the wiring was perfectly fine, which is probably the same in your case since you mentioned everything else is working normally. These units tend to fail completely when they go bad, it's rarely a gradual thing. Just to save you some time and money, before going to the mechanic, I tried a few basic troubleshooting steps like checking the fuses and disconnecting/reconnecting the battery (let it sit for about 10 minutes). Didn't work for me, but might be worth trying if you haven't already. Since your Pajero is from 2008, I'd say you're likely looking at a similar situation to what I had. The head units in these older Mitsubishis tend to have similar issues after a while. Let me know how it goes! Happy to share more details about my repair experience if you need them.

Thanks so much for all this detailed information! It's really helpful to hear from someone who's been through something similar. I actually just checked the fuses like you suggested, and they all seem fine. Also tried the battery disconnect trick, but no luck there either. You're probably right about it being the head unit itself, especially given how old my Pajero is. I'll start calling around to some local mechanics tomorrow and see what they quote me for a replacement. At least now I know what to expect and won't be completely shocked by the price. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and suggestions! Will definitely keep your troubleshooting tips in mind. Thanks again for all your help! Best regards