Mitsubishi Astron (4G54)

Mitsubishi's big four — the Astron — the 2.6 petrol 4G54 — in the Pajero, L200, Galant and a long list of Chrysler and Hyundai vehicles built under licence.

⚑ It is the engine that made balance shafts normal. Mitsubishi patented the arrangement for this family, licensed it to Porsche, Saab and Fiat among others, and it is why a large four-cylinder can be smooth at all.

The balance-shaft belt is separate from the timing belt, is rarely changed, and takes the timing belt with it when it fails — which on an interference engine ends it. On any Astron, ask whether both belts were done.

On the petrol 4G54 the complaints are pre-modern: a carburettor or early injection with nothing useful to read, a distributor that fails with heat, and vacuum hoses that harden.