Parts for your 1998 Mitsubishi Pajero-Receiver driers

1998 Mitsubishi Pajero receiver-drier: what it is, why it matters, and when to replace it

Yes, the 1998 Mitsubishi Pajero uses a receiver-drier in its air-conditioning system. This is documented in the Mitsubishi Pajero (V2–V6, 1991–1999) Workshop Manual, Group 55A Heating & Air Conditioning, which shows a TXV (thermostatic expansion valve) system with a high-side receiver-drier mounted near the condenser. The Mitsubishi ASA/CAPS parts catalogue diagrams for the same model years also list the receiver-drier as a separate service part in the liquid line. As per MACS Worldwide service guidance, TXV systems pair with receiver-driers (while orifice-tube systems use accumulators), which aligns with the Pajero’s setup.

On a ’98 Pajero, the receiver-drier is the A/C system’s moisture and debris watchdog. Sitting in the high-pressure liquid line after the condenser, it stores a small reserve of refrigerant, filters out fine particles, and—most importantly—traps moisture using desiccant. Keeping water out of the refrigerant is critical, moisture reacts with refrigerant and oil to form acids, corrodes internals, and can freeze at the TX valve, mucking up cooling right when it’s needed most on a hot Kiwi or Aussie summer’s day.

As these trucks age, the drier’s desiccant slowly becomes saturated. Any time the system’s opened—swapping a condenser, hoses, compressor, or even fixing a leaky O-ring—the drier should be replaced. That’s standard practice in the Mitsubishi service literature and general HVAC trade training because exposure to air lets moisture in. It’s a cheap insurance policy that protects the compressor and helps the Pajero’s A/C pull down temps quickly and consistently.

Good servicing habits for a Pajero’s receiver-drier:

• Replace the drier whenever the system is opened, after a compressor failure, or if contamination is suspected. Many techs also recommend preventive replacement on high-kilometre, high-humidity vehicles if cooling performance is patchy.
• Inspect for corrosion at the canister and fittings, and look for oily residue that hints at a slow refrigerant leak.
• Use new, correct-spec green HNBR O-rings, lubricated with the right PAG oil for the Pajero’s R134a system.
• After fitting, have a licensed A/C technician evacuate the system, hold vacuum to confirm it’s tight, and recharge by weight to the factory spec. In Australia and New Zealand, refrigerant handling must be done by certified personnel (ARCtick rules in AU).

If the Pajero’s A/C is slow to cool, hisses at the TXV, or shows pressure readings that don’t make sense, a saturated or restricted receiver-drier could be part of the story. Replacing it is quick, affordable, and often restores crisp, reliable cooling.

Where is the receiver-drier on a 1998 Mitsubishi Pajero?

It’s mounted on the high-pressure side near the condenser at the front of the vehicle, typically on the passenger side of the engine bay. You’ll see a cylindrical canister plumbed into the liquid line with two fittings and a mounting bracket.

When should the receiver-drier be replaced?

Any time the A/C system is opened, after a compressor or condenser change, or if moisture/contamination is suspected. On older Pajeros in humid climates, many techs replace it preventively during major A/C service to keep the system healthy.

What are symptoms of a failing receiver-drier?

Weak or inconsistent cooling, icing at the TXV, odd pressure readings, or debris found in the removed orifice screen/lines. Visible corrosion or oily residue at the drier’s seams or fittings also points to trouble.