Worst Case Scenerio....2004 Disco Totalled?

[jdioguardi]

Headed to Utah from Vegas last night doing about 85 on the I-15 and suddenly heard a loud bang, a jerk on my wheel, and a beeping sound every few seconds, as I coast to a stop on the side of the freeway.

Last week I had my mechanic look over my car to make sure it was good to go to Utah, I'd been hearing a chirp sound, and he changed my serpentine belt and even though the chirp was the same when I got my car back, he assured me that it would go away and if it didn't go away by the time get back from Utah, that he would check the tensioner.

When the tow truck guy came, he said that after a quick look underneath, my front driveshaft was gone, and that I have a hole the size of my fist in my transmission....and that he isn't sure what else might be ruined.

I still owe $7K on this thing, just put new tires, roof racks, Piaa offroad lights, to mention a few things.

Its sunday and 2 days before xmas, so my car is parked a a closed mechanic shop in Utah, and I have no idea what to do. Insurance won't cover this. Driveshaft and transmission need replaced, and what else might be ruined I'll soon find out. What now? No clue. Merry Christmas to all of you and some suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks

 

[Flyfish]

Unfortunately a common problem if you don't grease the front DS regularly. Check with Will Tillery or Drillbit on this forum for good deals on replacement tranny and shaft.

Not a fun swap to do yourself and prob not real cheap to have done. You may want to check with GBR in Utah for suggestions.

 

[manny]

You and your mechanic missed the common symptom "the chirp". I had it when I first purchased my DII and was lucky enough to have listened to the advice given from other members here. I also did some research and read a lot of horror stories here on D-web so I replaced my front DS.

Merry X-mas
Manny 2K DIIatriot:

 

[LRflip]

That really sucks but, it really could be worse.

1. Find a new mechanic...yours is an idiot.
2. Call Joel (Crown14) or Will (Will.Tillery) I am sure one of these guys will be able to send a replacement driveshaft and trans to the shop where your truck is sitting.

This does suck but, it really could be worse.

Merry Christmas,

LRflip

 

[Drillbit]

Got your pm. Give me a call

 

[kennith]

Yup, your mechanic is either an idiot or lazy. Find a new one; one that will actually bother to inspect a vehicle and test drive it. Most mechanics start off meaning well, but over time... Well, people just get lazy and complacent.

Ask if anyone here knows a good shop in your area.

Don't worry. You came to the right place. The parts guys around here will have you sorted out quickly.

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[jdioguardi]

Seriously thanks all for pointing me in the right direction. Only had this thing for a few months and I got the Disco sickness...spent all my extra money on the extras, and thought I was in perfect shape. I heard a noise, got it checked out. I work on my own cars, but honestly just don't have the time now to do it all....but I'll never use that mechanic again.

Last question, my friend who owned a 99 Disco said that he'd just sell this thing because the electrical doesn't jive well after replacing large components. If I can keep it, I'd prefer that, since I've spent tons of money on it with tires, racks, lights, etc. (see below) Thoughts?

 

[kennith]

Fuck your friend.

Rovers have quirks just like every other car. It's fine. Fix it and drive the hell out of it.

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[Plain2000DII]

If you've got the bug, the only cure is a case of beer in the garage fridge and the understanding that sometimes your disco is your drinking buddy. Resurrected mine, from the brink several times. :banghead:

 

[DarylJ]

Last question, my friend who owned a 99 Disco said that he'd just sell this thing because the electrical doesn't jive well after replacing large components.

You need a new and competent mechanic ("angry sparrows" isn't something Disco specific. It's ridiculous that he didn't check u-joints with that problem description) and to never listen to that friend when it comes to automotive advice.

Most things just lose a shaft or drag it along when a u joint goes. The particular design of a D2 cooks grease out of the rear joint on the front shaft (because it's by the cat converter) and when it breaks likes to throw itself through the transmission, just like yours did. This is typical, typical, typical. Anyone who even has a passing familiarity with these things mechanically would have told you you need to replace your front shaft with something greasable (the factory one is not) and grease it often. Anyone with a passing familiarity with the mechanics of cars of nearly any kind would know the noise you were describing meant.

Sorry to hear you've been getting bad advice and are upside down on your loan. That's going to be made worse by having to put a trans in, but it's the best solution. And if you enjoy the truck, why not? Now you've learned some more about it and should take this opportunity to dig into understanding what scheduled maintenance these things need to keep them running (hint: it's more than your average domestic SUV, but not terribly so).

 

[Keanan]

It's a 2004 and you still owe $7,000? Did you buy it with one dollar down or something?

It would probably cost quite a bit to get it towed to your house or rent a trailer and go pick it up. Probably your best bet is to have the trans replaced where it is at and drive it home. You said it's parked at a shop, I'd just have them do it unless they are as stupid as your previous mechanic. Replacing the transmission is relatively simple, it's large and time consuming but you'd have to be a real idiot to screw it up. A decent mechanic should be able to replace it without any troubles.

The other option would be that you replace it yourself, but that would mean your working on it on the side of the road.

 

[listerdiesel]

Bad news indeed, but is the transmission really totalled, or just the pan etc?

Our son's D2 had the chirp, he didn't realise what it was and was driving it until he backed into the yard one day when I heard it.

Got it off there and then and another shaft on. The old one is repairable, the cup was just starting to wear through with the rust and no lube.

New greasable joints going on as soon as I get a few moments free.

Peter

 

[JohnB]

I remember a member a few years back getting this paid by his insurance company. But a few years ago a 2004 was still worth 12K.

I bet an R&R to install a used trans is $1000-$1500 labor alone.

 

[KyleT]

I bet an R&R to install a used trans is $1000-$1500 labor alone.

ya or more. IIRC its like 18 hrs. of labor.

 

[Tugela]

To the OP: you might consider checking out the register on the Birmabright Brotherhood. There may be someone in the area where your truck is that has the time, inclination, and ability to help you out. Google it. Trans replacement is a big job, but you might get lucky.

 

[jdioguardi]

@Tugela, thank you for the suggestions, I'm waiting for my membership to be approved on Birmabright Brotherhood.....didn't know there was such a thing, but would be happy to help another if they're ever traveling through Vegas and have a similar problem.

@JohnB, trying to figure out if my insurance would cover it, but likely they will not, so I'm planning on out-of-pocket for this.

@Keanan, yes, I actually owe about 6500 now on it, but just bought it about 4 months ago for 8K, nothing down, in the Vegas market that was a steal.

Although my mechanic back home is an idiot....clearly....I think he'll swap out the tranny for practically free since he's the reason this all happened. And, if you say it would be practically impossible to screw it up, I think I'll eat the 500 getting my car back to him and save 1000 on labor. He's typically not an idiot, but he definitely diagnosed this one very wrong and kind of wrecked my xmas "vacation"

Honestly can't thank all of you enough @Drillbit, @Flyfish, @LRFlip. I'm not nearly out of this and will be VERY out of pocket, but your advice and resources have saved me tons of time and money, and will save me future time and money as well.

I'm glad to hear all of you agree that I should learn from this, eat the money, and enjoy my LRII for years to come (@kennith, @Plain2000DII ,@DarylJ, etc) . It really is my favorite car of all time, despite my Christmas trip disaster.

 

[Nomar]

This sucks to hear, Jordan.

It really sucks because if you had posted this "chirping" on here before your trip, 10 guys would/ve told you exactly what was causing it.

You then could've just pulled the front driveshaft and done your trip and repaired or replaced it next week.

Bummer.

 

[seventyfive]

While the trans is out, have your mechanic add some tubing to the evaporator drains and route the passenger side so it doesn't drain right above the double cardan joint.