| Author |
Message |
    
Jack Messenger (Jackm)
| | Posted on Sunday, November 10, 2002 - 03:00 am: | 
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Serious metal fatigue has appeared in both front bulkheads of my 1995
300Tdi automatic. There are factory fitted strengthening plates welded on
the insideof the bulkheads on both of the footwells.
The fatigue cracks were along some of the weld lines. On the LHS,
there were some 5 or 6 splits in the underneath firewall. Half the weld
plate had to be cut out on the LHS and a larger stonger plate has been
welded back.
The repairer's advice is that if it happens again, the engine will have to be
removed, and the body lifted off the chassis. This action would not be worth doing.
Hence my concern as to whether the vehicle is capable of ever going off
road again, and returning in one piece.
In the 98,000 Km travelled, some 25-30,000 Km
would have been off the bitumen but still on official roads, admittedly with their fair share of currugations. This includes
the Simpson Desert at 3,000Km and the
Canning Stock Route at 9,000Km. Less than
2,000 Km would have been on station tracks. There have only ever been a driver and one
passenger, and no trailers. Not what you would caal extreme off road work.
In their Technical Bulletin No 0049 (could be 0019), Landrover offer their
explanation. They refer to ".....this problem will be confined to vehicles
which have been used extensively under arduous off road maximum gross
weight conditions".
" ...... Fatigue cracks (developed) in the front bulkhead as a result of
extreme conditions of use".
".....To search for this damage, check the lower bulkhead area from the
underside of the vehicle. Look for evidence of cracking, particularly in the
areas adjacent to the point where the body mounting brackets attach to
the bulkhead".
This is not a warranty matter.
Has anyone had this problem? It surely cannot be a unique Australian
Landrover problem.
Jackm in Australia with a sick Disco |
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