| Author |
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JohnArnold
| | Posted on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 07:43 am: | 
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I have a 1997 Disco, with 29,000 miles.
So I take it into the dealer (Alexandria, VA) for the 30K maintenance, and get the inevitable call back..."You've got some other problems".
Quoted repairs needed:
Serpentine belt...$250 (geez, at only 29,000 miles?)
Oil pan leak......$150 par, $240 labor (all for replacing a leaking gasket?)
Manifold oil leak...$700 (I asked if it was an oil leak, an intake leak, or an exhaust leak...service rep said oil leak. Didn't know the manifold leaked oil. Perhaps he meant oil leak ON manifold. Whatever, he quoted $700)
Are these common headaches on Discos with only 29,000 miles? Or is the dealer doing the "dealer thing" (Pretty hard in Alexandria VA....can't find an "independent" garage).
Thanks for your comments and help!
John |
Jay Sanzone
| | Posted on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 07:49 am: |
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My dealer in Atlanta GA replaced my serpintine belt for about $75 bucks. I also have a 97 D1. Also I have an oil pan leak but they told me it was not that big of a deal, being it leaks very little. A local independent shop quoted me a fix for $75 parts and $130 labor. But I found the oil pan gasket on ,www.thepartsbin.com, for like $7. So find a reliable local shop and buy the parts elsewhere.
Also check out discountrovers.com |
Jeff Bieler (Mrbieler)
| | Posted on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 08:09 am: |
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The serpentine belt should get replaced by age more then mileage, so that's not suprising. It's rubber. Buy it from a LR parts house and install it. There's a diagram on the install under your hood.
Gaskets also leak over age as much as by mileage. Next time you get an oil change, buy the gasket from a parts shop and install it then.
As for the manifold, they can crack. Again, buy the part from a parts house (along with the gasket and fittings). Any decent shop can install it.
You have a 5 year old truck. Many parts wear regardless of mileage. Just because you're not driving doesn't mean things aren't happening.
See the resource page of this site for a list of vendors who will get you good pricing.
All these things are DIY if you want to. |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 08:35 am: |
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Pour some no-leak for engines in there, and change the belt yourself. Take you 15 min. And about $30 bucks. Problems solved. You worry too much. |
Leslie N. Bright (Leslie)
| | Posted on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 08:38 am: |
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AH-YIEEEE!!!!!
That belt, genuine, is a ~$25 belt.... It takes ~15 minutes - tops - to put it on.... $250 is a rip-off.
There's a diagram on the install under your hood
No, Jeff, all of the Discos that I've looked at, none of them have had a sticker showing belt routing.... hmmmm..... where's that Garrett pic at? Anyway, if you search D-web here, there's been routing diagrams posted several times before...
The oilpan "gasket" isn't a "gasket".... they used hylomar or some other sort of "gasket-in-a-tube" stuff... When I dropped my pan, I scraped off the old gasket goo, and used RTV when I put it back.
It is a DIY, but it's a pain in the neck, lying under there removing all of those bolts, scraping, reinstalling bolts, etc. Also, the pan won't come out from under there unless you loosen the sway bar... you don't have to remove it, just unbolt the 4 bolts and let it hang down. While you have your pan off, take out the pick-up tube and thoroughly clean the screen in there.... trust me on that... 
Exhaust manifolds DON'T leak oil.... tell the rep that you want to talk to the actual mechanic (i.e., to someone who knows the the difference between an RN11YCC and an RN11YC4 plug, or some such that the rep wouldn't know but the mechanic would).
FWIW...
-L |
Marc
| | Posted on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 08:46 am: |
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John-
You really are getting screwed on parts. Check with Nathan or Dee at www.discountrovers.com or Mohammed at Europarts at (800)274-4830.
I know, for example, that your serp. belt will be about $25.00 from either of these guys.
Finally, a word of advice: if you are going to keep the Disco and money means anything to you, learn to do your own repairs - at least the basic stuff. You have to make it a hobby or it will drive you crazy and into the poorhouse.
-Marc |
al h.
| | Posted on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 08:56 am: |
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the replacement belt is made by dayco, any pepboys should have it |
Jeff Bieler (Mrbieler)
| | Posted on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 09:09 am: |
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Really Leslie? You can still sort of read the little drawing under the hood. At least you could until I spilled antifreeze on it last summer... ;-)
Didn't know about the Disco pan gasket (or lack of one), but conceptually it's not a major ordeal. At the very least, not one that a local garage can't tackle if you don't want to get dirty. Especially at the $ John was quoted!
As for the exhaust, I re-read that. If he meant oil leak, run away and never return to that location. If he meant exhaust leak, source the part(s) and have a local shop install it if you don't want to DIY. |
David Dryden (David914)
| | Posted on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 09:40 am: |
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Yeah, personally I think the dealer is trying to rip you off. I'd definitely do the belt yourself. The oil pan is a bit more ambitious, but definitely do-able. Here's the belt diagram.
David
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Tate (Tate)
| | Posted on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 10:16 am: |
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Also, for an independent shop in the Arlington/Alexandria area, check out Arlington Motorcars in Clarindon. |
al hang
| | Posted on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 10:23 am: |
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John, Kyle is near you and sometimes does side work here and there. All those items are relatively minor and he might be interested in doing the work. If he doesn't have the time to work on it cause of his bumper business, he might be able to recommend you to someone else nearby.
just a thought,
al h. |
chris sharpe (C_M_Sharpe)
| | Posted on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 10:39 am: |
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John,
I have had all the same problems (see my oil leak message), including the serp belt issue. I bought an extended warranty that covers most of those issues, but as Marc suggested, if you are going to keep the truck, you need to figure out how to do alot of this stuff yourself. Sometimes the dealers prices for parts are not that bad, they just scew you on labor. Some more good advice that was imparted to me:if it stops leaking, your low on fluids.... |
JohnArnold
| | Posted on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 08:39 pm: |
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THANKS everyone.
Very educational.
Heard about the Disco leak-syndrome before I purchased it back in '97. Not a big problem.
Armed with you info, the dealership was much more reasonable with the charges....had the power steering hoses covered under warranty....as were they recall D215 replacement of control module chipset (new set of E-proms) and installation of SRS link lead.
As for the manifold leak....couldn't find anyone in service that new anything about the phone call (the rep had gone home; nothing on the paperwork). She runs a bit rough, so I'll have to see. Don't know what damage a leaking manifold can do, except quit running, I guess. Or lousy fuel mileage...I'll get 10 mph instead of 12 mph probably!
Well, gang, again...THANKS MUCH!!
John |
Bruce
| | Posted on Friday, March 29, 2002 - 04:01 pm: |
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Damn John, 97 with only 29K on the clock, maybe that is why she is leaking, she is mad at you for too much rest. Most of my bretheren with 97s have over 85K and I thought I was low with 54K.
I agree with everyone, get a manual and DIY. Benefits you when you are on the trail and you run into issues and helps you realize what you need to pay attention to regularly. |
Leslie N. Bright (Leslie)
| | Posted on Friday, March 29, 2002 - 04:28 pm: |
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FWIW, my '99 has 81k now....
-L |
Ron
| | Posted on Friday, March 29, 2002 - 05:31 pm: |
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He could mean the intake "manifold" which does commonly leak oil like a sieve.
Ron |
John Arnold
| | Posted on Friday, March 29, 2002 - 09:15 pm: |
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Yes, folks, I do indeed have only 29,000 miles on the ol' Disco. I live in Alexandria VA and San Francisco CA...and am in the film biz...
...so that means AIR MILES...3 million in the 1990's. I won't even talk about mileage since 9/11....I think there should be "frequent waiting miles" versus the old frequent flying tally.
Other two cars...indeed they are cars....I have are 1988 BMW M6 (24,000 miles) and a 1987 Porsche Carrera...and you can take it from me, I enjoy the Disco the most. Ahhhhh...that auto transmission, that high-view, and easy-chair seating, that 0-60 mph in a few days (no road rage here....how in the name of goodness can one expect to compete in a Disco...unless it's against a Jeep in a ravine!)
BTW ..... most of my off-road is driving through Washington DC...some truly horrendous roads! Beats Kenya anyday!!
Happy four-wheeling!
John |
Jay Sanzone
| | Posted on Saturday, March 30, 2002 - 03:42 pm: |
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Id really like to take the M6 off your hands! Very sweet car. |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Saturday, March 30, 2002 - 04:10 pm: |
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John, I know the feeling! I take 295 every day. My other car is an M3 which can't handle those roads. That's why the Disco is the commuter. |
Raymond L. Brown (Sbbceo)
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 03, 2002 - 12:52 pm: |
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Does anyone know of any independent dealers in Montgomery County Maryland or DC? |
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