| Author | Message | ||
     Rick (Rick) New Member Username: Rick Post Number: 6 Registered: 02-2003 |
Hi, my 97 Disco likes to overheat when idling with the AC on and temps in the 90s. I've had other Discos in 120 degrees with no overheating. Any thoughts?? Rick | ||
| Luis Constantin (Luisc) New Member Username: Luisc Post Number: 11 Registered: 02-2003 |
I've been through this three times with my 98. Twice it was the sending unit for the gauge. The most recent was the thermastat. And this evening, I had the overflow tank rupture. To the dealer I go tomorrow. But, it could be other things also. Check the level in the cooling system (when cold) for starters. Could be the viscous coupling on the fan or the electric fans aren't running when the AC is on like they should be. If the cooling system hasn't been cared for properly, it could be a radiator core. I'm sure some other owners can come up with a few other causes. | ||
| Reed Cotton (Reedcotton) Member Username: Reedcotton Post Number: 114 Registered: 01-2003 |
Rick - Luis has some good advice, also make sure that your oil isn't too low. Youd be suprized how much cooling the oil does. Right now I have the opposite problem. When mine idles it stays cool. Yesterday I was down at Hollister Hills in convoy with a few other Discos, it never got hot, this is with the A/C on. No problem on the highway coming home. When I get to within 3 or 4 miles of my house, the temp starts climing. If I stop and idle the engine for a few minutes it settles back cown again. Got a new waterpump, thermostat, and expansion tank (that blew last week.) While I was at an idle spot yesterday I pulled the hood, and the fan was coming off and on a lot, so I'm guessing the viscous thing. Also drove it all over town today, No problem until I was coming home. Again within 3-miles of the house. Different road but another grade. (They all are around here.) Pulled ovber and idled for a while and the temp came down?!?!!? Good luck. -Reed | ||
| Luis Constantin (Luisc) New Member Username: Luisc Post Number: 12 Registered: 02-2003 |
It's the house that's causing it. Stay away from the house. | ||
| Luis Constantin (Luisc) New Member Username: Luisc Post Number: 13 Registered: 02-2003 |
Here is a web article that might interest you on the over heating issues. http://www.landroverclub.net/Club/HTML/Overheating.htm I think for 97 and later, you can ignore the part about the head bolts. If I'm not mistaken LR did away with the problematic lower row of bolts in 97. | ||
| Paul T. Schram (Paulschram) Senior Member Username: Paulschram Post Number: 1568 Registered: 02-2002 |
The lower row of head bolts was abandoned in mid 1995. | ||
| Reed Cotton (Reedcotton) Member Username: Reedcotton Post Number: 115 Registered: 01-2003 |
Luis- Thanks. I try to avoid the house whenever possible. But with this new overheating trick the Disco has learned, I now avoid going down the hill untill I have a lot to do in town. Good article though. I am however quite sure that it is not the temp gauge. Too much steamy Prestone for that.  -Reed | ||
| John Steczkowski (Stecz) New Member Username: Stecz Post Number: 12 Registered: 02-2003 |
I'm having a similar problem... When I sit in traffic, the temp gauge can go through the roof... I used to think I was really overheating, because putting the transmission in neutral and revving to about 2k rpm will lower the reading on the guage but, it nevers shows above half way when I'm moving, even towing my 5500 lb boat. The other day, I noticed that the temp when down quickly if I turned off the A/C, or just lowered the fan speed, too quickly for it to be just from less heat being dumped into the system. Then I noticed that if I turned the headlights on, the guage went up and if I turned them off, the guage went down. I did get the guage to show a really hot temp in my driveway one day, I put my pyrometer on the upper radiator hose and it showed 170 degrees or so, which seemed like it was right where it should be. I also checked the alternator. I get about 13.4 volts at idle with the A/C on full blast, etc. So that seems ok. I guess I'm down to the sender or the guage. Any hints on troubleshooting which one is the issue on a '97 Disco 1? I may put in a decent aftermarket gauge and disable the factory one. (but that will look hokey)... | ||
| Chris Browne (Chris_browne) Member Username: Chris_browne Post Number: 129 Registered: 02-2003 |
The time this happened to me my a/c condenser had failed......of course no ac either.... | ||
| Ryan McDonald (Nursemcdonald) New Member Username: Nursemcdonald Post Number: 10 Registered: 05-2003 |
REED, I had a similar problem with my 96, it would only overheat on the uphill climb toward my home. after changing my thermostat and fluids i checked out the radiator core and it was quite oxidated and full of deposits... check your radiator, have it reamed out and see what happens. good luck | ||
| charles pastrano (Charles) Member Username: Charles Post Number: 216 Registered: 08-2002 |
Rick check the plastic screw on top of your radiator to see if there are any leaks. I have a 97 with the same syptoms. Yesterday my vehicle got hot and I opened the hood and there was a small leak through that plastic plug. I tried to take it off and found that it was already ready to break. I replaced with a brass plug from pep boys $1.86. I am going to have the radiator rodded today. Good luck | ||
| Reed Cotton (Reedcotton) Member Username: Reedcotton Post Number: 121 Registered: 01-2003 |
Ryan- Right now I am a bit suspisious of the viscous fan coupling, but the radiator core is on the list. The thing is it is not consistent. Driving up and down the off-road grades at Hollister should have then sent the temp skyrocketing. The last time it got hot, I notticed that the fan was cycling off-on-off-on-off really rapidly. This is what is pushing me to first look at the VC. I am quite sure the core is next though. -Reed | ||
| Will Weatherford (Wweatherford) New Member Username: Wweatherford Post Number: 13 Registered: 02-2003 |
Will the Viscous Fan Coupling eventually fail completely or just contimue with intermittence? How long before the symtoms of failure result in complete failure? I belive I am suffering from some of the issues Reed has mentioned. I have had the radiator flushed, but still have the issue from time to time... | ||
| Gary Taylor (Gtaylor) New Member Username: Gtaylor Post Number: 10 Registered: 04-2003 |
I'd have it rodded first. I had the exact same same problem with my 97. I had the radiator rodded and now the temp gauge sits just below 9:00. I bought a viscous fan just in case, but since the rodding fixed it, I put the fan on Ebay. It's up right now(please excuse shameless plug). | ||
| Raf usher (Zonamaya) Member Username: Zonamaya Post Number: 64 Registered: 05-2003 |
the article says that you can leave out head bolts 11-14.. is that true? you mean to say that i can totally remove bolts 11,12,13, and 14 and the motor will run fine? | ||
| Paul T. Schram (Paulschram) Senior Member Username: Paulschram Post Number: 1603 Registered: 02-2002 |
Raf: When replacing your head bolts, the new gaskets (and cylincer heads for that matter) do not even have provision for including the lower row of head bolts. Depending upon when your '95 was built, it may or may not have the bolt holes. If you're curious, the lower row of bolt holes runs directly beneath the exhaust manifolds, if the holes are there, your truck may have been intended to have the lower row of bolts. Peace, Paul | ||
| Will Weatherford (Wweatherford) New Member Username: Wweatherford Post Number: 14 Registered: 02-2003 |
I should have stated "rodded" vs. flush (my bad). Coming back from lunch today, temp went high again! I pulled over, elec. fans still running. I checked coolant, which was a bit down, but still plenty enuf there. When I tried to start again - it was laboring to turn over - very hard but did it. I got to work and 1hr later went out to check again. Temp down, coolant level OK and easily turned over. Now, would this be a clear sign of the viscous coupling failing, which prevented the hard engine turn over? I think it is...I read that link again, so it seems possible. Any thoughts from you all? W2 99DI | ||
| Will Weatherford (Wweatherford) New Member Username: Wweatherford Post Number: 15 Registered: 02-2003 |
Called LR Svc. and he sez its not the VC...what the F**K is the prob. - other than being a LR? | ||
| Reed Cotton (Reedcotton) Member Username: Reedcotton Post Number: 130 Registered: 01-2003 |
Will- If while the engine is hot, and the engine is NOT running, the viscous coupling should not move as freely as when is is cold. Did your LR Svc guy expand on what the problem might be? Can he check the VC over the phone? (Not trying to be funny here, I am really curious what he said.) -Reed If it was hard to turn over when hot, you may want to change your oil too. | ||
| Will Weatherford (Wweatherford) New Member Username: Wweatherford Post Number: 16 Registered: 02-2003 |
Ryan - LR said VC was previously checked prior to rodding the radiator and it wasn't bad. He said I would be able to "hear" the VC if it was loose. I checked after the call and it appears not to be loose. He wants me to drop of sometime so that they can drive for a while and observe the conditions. Whatyathink? | ||
| charles pastrano (Charles) Member Username: Charles Post Number: 220 Registered: 08-2002 |
Check that your A/C condensor is clean of debris. I just had my radiator rodded yesterday and when they pulled it out there were leaves all over. After the rodding and cleaning out the leaves, my son locked himself in the car for over an hour with the engine and a/c on the temperature raised but not as much as before. | ||
| Will Weatherford (Wweatherford) New Member Username: Wweatherford Post Number: 17 Registered: 02-2003 |
I'll check again, but they rodded already and there ain't much leaves here in Orlando to worry about. It did it again coming back from lunch - just local driving, no AC on today. Could it be some sort of vapor lock or something? There was plenty of coolant - I'm wondering if its some steam release somewhere... i dunno... | ||
| Will Weatherford (Wweatherford) New Member Username: Wweatherford Post Number: 18 Registered: 02-2003 |
Can someone provide a coolant flow schematic? When temp guage went up, I turned heat up, but only cool air coming out. When I pulled over to chk coolant in reservoir, there was plenty. So now i'm wondering if there is some sort of additional blockage, beyond the rad. (which was rodded), maybe somewhere in the AC condenser, etc... whatyathink?? Please provide some insight... | ||
| Will Weatherford (Wweatherford) New Member Username: Wweatherford Post Number: 19 Registered: 02-2003 |
Also, are the elec. fans coming on governed by the temp sensor/sender or is there another source? If my sender was bad, would the elec fans come on as well or is that a true measure that the engine is hot? | ||
| charles pastrano (Charles) Member Username: Charles Post Number: 221 Registered: 08-2002 |
Your fans should come on when the A/C is on. I would check the little plastic plug on your Radiator for leakage. | ||
| Will Weatherford (Wweatherford) New Member Username: Wweatherford Post Number: 20 Registered: 02-2003 |
But having the fans stay on after the engine is off...is this governed by the temp sensor/sender or is there another source? If my sender was bad, would the elec fans come on as well or is that a true measure that the engine is hot? | ||
| charles pastrano (Charles) Member Username: Charles Post Number: 222 Registered: 08-2002 |
If you turn off your engine with the A/C on it is my experience the fans stay on. If you turn off the a/c before you turn off the engine no fans. | ||
| Will Weatherford (Wweatherford) New Member Username: Wweatherford Post Number: 22 Registered: 02-2003 |
OK...well the AC was not on when turned off, but fans were on for a about 60sec... so is the order to stay on coming from the sensor? | ||
| charles pastrano (Charles) Member Username: Charles Post Number: 223 Registered: 08-2002 |
I assume. Not sure. | ||
| Martin Tarnate (Bubuyog) New Member Username: Bubuyog Post Number: 1 Registered: 06-2003 |
My 94 Disco overheats when a/c on in city traffic. Temp goes down when you turn off the a/c. Problem does not show when a/c is on and car is moving. The transmission light goes on later but temp is low. Where do I look? thermostat, viscous fan, radiator????? | ||
| Will Weatherford (Wweatherford) New Member Username: Wweatherford Post Number: 25 Registered: 02-2003 |
Maybe radiator elec. fans in your case (someone help out)... sounds like you have sufficient air movement over the engine while driving to keep things cool. Do you hear the fans on with AC on? They hould be... | ||
| Jim H. (Victor_mature) Member Username: Victor_mature Post Number: 73 Registered: 02-2003 |
Okay, the two big electric fans in front will come on when you switch the AC on. They are also connected to a thermal switch on the T-stat housing and will turn themselves on when engine temp gets too high (regardless if AC is on or off). The temperature guage sending unit is seperate from the fan thermal switch so if your gauge is reading hot AND your fans are coming on after you shut the motor off, you're hot. If the gauge reads high but the fans aren't coming on then you may have a bad sending unit. But, keep in mind that if the gauge reads high and the fans aren't coming on, it could be the thermal switch that's bad. See? This is why Land Rover owners drink. Jim | ||
| Will Weatherford (Wweatherford) New Member Username: Wweatherford Post Number: 26 Registered: 02-2003 |
LOL...make mine a double - strait up! |
