| Author | Message | ||
     R. N. Katz (Rangierog) New Member Username: Rangierog Post Number: 6 Registered: 09-2003 |
just wondering about the life expectancey for heater core? Getting close on purchase of '95 RR LWB w/137k miles. Still has original heater core AND radiator. Seller says no signs or records of problems. PPI is being scheduled, but I want to be ahead of this to flag issues in advance. What are the other major components that are reaching regular "end of life" at this age/mileage that I should be prepared to replace? | ||
| David Woo (Davidwoo) Member Username: Davidwoo Post Number: 56 Registered: 01-2003 |
I've heard about 100k miles, then it goes. John's site has a lot of useful info if you're going to purchase an used rrc. http://www.rangerovers.net/#practical DW | ||
| Geoff 93 RRC (Geoff) Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 129 Registered: 11-2002 |
A lot of the car is worn out at 100K. Bought Rangie with 88K now has 117K miles. As for high priority: fuel pump, water pump, hoses. Now for the brain dump: Next bushings, all axle/hub seals, shocks. Thermostat failed in stuck open position. Shimmy after hitting bumps at speed - swivel preload adjustment - couldn't be adjusted enough due to bearing wear so then rebuild hubs with new swivel and wheel bearings. I have also had to replace the brake rotors (the rotors wear at about 1/2 the rate of the pads), pads, steering box and ball joints. The steering shaft u-joints and the rubber shaft coupling (new shaft needed) had also failed. The axle u-joints needed replacement. My radiator was re-cored at 65K miles by P.O. Power steering pump replaced and plumbing. Replaced stepper motor and charcoal canister. Oil and trans cooler lines replaced as precaution. Flush brakes lines with new fluid. Oil pan and rear main cross seals redone. The heater core was redesigned in the early '90s and not as susceptible to cracking, but I'm not holding my breath. Air springs converted to coils. Some of the repairs were done as preventive. Most parts had not failed to the point of stranding me, but they were all at the end of their service lives. The good news is steering and ride are like new. No leaks. Its a fun hobby, but I am debating whether to keep the thing until 200K, do a lot of this over again, and replace the engine at the same time. | ||
| R. N. Katz (Rangierog) New Member Username: Rangierog Post Number: 9 Registered: 09-2003 |
Geoff, thanks. That's what I was looking for. Seems like the majority of the '95 LWB's I'm seeing are being dumped just prior to the owner's having to dig deep and address the impending 100k component replacement. Alternatively, there are the ones with 120k that the current owners have kept running as long as they could without taking care of these components, but it's just getting ahead of them and they've got no choice but to fix or sell. I'm used to the drill -- I've got 211k on my daily driver, and just finished up my second round of pre-failure component/system repairs. | ||
| David Woo (Davidwoo) Member Username: Davidwoo Post Number: 59 Registered: 01-2003 |
Geoff: my '91 RRC has 127k on it, and I have recently done most of your list. I agree with your philosophy of attending to those items that could be a problem on a trip. The 3.9 is in good shape but I am thinking of a 4.6 swap sometime in the near future. Be nice to have that extra bit of power going up those hills. DW | ||
| Geoff 93 RRC (Geoff) Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 131 Registered: 11-2002 |
It does seem a lot of the RRC's show up on the market with a lot of deferred maintenance. I still think they are a bargain, even with the amount of repairs needed. Most of the car is designed to be rebuildable with hand tools (even the body pieces and roof), so they can go forever if you want them to. David: I am thinking about a 4.6 also. I am also considering a LT230 transfer case swap because I like a positive diff lock. | ||
| R. N. Katz (Rangierog) New Member Username: Rangierog Post Number: 10 Registered: 09-2003 |
Geoff, you're absolutely right about the RRC's being a bargain (at nearly any price) considering their infinitely rebuildable nature. I think the RRC is actually the last of the "bullet-proof" vehicles from LR. (no flames, please). It actually brings a smile to my face to see Series, Defenders, etc. maintain such incredible resale value. Not something we'll likely see in the newer iterations. Regarding deferred maintenance, I guess I just come from the opposite end of the spectrum (and for it, my trusted wrench thinks I'm unusual AND insane). My approach is to stay ahead of the curve, so (to the extent affordable) I do a substantial amount of "anticipatory maintenance" on my daily driver (an '87 BMW 6-series w/211k miles). I guess OCD is a double-edged thing:-)) Although you can't always get a perfect fix on MTBF, I get a lot of piece of mind knowing that when a part does fail (as they inevitably do), it's not because it wore out or was neglected. I can live with the occasional failure due to manuf. defect. Too bad I'm always the last owner on my vehicles and there won't be any subsequent owners to appreciate/benefit from this. Then again, I'm also relieved of the common, gnawing reality we all have that we'll never be able to recover even a fraction of our repairs/upgrades on resale. So, I'm still lookin' for that conscientiously maintained and not-too-abused '95 LWB. |
