| Author | Message | ||
     Norm Orschnorschki (Norm) Member Username: Norm Post Number: 127 Registered: 02-2003 |
I've owned Hondas, Acuras, Saabs, Volvos, BMWs, (older) Fords & Chevys, and they never had the number of electrical snafus as my '95 Discovery. This seems to be the norm with LR, even after BMW and Ford took over. The only other car I've had the same propensity for electrical gremlins with was an '88 Jaguar XJ6. My old '71 Triumph Bonneville motorcycle was an electrical nightmare until I swapped the wiring harness for an aftermarket Japanese piece. We all know LR, like Jaguar, and such marques as MG and Triumph (which have hence bitten the dust) had performance, but have always been known for aggravating and recurrent electrical problems. Why is this so? Is it design, materials, British labor politics? What? Somebody with some electical know-how please tell me. ---Norm Lucas: "A gentleman does not go motoring about after dark." Lucas: The reason the Brits put up with warm beer. Lucas: The Prince of Darkness | ||
| John Moore (Jmoore) Senior Member Username: Jmoore Post Number: 837 Registered: 10-2002 |
Eh,Hmmm, it's part of the charm... My 99 D2 with the Bosch system seems to be pretty solid. I think the prince of darkness is abit overated. Then again, I'm very careful, not to let the smoke out of the wires. It's tought to get back in there! I had a 88RRC and didn't have to many electrical problems. I also own a '70 MG, now that's a pretty simple system. Hell, the 35w alternator on that thing is also used on tractors! It has four fuses, whereas my 99D2 has four computers! | ||
| Matt Anderson (Disco01) Senior Member Username: Disco01 Post Number: 280 Registered: 10-2003 |
Well like John said the bosch trucks seem to be a lot better. I havent had any electrical trouble at all except for some bad grounds recently. I think the problem has stemmed from poor quality control of LR but moreso there suppliers. LR does not make the wiring, they buy them. I dont know if anyone has noticed but Jaguar has actually placed really high in initial quality since Ford tookover. I am hopeful all of the little LR niggles will disappear within the near future. Maybe the 03s and 04s are better. I still am not complaining though, my Disco has served me very well. | ||
| Scott Scott (Scottoz) Member Username: Scottoz Post Number: 164 Registered: 02-2003 |
95 D1 - no electrical dramas that I did not create myself - I put a high octane coil on and the cap and rotor arm did not like it and started firing interphase (now thats typical english - harks back to bakerlight days - eg Wolsely) | ||
| eric johnson (Eric2) Senior Member Username: Eric2 Post Number: 278 Registered: 05-2003 |
They are more familiar with steam engine technology. If the British electrical grid can reliably supply power to the citizens of England, why can't the electrical engineers who work for British car companies figure it out? May they're all over here working for Intel, Ford, GM, etc., 'cuz they can make a better living here. The taxes aren't as bad, more opportunity. It may be that car companies over there are more bureaucratic than over here - the bean-counters have the final say. The finance dept. can work by candle-light, the way they have for hundreds of years. What's electricity? Maybe the best and brightest either go to work for the government - as in france - or see better opportunities in other countries. | ||
| Darren Burgess (Darren) New Member Username: Darren Post Number: 7 Registered: 02-2004 |
I don't know if it's the weather or change in time zone or something, but as far as I know electrical problems aren't a big deal here in the UK. I speak to many other DI owners on the Discovery Owners Club forum and this sort of thing just doesn't come up. Now, leaking sun roofs on the other hand.... | ||
| Mark & Bev Preston (Markp) Senior Member Username: Markp Post Number: 269 Registered: 02-2002 |
Well MG isn't dead - http://www1.mg-rover.com/mg_GB_en/static/node199.html I think it's culture. Japanese are very good at refiining an existing design. The British are very good at developing new technology. | ||
| Steve Turpin (Steveturpin) New Member Username: Steveturpin Post Number: 25 Registered: 01-2004 |
My 96 D1 was an electrical nightmare...all sorts of problems, that even the dealer took 3 or 4 trips to figure out. My 99 D2 has had no electrical problems...but I have had horrible mechanical problems with both the D1 and D2...so it's not just electrical! | ||
| Reed Cotton (Reedcotton) Senior Member Username: Reedcotton Post Number: 316 Registered: 01-2003 |
I have had many Brithish cars and bikes, mostly of 50's and 60's vintage. They all seemed to have a good share of electrical problems. But when actually tracked down, the problems were mostly a result of the previous owners "renovation" techniques, or neglect. The single most common fault I found were bad grounds, due to improper installation, and or corrosion and age. My main ride right now is my '96 D1. It has about 156k on it, and the only major electrical problem I had was that one day the starter quit working. After three days of troubleshooting, including checking all the grounds, it turned out to be the Positive Battery cable had corroded down the center, leaving a virtually hollow shell for electricity to flow through. It looked good, and it would check out with a meter, but it could not carry a current. Againg, this problem is similar, if not identical, to a "bad Ground" situation. And, I am sorry to say, the result of "owner neglect" (Me) rather than poor design. -Reed | ||
| eric johnson (Eric2) Senior Member Username: Eric2 Post Number: 280 Registered: 05-2003 |
Steve - Another victim of the first model year blues. | ||
| Steve Turpin (Steveturpin) New Member Username: Steveturpin Post Number: 26 Registered: 01-2004 |
Hey Eric...based on what I've read here about post 99 D2's and the volume of work they have at my dealership, I think these problems go far beyond 1st model year blues...I wish it was that simple...so does Ford!! | ||
| Matt Anderson (Disco01) Senior Member Username: Disco01 Post Number: 287 Registered: 10-2003 |
Steve, I have noticed a trend. Whenever there seems to be an issue of D2 reliability there are a lot of us who have troulbe free rigs and then there is always you who is complaining. I mean, I am not being negative, and I dont doubt your troubles, but it is possible that your 99 is a bit of a lemon, is it not? Either way I understand you griping and I would too if I was in your shoes, but my 01 has been just as good as I would expect a vehicle to be, after all they are machines with thousands of parts, so I just figure it is ok for things to occasionally go wrong. Other than a new radiator, prop shaft, and some grounds going bad my vehicle has been perfect. I had the idler pulley go before the recall, which is why the radiator was replaced. Everyone I have talked to about them around where I live loves theirs, except for a neighbor with a Freelander who claims she has a lemon. Anyhow, I feel ya but I do think you have more problems than most D2s. Peace Matt | ||
| Bill Ross (Billr) Member Username: Billr Post Number: 143 Registered: 11-2002 |
English electrics are crap? Gee, where have I been? Probably fighting the electrics on that Porsche I had. Or was it that Chevy Monza; maybe it was that one VW Jetta? Hell can't remember now. | ||
| Steve Turpin (Steveturpin) New Member Username: Steveturpin Post Number: 28 Registered: 01-2004 |
Hey Matt...trust me, I love these trucks as much as anyone, but unless I happened to get a 96, and a 99 lemon, I think there is a bit more to it. My D2 is currently in the shop, and has been for the last 3 weeks...I am driving a Freelander loaner. List of repairs so far...new engine block, valve job, new front drive shaft and repair leaking transfer case. I am also on my 3rd transmission, one of which only lasted about 4K...have had the valves done once before, head gasket, diffs rebuilt, ect. I have 70K on the truck now. I'm not trying to cause trouble or give LR a bad name...hell, I still love driving my Disco, but I think there are more than just a few lemons out there...I wish it was not so. | ||
| Matt Anderson (Disco01) Senior Member Username: Disco01 Post Number: 289 Registered: 10-2003 |
Oh Steve I know you arent trying to cause trouble or anything. I agree with you that there are probably more trucks like yours out there, but some of the stuff that has gone wrong on your 99 doesnt seem like the typical stuff to go wrong on one of these save for the valves and driveshaft. I just havent heard of trannys going like that and diffs needing rebuilt. That is the only reason I was saying yours may be somewhat of an isolated case. But I see your point about having two lemons, although my 96 definitely gave me some headaches at first, although once they got worked out under warranty it was literally trouble free for several years until I sold it. I think it might have been that I was more insistant on things getting fixed right away while it was under warranty. I will share one funny story. I had to get a new rear main put in at 27k, and wouldnt you know it was leaking again at 28k. Dealer tried to seal it from the outside with some sealant or something and I refused to give them their loaner back and come get my car until they fixed it correctly. Everyone knows you can't put silicone on a rear main and expect it to not leak. Well they redid the rear main and it never leaked again while I owned it (sold at 70k). Well it never leaked at the rear main again.  This goes along with the parts suppliers thing. I just cant believe they put it a bad gasket. It is not their fault--how maddening that would be for them. | ||
| Steve Turpin (Steveturpin) New Member Username: Steveturpin Post Number: 29 Registered: 01-2004 |
Well, luckily I have an extended warranty, so a large chunk of the bill will be taken care of...I know that the engine block issue has affected quite a few Discos. Much of my problems with my 96 were electrical in nature, I have had no such gremlins with my 99 D2. My hope is that now that I will have both a new engine and transmission, it will run great for a long time! |
