By chefmunn on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 01:58 am: Edit

Dear Fellow Landy Addicts,
I have many questions/concerns/problems with my discovery. This will be a long letter. First some details of the beast in question:
1995 Discovery V8i, vin #SALJN1287SA123606, manual transmission almost 50,000 miles on clock, Purchased by a friend in California with 12,500 miles on it, about a year and a half old, shipped out in container to Yap, a small island in Micronesia, south west of Guam, east south east of the Philippines, in other words in the middle of nowhere. this is the only Land Rover ever in the island, I get my parts from Conrico in England. Mechanics here are rejects who couldn't make it in a backstreet workshop in Manila.

I have a letter in two magazines, Land Rover Monthly July 2001 issue and Land Rover Owners International Spring issue. I have given a brief description of the problems I have and offered free hotel and scuba diving to the mechanic who can travel with the testbook diagnostic computer and help do some servicing on my vehicle. I have had no response of use. My daily use of the Disco is about 40 to 60 miles on half paved half rough dirt/mud roads, very rare towing of boats, very rare and light offroading (shame)

What's been Done:
-regular oil/filter changes, checking fluids
-lube, but only visible filters easy to reach
-virtually all gaskets changed due to leaks; exhaust manifold gaskets, rocker cover gaskets, front oil seal, water pump gasket
-starter motor died and was replaced
-power steering hoses leaked and replaced
-HT leads and distributor cap replaced
-front and rear shocks and steering damper replaced
-rust at bulkhead posts, roof rack and wheel wells repaired, even rust inside roof under liner.
-undercoat and respray white again
-drive belt tensioner replaced
-all door mechanisms cleaned and greased, still stiff to open and hard to close, worse than ever
-clock light and hazard switch replaced
-rear door handle jams and cleaned out regularly
-seats and screws all over tightened as they come loose
-spark plugs changed twice
-fuel filter changed twice
-muffler fell apart inside and rattling bits were removed
-heat shields around exhaust fell off
-all mud flaps fell off and were replaced
-rear panel flapped about and was welded back to bracket on wheelarch
-roof liner drooped and was replaced twice, much silicon and marine sealant used to stop water coming in at front left bulkhead post, rear sides close to alpine windows and rear cargo door area
-general cleaning and looking after as much as possible

What's Wrong Now:

-I get 12 mpg
-With AC on and at low revs the fans kick in and it sounds like I'm revving 4000 rpm when it's only 1800
-air filter is always greasy
- fuel here is 89 octane, I believe the engine is set for higher, Premium California grade, I have heard of a ROW chip (rest of the world) which could replace NAS chip (North American Spec) and could solve some problems, can this be installed without computer equipment?
-Cleaning injectors? HOW?
-SRS warning light on, fuses pulled out to stop the thing blowing my head off
-ABS warning light on, fuses pulled out to give semi-normal although soft brakes, brake pads renewed to no avail
-Wipers refuse to work on wash or intermittent
- Idle speed when starting will go so low she stalls sometimes if I don't keep revs up with accelerator, then she'll settle on 700 or so.
-Remote entry/alarm system went crazy, opening and closing at random if I walked 20 feet from her not touching the control, blasting me accusingly for opening the door with the key, not allowing me to start...more fuses pulled out which took the central locking out too
-cruise control dead, don't need it anyway
-Air Con cuts out at random even when cabin is very hot, jiggle fan switch it comes back on

The Sounds She Makes:

-Clonking sound at low speed on rough road as we rock left and right, all bushes are soon to be replaced, many worn and metal on metal sounds terrible.
-Clacking sound on acceleration, especially when passing, it's embarrasing. Happens around 3000 to 3500 rpm just when ready to change gear, back off and it stops.
-Screeching sound from front wheel bearings I assume, new parts have arrived for that to be changed. DHL two weeks from UK!!
-Whining sound coming through speakers, increase with rpm, filter installed between antenna and stereo following instructions, filter installed between power supply and stereo following instructions and for a few weeks no Whine, like Arnold Schwartznegger it's back worse than ever
-Pull to right has developed and no alignment equipment on island, they tell me they can measure distances between wheels, I have serious doubts.
-Every time the mechanics work on my vehicle there are parts left over, if this continues my Disco will disappear. All plastic trim around the roof gutter has been broken when they painted, can that be replaced, shipping for a huge box would be outrageous.
I'm sure I've forgotten somethings but this is enough already. I hope to hear from anyone with advice and also hope to be able to offer assistance to those with similar problems I may have overcome, I am however almost as mechanically ignorant as the mechanics in Yap, What a great vehicle though....wouldn't drive anything else, except maybe a Defender 110 but that's a few years away, we are clearly mad, one and all. Happy Driving, ChefMunn

By Axel Haakonsen (Axel) on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 09:04 am: Edit

Here are a couple of suggestions:

"I get 12 mpg"
Join the club....

"Cleaning injectors? HOW?"
Dump a bottle of injector cleaner in your fuel tank at your next fillup. Do this every once in a while going forward.

"Idle speed when starting will go so low she stalls sometimes if I don't keep revs up with accelerator"

Sounds like the stepper motor, a.k.a. Idle bypass valve. Clean it out and/or replace. See write up in the tech section.

"Pull to right has developed and no alignment equipment on island, they tell me they can measure distances between wheels, I have serious doubts."

Actually, that is how you align it. Toe in/Toe out is the only thing you can adjust. The distance between the front of the front wheels should be about 1/8inch more than the distance between the rear of the front wheels. Also check your tires and tire pressure, as this can cause similar symptoms.

"Air Con cuts out at random even when cabin is very hot, jiggle fan switch it comes back on "

The switch is wearing out. Royal P.I.A. to change.

"ABS warning light on,"
You probably have a loose or dirty ABS sensor. Clean and reseat them on each wheel.


Good Luck!

By Ron on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 09:40 am: Edit

sounds normal issues to me. Soft brakes should be cured by a good bleed. Failing that a Master Cylinder AND all calipers rebuild. You are use GT LMA fluid and changing it yearly (I am guessing Micronesia is humid).

Change you plug wires for somethign decent to get rid of the radio noise also check all the grounds are ok. A 95 on original wires in a climate like yours I would exspect as much.

Clunk is normal. You probably have some wear issue on the Tranny and t-box as well as U joints and dif wear which all adds up to some clunking.

Sounds about par for the course for a 95 disco in your climate without something resembling quality care and repair.

Ron

By r0ver4x4 on Thursday, October 25, 2001 - 10:37 am: Edit

find a old series rover those things are simple ie: no computers..the idiots there could fix those things..simple to fix they go forever and ever and ever
r0ver4x4

By chefmunn on Friday, October 26, 2001 - 09:27 am: Edit

Thanks Guys, now I don't want to be unfaithful here but in my situation I am seriously considering changing my vehicle. Appreciate the series suggestion but would like to go more modern as this will be my daily (only) drive. I have done some research and have found I can get a basic 110 brand new, no computer, no Td5 but a 300tdi instead, wind up your own damn windows, lock using a key etc simple, monkey with wrench can fix Land Rover. Conrico prepares these for UN and African police forces, about $20k plus shipping and taxes and a few options like seatbelts and air con, alloys, MT's, bullbar, side runners, cloth seats and I'm up around 35 to 40k depending how wild I go on options. I could do it as low as 28k. My Disco cost me 32k to get out here. I need to consider wife, child and infant as well, AC is a must as I transport cakes to work twice a week.
Question is: will I be happy with a Defender after 5 years in my Disco? How much comfort will I give up? I heard about elbow room lacking. I am 6'1" and need knee space. Will interior roll bar crack my head? I would go for exterior mounted instead. Suspension I would imagine to be the same as Disco...seats probably less comfy but what else will I miss out on. My main reasoning is the absence of computer dependant parts, I'm really stuck out here.
I am horrified at cheap prices you guys are getting Discos for, means I wont get shit for mine as I would have to ship off island to sell maybe in Guam.
General thoughts please on Defender 110 CSW versus Disco with no support tech. Thanks Bill

By joe on Friday, October 26, 2001 - 08:00 pm: Edit

chefmunn, are you from guam? i grew up there and didn't see one land rover. but if you do have to sell it i might know a few a people who might be interested. free diving and hotel? wish i was back home to take up that offer...

By Eric N (Grnrvr) on Saturday, October 27, 2001 - 10:48 am: Edit

Not having owned a D110 so what do I know but, I would say get it. If you are worried about electical issues and every thing else since you can't get it fixed where you are I would say get the 110 and a shop manual for it and fix it your self. You may be giving up a little creature comfort but, how much comfort is it walking? Just my two cents..

By chefmunn on Monday, October 29, 2001 - 08:01 am: Edit

Thanks again guys, Joe,Hafadai, I'm not from Guam,(Jamaica actually)but Prestige Automotive in Tumon used to carry Land Rover and BMW, think they're out of Land Rover now. They do not respond. I may well want to sell the Disco and would appreciate your assistance if you know people interested. I know people in Guam but mostly in the dive or hotel industry. The Disco is in need of capable care, I can't provide it here. Cheers to all