What kind of place did you buy it at? I would try to deal with them first, see if they will put you in something else.

You bought 2 tons of problems.

 

Hope the dealer will work with you. Driving was not a good idea with temp gauge up there. Not sure the temp light is for engine, there is one for tranny/transfer case.

This is a common problem with people who are used to Detroit gauges. My Disco will read below 9:00 even at 239 degrees.

 

Simple question...when the oil light came on, did you pull over and check the oil, or just drive away hoping it would resolve itself? Have you checked the oil at all?

 

Oil is and was full.

 

Dealer says, too bad. He says he usually takes care of his customers but gave me a good deal (3600$) and hardly made any money off it so he won't do anything.

Nearest shop "Henry's Auto" says "2000+$" to fix. Another says "1600$" if the bottom end is OK. Otherwise new engine at 5k or more.

Going to go shoot myself now

 

Things may look grim now, but wait a day or two before taking that last step. Might want to get a free consult with an attorney, check on state lemon law, etc. Did you finance the vehicle or pay with a charge card, etc.? If charge card, the card company can go to bat for you. There is also small claims court, where you can represent yourself.

Let's not drive the truck anymore until some technical issues are resolved. Ok to crank for short test periods, but run around town in a taxi or another car.

1. Oil light on, oil full. Change oil filter and oil (15W40 Shell Rotella is cheap and good) and retest. Buy good filter, not FRAM. Be sure to peel any gasket material away that was left by old filter. Goal is to get that light out in 3 seconds or so when cranked.

2. If that makes no change, test wiring for oil pressure switch. With engine off, reach to that switch and removed wire attached. Turn truck to "run" but don't crank. Light should be out, because it is disconnected from switch, which grounds it at under 7PSI. If light on, there is a wiring problem.

3. If wiring OK, replace switch - it is fairly cheap. While at auto parts store, rent/borrow oil pressure test gauge, which you will attach where switch is when doing the swap out. Gauge should show readings for idle oil PSI both cold and warm, and another pair of numbers for cold and warm at 2500 RPM. NOTE - if oil PSI at idle is less than 15 PSI, very carefully throttle up, if no change to 30 - 40 PSI STOP.

4. If oil PSI very low at idle still, break connections between radiator and oil cooler line on passnger side. Drain small quantity of oil in radiator. Use rubber tube to blow through oil cooler, or squirt in some WD 40 to see that it runs out. If no flow or very weak flow through oil cooler, it can be bypassed with rubber hose and a couple of clamps, expect 40 PSI on this line at some time. D2s after a certain VIN don't have an oil cooler. This allows you to remove the possibility of a blocked oil cooler from the range of problems.

5. Oil PSI still low - remove oil pan and inspect pickup tube and clean.

6. oil PSI there - but not as high as should be (say 20 PSI is all you can get) - look at inpection / replacement of the oil pump. What I am getting at is that oil pump usually has some output, even when cracked. No oil PSI or very low can be a number of other things.

7. If you can't resolve the oil PSI issue, then head gaskets must be leaking oil into coolant or coolant into oil, check for that again.

8. If you can't get oil pressure, not much point in buying just head gaskets.

To maintain some order about this, let's fix oil first, then start a new thread about the HG issues. HG will cost $300 - $500 in parts and services if you DIY, I did head gasket on a 57 Desoto when I was in the 8th grade (yes, I actually got that far..) with some help from Dad. And yes, the 392 Firedome had a 2 barrel carb and hemi heads, with hydraulic lifters.

 

Wow thanks for all that. I'm on it. I happened to have just bought 2 gallons of Rotella T6, 2 gallons of coolant, and a new WIX air and oil filter before discovering the horror. Would feel strange to dump 45$ worth of oil in it just to need to drain it again (assuming) for the HG repair so maybe I'll get some cheaper stuff.

 

OK - you may be able to get the light to go out today. That is the big unknown. Driving with it on is never good, it is like pulling the slot machine handle and having reliable miles fly off the odometer.

Had wifey's minivan serviced at Walmart when I bought a tire. They forgot to put the O-ring on the oil filter. She drove 50 miles and oil everywhere, oil light came on right when she got to the parking lot at her office. Regional manager of Wal Mart (the no service leader) offered free oil change and a bag of oil abrober to clean up the driveway. That was 120K miles ago.

So you can survive this. But it has to be fixed before what is next. Before jumping into HG we want to be really sure that is what the problem is, not something esier like valley pan gaskets.

And you would have learned all of this as a Rover owner, you just happen to be in the acclerated class. By the way, if married, don't try to hide this from the wife. She'll notice all the oil and new vocabulary...

 

You said that the exterior and interior both looked really good when you bought it. All that means is that the lot had a pretty good detailer, that is when you really have to be careful.

The dealer's response to you is total BS, as $3600 is not a really low price or a good deal on a 97 Discovery with that high of a milage on it. He made plenty of money off of you and just does not want to bother with you as he figures he will probably never see you again anyway.

I would be tempted to park it right in front of his place with big signs all over it and make him regret his decision. At least attempt to pursue action against him.

Hope you have something else to drive while you work your way thru this fiasco.

Most likely it will not be cheap or easy.

 

Call your states attorney general and ask for advice. They generally will give you all the info you need and even go to bat for you at times.