I believe it. I know I'd be scared to total all my repair receipts since I've owned my vehicles ! I'd likely be giving evidential support to that 5:1 ratio!

I keep my service records/invoices in binders, and cringe each time I open a binder to make a new addition or check an old one .

It certainly was alot cheaper when I was simply riding the subways...

 

Hmmm the 5:1 ratio isnt as bad when you only paid 700 for the truck .....

though i suspect that will quickly turn to 15:1 lol

 

Yep, but even at 15:1, at least our 1997s are at the point where we're not subject to patents and licensing on parts. An owner or mechanic can find used identical or similar year LR parts, improvise with other parts, substitute with other manufacturers, or have a machinist make what's needed. It can take time, money, and effort, but it's the American way. With strict patents and licensing, I'm not sure how owners will fix the newer LR models, when they're out of warranty.

Either that ratio spread will continue to grow (beyond 15:1? ), vehicles facing costly repair will get shipped to other countries, or junkyards will be full of LRs. Not sure I'd want to own another LR and play their game, expecting those future odds !

 

So, I replaced my VSS with a new replacement from BP of Utah. Was a PITA to install, but eventually it fell in to place.

Now, I have been driving and noticed it shifts smoothly and does not buck anymore which is a massive improvement!

Only issue is the Speedo sometimes does not register properly, or doesn't kick in till I am cruising at 40km/h. Seems to bounce a bit from 0-20-40 km/h (0-24 mp/h), and sometimes when I am slowing down it just drops to 0 km/h (0 mp/h) even before I have come to a complete stop.

Could I have loosened a wire or two on the vss electrical connector? I recall it was covered in sludge and thought that perhaps some electrical cleaner and checking the speedo wire on the alternator as well?

Would love ideas and input. Thank you.

 

Clean plug at vss look for loose connectors, dielectric grease in plug, see if that helps

 

Thanks TOM, will check and report back with an update

 

I haven't crawled underneath the Disco just yet to clean and re-seat connections... I had a question about the needle housing (the part that the VSS needle goes in to).

I recall someone mentioning that when they were replacing their VSS that the little brass housing the needle goes in to on the transmission came out and was a little rounded, meaning it had wiggle room for the needle as it got worn... sound familiar, and could that be a possibility as well? Easy fix, or a PITA?

 

I've come to the conclusion that newer LR offerings are built for the road and tolerate light offroading occasionally after I blew out the alternator in my LR4 at URE. That being said when kept to the street the truck was very reliable and drove like a car with all that torque and hp

 

It's very hard to see where the needle goes into. The Needle itself would be warn too if that were the case. Usually the wear is on the plastic components inside the VSS ( still causes wiggle).

If you can score one from a junkyard for a couple bucks, you can rebuild it following the guide here for ~3$ in parts depending on if you have the RTV or not

 

Hi Nuclearw,

Already did the rebuild last year, didn't last long for me. As I mentioned earlier I just replaced my original VSS with a brand new VSS replacement from BP of Utah in August.

I am going to crawl underneath and see about re-seating the VSS as I may not have seated it correctly, or the electrical connector may be dirty.