I am looking at purchasing a 1995 Discovery with right around 110,000 miles on it. The guy that owns it now says that he just noticed this month that the "motor had jumped timing". He says that it still runs strong with no issues other than he has to "turn the dist. cap to get it started". I am fairly handy, not a mechanic nor do I claim to be. My question is, how hard or expensive will this be to fix? Should I shy away from it all together or is it worth messing with at the right price?

Thanks in advance for anyones help and or advice.

 

if it did "Jump time" then you will need to at least put a timing chain & gears in it.

 

He also stated that "I checked, its not an "interference engine" so no bent rods or valves. And no power loss, when it runs, it does run strong."

Am I correct to assume that this will really only affect the ignition of the truck???

 

The engines are interference. But I don't see how it could "jump time" and still run just by turning the distributor.

 

So the 1995 3.9l V8 land rover engines are "interference engines"? I was wondering the same thing about it still running fine. Could it possibly just be somthing in the ignition (needing new plugs, wires, maybe a new cap)?? Guess I really wont know unless I dig into it.

 

Make sure the spark plug wires went into the correct holes.
Take it to TDC.

I think #1 will fire there.
The distributor should point now to wire #1.
If the wires are off by one or two holes - that's your only problem.

A botched spark plug wire job.

 

I dont think its a timing issue.
I have yet to hear of one of these "jumping time" or of a timing chain breaking.
Not to say it cant happen, but with only 110k on the clock, I highly doubt it.