Hello experts! I am really glad that I found this website. I need help and advise regarding me beloved 2003 Discovery.
We purchased the car in February 07 with 44,000 miles (The Disco is under extended warranty). We drove it for a month then the engine developed a ticking/knocking noise. I took it to the LR dealership (later I found out their reputation is not that great) in the beginning of April. Two and a half months later, we got it back. They dropped in a brand new 4.6 tripped engine because “cylinder #6 has low compression”. The service manager said the tripped engine includes “the block, piston, connecting rods, camshaft, oil pump, front cover and oil pan”. I noticed the ticking/knocking noise is still there but a lot more quite. The service guy said ticking and knocking is a “character” of the rover engine. I am not buying what he said. It is a new engine, how could it tick and knock? The only reasonable explanation I can come up with is they did not give me a new engine, they only cleaned my old one. I took it to an independent LR service shop in town to have them take a look, they looked at it for 10 minutes and could not determine if the engine is new. They said in order to drop in the new engine; the front clip or the hood has to be taken off. But there is no sign of that. The serial number on the “new” block looks dirty. On the other hand, the oil pan and front cover is really shinny and looked new, and the Disco is consuming a lot more fuel which could be a sign of a new tight engine. The independent shop said the only way to tell is taking the engine apart. Since my extended warranty repair has to be approved by APCO, I called them to require some information. APCO said they only approved an engine repair, not replacement.
I guess my million dollar question is “how do I know the engine is really new”?
Thanks in advance.

 

Make sure your using 91 or better octance gas. It's going to be difficult to tell if in fact they replaced the engine without know the previous #'s. What I would suggest doing is performing an engine flush with ATF. Drain your oil, dump in ATF and run it at idle for 20mins. Change your filter and replace with your oil. Give that a shot. That may flush out any gunk that may be preventing oil distribution to your valvetrain etc..

 

03's are well know for oil pump/pressure issues, many people have lost their engines over this and You need to stay focused in that area.
Mike

 

Thank you guys, I always used 91 after I bought the truck. The service manager said the new oil pump I have is "new designed".

 

Make sure you get everything documented everytime you take it into the shop, you want to start a serious paper trail if it does get worse.
What exactly did they do to your engine as far as a repair?
Mike

 

Hello Mike, here is what they put in/done and hrs:

1 LBB500220 Engine Assy
14 ERR2944 Bolt - Cylinder
6 ERR2944 Bolt - Cylinder
2 LVC100260 Gasket - Valve R
4 ERR7370 Screw
4 ERR7371 Screw
1 ERR6434 O Ring
1 ERR6621 Gasket - Intake
2 ERR7283 Seal
2 ETC4245 Nut - Hex
6 ERR551L Stud
1 Dex-Cool Antifreeze
1 LKJ500020 Gasket - Intake
2 LVB500030 Gasket - Cylinder
1 ERR3340 Element - Filter
1 AUL1403L Washer - Sealing
2 ERR6733 Gasket - Exhaust
1 NGC103770 Wire Assy - Igni
1 PQR500060 Tensioner

12901101 Engine - Analyzer Diagnostic Check 0.5hr
18904001 Engine Management system -Diagnosis 0.5 hr
189026 Reset Throttle Adaptations 0.2 hr
122501 Cylinder Pressures - Check 0.8 hr
12410225 Stripped Engine - Remove Engine, Change Over Ancillary Equipment & Refit - With Secondary Air Injection 10.4 hr
123038 Gasket - Oil sump/Transmission to Engine - Renew 1.3 hr

 

Looks like they installed a new short block by that break down.
This will be interesting to see what happens.
Stay in touch,
Mike

 

surely the original engine serial number will be on the reg document, and the new engine will have a different number, unless it was shopped/machined. my guess, it was partly stripped in the car, and cleaned up. wipe the serial number clean, and refer to that. (should be clean already!)

 

i'm having the same problem now with my 03 disco. i will never buy another land rover. the quality and service is terrible. it seems like they spend more time trying to not solve a problem then properly repairing the problem. its been at the dealer for one day now and i have an unsettling feeling about the outcome. i always feel resistance when dealing with land rover service. i hope this doesn't turn into a 2.5 month ordeal like your experience...

 

So what exactly did you take it in for, what did you check prior to taking it in?
When you hear back from the dealer, get back to us with their estimate so we can help you.