Bought my first Disco and can't take it! (long, really long)
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Mudding
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
From: Elizabethtown, PA
Bought my first Disco and can't take it! (long, really long)
Disco Hell! Bought my first Land Rover (disco I) – It is from the bowels of hell (after 6 hours of ownership).
I just picked my first Land Rover of any type – a '95 Disco. Exactly what I wanted – jump seats, white and factory front guard and tail light guards.
The body looked great with no scratches or dents. One bumper end missing but that is about it. The frame is solid, has new cats & muffler, alternator, fuel pump, fuel sending unit, new O2 sensors, new alternator, records of oil changes about every 2500 miles, 94k miles - $1500.
The interior is nice except the headliner is sagging in places. All the windows and sunroofs work except you cannot put the driver's window down more than ¾ of the way or it will not come back up. This was explained on the phone before I saw it. I was also told that it leaked oil since the last oil change.
I fired it up and immediately heard a loud exhaust manifold leak. Not a big deal. I went to turn it around and the power steering started hollering – fluid low, no big deal. I took it on a drive and it seemed to run good and be generally okay. When I stopped, the burnt oil smoke rolled out from under the hood. I checked it out and it seemed to be a leaking valve cover seal. Again – no big deal. Cool, I found a good Disco to to a bit of work on.
We changed over the title and it was mine.
I got the GPS set for home and began my 200 mile journey. I put all the windows down and enjoyed the nice weather. I had to take a few busy streets to get to the turnpike. I thought I noticed smoke in the rear and side view mirrors but it was hard to tell as the windows are tinted. Everything was going fine until I stopped one time and white smoke started to come from under the hood. Blue oil smoke out of the left side of the hood and white coolant smoke from the right. I looked down and sure enough it was over heating. I pulled into a parking lot and popped the hood. Coolant was being forced out the tank cap like crazy. What the hell?
I jumped in the truck to let it cool for a while. The skies began to darken a bit as a quick shower was being called for. I got out of the truck and slowly released the pressure and checked the tank level – looked good. OK, I thought, I only have a couple miles to get on the Turnpike. Once I get it on the open road with plenty of air it should be fine to get home.
Drops started falling. I closed up the tank and the drops came faster. All of a sudden the rain just let loose and the wind started blowing like mad. I quickly shut the hood and jumped inside. I quickly started the truck to raise all the windows. I still hadn't figured which button is for which window and which way to push for up. The rain is being driven in the sunroofs and windows as I scrambled to get them closed. Good, only one left. What? The driver's window wont go up – shoot! I put it the whole way down and its stuck! OK, now what? As the wind is blowing, I move the truck so that the rain is blowing on the passenger side. Whew, I stay relatively dry as branches, debris and rain blows in the heavy wind. Temperature is down on the truck, rain slows – good to go.
I head down the road for the last mile to the Turnpike entrance. I get on the road and immediately come to a stop in traffic. What the hell? The traffic lights have all lost power!! There is a mad dash and scramble at the intersection as people try to make turns and cross traffic. Uh oh, here comes the temperature again! I inch forward. Begging for traffic to move. Its not! Please move!!! I can SEE the Turnpike entrance!!! MOVE!!! The temperature pegs and I have no where to pull over – shoot Come on, come on!!! Finally a break! The car ahead of me makes a move and I follow closely behind. I hit the entrance ramp and try to get a little speed to cool it down. The temp isn't dropping!! I go through the toll booth and pull over to let it cool.
Good, I will let it cool then hit the open highway where she should stay cool. After only 5 or 10 minutes the temperature is down to normal when I turn the key on. This should be fine.
I start it and put it in gear and take the entrance ramp onto the Turnpike. As I accelerate into traffic the temperature come up and fast. Dammit!!! I get spit off the ramp right into a construction zone with Jersey walls on both sides – no where to go. The temp goes up and pegs! No where to pull over!!
What's that? Rain!! dang it!! I finally see a construction exit and pull over there. I back behind the jersey wall and shut her down. I am now 7 miles from where I bought t his pieces of ****.
I let it cool and gradually release the pressure in the tank while standing in the rain. I get all the pressure released and look in the tank – its making a bubbling sound and is empty. WTF? Now what?
Hmmm, no where to go, next service station is who-knows how far away. Well hell, I finish off my GatorAid and fill the bottle from a mud puddle. I slowly pour the chocolate mix into the tank – bubble, pop bubble – gone. Need more. I repeat this about 10 times with1/2 a bottle at a shot. OK, this will get me to...somewhere...
I start it up and again, normal temps. I drive it around the construction site a bit to see if it will immediately heat up. Nope, looks good. I go back out and hit the Turnpike. As I accelerate the temp starts climbing, and climbing and climbing – pegged again UGH!!!!! I pull off as soon as the jersey walls end to a regular type pull off. There are several cars and trucks. I pop the hood and feel the tank – she's bubbling inside. I decide to let it cool and come up with yet another plan.
I look over the vehicles in the pull off section and notice a rig with the hood pulled forward and a Kenworth repair truck next to it. SCORE! I walk up to the rig and a young guy looks down at me from a computer in the driver's seat. “Can I help ya?” “Yeah, can you sell me some coolant” (I hadn't figured out exactly what I was going to do with the coolant but it seemed like a step in the right direction). “I'll just give you some if I got it” “Wow! Thanks!”
He finished up with the truck while I listened to tales from the old time driver. He said “hell, I don't know what's wrong with this thing, it was just in for service 200,000 miles ago..., She just quit on me...”
Ok, the guy finishes up and jumps in the back of his repair truck, “what color?” he asks, “green” “here ya go. Do you want a jug of water too?” “Sure!” I looked in the pocket and just had a 50 and a 100 – “Sorry dude, I dont have anything to give you a tip.” “No problem – good luck!”
I head back and I get the top off the tank again – EMPTY! I pour the entire gallon of water in it and half of the coolant. Finally she sucked in what she needed (I hoped).
I jumped in with a redeemed spirit and hit the road. Ok, ok, she's staying cool, good, good... Then I hit a slight up hill, the power went down and the temp came up again. I was in the slow lane putting up the hill at 50mph with the temp on the red but not quite pegged. Then I saw it – what was that? There it was again! The oil light flickered – holy shoot!!! I pulled off immediately. Holy crap!!! This thing is the devil!!
I opened to hood and grabbed my gallon of oil. No use checking it as I was at a hell of any angle as I pulled off into the grass. I put in about a quart and a half. I then waited as it cooled. Uh oh – cop. I looked down the road and a state cop with his lights on was backing up the shoulder, headed for me. I backed away from the car a bit and put my hands out so he could see them He got out and was quite friendly. I told him I just bought it and was having some trouble but was working it out. I figured all he could do was call for a tow anyway. Where do you take a broken Land Rover in the middle-of-nowhere PA?
OK, he says – there is a service plaza in about 3 miles if you need to hit it. And off he went.
I closed the hood and sat there trying figure out my next move. Ah hah! That's it! I started the truck and turned both heater controls to full hot and put the fan on full. My dad showed me this trick years ago when our family convertible was overheating on a trip. I put the windows down a bit and opened the sunroofs to help the heat escape (my driver's side window was still fully down of course). I hit the road again and I made it to the service plaza, filled up with gas, filled my jugs with water and got back on the highway.
Ha! I had it licked. The temp stayed just right, went up a little when I hit the inclines but then went back down. I was cruising with windows down in the rain but my temps were good!
I could not believe the heater core could cool the engine that well! As I drove I started to relax. My feet were cooking but I was making progress. I wonder if I just put the dash vents on, would it cool enough. I tried it, yep, temp was still good. I wonder if I turn the heat down on my side, would it stay cool enough? Yep, that worked too! I wonder if the truck is just running cooler now? I turned the heat off on the other side. Looks good! Oh wait, here it comes! I turned both heaters back on but to no avail! The temp kept going up! Dammit! I had to pull off and let it cool again.
OK dummy, put the heaters on and LEAVE THEM ON! I fired it up again and was on my way. My left arm was soaked but I found my method and was going to make it home. 75 miles of nothing but cruising!
Finally, my exit off the turnpike, only 20 more minutes of highway driving and I am home. I hit the exit ramp and there it is again! The oil light! Shoot!!! I cruise through the Fast pass lane in the toll booth and pull over. I grab my jug-o-oil and dump in another quart and half or so. Its dark, cool and raining – it has more oil than it did so it should be good. I jump in, fire it up and hit the wipers to get under way. Wipers? Wipers??? They are not coming on. Really? I try and try but no wipers. Oh my gosh.
Screw it, I am going to wing it. I hit the road. Luckily my window is stuck down because none of them work now either. I peer through he windshield and watch the lanes out the side. I white knuckled it home and pulled slowly into my drive way, completely wiped out.
I reached over and put it in park – SCREECH! I pulled it out of park into reverse. Sat there then tried it again – SCREECH!!! WHAT? I tried neutral – SCREECH! You have GOT to be kidding me! I put it park and shut it down while it was screeching.
This is positively the vehicle from hell. I'm a mechanic, not a magician. I don't even know where to begin. Anybody need '95 Disco parts?
Dave K.
into Disco ownership for 6 hours and thinking of bailing...
I just picked my first Land Rover of any type – a '95 Disco. Exactly what I wanted – jump seats, white and factory front guard and tail light guards.
The body looked great with no scratches or dents. One bumper end missing but that is about it. The frame is solid, has new cats & muffler, alternator, fuel pump, fuel sending unit, new O2 sensors, new alternator, records of oil changes about every 2500 miles, 94k miles - $1500.
The interior is nice except the headliner is sagging in places. All the windows and sunroofs work except you cannot put the driver's window down more than ¾ of the way or it will not come back up. This was explained on the phone before I saw it. I was also told that it leaked oil since the last oil change.
I fired it up and immediately heard a loud exhaust manifold leak. Not a big deal. I went to turn it around and the power steering started hollering – fluid low, no big deal. I took it on a drive and it seemed to run good and be generally okay. When I stopped, the burnt oil smoke rolled out from under the hood. I checked it out and it seemed to be a leaking valve cover seal. Again – no big deal. Cool, I found a good Disco to to a bit of work on.
We changed over the title and it was mine.
I got the GPS set for home and began my 200 mile journey. I put all the windows down and enjoyed the nice weather. I had to take a few busy streets to get to the turnpike. I thought I noticed smoke in the rear and side view mirrors but it was hard to tell as the windows are tinted. Everything was going fine until I stopped one time and white smoke started to come from under the hood. Blue oil smoke out of the left side of the hood and white coolant smoke from the right. I looked down and sure enough it was over heating. I pulled into a parking lot and popped the hood. Coolant was being forced out the tank cap like crazy. What the hell?
I jumped in the truck to let it cool for a while. The skies began to darken a bit as a quick shower was being called for. I got out of the truck and slowly released the pressure and checked the tank level – looked good. OK, I thought, I only have a couple miles to get on the Turnpike. Once I get it on the open road with plenty of air it should be fine to get home.
Drops started falling. I closed up the tank and the drops came faster. All of a sudden the rain just let loose and the wind started blowing like mad. I quickly shut the hood and jumped inside. I quickly started the truck to raise all the windows. I still hadn't figured which button is for which window and which way to push for up. The rain is being driven in the sunroofs and windows as I scrambled to get them closed. Good, only one left. What? The driver's window wont go up – shoot! I put it the whole way down and its stuck! OK, now what? As the wind is blowing, I move the truck so that the rain is blowing on the passenger side. Whew, I stay relatively dry as branches, debris and rain blows in the heavy wind. Temperature is down on the truck, rain slows – good to go.
I head down the road for the last mile to the Turnpike entrance. I get on the road and immediately come to a stop in traffic. What the hell? The traffic lights have all lost power!! There is a mad dash and scramble at the intersection as people try to make turns and cross traffic. Uh oh, here comes the temperature again! I inch forward. Begging for traffic to move. Its not! Please move!!! I can SEE the Turnpike entrance!!! MOVE!!! The temperature pegs and I have no where to pull over – shoot Come on, come on!!! Finally a break! The car ahead of me makes a move and I follow closely behind. I hit the entrance ramp and try to get a little speed to cool it down. The temp isn't dropping!! I go through the toll booth and pull over to let it cool.
Good, I will let it cool then hit the open highway where she should stay cool. After only 5 or 10 minutes the temperature is down to normal when I turn the key on. This should be fine.
I start it and put it in gear and take the entrance ramp onto the Turnpike. As I accelerate into traffic the temperature come up and fast. Dammit!!! I get spit off the ramp right into a construction zone with Jersey walls on both sides – no where to go. The temp goes up and pegs! No where to pull over!!
What's that? Rain!! dang it!! I finally see a construction exit and pull over there. I back behind the jersey wall and shut her down. I am now 7 miles from where I bought t his pieces of ****.
I let it cool and gradually release the pressure in the tank while standing in the rain. I get all the pressure released and look in the tank – its making a bubbling sound and is empty. WTF? Now what?
Hmmm, no where to go, next service station is who-knows how far away. Well hell, I finish off my GatorAid and fill the bottle from a mud puddle. I slowly pour the chocolate mix into the tank – bubble, pop bubble – gone. Need more. I repeat this about 10 times with1/2 a bottle at a shot. OK, this will get me to...somewhere...
I start it up and again, normal temps. I drive it around the construction site a bit to see if it will immediately heat up. Nope, looks good. I go back out and hit the Turnpike. As I accelerate the temp starts climbing, and climbing and climbing – pegged again UGH!!!!! I pull off as soon as the jersey walls end to a regular type pull off. There are several cars and trucks. I pop the hood and feel the tank – she's bubbling inside. I decide to let it cool and come up with yet another plan.
I look over the vehicles in the pull off section and notice a rig with the hood pulled forward and a Kenworth repair truck next to it. SCORE! I walk up to the rig and a young guy looks down at me from a computer in the driver's seat. “Can I help ya?” “Yeah, can you sell me some coolant” (I hadn't figured out exactly what I was going to do with the coolant but it seemed like a step in the right direction). “I'll just give you some if I got it” “Wow! Thanks!”
He finished up with the truck while I listened to tales from the old time driver. He said “hell, I don't know what's wrong with this thing, it was just in for service 200,000 miles ago..., She just quit on me...”
Ok, the guy finishes up and jumps in the back of his repair truck, “what color?” he asks, “green” “here ya go. Do you want a jug of water too?” “Sure!” I looked in the pocket and just had a 50 and a 100 – “Sorry dude, I dont have anything to give you a tip.” “No problem – good luck!”
I head back and I get the top off the tank again – EMPTY! I pour the entire gallon of water in it and half of the coolant. Finally she sucked in what she needed (I hoped).
I jumped in with a redeemed spirit and hit the road. Ok, ok, she's staying cool, good, good... Then I hit a slight up hill, the power went down and the temp came up again. I was in the slow lane putting up the hill at 50mph with the temp on the red but not quite pegged. Then I saw it – what was that? There it was again! The oil light flickered – holy shoot!!! I pulled off immediately. Holy crap!!! This thing is the devil!!
I opened to hood and grabbed my gallon of oil. No use checking it as I was at a hell of any angle as I pulled off into the grass. I put in about a quart and a half. I then waited as it cooled. Uh oh – cop. I looked down the road and a state cop with his lights on was backing up the shoulder, headed for me. I backed away from the car a bit and put my hands out so he could see them He got out and was quite friendly. I told him I just bought it and was having some trouble but was working it out. I figured all he could do was call for a tow anyway. Where do you take a broken Land Rover in the middle-of-nowhere PA?
OK, he says – there is a service plaza in about 3 miles if you need to hit it. And off he went.
I closed the hood and sat there trying figure out my next move. Ah hah! That's it! I started the truck and turned both heater controls to full hot and put the fan on full. My dad showed me this trick years ago when our family convertible was overheating on a trip. I put the windows down a bit and opened the sunroofs to help the heat escape (my driver's side window was still fully down of course). I hit the road again and I made it to the service plaza, filled up with gas, filled my jugs with water and got back on the highway.
Ha! I had it licked. The temp stayed just right, went up a little when I hit the inclines but then went back down. I was cruising with windows down in the rain but my temps were good!
I could not believe the heater core could cool the engine that well! As I drove I started to relax. My feet were cooking but I was making progress. I wonder if I just put the dash vents on, would it cool enough. I tried it, yep, temp was still good. I wonder if I turn the heat down on my side, would it stay cool enough? Yep, that worked too! I wonder if the truck is just running cooler now? I turned the heat off on the other side. Looks good! Oh wait, here it comes! I turned both heaters back on but to no avail! The temp kept going up! Dammit! I had to pull off and let it cool again.
OK dummy, put the heaters on and LEAVE THEM ON! I fired it up again and was on my way. My left arm was soaked but I found my method and was going to make it home. 75 miles of nothing but cruising!
Finally, my exit off the turnpike, only 20 more minutes of highway driving and I am home. I hit the exit ramp and there it is again! The oil light! Shoot!!! I cruise through the Fast pass lane in the toll booth and pull over. I grab my jug-o-oil and dump in another quart and half or so. Its dark, cool and raining – it has more oil than it did so it should be good. I jump in, fire it up and hit the wipers to get under way. Wipers? Wipers??? They are not coming on. Really? I try and try but no wipers. Oh my gosh.
Screw it, I am going to wing it. I hit the road. Luckily my window is stuck down because none of them work now either. I peer through he windshield and watch the lanes out the side. I white knuckled it home and pulled slowly into my drive way, completely wiped out.
I reached over and put it in park – SCREECH! I pulled it out of park into reverse. Sat there then tried it again – SCREECH!!! WHAT? I tried neutral – SCREECH! You have GOT to be kidding me! I put it park and shut it down while it was screeching.
This is positively the vehicle from hell. I'm a mechanic, not a magician. I don't even know where to begin. Anybody need '95 Disco parts?
Dave K.
into Disco ownership for 6 hours and thinking of bailing...
Last edited by audiS4S6; Apr 19, 2010 at 08:03 AM.
TReK
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 3
From: Woodstock, GA
lol..entertaining read..I'd say if it didn't have a blown head gasket before you bought it that it does now. Here's a good rule of thumb..when you buy a vehicle that originally cost over $40K for $1,500 it MIGHT need some work lol..good luck..btw what the hell is a "jersey wall"?? I'm assuming it some kind of concrete barrier.
Last edited by NiteTrain; Apr 16, 2010 at 11:37 PM.
Winching
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 739
Likes: 5
From: west of chicago
Welcome,
What a great story, I think I heard it ------- or possibly told it some time ago.
Read the bottom line in my signature
Search the forum & read about the various things you've described.
Maybe download the free Rave cd (shop manual)
You'll probably grow to love it, after you resolve the previous owner's neglect.
My DI's overheated maybe (3) times, not in the last several years, tho'
(hoses, waterpump)
The DI, is an extremely robust truck based on the Defender chassis.
Once straightened out, it'll do anything you ask.
'96 and later had no distributor but that means very little, there's a crapload of good dist stuff out there.
The rad may be plugged, waterpump bad, bad stat.
luck,greg
What a great story, I think I heard it ------- or possibly told it some time ago.
Read the bottom line in my signature
Search the forum & read about the various things you've described.
Maybe download the free Rave cd (shop manual)
You'll probably grow to love it, after you resolve the previous owner's neglect.
My DI's overheated maybe (3) times, not in the last several years, tho'
(hoses, waterpump)
The DI, is an extremely robust truck based on the Defender chassis.
Once straightened out, it'll do anything you ask.
'96 and later had no distributor but that means very little, there's a crapload of good dist stuff out there.
The rad may be plugged, waterpump bad, bad stat.
luck,greg
Last edited by greg409; Apr 16, 2010 at 11:43 PM.
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Mudding
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
Baja
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,232
Likes: 52
From: Georgia, USA
More than likely it had a blown head gasket when you got it.
It probably has water in the coolant which made the oil light come on.
Considering the above two, plus the fact you used muddy water in your cooling system, you're probably looking at an engine rebuild. Don't forget to get the radiator cleaned out as well.
Figure on:
Mill the heads
Valve job (with only 98k they are probably ok and can just be ground)
New big-end and main bearings
New cam bearings possibly
New rings
Possibly a new oil pump drive gear.
New rear main seal while you have it apart.
Welcome to the club
It probably has water in the coolant which made the oil light come on.
Considering the above two, plus the fact you used muddy water in your cooling system, you're probably looking at an engine rebuild. Don't forget to get the radiator cleaned out as well.
Figure on:
Mill the heads
Valve job (with only 98k they are probably ok and can just be ground)
New big-end and main bearings
New cam bearings possibly
New rings
Possibly a new oil pump drive gear.
New rear main seal while you have it apart.
Welcome to the club
Last edited by antichrist; Apr 17, 2010 at 05:57 AM.
where in Jersey are you? if you have the room part out the disco you own, now you know what to look for when buying a new one. check out our local club sure we could help you find something in better shape. welcome to the madness
Thread Starter
|
Mudding
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
From: Elizabethtown, PA
Thanks gentlemen.
The muddy water doesn't worry me too much - I will flush the system and replace the thermostat. The only other component it could have affected is the water pump.
It probably did have a blown head gasket when I bought it (as someone mentioned). This is not a big deal to me as I can do the work myself. I wanted the color and options. I figure I bought it cheap enough that I could live with doing the head gaskets.
There was no water in the oil. The water and oil left the truck in a large cloud that followed me the whole way home. I am going to get the head gaskets changed, exhaust leak fixed and replace the ignition components. It should run okay then. I also need to find out why I lost several electrical systems 20 miles from home.
Thanks for the tips! I will download the Rave and get to work.
Dave K.
dry and relaxed
The muddy water doesn't worry me too much - I will flush the system and replace the thermostat. The only other component it could have affected is the water pump.
It probably did have a blown head gasket when I bought it (as someone mentioned). This is not a big deal to me as I can do the work myself. I wanted the color and options. I figure I bought it cheap enough that I could live with doing the head gaskets.
There was no water in the oil. The water and oil left the truck in a large cloud that followed me the whole way home. I am going to get the head gaskets changed, exhaust leak fixed and replace the ignition components. It should run okay then. I also need to find out why I lost several electrical systems 20 miles from home.
Thanks for the tips! I will download the Rave and get to work.
Dave K.
dry and relaxed