I am currently looking to buy my first Land Rover and am coming here some help/advice.

I found a 97 Disco that has some issues and I am trying to determine if it is worth getting and fixing.

The owner states that the LR dealer diagnosed it with "Open Loop" and gave an estimate for a bunch of sensor/cat replacement to try to solve it as they were unable to determine the specific fault with the engine stuck in Open Loop.

I scanned it myself and it came back with code P1316 which according to a list of LR specific codes i found means "Misfire Excessive Emissions".

The car can't hold an idle without some help and it runs very rich. When i tried to do a monitor test none of the O2 sensor resulsts came back.

Another thing I noticed was that the fan came on when the engine stareted and stayed on. Shouldn't something be controlling the fan ad disengaging it at low temps to allow the car to warm up? I ask this because I found some info about the ECT and bad Thermostats as possible causes of 'Open Loop'.

Any advice/input? Should I just run away or would it possible to spend around a $1000 or less replacing sensors and get it running good?


Thanks for looking

-Rob

 

when was the last GOOD tune up ???

 

How many miles on it? If you are over 90K, it will need 4 new O2 sensors. The cats can be replaced with high flow Magnaflow cats for around $250 installed.

It should have 8MM plug wires on it, along with a good tune up. Search fo the 60K service and plan on doing that when you get the truck, regardless of mileage.

I don't think it will read the O2's until it has warmed up. It is running rich because it is in open loop. The electric fan is controlled by either the fan switch (heat) or any time the a/c button is depressed.

I would start with a good tune and possibly o2 sensors, then move to the 60K list. Check the thermostat too.. Oh, and tap the cats with a rubber mallet. If anything is loose in there, they will have to be replced.

 

Be careful, unless you can steel this truck you may bury your self in repairs.
How many miles on the truck and how much are they asking?
All that being said, if all you have is a 1316 and no other codes, it may just need a major service like the one below.
1 Oil filter, K&N 3001 or Mobil 1- 301
1 Factory air filter
6 Qts. of engine oil
2 feet of 3/16th vacuum tube
2 feet of 5/16th vacuum tube
12 Qts. of ATF
7 Qts. of 80/90W synthetic gear oil, 85W/140 for HD use
3 Pints of synthetic DOT 4 Brake fluid
2 Qts of synthetic Power steering fluid
2 Gallons of OAT, orange coolant, also called DexCool
1 Bottle of Lucas Power Steering additive
1 Bottle of Lucas Transmission additive
1 Can of Spray Carb. Spray
1 Can Of Brake cleaner
8 Spark Plugs, I use Bosch Platinum Plus 4's
1 Set of Magnacor 8mm plug wires
1 Serpentine belt
2 Bottles of SeaFoam gas additive
1 T/Stat
1 bottle of WaterWetter or Purple Ice
Hoses and belts, as necessary

60,000 Mile Service or Major Service for High Mileage Used Vehicle just purchased

Bleed the brakes
Flush and change the power steering fluid adding one bottle of additive
Service the tranny adding one bottle of additive
Change the coolant and t/stat
Do an engine flush before changing the oil
Do an induction cleaning
Clean the throttle body
Add fuel additive to full gas tank
Change both of the diffs fluid
Change the t/case oil
Replace the plugs and wires
Replace the air filter
Lube all the drive shaft grease fitting including the 2 slip shafts
Do full inspection of brakes, hoses, bushings etc.

Hopefully I didn't leave anything out.