Grab a cuppa joe -- this is long . . .
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Overlanding
Joined: Dec 2007
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Grab a cuppa joe -- this is long . . .
Hello, All – I’ll preface this post by letting you know up front that I am rather **** retentive and, therefore, can be long-winded at times. I own a 2003 Discovery SE7, which I purchased December 14, 2007 from http://dfwautohaus.com in Fort Worth. The CarFax report indicated that the Disco was a one-owner, personal vehicle, purchased from Land Rover Frisco new. It further indicated that all scheduled maintenance was performed by Land Rover Frisco – the last time it was seen by LR Frisco was at 49,250 miles for scheduled maintenance. I presume that once it went out of warranty, the previous owner used another mechanic, as the only other records listed by CarFax was a safety inspection/emissions test in Plano in June 2007. Based on the service history, I believe I made a wise investment, as it appears that the previous owner DID have it regularly serviced.
On December 15, I took it to CowTown Rover in Fort Worth for a “post-purchase” inspection. The only items which appeared to need attention at the time were: new ignition wire harness, new left/right valve cover gaskets, new serpentine belt and some other gasket (I think it was radiator or some such thing). Other than this, the mechanic (former LR service manager) said I lucked up on a good one and gave it a clean bill of health.The seller indicated at the time of purchase that the car may need some minor repairs, and paid the $588.00 bill. So far; so good. I even drove from Cedar Hill (Dallas suburb) to Little Rock, AR and back for Christmas with the Schnauzer crew . . . what a ride! This thing gets up to 90 REALLY FAST! It handled beautifully and my three Giant Schnauzers and Mini absolutely love the fact that they each have their own window. (Yes, I did actually buy this car for my dogs.)
Anyhow, fast forward to this past Monday. When leaving Walgreen’s, I made a hard right out of the parking lot onto the street and came to a stop at a traffic signal less than a half block out of the lot doing maybe 10 MPH. Yikes! I get the three amigos. I turned off the ignition, restarted and the amigos were gone. This morning when I got ready to leave for work, once I started the engine I had my foot on the brake pedal (I’m used to manual transmission, and am transitioning to automatic) and after about 10 seconds, I get a “Ding! Ding! Ding!” and the three amigos are back again. Stop; restart – amigos gone. ***SIGH*** I proceed to work (18 miles) without incident. I pick up my niece for lunch and we head to NorthPark. As soon as we’re in the parking lot by Maggiano’s, “Ding! Ding! Ding!” again, and three amigos. So I stop-restart and head back downtown to work – again, without incident. No worries on the commute home, or when I went to fill up at Chevron. I’ve read the many posts about those pesky little amigos and am of the mind that as my lights do not stay on, that I possibly have a dirty oxygen sensor or something of that ilk. I did call the seller today to let him know about the amigos, and he said it could be the ABS sensor/ECU thingy (something like that), and that I could get the part from landroverparts.com for about $200.00. He said he’d install it for me for free because the mechanic (one he recommended) would possibly charge me a lot to install it. I should add that at the time I purchased the vehicle I knew the amigos are a known issue and he did tell me about this possible fix. I’m pretty confident that he knows Rovers, as he had 20 on his lot when I picked up mine, and he checked out okay when I researched him. My question with respect to the amigos is, if this ECU/sensor thing is what he earlier mentioned (I think it’s located behind the dash or glovebox), how difficult would it be for me to install myself IF IN FACT that is the problem. I will have the codes pulled, but of course I need them to stay lit in order to do so. He does have the Rover diagnostic computer ; I asked about getting one, but it was out of my price range (I think he said it was somewhere around $1K or $2K). He told me he'd pull codes for me any time at now charge. Anyhow, I can get the codes pulled at AutoZone or O’Reilly’s if I can get them to come on and stay on (is that sadistic, or what?). Also curious as to whether oxygen sensors or hub/harness things are easy to replace. Just for background, I’ve owned three Saabs which went 225K, 168K and 144K, respectively, before I had to let go of them. I did a lot of my own repairs: replaced all the hoses, performed tune-ups (plugs, cap and rotor, cleaned IAC valve, etc.) and could diagnose most issues because I knew those cars inside out. Also helps that my dad taugh mechanics and mechanical engineering. I actually helped rebuild a Cleveland 351 in my '72 Mach I (Daddy's philosophy was that if you drove a car, you had to know basic mechanics). Of course, that was back in the day before all the computerized stuff came along. But I digres. The Disco is a completely new animal. I’m pretty much a tomboy, and don’t mind getting dirty so if there are things which are relatively easy (as in, good printed directions or Haynes manual?), I can probably handle them if I don't need a true "garage" or heavy duty tools. I do, however, know when to let a pro step in.
I passed on the extended warranty the seller offered, as I didn’t like the reviews I read about the company: C.A.R.S.-something or other. I have received a couple of quotes from AutoAdvantage, but am uncertain as to whether or not these are good rates.
Gold Plus Coverage
$100.00 Deductible
1 Year/12,000 Additional Miles- $2,237.00
1 Year/15,000 Additional Miles- $2,350.00
2 Year/24,000 Additional Miles- $2,965.00
2 Year/30,000 Additional Miles- $3,354.00
Lower deductibles are also available:
For $50.00 Deductible- Add $115.00
Driver's Choice Coverage
$0.00 Deductible
3 Year/Unlimited Additional Miles- $1,029.00
5 Year/150,000 Additional Miles- $1,099.00
7 Year/100,000 Additional Miles- $1,079.00
Have any of you selected an extended warranty from AutoAdvantage? Any recommendations? I hear Great Lakes is another good one. I'm still waiting on an email quite from them. Also, one of the mechanics at CowTown Rover recommended the Ford ESP warranty – he said it was the extended warranty that one of the LR dealerships used, and his shop never had any problems with them paying and that Ford ESP’s maintenance requirements mirrored manufacturer’s schedule (e.g., warranty not voided if oil change not performed every 3K miles). So, in a nutshell I want to know which extended warranty offers the best protection for my Disco at the best price. All suggestions from persons with experience welcomed.
[font=calibri][size=3]Almost forgot! I have not yet been able to find by searching the forum some type of comprehensive listing of “known issues” with the Disco. Does such a post, sticky note or FAQ exis
On December 15, I took it to CowTown Rover in Fort Worth for a “post-purchase” inspection. The only items which appeared to need attention at the time were: new ignition wire harness, new left/right valve cover gaskets, new serpentine belt and some other gasket (I think it was radiator or some such thing). Other than this, the mechanic (former LR service manager) said I lucked up on a good one and gave it a clean bill of health.The seller indicated at the time of purchase that the car may need some minor repairs, and paid the $588.00 bill. So far; so good. I even drove from Cedar Hill (Dallas suburb) to Little Rock, AR and back for Christmas with the Schnauzer crew . . . what a ride! This thing gets up to 90 REALLY FAST! It handled beautifully and my three Giant Schnauzers and Mini absolutely love the fact that they each have their own window. (Yes, I did actually buy this car for my dogs.)
Anyhow, fast forward to this past Monday. When leaving Walgreen’s, I made a hard right out of the parking lot onto the street and came to a stop at a traffic signal less than a half block out of the lot doing maybe 10 MPH. Yikes! I get the three amigos. I turned off the ignition, restarted and the amigos were gone. This morning when I got ready to leave for work, once I started the engine I had my foot on the brake pedal (I’m used to manual transmission, and am transitioning to automatic) and after about 10 seconds, I get a “Ding! Ding! Ding!” and the three amigos are back again. Stop; restart – amigos gone. ***SIGH*** I proceed to work (18 miles) without incident. I pick up my niece for lunch and we head to NorthPark. As soon as we’re in the parking lot by Maggiano’s, “Ding! Ding! Ding!” again, and three amigos. So I stop-restart and head back downtown to work – again, without incident. No worries on the commute home, or when I went to fill up at Chevron. I’ve read the many posts about those pesky little amigos and am of the mind that as my lights do not stay on, that I possibly have a dirty oxygen sensor or something of that ilk. I did call the seller today to let him know about the amigos, and he said it could be the ABS sensor/ECU thingy (something like that), and that I could get the part from landroverparts.com for about $200.00. He said he’d install it for me for free because the mechanic (one he recommended) would possibly charge me a lot to install it. I should add that at the time I purchased the vehicle I knew the amigos are a known issue and he did tell me about this possible fix. I’m pretty confident that he knows Rovers, as he had 20 on his lot when I picked up mine, and he checked out okay when I researched him. My question with respect to the amigos is, if this ECU/sensor thing is what he earlier mentioned (I think it’s located behind the dash or glovebox), how difficult would it be for me to install myself IF IN FACT that is the problem. I will have the codes pulled, but of course I need them to stay lit in order to do so. He does have the Rover diagnostic computer ; I asked about getting one, but it was out of my price range (I think he said it was somewhere around $1K or $2K). He told me he'd pull codes for me any time at now charge. Anyhow, I can get the codes pulled at AutoZone or O’Reilly’s if I can get them to come on and stay on (is that sadistic, or what?). Also curious as to whether oxygen sensors or hub/harness things are easy to replace. Just for background, I’ve owned three Saabs which went 225K, 168K and 144K, respectively, before I had to let go of them. I did a lot of my own repairs: replaced all the hoses, performed tune-ups (plugs, cap and rotor, cleaned IAC valve, etc.) and could diagnose most issues because I knew those cars inside out. Also helps that my dad taugh mechanics and mechanical engineering. I actually helped rebuild a Cleveland 351 in my '72 Mach I (Daddy's philosophy was that if you drove a car, you had to know basic mechanics). Of course, that was back in the day before all the computerized stuff came along. But I digres. The Disco is a completely new animal. I’m pretty much a tomboy, and don’t mind getting dirty so if there are things which are relatively easy (as in, good printed directions or Haynes manual?), I can probably handle them if I don't need a true "garage" or heavy duty tools. I do, however, know when to let a pro step in.
I passed on the extended warranty the seller offered, as I didn’t like the reviews I read about the company: C.A.R.S.-something or other. I have received a couple of quotes from AutoAdvantage, but am uncertain as to whether or not these are good rates.
Gold Plus Coverage
$100.00 Deductible
1 Year/12,000 Additional Miles- $2,237.00
1 Year/15,000 Additional Miles- $2,350.00
2 Year/24,000 Additional Miles- $2,965.00
2 Year/30,000 Additional Miles- $3,354.00
Lower deductibles are also available:
For $50.00 Deductible- Add $115.00
Driver's Choice Coverage
$0.00 Deductible
3 Year/Unlimited Additional Miles- $1,029.00
5 Year/150,000 Additional Miles- $1,099.00
7 Year/100,000 Additional Miles- $1,079.00
Have any of you selected an extended warranty from AutoAdvantage? Any recommendations? I hear Great Lakes is another good one. I'm still waiting on an email quite from them. Also, one of the mechanics at CowTown Rover recommended the Ford ESP warranty – he said it was the extended warranty that one of the LR dealerships used, and his shop never had any problems with them paying and that Ford ESP’s maintenance requirements mirrored manufacturer’s schedule (e.g., warranty not voided if oil change not performed every 3K miles). So, in a nutshell I want to know which extended warranty offers the best protection for my Disco at the best price. All suggestions from persons with experience welcomed.
[font=calibri][size=3]Almost forgot! I have not yet been able to find by searching the forum some type of comprehensive listing of “known issues” with the Disco. Does such a post, sticky note or FAQ exis
Winching
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 504
Likes: 58
From: Richmond, VA
RE: Grab a cuppa joe -- this is long . . .
Wow. Well, first off, let me be the first to welcome youto the forum and to Land Rover ownership. Mike (forum owner and Rover guru) probably isn't gonna read through all of your post given the number that he reads and responds to daily, so let me take a stab at distilling it down to the essential questions I see.
[ol][*]DIY details on theABS fixto turn the amigos off permanently[*]Code reader advice[*]Some quick fix maintenance that you can do[*]What else should you be watching for[*]Best oil and filter[*]Extended warranty advice[/ol]
Did I miss anything?
There have been mixed results with the fix that you're referring to on the ABS modulator. There is a set of valves the bolts into the modulator that can set off the amigos when they fail. Presumably the $200 part he's referring to is this valve set. In short, it solves the problem for some and not for others. Worst case, you'd be looking at replacing the modulator, or it might be something simple like an ABS sensor on a wheel starting to go.
Which brings us to the code reader. The typical code reader you can buy at Autozone will read the areas of the ECU that are required to conform to the OBDII standards, such as emission control faults and other engine related items. However, like many manufacturers, Land Rover has additional areas in the on board computer for things like the ABS module which cannot be read with a standard scanner. That's where the Autologic scanner comes in. It knows how to read these areas of the computer. It's expensive so if your dealer said he'd read the codes for you for free when needed, let him do it!
Quick fix items- the usual stuff. Filters, plugs (most folks like Iridium plugs), wires (Magnacor 8mm ONLY).
What else to watch for? A big one:the front driveshaft on these things came from the factory as non-greasable units and usually within 60K miles or less they break, slapping the transmission out of the truck in the process. Take it to a driveline or transmission shop and let them put on new u-joints on both ends...for usually less than $200. You can do it yourself but it can be a PITA. Head gasket leaks are common. Whatever you do, keep a close eye on the coolant level always...at every fillup check the reservoir. You DO NOT want to overheat these engines, not even to limp it home. Use dexcool coolant when needed. There's more, so read through the threads for the last month or so to catch most of them.
Best oil and filter: Synthetic (Mobil 1 or Rotella) 5w-30 or 5w-40, depending on season. I use 5w-30 all year long. Filter: K&N 3001. It has a higher capacity than the standard filter and K&Ns have a better anti-drainback valve than most, preventing dry starts.
Extended warranty: Lots of opinions here. Given your wrenching skills, yourdesire to keep up on preventative maintenance, and an apparent ability to accept that Land Rovers require more care and feeding than most, I question an extended warranty's value for you. You might spend 3 grand on parts and labor that the warranty may or may not cover in the next 2 years...or you might not. I don't think they're worth it for the competent and attentive.
Parts: Atlantic British or roerlandparts.com
Cheers,
Dave
[ol][*]DIY details on theABS fixto turn the amigos off permanently[*]Code reader advice[*]Some quick fix maintenance that you can do[*]What else should you be watching for[*]Best oil and filter[*]Extended warranty advice[/ol]
Did I miss anything?
There have been mixed results with the fix that you're referring to on the ABS modulator. There is a set of valves the bolts into the modulator that can set off the amigos when they fail. Presumably the $200 part he's referring to is this valve set. In short, it solves the problem for some and not for others. Worst case, you'd be looking at replacing the modulator, or it might be something simple like an ABS sensor on a wheel starting to go.
Which brings us to the code reader. The typical code reader you can buy at Autozone will read the areas of the ECU that are required to conform to the OBDII standards, such as emission control faults and other engine related items. However, like many manufacturers, Land Rover has additional areas in the on board computer for things like the ABS module which cannot be read with a standard scanner. That's where the Autologic scanner comes in. It knows how to read these areas of the computer. It's expensive so if your dealer said he'd read the codes for you for free when needed, let him do it!
Quick fix items- the usual stuff. Filters, plugs (most folks like Iridium plugs), wires (Magnacor 8mm ONLY).
What else to watch for? A big one:the front driveshaft on these things came from the factory as non-greasable units and usually within 60K miles or less they break, slapping the transmission out of the truck in the process. Take it to a driveline or transmission shop and let them put on new u-joints on both ends...for usually less than $200. You can do it yourself but it can be a PITA. Head gasket leaks are common. Whatever you do, keep a close eye on the coolant level always...at every fillup check the reservoir. You DO NOT want to overheat these engines, not even to limp it home. Use dexcool coolant when needed. There's more, so read through the threads for the last month or so to catch most of them.
Best oil and filter: Synthetic (Mobil 1 or Rotella) 5w-30 or 5w-40, depending on season. I use 5w-30 all year long. Filter: K&N 3001. It has a higher capacity than the standard filter and K&Ns have a better anti-drainback valve than most, preventing dry starts.
Extended warranty: Lots of opinions here. Given your wrenching skills, yourdesire to keep up on preventative maintenance, and an apparent ability to accept that Land Rovers require more care and feeding than most, I question an extended warranty's value for you. You might spend 3 grand on parts and labor that the warranty may or may not cover in the next 2 years...or you might not. I don't think they're worth it for the competent and attentive.
Parts: Atlantic British or roerlandparts.com
Cheers,
Dave
Winching
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 504
Likes: 58
From: Richmond, VA
RE: Grab a cuppa joe -- this is long . . .
One more thing:
Disco Mike's 60K service recommendations:
This is the parts list for a 60,000 mile service the way I do it.
1 Oil filter , K&N 3001
1 Air filter
1 Transmission filter kit
6 Qts of engine oil
12 Qts of ATF
7 Qts of 80/90W gear oil
2 Qts of Brake fluid
2 Qts of synthetic Power steering fluid
2 Gallons of OAT, orange coolant
1 Bottle of Lucas Power Steering additive
1 Bottle of Lucas Transsmission additive
1 Can of Spray Carb Spray
1 Can Of Brake cleaner
8 Spark Plugs, I use Bosch Platium Plus 4's
1 Set of Magnacor 8mm plug wires
1 Serpentine belt if not yet replaced
2 Bottles of SeaFoam
60,000 Mile Service
Bleed the brakes
Flush and change the power steering fluid adding one bottle of additive
Service the tranny adding one bottle of additive
Flush the coolant system
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 od 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.
Disco Mike's 60K service recommendations:
This is the parts list for a 60,000 mile service the way I do it.
1 Oil filter , K&N 3001
1 Air filter
1 Transmission filter kit
6 Qts of engine oil
12 Qts of ATF
7 Qts of 80/90W gear oil
2 Qts of Brake fluid
2 Qts of synthetic Power steering fluid
2 Gallons of OAT, orange coolant
1 Bottle of Lucas Power Steering additive
1 Bottle of Lucas Transsmission additive
1 Can of Spray Carb Spray
1 Can Of Brake cleaner
8 Spark Plugs, I use Bosch Platium Plus 4's
1 Set of Magnacor 8mm plug wires
1 Serpentine belt if not yet replaced
2 Bottles of SeaFoam
60,000 Mile Service
Bleed the brakes
Flush and change the power steering fluid adding one bottle of additive
Service the tranny adding one bottle of additive
Flush the coolant system
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 od 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.
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 25,707
Likes: 107
From: Denver, Colorado
RE: Grab a cuppa joe -- this is long . . .
I hate long post's, you are right.
But if you are having issues and want to send me a 5 liner with direct issues/questions, go for it, I'll be glad to help.
But if you are having issues and want to send me a 5 liner with direct issues/questions, go for it, I'll be glad to help.
TReK
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,111
Likes: 2
From: Dallas TX
RE: Grab a cuppa joe -- this is long . . .
North Texas Rovers 972-869-4881 is a good place to
have work done.
They are also members of the Rover Club here in Dallas,
and if you join you get 10% off if you buy parts at the
Land Rover dealers.
www.texasrovers.com
have work done.
They are also members of the Rover Club here in Dallas,
and if you join you get 10% off if you buy parts at the
Land Rover dealers.
www.texasrovers.com
Recovery Vehicle
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,002
Likes: 2
From: Colorado Springs, CO
RE: Grab a cuppa joe -- this is long . . .
[quote]ORIGINAL: RovingRiesensCubed
Hello, All – I’ll preface this post by letting you know up front that I am rather **** retentive and, therefore, can be long-winded at times. I own a 2003 Discovery SE7, which I purchased December 14, 2007 from http://dfwautohaus.com in Fort Worth. The CarFax report indicated that the Disco was a one-owner, personal vehicle, purchased from Land Rover Frisco new. It further indicated that all scheduled maintenance was performed by Land Rover Frisco – the last time it was seen by LR Frisco was at 49,250 miles for scheduled maintenance. I presume that once it went out of warranty, the previous owner used another mechanic, as the only other records listed by CarFax was a safety inspection/emissions test in Plano in June 2007. Based on the service history, I believe I made a wise investment, as it appears that the previous owner DID have it regularly serviced.
On December 15, I took it to CowTown Rover in Fort Worth for a “post-purchase” inspection. The only items which appeared to need attention at the time were: new ignition wire harness, new left/right valve cover gaskets, new serpentine belt and some other gasket (I think it was radiator or some such thing). Other than this, the mechanic (former LR service manager) said I lucked up on a good one and gave it a clean bill of health.The seller indicated at the time of purchase that the car may need some minor repairs, and paid the $588.00 bill. So far; so good. I even drove from Cedar Hill (Dallas suburb) to Little Rock, AR and back for Christmas with the Schnauzer crew . . . what a ride! This thing gets up to 90 REALLY FAST! It handled beautifully and my three Giant Schnauzers and Mini absolutely love the fact that they each have their own window. (Yes, I did actually buy this car for my dogs.)
Anyhow, fast forward to this past Monday. When leaving Walgreen’s, I made a hard right out of the parking lot onto the street and came to a stop at a traffic signal less than a half block out of the lot doing maybe 10 MPH. Yikes! I get the three amigos. I turned off the ignition, restarted and the amigos were gone. This morning when I got ready to leave for work, once I started the engine I had my foot on the brake pedal (I’m used to manual transmission, and am transitioning to automatic) and after about 10 seconds, I get a “Ding! Ding! Ding!” and the three amigos are back again. Stop; restart – amigos gone. ***SIGH*** I proceed to work (18 miles) without incident. I pick up my niece for lunch and we head to NorthPark. As soon as we’re in the parking lot by Maggiano’s, “Ding! Ding! Ding!” again, and three amigos. So I stop-restart and head back downtown to work – again, without incident. No worries on the commute home, or when I went to fill up at Chevron. I’ve read the many posts about those pesky little amigos and am of the mind that as my lights do not stay on, that I possibly have a dirty oxygen sensor or something of that ilk. I did call the seller today to let him know about the amigos, and he said it could be the ABS sensor/ECU thingy (something like that), and that I could get the part from landroverparts.com for about $200.00. He said he’d install it for me for free because the mechanic (one he recommended) would possibly charge me a lot to install it. I should add that at the time I purchased the vehicle I knew the amigos are a known issue and he did tell me about this possible fix. I’m pretty confident that he knows Rovers, as he had 20 on his lot when I picked up mine, and he checked out okay when I researched him. My question with respect to the amigos is, if this ECU/sensor thing is what he earlier mentioned (I think it’s located behind the dash or glovebox), how difficult would it be for me to install myself IF IN FACT that is the problem. I will have the codes pulled, but of course I need them to stay lit in order to do so. He does have the Rover diagnostic computer ; I asked about getting one, but it was out of my price range (I think he said it was somewhere around $1K or $2K). He told me he'd pull codes for me any time at now charge. Anyhow, I can get the codes pulled at AutoZone or O’Reilly’s if I can get them to come on and stay on (is that sadistic, or what?). Also curious as to whether oxygen sensors or hub/harness things are easy to replace. Just for background, I’ve owned three Saabs which went 225K, 168K and 144K, respectively, before I had to let go of them. I did a lot of my own repairs: replaced all the hoses, performed tune-ups (plugs, cap and rotor, cleaned IAC valve, etc.) and could diagnose most issues because I knew those cars inside out. Also helps that my dad taugh mechanics and mechanical engineering. I actually helped rebuild a Cleveland 351 in my '72 Mach I (Daddy's philosophy was that if you drove a car, you had to know basic mechanics). Of course, that was back in the day before all the computerized stuff came along. But I digres. The Disco is a completely new animal. I’m pretty much a tomboy, and don’t mind getting dirty so if there are things which are relatively easy (as in, good printed directions or Haynes manual?), I can probably handle them if I don't need a true "garage" or heavy duty tools. I do, however, know when to let a pro step in.
I passed on the extended warranty the seller offered, as I didn’t like the reviews I read about the company: C.A.R.S.-something or other. I have received a couple of quotes from AutoAdvantage, but am uncertain as to whether or not these are good rates.
Gold Plus Coverage
$100.00 Deductible
1 Year/12,000 Additional Miles- $2,237.00
1 Year/15,000 Additional Miles- $2,350.00
2 Year/24,000 Additional Miles- $2,965.00
2 Year/30,000 Additional Miles- $3,354.00
Lower deductibles are also available:
For $50.00 Deductible- Add $115.00
Driver's Choice Coverage
$0.00 Deductible
3 Year/Unlimited Additional Miles- $1,029.00
5 Year/150,000 Additional Miles- $1,099.00
7 Year/100,000 Additional Miles- $1,079.00
Have any of you selected an extended warranty from AutoAdvantage? Any recommendations? I hear Great Lakes is another good one. I'm still waiting on an email quite from them. Also, one of the mechanics at CowTown Rover recommended the Ford ESP warranty – he said it was the extended warranty that one of the LR dealerships used, and his shop never had any problems with them paying and that Ford ESP’s maintenance requirements mirrored manufacturer’s schedule (e.g., warranty not voided if oil change not performed every 3K miles). So, in a nutshell I want to know which extended warranty offers the best protection for my Disco at the best price. All suggestions from persons with experience welcomed.
[font=calibri][size=3]Almost forgot! I have not yet been able to find by searching the forum some type of comprehensive listing of “known issues” with the Disco.
Hello, All – I’ll preface this post by letting you know up front that I am rather **** retentive and, therefore, can be long-winded at times. I own a 2003 Discovery SE7, which I purchased December 14, 2007 from http://dfwautohaus.com in Fort Worth. The CarFax report indicated that the Disco was a one-owner, personal vehicle, purchased from Land Rover Frisco new. It further indicated that all scheduled maintenance was performed by Land Rover Frisco – the last time it was seen by LR Frisco was at 49,250 miles for scheduled maintenance. I presume that once it went out of warranty, the previous owner used another mechanic, as the only other records listed by CarFax was a safety inspection/emissions test in Plano in June 2007. Based on the service history, I believe I made a wise investment, as it appears that the previous owner DID have it regularly serviced.
On December 15, I took it to CowTown Rover in Fort Worth for a “post-purchase” inspection. The only items which appeared to need attention at the time were: new ignition wire harness, new left/right valve cover gaskets, new serpentine belt and some other gasket (I think it was radiator or some such thing). Other than this, the mechanic (former LR service manager) said I lucked up on a good one and gave it a clean bill of health.The seller indicated at the time of purchase that the car may need some minor repairs, and paid the $588.00 bill. So far; so good. I even drove from Cedar Hill (Dallas suburb) to Little Rock, AR and back for Christmas with the Schnauzer crew . . . what a ride! This thing gets up to 90 REALLY FAST! It handled beautifully and my three Giant Schnauzers and Mini absolutely love the fact that they each have their own window. (Yes, I did actually buy this car for my dogs.)
Anyhow, fast forward to this past Monday. When leaving Walgreen’s, I made a hard right out of the parking lot onto the street and came to a stop at a traffic signal less than a half block out of the lot doing maybe 10 MPH. Yikes! I get the three amigos. I turned off the ignition, restarted and the amigos were gone. This morning when I got ready to leave for work, once I started the engine I had my foot on the brake pedal (I’m used to manual transmission, and am transitioning to automatic) and after about 10 seconds, I get a “Ding! Ding! Ding!” and the three amigos are back again. Stop; restart – amigos gone. ***SIGH*** I proceed to work (18 miles) without incident. I pick up my niece for lunch and we head to NorthPark. As soon as we’re in the parking lot by Maggiano’s, “Ding! Ding! Ding!” again, and three amigos. So I stop-restart and head back downtown to work – again, without incident. No worries on the commute home, or when I went to fill up at Chevron. I’ve read the many posts about those pesky little amigos and am of the mind that as my lights do not stay on, that I possibly have a dirty oxygen sensor or something of that ilk. I did call the seller today to let him know about the amigos, and he said it could be the ABS sensor/ECU thingy (something like that), and that I could get the part from landroverparts.com for about $200.00. He said he’d install it for me for free because the mechanic (one he recommended) would possibly charge me a lot to install it. I should add that at the time I purchased the vehicle I knew the amigos are a known issue and he did tell me about this possible fix. I’m pretty confident that he knows Rovers, as he had 20 on his lot when I picked up mine, and he checked out okay when I researched him. My question with respect to the amigos is, if this ECU/sensor thing is what he earlier mentioned (I think it’s located behind the dash or glovebox), how difficult would it be for me to install myself IF IN FACT that is the problem. I will have the codes pulled, but of course I need them to stay lit in order to do so. He does have the Rover diagnostic computer ; I asked about getting one, but it was out of my price range (I think he said it was somewhere around $1K or $2K). He told me he'd pull codes for me any time at now charge. Anyhow, I can get the codes pulled at AutoZone or O’Reilly’s if I can get them to come on and stay on (is that sadistic, or what?). Also curious as to whether oxygen sensors or hub/harness things are easy to replace. Just for background, I’ve owned three Saabs which went 225K, 168K and 144K, respectively, before I had to let go of them. I did a lot of my own repairs: replaced all the hoses, performed tune-ups (plugs, cap and rotor, cleaned IAC valve, etc.) and could diagnose most issues because I knew those cars inside out. Also helps that my dad taugh mechanics and mechanical engineering. I actually helped rebuild a Cleveland 351 in my '72 Mach I (Daddy's philosophy was that if you drove a car, you had to know basic mechanics). Of course, that was back in the day before all the computerized stuff came along. But I digres. The Disco is a completely new animal. I’m pretty much a tomboy, and don’t mind getting dirty so if there are things which are relatively easy (as in, good printed directions or Haynes manual?), I can probably handle them if I don't need a true "garage" or heavy duty tools. I do, however, know when to let a pro step in.
I passed on the extended warranty the seller offered, as I didn’t like the reviews I read about the company: C.A.R.S.-something or other. I have received a couple of quotes from AutoAdvantage, but am uncertain as to whether or not these are good rates.
Gold Plus Coverage
$100.00 Deductible
1 Year/12,000 Additional Miles- $2,237.00
1 Year/15,000 Additional Miles- $2,350.00
2 Year/24,000 Additional Miles- $2,965.00
2 Year/30,000 Additional Miles- $3,354.00
Lower deductibles are also available:
For $50.00 Deductible- Add $115.00
Driver's Choice Coverage
$0.00 Deductible
3 Year/Unlimited Additional Miles- $1,029.00
5 Year/150,000 Additional Miles- $1,099.00
7 Year/100,000 Additional Miles- $1,079.00
Have any of you selected an extended warranty from AutoAdvantage? Any recommendations? I hear Great Lakes is another good one. I'm still waiting on an email quite from them. Also, one of the mechanics at CowTown Rover recommended the Ford ESP warranty – he said it was the extended warranty that one of the LR dealerships used, and his shop never had any problems with them paying and that Ford ESP’s maintenance requirements mirrored manufacturer’s schedule (e.g., warranty not voided if oil change not performed every 3K miles). So, in a nutshell I want to know which extended warranty offers the best protection for my Disco at the best price. All suggestions from persons with experience welcomed.
[font=calibri][size=3]Almost forgot! I have not yet been able to find by searching the forum some type of comprehensive listing of “known issues” with the Disco.
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Overlanding
Joined: Dec 2007
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RE: Grab a cuppa joe -- this is long . . .
'morning, Geo! Thanks for the welcome, and tons of thanks for your helpful advice!
DIY details on theABS fixto turn the amigos off permanently. Once I can get the codes pulled, I'll figure out the next step. But it seems like this is a relatively inexpensive fix.
Code reader advice (I’ll stick with the dealer, unless there’s a reason to go out and buy one) Yeah -- I think it is the Autologic that he has. As long as he's willing to do it for free, I guess I'll make the drive to FunkyTown and let him do it.
Some quick fix maintenance that you can do Okay, so most of the basic stuff. Can you recommend a good owner's repair "bible?" Think I read about some CD that's supposed to be pretty good?
What else should you be watching for Thanks for the heads-up on the u-joint issue. I'm not sure whether or not this has already been done, but I guess I can have it looked at to find out. Is there a reason yousay take it to a driveline or transmission shop as opposed to an indy LR shop (i.e., less expensive, or better qualified [over indy LR shop] to install)?
Best oil and filter. K&N and Mobil 1 -- used K&N filters on Saab; I take it Valvoline synth okay, too?Any reason to takeit to Rover mechanic (what, $80.00?), as opposed to Valvoline oil changeplace around the corner frommy house ($50.00)for oil change? BTW, I like NGK plugs -- how do they perform in the Rover? Should I ONLY use Bosch?
Extended warranty advice -- I'm inclined to agree with you about the warranty, but I've read so many horror stories about $5K and $9K repairs that I'm afraid of a "shoulda, woulda, coulda" situation down the line. Gotta think about this one.[/ol]
Idon't believe the 60K service was performed because I just had a new serp belt, ignition wires and some gaskets put on -- things which would have been covered -- so I'll be getting that done in a couple of weeks. Is $650.00 a reasonable price?Saab parts and service were on the high end, so I'm not sure if this is high or not. Couldprolly do most of this myself, except for convenience factor.
Thanks again for your help, Geo!
DIY details on theABS fixto turn the amigos off permanently. Once I can get the codes pulled, I'll figure out the next step. But it seems like this is a relatively inexpensive fix.
Code reader advice (I’ll stick with the dealer, unless there’s a reason to go out and buy one) Yeah -- I think it is the Autologic that he has. As long as he's willing to do it for free, I guess I'll make the drive to FunkyTown and let him do it.
Some quick fix maintenance that you can do Okay, so most of the basic stuff. Can you recommend a good owner's repair "bible?" Think I read about some CD that's supposed to be pretty good?
What else should you be watching for Thanks for the heads-up on the u-joint issue. I'm not sure whether or not this has already been done, but I guess I can have it looked at to find out. Is there a reason yousay take it to a driveline or transmission shop as opposed to an indy LR shop (i.e., less expensive, or better qualified [over indy LR shop] to install)?
Best oil and filter. K&N and Mobil 1 -- used K&N filters on Saab; I take it Valvoline synth okay, too?Any reason to takeit to Rover mechanic (what, $80.00?), as opposed to Valvoline oil changeplace around the corner frommy house ($50.00)for oil change? BTW, I like NGK plugs -- how do they perform in the Rover? Should I ONLY use Bosch?
Extended warranty advice -- I'm inclined to agree with you about the warranty, but I've read so many horror stories about $5K and $9K repairs that I'm afraid of a "shoulda, woulda, coulda" situation down the line. Gotta think about this one.[/ol]
Idon't believe the 60K service was performed because I just had a new serp belt, ignition wires and some gaskets put on -- things which would have been covered -- so I'll be getting that done in a couple of weeks. Is $650.00 a reasonable price?Saab parts and service were on the high end, so I'm not sure if this is high or not. Couldprolly do most of this myself, except for convenience factor.
Thanks again for your help, Geo!
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Overlanding
Joined: Dec 2007
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RE: Grab a cuppa joe -- this is long . . .
Hi, Mike -- only issue per se to pop up thus far is the amigos coming on from time to time. If you can tell me how to get the stupid amigos to come on to get the codes pulled, that would be great. 
Actually, it seems that a hard corner might do it, but I don't wanna risk screwing up anything. My understanding is you can only get the codes when the amigos come on, right?
Any help is most appreciated!
Actually, it seems that a hard corner might do it, but I don't wanna risk screwing up anything. My understanding is you can only get the codes when the amigos come on, right?Any help is most appreciated!
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Overlanding
Joined: Dec 2007
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RE: Grab a cuppa joe -- this is long . . .
Thanks for the info, Landzu! I'll check into them. I'll also look into Texas Rovers. I don't do any off-roading, although I would like to learn more about the sport. I pretty much needed a truck in which I could haul my dogs and stuff and have room. BUT, I am certainly interested in learning how to drive on backwoods trails and the like.