improving reliability
#11
Long term speaking, replace the engine with one of the improved variants available here in the US and keep up with regular oil changes. Keep the entire cooling system up to date and do a proper coolant flush as recommended, change the thermostat as stated, replace the front drive shaft with the aftermarket fully serviceable shaft, keep the brakes in good shape at all times and you will be fine. Anything else is typical wear which happens to all vehicles so.
#12
Thank you for the replies, it sounds like many of the people who have the most issues are lazy in their maintenance and treat it like a 1987 civic. I have owned a few turbo Volvos and this seems to be the same. A few well known quirks/repairs of common failures and proper maintenance and you will run for ever. Do you think this a fair assessment for a newbie
But another issue that is very hard to get a read on is many of these blocks have problems with slipped liners and cracked sleeves. I haven't seen any hard science on why, though some people say it was a metallurgical problem in the 03-04s. I honestly don't know all that much about it, but you may want to do some research into slipped sleeves. It's possible to fix with new sleeves, and most people resleeve with top hat slevves to permanently fix the problem. Others who were, um, more frugal, drilled the block and used screws to hold the sleeves in place (which is probly what I will do if a sleeve slips).
Ultimately, these trucks are more prone to head gasket and block problems than most vehicles. I'm not saying your block will fail eventually, but it's more likely than with most vehicles. That's just part of the deal.
I choose to not worry about and cross those bridges as I reach them. It may wear me down eventually, but right now I love the truck enough that it isn't a big deal to me.
#13
It is a fair assessment. But Land Rover made it worse in some cases. The big one that leaps to mind is the unserviceable front drive shaft that is literally a ticking time bomb waiting to take out the transmission.
But another issue that is very hard to get a read on is many of these blocks have problems with slipped liners and cracked sleeves. I haven't seen any hard science on why, though some people say it was a metallurgical problem in the 03-04s. I honestly don't know all that much about it, but you may want to do some research into slipped sleeves. It's possible to fix with new sleeves, and most people resleeve with top hat slevves to permanently fix the problem. Others who were, um, more frugal, drilled the block and used screws to hold the sleeves in place (which is probly what I will do if a sleeve slips).
Ultimately, these trucks are more prone to head gasket and block problems than most vehicles. I'm not saying your block will fail eventually, but it's more likely than with most vehicles. That's just part of the deal.
I choose to not worry about and cross those bridges as I reach them. It may wear me down eventually, but right now I love the truck enough that it isn't a big deal to me.
But another issue that is very hard to get a read on is many of these blocks have problems with slipped liners and cracked sleeves. I haven't seen any hard science on why, though some people say it was a metallurgical problem in the 03-04s. I honestly don't know all that much about it, but you may want to do some research into slipped sleeves. It's possible to fix with new sleeves, and most people resleeve with top hat slevves to permanently fix the problem. Others who were, um, more frugal, drilled the block and used screws to hold the sleeves in place (which is probly what I will do if a sleeve slips).
Ultimately, these trucks are more prone to head gasket and block problems than most vehicles. I'm not saying your block will fail eventually, but it's more likely than with most vehicles. That's just part of the deal.
I choose to not worry about and cross those bridges as I reach them. It may wear me down eventually, but right now I love the truck enough that it isn't a big deal to me.
#14
If you'd like to read up check this out, pages 24 through 30.
Aluminium quality was not the issue.
How to Power Tune Rover V-8 Engines: For Road and Track - Des Hammill - Google Books
Aluminium quality was not the issue.
How to Power Tune Rover V-8 Engines: For Road and Track - Des Hammill - Google Books
Last edited by Dave03S; 03-01-2014 at 12:21 PM.
#15
I would agree with the above, and you will become more familiar with your D2 than any vehicle you have ever owned if you have not been previously mechanical minded. I was attentive to my vehicles, but never got to know the things about my vehicles like I do my D2, and I feel more comfortable in repairing, planning, and travelling with the new knowledge and skills I have. Those skills also transfer to future vehicles and other vehicles in your family at some level.
You will want to have a good assortment of tools, standard & metric or begin to create one, which in my mind is a good thing, if you do not already have a good collection. The downloadable workshop manual in PDF format and this forum and others are invaluable, but you have to read and come to your own understanding. Everyone is not the expert they appear to be on the Internet With the knowledge I have gained I have expanded the repairs I am now willing to tackle and on those I still do not have time/space/skills to perform, I am still a better informed consumer when going to a mechanic. This is paramount in the Land Rover repair world.
You will want to have a good assortment of tools, standard & metric or begin to create one, which in my mind is a good thing, if you do not already have a good collection. The downloadable workshop manual in PDF format and this forum and others are invaluable, but you have to read and come to your own understanding. Everyone is not the expert they appear to be on the Internet With the knowledge I have gained I have expanded the repairs I am now willing to tackle and on those I still do not have time/space/skills to perform, I am still a better informed consumer when going to a mechanic. This is paramount in the Land Rover repair world.
#16
#17
Im no expert on the subject by any means but ive had in depth conversations with Independent LR shop owners, engine rebuild experts and even a couple British LR mechanics, after all the conversations and tons of research on my own I have concluded that all US bond Discovery 1 and 2 models with the petrol Rover V8 are prone to engine failure. Some would argue that the problem only happens with the 2003/2004 models but that is just opinion of some. The engine used is about the same over the years, just some tweaking, added power and **** like that. Ultimately the engine is flat out unreliable but tolerable so long as you keep up with frequent oil changes and keep a watchful eye on the cooling system. Engine and front drive shaft aside there really is not anything else on these vehicles that is more prone to failure then the components on any other vehicle make and model. Most vehicles have some issues at some point. Brakes, tires, gas pedals, electrical, abrupt fires, random stalls etc. Some vehicles dont like the heat, others hate the cold. Some dont like steep hills and others dont like the slightest un-even bumps in the road. The list goes on and no vehicle has a near perfect track record. These Discovery models are still great vehicles, and most dedicated owners eventually replace the head gaskets or do a engine rebuild or flat out replace with a improved version.
Just do your research before you buy and be familiar with the early sighs of engine failure when you take a potential truck out for a test drive. If you want to get your hands on a nice D2 than I would suggest you look for a well maintained D2 that already had the engine replaced or rebuilt, that will save you a ton of money and save you alot of trouble and worries down the road. With the engine taken care of all you have to worry about is the front drive shaft, keeping fluids fresh and general maint as recommended like on any other vehicle. I love my D2 and would not dream of parting with one unless I was swapping it for another D2 that already had an engine overhaul. When cared for these are truly incredible vehicles. Very capable, easy to work on, parts are cheaper nowadays with all the aftermarket vendors and there is plenty of DIY information available at your disposal.
Just do your research before you buy and be familiar with the early sighs of engine failure when you take a potential truck out for a test drive. If you want to get your hands on a nice D2 than I would suggest you look for a well maintained D2 that already had the engine replaced or rebuilt, that will save you a ton of money and save you alot of trouble and worries down the road. With the engine taken care of all you have to worry about is the front drive shaft, keeping fluids fresh and general maint as recommended like on any other vehicle. I love my D2 and would not dream of parting with one unless I was swapping it for another D2 that already had an engine overhaul. When cared for these are truly incredible vehicles. Very capable, easy to work on, parts are cheaper nowadays with all the aftermarket vendors and there is plenty of DIY information available at your disposal.
#18
One only has to look at the recalls and problems with Toyota cars in the past few years to realise there are many top selling cars out there with manufacturing faults.
In a recent survey I was reading the D1 and D2 scored 5 out of 5 for spares availability and 4 out of 5 for customising offroad spares. This may well compare to the best of many vehicles and then when one considers the D1 & D2 are 10-20 years old and still attract an avid following.
In a recent survey I was reading the D1 and D2 scored 5 out of 5 for spares availability and 4 out of 5 for customising offroad spares. This may well compare to the best of many vehicles and then when one considers the D1 & D2 are 10-20 years old and still attract an avid following.
#19
It is a fair assessment. But Land Rover made it worse in some cases. The big one that leaps to mind is the unserviceable front drive shaft that is literally a ticking time bomb waiting to take out the transmission.
But another issue that is very hard to get a read on is many of these blocks have problems with slipped liners and cracked sleeves. I haven't seen any hard science on why, though some people say it was a metallurgical problem in the 03-04s. I honestly don't know all that much about it, but you may want to do some research into slipped sleeves. It's possible to fix with new sleeves, and most people resleeve with top hat slevves to permanently fix the problem. Others who were, um, more frugal, drilled the block and used screws to hold the sleeves in place (which is probly what I will do if a sleeve slips).
Ultimately, these trucks are more prone to head gasket and block problems than most vehicles. I'm not saying your block will fail eventually, but it's more likely than with most vehicles. That's just part of the deal.
I choose to not worry about and cross those bridges as I reach them. It may wear me down eventually, but right now I love the truck enough that it isn't a big deal to me.
But another issue that is very hard to get a read on is many of these blocks have problems with slipped liners and cracked sleeves. I haven't seen any hard science on why, though some people say it was a metallurgical problem in the 03-04s. I honestly don't know all that much about it, but you may want to do some research into slipped sleeves. It's possible to fix with new sleeves, and most people resleeve with top hat slevves to permanently fix the problem. Others who were, um, more frugal, drilled the block and used screws to hold the sleeves in place (which is probly what I will do if a sleeve slips).
Ultimately, these trucks are more prone to head gasket and block problems than most vehicles. I'm not saying your block will fail eventually, but it's more likely than with most vehicles. That's just part of the deal.
I choose to not worry about and cross those bridges as I reach them. It may wear me down eventually, but right now I love the truck enough that it isn't a big deal to me.
Top hat shouldered sleeves are the ultimate answer to slipped block sleeves and should have been the standard from the start. There are many allow blocks with the top hat liners and there are also many with nikasil liners but with the latter the block quality has to be far better. I think it's all down to cash and everything being built down to a price and longevity is very secondary. Having said that, Ford seem to have this philosophy sorted where they hone all production down to a price and their philosophy of 'why use 3 bolts when 2 will do' seems to works on their cars.
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General Range Rover Discussion - Archived
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04-07-2011 10:02 AM