Hi everyone, I'm hoping to get some insight here for my 2000 Discovery 2. I just got the car with 220k on the odometer. Per the previous owner, the owner before them had the top end rebuilt at 170k. No MIL lamp illuminated just the 3 amigos which has since been fixed with a new abs sensor. Since it was rebuilt it appears that the car was never able to pass California smog so the car was no-op'd . I looked at the attempted smog paperwork from the previous owner done 2 month ago before I took possession and all tests passed except OBD2 readiness and that read "Not Ready" so it failed smog. I was told to just go drive it for 200 miles or so. Well I did the driving and still the monitors were not ready but no MIL either. I went out and got the Nanocom for the car and can now do the data collection but im still learning all the values of the Nanocom.

I recently took my car to my "family mechanic" and asked if they knew what to look for and they charged me $175 for diagnostics to tell me the upstream O2 sensors were in need of replacement. They charged me another $470 to install the 2 upstream Bosch o2 sensors. I initially said no thanks but I had family saying "trust them they know what they're doing" so I let them put the sensors in for me this was 2 days ago. Today my MIL lamp is now illuminated getting a code P1000 and my car smells like rotten eggs every time I drive it. I was already hesitant having them do the job because it seems really expensive as well as putting in Bosch o2 sensors (which have a poor reputation amongst Disco 2 users) and now I have the MIL lamp and possibly damaged catalytic converters?

The mechanic wants me to return today to run more diagnostics and while I'm open for a consult I really would prefer to be the one to work on this car moving forward it's kind of the whole reason I got this car in the first place.

I'd like to know how you all would proceed ? Let me know if you'd like to see Nanocom data 📈 can upload it to the thread here.

Thanks in advance!

 

1. Never take a LR to a "family mechanic". LR specialist only. 2. The cost of tools is always cheaper than paying a mechanic. Use YouTube and the forums (NOT Facebook groups) to ask for advice and learn to DIY. 3. He told you to put in the new sensors and charged you a premium to do the job. It's on him to fix them. 4. P1000 is not related to 02, look at the rave manual on my site and read up on the evap system. 5. Do a search and read the CA smog threads on here. Get the issues corrected and you should be fine.

 

Thanks Extinct yeah I really should have gone with my better judgement. I bought this Discovery 2 and immediately made an account here and got a Nanocom both resources have already saved me hundreds if not a few thousand in not needing a mechanic plus it's very rewarding working on your own stuff. There already is a wealth of knowledge that's why this is my first forum post in this section pretty much everything else has been covered! Also using online resources like YouTube has a bunch of videos from companies like Atlantic British that cover so many tasks. I guess I was just hopeful this mechanic could just find a way to press this car thru smog without some huge to do but I'm already regretting letting someone who doesn't know these cars touch it.

 

As I am not familiar with CA smog regulations, is there an exemption for 25 yr old vehicles or "classics"? Didn't know if that would apply.

I live in Indiana and there are not the regulations here as in CA.

Just curious. And from past experience, Extinct recommendations are golden. Excellent advice from him have saved me $$ and time in the past!!

 

I believe the CA smog exemption list is stuck at 1976 or older vehicles. I have some family friends that live out in rural San Diego County and they don't have to smog their vehicles more than the once time they first take possession.

This forum has been extremely helpful already in helping me understand my Disco 2. I'll definitely keep this thread open and add to it as I go along!

 

Family mechanic is raping you
dammm