I recently bought a 2003, and my VIN falls outside the range of oil pump failures (3A771801 - 3A808362). Does this absolutely mean I'm free and clear with regard to this issue, or do I still need to be nervous?

Thanks for all the advice thus far.A new TW front driveshaft is already on the way.

 

My 2003 is in the vin range... 116,000 miles and runs strong.

It is what it is.

MWmG

 

keep your oil changed and you will be fine...

 

My 03 falls out of the vin too and it has 60k miles and drives like new.... But you never know. So to be on the safe side i am trying to rig an aftermarket oil pressure gauge on mine to monitor the oil pressure. (i'll post that project when im done)

Other than that, do your scheduled oil changes and listen to your motor, learn how it sounds while idling, acceleration, etc...so that if it ever starts ticking or pinging, it will be a new sound to u and go from there.

IF your oil light EVER...EVER comes on while driving- PULL OVER AND TURN OFF THE MOTOR and get it checked..... a new oil pump might be in question and that could last you another xx,xxx miles at least (i plan to do that if mine dies).... It's much cheaper than the permanent fix of getting a different motor.

 

It is a machine and you are never out of the woods with any machine.
Moving parts will fail, lubricated parts will fail.
Dont worry about it, you only have one life...Live It.

 

your machine like all machines are made my a person. and people are FAR from perfect. so in time something is gonna fail. dont sweat the small things,,, enjoy now and take the time to do the preventative maintnance

 

I'm in the vin range with 60K miles. So far so good.

 

if the vin is not in the range, then this problem will not happen to you. thats not to say your engine wont fail, it will eventually. however the reason they fail for the 03s in the vin range is the engine is machined wrong and it puts strain on the pump. if yours fails, its due to normal wear and tear, if youre in the range, and its running well, consider yourself lucky that landrover tolarences arent that precise and your pump had enough play in it to be fine.

 

My 2003 DII is in VIN range with 67k miles and no problems with the oil pump yet.

 

That VIN range is just the know problem ones, there are a number of '04's with bad oil pumps.