In the three years since we sold our Range Rover classic, we've had this feeling that life is too simple without any British cars. When my F250 went to the last round-up a couple of weeks ago, I started looking around for some sort of a replacement... something that could tow the horse trailer... but something with more than "one-wheel-drive" that won't get stuck on wet grass, like the F250 often did.

I bought a 2000 Discovery II just over a week ago for an insanely low price. The price was because the previous owner wasn't a "car guy," and he seemed to respond to each new failing as a reason to drive the poor truck less, but not to fix anything. He appears to have bought the rig two years ago, probably with lights glowing on the dashboard, and then drove it only about 9,000 miles. I checked the stored OBD codes before I bought the poor thing, and most had been logged 21,400+ miles ago. With all these problems, and knowing full well I knew what they were, he offered a price too low to turn down. We'll see if I was a fool to buy this Disco for $850.

The bodywork and interior are in very good shape.















The error lights tell part of the tale. The three amigos are glowing away, as the Service Engine Soon light. The codes are for misfires and lean mixtures on both banks, so I have some vacuum leaks to find and fix. I've got to put in new plugs and wires too. Also, I have a bad sensor for the transmission cooler temperature, so I have some diagnosing. I also have a collapsed tappet, and I have an ugly feeling that the 9,000 miles since he bought it have been on the same fill of motor oil, so it's probably overdue for a change. I'm also encouraged by the errors I don't have, no errors for bad oxygen sensors, or a bad TPS or bad MAF sensor. There's hope.

Oh, the most expensive problem is a cracked windshield. My first quote was for $995 installed. That may have to wait awhile, perhaps for my next tax refund.

It's also got a bad tire too, and I've found a used Toyo with 80% tread for $25... it'll cost me more to get it balanced and mounted. Until I get it mounted, it is still safe to drive on the spare, thank goodness.

Life is already more interesting. I'm sure I'll prove the adage that it is always cheaper to buy a Rover in good shape than to buy a fixer-upper and pay all the costs to repair it. It's nice to be back among you, among Land Rover owners. We'll be able to go to the All British Field Meet in something British again.

Scott

 

great price on the truck,crazy price for a windshield it should be about a 3rd of that price.
with codes that old "I" would change the fluids and clear the codes and see exactly what comes back.

 

welcome back! yeah, that's an insanely low entrance price, but it sounds like you have a good idea of what it's going to take to get the truck up to 'speed'. dang, that's a costly windshield. as drowssap said, I'd start with the 90k maintenance and go from there.

 

That must be for a heated windshield? Put a regular one in it. Good price for the rig though...

 

He is in an area with winter so the heated screen would be nice. I got one of the knock offs for in the low $400's about a year ago. The quality is fine. I've had two Pilkingtons which each lasted under two years.

I have glass coverage on my insurance so it cost the same for heated or non heated, ie: all I pay is the deductible.

 

Well, I like the way the heated windshield cleared away moisture and melted snow on our '87 Range Rover, so I may just have to pop for a heated replacement. You say there are heated knock-offs for less? How is yours working out?

Scott

 

I got an Autel AL619 a couple of days ago, and finished updating it this evening just before dinner. I went out after dinner and read the ABS codes... ooh... shuttle valve electrical failure, weak signal from front right wheel, and erratic signal from front right wheel. It looks like some ABS rebuilding is ahead, but that's not exactly a surprise after reading up on the three amigos.

After clearing the engine OBD codes and taking the rig for a spin, I have errors for front and rear O2 sensors on Bank B (I think that is passenger side... need to double-check), and a vacuum leak affecting both sides. That's not as bad as I feared. Time to buy some sensors, and start hunting vacuum leaks with my can of carb cleaner.

Scott

 

before you buy the sensors check the wheel hub for failure. That could be a reason why the sensor failed in the first place.

 

get the 02's on amazon