I'm going to vent here so bare with me. In the past four years we are into our 3rd Discovery., started with a 1995 high kms but good working truck (hit by bad driver)insurance payout replaced with 2003 SE, low kms. Now my Son has a 2004 SE low 110k kms. Just finished a 1000 kms trip, other than a leaky P/S pump, it drove beautiful.
Son wants to sell it because he needs a pickup. Both my wife and I like the discovery but I must admitted with the usual disco problems, it is hard to have confidence with these vehicles. I have done most of the previous work on the others and would tackle a head gasket job if required.

I guess my question is how rare is a 2004 Discovery not being affected by the head gasket, 3 amigos, etc.....70%, 50%. 30% of them...they can't all be bad!
Thanks for your thoughts

Kevin

 

<1%. Head gaskets is almost a routine maintenance on these trucks. Having said that, if you take care of your truck, they can last a good long while.

Three amigos is a pretty spotty but very common problem.

 

Sorry about the double post. Telephone rang and forgot I sent it already.

 

head gaskets just fail at 120 km or so.. Or even sooner.
Like shoes - replace them..

I used these Gaskets

Victor Reinz

DANA - Dana

I used Erling on the Discovery I

http://jeffreyfall.com/landrover/199...ghtenSpecs.pdf

Can't say for a fact if the Victor Reinz head gaskets are better than Erling or worse..

Others?
Your thoughts?

 

But, to your question..
If you replace the head gaskets on your 2004 - you'll be probably good for 75k km or more.

Replace the thermostat too.

And, the front drive shaft if it needs it and you'll be set.
Just never overheat it.

 

3 Amigos is minor annoyance..
These lit means your ABS system is out.
But, if you have good tires on it - who really cares..
SO what if you have then a 1970's braking system.
All 4 wheels still stop the truck. just pump the brakes.
If you start to skid, foot off the brake.

 

That's how I learned to brake (and starting the carbureted trucks); pump the pedals!

 

...any idea how the pan got split???

 

I'd have to hazard a guess (based on previous posts and lack of recent activity here on this forum) that the OP moved on from his 'obsession' with the DII and bought an LR3. It sounds as if he was put through the wringer with a gamut of DII idiosyncrasies, dealt with a lifetime of frustration in a little less than four years and figured it was a waste of his precious time.

I know that I'm tired of chasing my own tail on some fixes, questioning if I did something right or wrong, and have, unfortunately, felt like throwing in the towel. There's only so many times that you can try something without feeling defeat, you know?

 

Actually, abs being out means that traction control is also out, which means that you better have tires made from sap and super glue because your off roading ability will be entirely undermined but the lack of traction and open diffs