Hey everyone,
First post for my first rover. Bought a 2002 land Rover disco 2 about a week ago, has 140k on it. Very clean, thought I got a good deal. Now I'm starting to regret my purchase. Check engine light came on with codes p1414 and p1417, p0300 and p0308. I couldn't figure out the SAI issue, reset the computer and codes came back the next day. Replaced spark plugs with bosch +4's. Noticed I was leaking coolant from the underside, it is leaking off the bell housing on back of engine. Also have some white smoke, worse when i rev the engine but goes away quite a bit when I drive it. I'm idling at 750rpms, I have no noticeable power loss. Could a blown intake manifold gasket cause the white smoke associated with a head gasket issue? Also no oil in coolant or coolant in oil, white smoke does not really smell of coolant but very moist. Also reset computer after replacing plugs, service engine light came back on and I'm going to read the codes later today. Any thoughts or ideas are much appreciated. Next steps? Compression test, radiator pressure test?

On a side note; also having a radio issue. Radio turns on fine, I can surf channels etc. but volume control will not work. Does not even respond to buttons on steering wheel. No sound out of speakers at all. CD thing won't eject. I have checked all fuses and pulled head unit, wires look good. Bad amp?

Thank you in advance.
Ashton

 

Pick up a cooling system pressure tester at an auto parts store and pressurize the system while looking for a leak. Most rent them. Typically a head gasket problem on these trucks results in coolant leaking to the outside of the engine, not into the cylinders. And it usually doesn't end up on the bellhousing. It drips out of the end of the heads. When you pulled out the plugs, did any of them look like they were steam cleaned? Are you losing lots of coolant? The first place I would suspect is the heater plate on the bottom of the throttle body. It will drip on the valve cover and the manifold on the driver's side.

 

Ok I will definitely get the pressure test tomorrow. Will a vacuum test help anything? I have everything for a compression test but was reading some people saying a vacuum test would tell me more. It is definitely leaking on the passenger side, and not the heater hoses. It seems to be coming out the back of the head or intake manifold, but I can't see even with a mirror back there. Anything common that leaks on that side? I think my best bet is just to do some tests to figure out if it's a head gasket. If I can rule that out I'll be a happy camper. I can tackle most everything else top end.

 

Oh and about the spark plugs- none of them looked steam cleaned. They all looked the same, I even took a picture of one. It would be the front plug on passenger side. Made sure to also closely inspect cylinder #1 since I got the error code saying I had a misfire in that cylinder. If I knew how i would upload a picture of that plug.

 

Update: rented a pressure test kit.... Definite leak down passenger side of bell housing. Also leaking down two hoses that seem to go to the transmission, think they are rubber and maybe 1\2 inch thick each, they are also bundled together. I can't find the leak for the life of me, it is hidden. I need a borescope but can't find anything that rents them out.

 

Those two lines you are talking about are the transmission cooler lines if they are toward the bottom of the transmission. There are breather tubes towards the top on that side also. If the coolant is coming out of the head gasket, it will be leaking right at the back where the head meets the block. It's tough to see back there but you may be able to feel it with your fingers when you pressurize the system. If it is leaking from the manifold gaskets, it will flow down onto the valley pan first which you should be able to see. It may also be coming from the hoses to the heater core.