So I found a 96 Range Rover for $800 that I'm considering buying. Its been used as intended so its seen some serious mud and trails and it shows. Has an OME 2" lift and almost new tires but as always with cheap vehicles there is a catch. This one is said to need a battery and a new starter, he says otherwise it runs great. The problem is the only way I can be sure is to put a starter and battery on it before I take it to make sure that's the issue. I'd hate to trailor it home only to find out the motor is crap. Is there a way to make a 100% diagnosis its the starter and battery? Also is a 96 to much trouble to put a starter on? Looks like a fun project and the guy seems totally fine with me changing out the starter in his driveway.

 

Starter is a PITA, you have to use several extensions and work from the front back towrd the starter, uses a metric "Allen" bolt, wash gunk out of that out with spray brake cleaner. The starter could just be a bad solenoid, so you may be able to crank with your loaner battery and banging starter or shorting wiring at starter.

If you put fresh battery in it you can pull stored codes, check other electrical things, etc. Might be able to do a coolant pressure test (loaner from auto parts store).

He may think starter and he is really immobilized... get your RAVE on...

 

^^^^^^agree^^^^^^^^^ I would really try to take it for a drive and get it running to make sure transmission and motor aren't crap. That would suck. How else is the condition of the body/ interior? If its really good then you could maybe make some $$ it turns out to be a crapper after you buy it... Something to think about.

 

For $800 you really cant go wrong in my opinion.
Buy a used starter for $50. throw it on and drive it home, there is a write up in the tech section, the RRC is the same as the DI for starter replacement, they use different starters but the job is the same.

 

I'm always sceptical of people who sell things with known problems especially when its as simple as a starter or battery, if that is the case why wouldn't they put 200 bucks and a few hours in it and sell it for $2000

 

I rarely ever buy a non-running truck for over $500. As has been intimated, you never know what else is really wrong until you get it running. Parts for P38a's can be expensive and there is a lot that can only be done with Testbook or similar. So, unless you can get it for $500, have a place to put it until you can get it running OR a place where you can part it out, I would recommend NOT purchasing it.

I like the $500 figure because between the value of the scrap and some of the parts that you can pull off quickly, you can make double your money back should the truck be beyond your ability to get it running. Sadly, this is how I approach most Rovers that are 15 years old or older. Sometimes you score big, sometimes you break even but at least you have yourself covered either way.

 

But, he's not looking at a Classic, he's looking at a P38a GEMS truck. That's an entirely different can of worms.

 

FYI, little if anything will work on your 1994 Discovery should the truck not be able to run on its own. The engine is different, being a GEMS it has more in common with later DI's. The suspension is entirely different. Nothing from the interior will cross over.

It could be fun but you have to be prepared that the whole project could hit an expensive roadblock quickly with these monsters. The P38a is my least favorite Rover.

 

Thank you for the correction, I read the year wrong.

 

We'll I slept on it and it disappeared. Kinda glad it did though, I was on the fence and may have bought it. Kinda glad I didnt though, $800 is to much of a gamble on something that wouldnt be worth a whole lot more if it were operable. Oh well $800 more I can dump in SWMBO's Discovery, haha.