Hey all,

I bought my death year disco for a slim 2k. I was told it needed spark plugs and breaks, until a regular shop wouldn’t even look at it. Disco has a problem with over heating. I’m hoping it’s not a head gasket and I was trying a few normal fixes before I jumped on here and made an account. When I got it she had a bunch of lights lit up and euro shops were saying top hat to fix the over heating. I said to hell with that let me put a thermostat in this aluminum bad boy and see what happens. We went from less than 2 mins run time to about 10 with signals on the dash indicating no power going to engine. I swapped the alternator and she was driving today 0-35 mph for about 5 mins, first time I ever got to drive it outside the parking lot. Went to get some air in the tires and a couple bucks in gas when it over heated again and started smokin. I was wondering if any body else went through this progression and if a water pump should be my next move? Also I was thinking about the oil I don’t know when the last time fresh oil or gas was put in the car.... let me know if there are any threads in particular I should be checking out

 

Did you eat any bbq recently with that watery vinegar based sauce? If so, that’s the problem. Discos like the thicker tomato based sauce and will act up with anything else.

 

Hi there and welcome to the forum! Sorry to hear that euroshops are giving you the runaround and basic shops don't want to take a look at it. I get that a lot where I live too. Discos, unfortunately, are notorious for head gasket issues and the 03 and 04 Discos, I've heard, are more prone to the infamous slipped liner. It sounds as if you're comfortable working on your own vehicle and attempting to troubleshoot. Yes, change the oil and make sure your fluids are topped up. Obviously the gasoline is not making your vehicle overheat, but it wouldn't hurt to add some new to the tank. Do a search on pressure testing and compression testing on the forum. If you have OBDII reader or tool to get codes off the Rover, I would recommend doing that as well. Many folks on here are happy to assist if they have more information. Atlantic British is a good source for doing maintenance on your Rover - they have numerous videos and sell parts too:

https://www.roverparts.com/?utm_sour...SAAEgL26_D_BwE

Good luck and post back when you need help

 

@stillruns I only feed the disco mustard based BBQ or dry rub ribs haha!

 

@KernowDiscovery hey thank you! glad to be here, one euro shop did show me the combustion test they did showing that I had engine exhaust in my cooling system. I got it towed home and swapped the thermo and alternator and put a new expansion tank hose in because I leaned over mine to put the alternator in and it was so brittle it snapped. The over heating while idling stopped, I didnt get more than a mile to the gas station and it went hot again, didnt show hot on the dash until I turned it off and back on again. I got it home today. Im also in school full time so tomorrow im going to go get some new gas and a decent coolant because I topped it off with water.

I got alot done on the outside of the car by watching Atlantic British videos. Back/ trunk door was seized in one position, I got that working and the 3rd row was stuck into the upright position, I got those down and pushed up to have a full trunk again. From the papers I found in it, it looks like it was a Marines at one point. From the broken glass in it, I believe it was a Marine's at some point. Very cool car, it has some Hawii park passes on it and a US Department of defense tag in the front window, Its done its fair share of traveling. I dont want to drive it cross country, I just want to make it to the beach and back haha 20-30 mile a day kind of fixed. OB is on my list to get on my next trip. will post update with codes.