Hey all, my name is KC and I recently purchased a 1996 Land Rover Discovery SD. Since buying it, I've grown to love it, even though it's got it's own set of problems and swallows gas. Happy to make your aqquaintances.

 

Welcome. Please take advantage of the free download of the factory tech manuals, called the RAVE, below. Includes owners manual, electrical, workshop, body and interior repair, etc. In the Discovery 1 area of the forum you will find a technical "sticky" listing, with things to to to high miles new 2 u Rovers, and plenty of repair projects.

Based on what I have seen on this forum, here are some cautions:

1. Check fluids daily for first week, then weekly after that. Oil pressure warning light comes on at 7 PSI, so engine can die at 9 PSI at 70 miles per hour, and you won't know it. Good basic oil is 15W40 Shell Rotella, a diesel rated oil has a lot more cleaning to get old gunk out. 5000 miles between oil changes. Good for down to 32 F, go with a 10W40 for down to 14 F, synthetic below that.

2. The heat gauge is an idiot light with a pointer, not a precise measuring instrument. It is not linear. Many will show same point on dial from 140 - 230 degrees. That spot seems to be 8:00 to 9:00 on the gauge. So when you get above 9:00 things are getting warm. 10:00 you are toasting the engine. A single overheating incident can bring on failed head gasket or worse.

3. You have a brass and copper radiator, which can be removed and taken to an indy radiator shop for acid boil out and rod out of built up calcium. Usually under $80. Be sure space between radiator and condenser is clear of trash, fins washed out (not pressure washer, meta can't take it), etc. Be sure your fan clutch is in good shape, stiff to spin when warmed up, does not free whel or spin more than 1/2 turn.

4. At battery, clean top terminals and lugs. Follow negative lead down to frame near radiator, remove and clean that connection. Follow smaller wire from positive terminal to fuse bix under hood. Remove and clean that one, plus the other one of same size next to it. This modest wire carrys power from battery to just about everything besides the starter, and the other one is the charging lead from the alternator.

5. If drive shafts don't have U joints, (2 front, 1 rear) - rebuild per tech sticky on propshafts. If they do have 'em, grease every oil change.

6. Lots of things to grease or clean on the underside. Miss them often enough and hope you have your hiking boots on.

7. You will be needing new plugs and wires, 8mm.

Have fun, post pix early and often!

 

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