Hello people of the Rover world, I come to you a non LR owner in search of help...... and to say HI!

so looking into trading one of my Volvo's for a 97 Disco 160K miles auto, 4.0L V8 and very clean


what are common issues, things to look out for, any info would help for sure.

Thanks for reading (^_^)

 

well would you know found a whole forum about it here

https://landroverforums.com/forum/di...section-32402/

*face palm*

 

Common issues include over heating, all sorts of codes stored, and owners that bypass warning lights and remove thermostats to mask these problems. A good code scanner plugged in will reveal several things:

1. Is the MIL status "ON" - that is the malfunction indicator light or check engine light. The scanner will show it even if the bulb has "burned out".

2. Speaking of bulbs, the oil light should come on at cranking and go out in a second or two, not ten seconds, etc.

3. The scanner can show the digital coolant temp, which should warm up, may break 200, then drop back down to 180 -190 range at idle with stock stat. If temp only gets to 140 - 150, the thermostat is stuck open or on the work bench. Pix shows how scanner shows overheating but gauge shows "kinda normal".

4. The scanner will show voltages for oxygen sensors. At this point, you just want to see that they are changing, not staying stuck at one voltage.

5. The scanner will show codes stored, both pending and "live". Some sensors are monitored so that the same problem must happen over two, four, or even eight "drive cycles" before MIL is turned on and code stored for diagnostics.

6. Perhaps to be fair to each other both vehicles go to indy shop for inspection, it will be worth your money.

7. Open coolant cap, should not have scum from water in oil present on cap or inside container. Coolant should not have lots of brown (or any color) particles swirling around - that could indicate radiator stop leak was used to deal with overheating.

Of course all the usual tests, driving, shifting in all gears, shifting the CDL (the other gear shift), operate all electric windows, AC blows cold, electric seats move, locks work (check every door), etc.

Factory shop and owners manuals are in the "RAVE" which you can download below. Stands for "Rovers Are Very Expensive" (actually Rover Automated Viewing Environment).