1997 P38 glides through MOTs for 7 years and SUDDENLY....

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Eva from Sussex

Eva from Sussex

New Member
Posts
5
Location
Haywards Heath
So, dear daughter took P38 on holiday and it overheated on the way to Cornwall. AA man said that there is exhaust in coolant (she is not quite sure about that, and we are chasing AA for report). Garage diagnosed radiator cap causing overheating, but also fuel leak in injector pump body, and fuel injector needing replacement. But they will take it off our hands for £100.
Suddenly looking at £5000 in repairs ... Gutted
 
I’d give you more than £100 just so I can put it back on the road. More diagnosis needed I’m afraid though. Fuel leaks can be sorted, injector is probably just leak off pipes passing. Overheating could either be head gasket, water pump failure (plastic impeller notorious for failing), failing thermostat or a poorly viscous fan. Please don’t let the garage take it though.
 
marjon said:
The garage is doing you over.
Get AA to bring it home and reevaluate with a local garage you trust.

J
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Wot he said ^^^^^ x100 ...

That garage are pulling your chain, get an independent report on it, as well as the AA one, cos they have friends in the business too ...

Get it transported to a secure place, if you have a drive, there will do ...

DO NOT let the garage hang on to it at all ...
 
The problem, of course is not a one problem, but several (isn't it always?). Problem no. one is to get it assessed independently, by a garage one can trust. My go to guy has retired, and I haven't found a replacement for him. Problem no. two is that most garages want to replace things rather than repair them or have them sent to be reconditioned - which is essential with an old dear like my P38. If anyone can recommend trustworthy BMW or LandRover garage in Surrey that can do diagnostics it would be so helpful!
 
Eva from Sussex said:
The problem, of course is not a one problem, but several (isn't it always?). Problem no. one is to get it assessed independently, by a garage one can trust. My go to guy has retired, and I haven't found a replacement for him. Problem no. two is that most garages want to replace things rather than repair them or have them sent to be reconditioned - which is essential with an old dear like my P38. If anyone can recommend trustworthy BMW or LandRover garage in Surrey that can do diagnostics it would be so helpful!
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But you're going to bring it home, right?
 
It already is near home, AA towed it back to local garage. My daughter chatted to a mechanic, I chatted to a (different) mechanic: different stories and different quotes for both of us. My bul££hit detector is on full alert, and they really don't know much about land/range rovers. I'm frustrated because I'm not sure where to turn for honest, trustworthy and last, but not least, knowledgable diagnosis of the car's fault (s), for which I'm happy to pay.
 
P38’s are funny cars to deal with. Unfortunately it’s going to be a case of checking the obvious before delving deeper. Not many places will touch them either as they can be problematic if you don’t know them well enough.
 
Eva from Sussex said:
So, dear daughter took P38 on holiday and it overheated on the way to Cornwall. AA man said that there is exhaust in coolant (she is not quite sure about that, and we are chasing AA for report). Garage diagnosed radiator cap causing overheating, but also fuel leak in injector pump body, and fuel injector needing replacement. But they will take it off our hands for £100.
Suddenly looking at £5000 in repairs ... Gutted
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holy sh-it. The garage is taking you for a ride.

I see you are in haywards Heath, I can recommend old forge garage in sayers common, ring them up and get it recovered to there.
£5000 is ludicrous and means the garage doesn’t want to do/or can’t do the work
 
I think I'm beginning to see the order of things to be done: Chase dear daughter to get AA report - she said there was no email, so she needs to get the copy from AA to see if there really was test done and positive for presence of fumes in the coolant. If no info forthcoming from AA get the current garage to use combustion leak detector, get them to replace radiator cap, take the car to daughters home (she is in Haslemere), if needed research brands, buy then apply head-gasket sealant. While this is happening, keep asking for recommendations for good diagnostic garage in Surrey/Sussex AND ideally, if the injector pump really is going/gone, find someone who would replace seals on injection pump while in situ rather than want to replace whole thing. I'm not even thinking about fuel injector at that point....
 
Eva from Sussex said:
I think I'm beginning to see the order of things to be done: Chase dear daughter to get AA report - she said there was no email, so she needs to get the copy from AA to see if there really was test done and positive for presence of fumes in the coolant. If no info forthcoming from AA get the current garage to use combustion leak detector, get them to replace radiator cap, take the car to daughters home (she is in Haslemere), if needed research brands, buy then apply head-gasket sealant. While this is happening, keep asking for recommendations for good diagnostic garage in Surrey/Sussex AND ideally, if the injector pump really is going/gone, find someone who would replace seals on injection pump while in situ rather than want to replace whole thing. I'm not even thinking about fuel injector at that point....
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is it a diesel?
If so diesel bob is highly recommended for refurbs - you will have to send it to him though
 
What P38 is it?
Disease-el, Petrol? If petrol what engine size?
They can all be fixed, and £5K is a silly off the cuff figure without a full and detailed report of the exact problem(s).
Fumes in coolant? Head gasket maybe.
Any water in the Oil/ sludge/emulsion under the oil filler cap?
Recover it to an LZ member recommended garage.
 
Please don’t put any stop leak or any type of sealant into the cooling system. It barely copes as it is, adding gunk into the system is only masking the problem and not fixing it.
 
P38-DFX said:
Please don’t put any stop leak or any type of sealant into the cooling system. It barely copes as it is, adding gunk into the system is only masking the problem and not fixing it.
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Generally I'd agree but...... my 1999 4.6 HSE P38 spent months dumping its coolant and had new HG's etc. etc. and the dealer still wasn't able to fix it. I put one shot of Bars-leaks in it and it never happened again and neither did it ever overheat again. Go figure. :) :(
 
Hello and welcome :)
you have come to the right place for help with a p38 there is no end to the knowledge and help on here, which will steer you in the right direction and talk you through repairs, it may only need a seal kit for the pump and a new viscous fan.
also best to post tech stuff over in the range rover section of the forum
https://www.landyzone.co.uk/forum/range-rover.10/
 
DanClarke said:
Generally I'd agree but...... my 1999 4.6 HSE P38 spent months dumping its coolant and had new HG's etc. etc. and the dealer still wasn't able to fix it. I put one shot of Bars-leaks in it and it never happened again and neither did it ever overheat again. Go figure. :) :(
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But the problem is still there. Sounds like a poor diagnosis on the dealers part too. It’s good that it worked, but it’s not something I could do myself.
 
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