1988smithy
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Another ziiiixty thouzand keelomutters!
Disco 4 (LR4) Broken crank dilema
- Thread starter WatchcamP38
- Start date
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- 1,512
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- Somerset (but I'm a Landanna)
Funny you should ask - just gone back under warranty.
Loud crank-speed clanging which started during a test drive following the 800 mile oil change.
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- Somerset (but I'm a Landanna)
QP has the best reputation. I know people who have used them and speak very well of them.Only one I know of with a decent name is QP Online Maidstone, did hear they wont even look at a d4 with sus crank unless you pay them a huge chunk upfront, guess they have been bitten to often?
Sadly if you cannot diy then the car is scrap.
However their prices have gone up recently, same as everywhere I guess.
To rebuild a running engine with their custom made components is now Ā£7k for a 3.0 TDV6 and Ā£7.5k for an SDV6 - all plus VAT.
(I think the 2.7 is cheaper)
If it needs a new block add Ā£1k, new turbos (I assume remanufactured) add Ā£1.4k.
Bantam1
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I was going to ask about oil changes because isnt it an oil issue that causes this failure?
Buying with a broken crank though means we now dont know.
It would interesting to strip it down and see whats needed to fix it, other than a crank.
tyregeezer
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Hi mate sorry to hear about your issues, it doesn't always damage the block bought a D3 with a seized motor stripped it down broken crank but on close inspection no visible damage to the block bottom end or bores not even a scratch took block to ivor Searle for a closer inspection came back with clean bill of health, had a crank from a stype had it crack tested and polished you don't have to do all your own measuring and the guy on lr time fitted a new crank and bearings the proof was in the pudding when the crank turned within the specific torque the slightest twist in the block would lock the crank solid, your problem or issue is the labour your looking at about the right price for a used motor don't know your circumstances but it's not as daunting as mechanics lead you to believe but your right it's hard to find the right person's at the right price make sure you find someone who knows their tdv6s and good luck
This is a dilemma which results in many scraping the vehicle, or selling it as spares or repairs. These engines are ticking time bombs, not even extended warranties will cover them.
One thing to remember, it l may need a new short block, there's no reliable way to rebuild the broken one unless you are very lucky. The heads can normally be reused, providing the pistons didn't strike the head, although in mild cases, the damaged valves can be replaced.
If an engine is for sale cheap, it's very likely BER or a scam. These engines when working are hideously expensive second hand, because there's such a strong market for them.
Very few mechanics will touch them either, as they are difficult to remove (the body ideally needs to be lifted off the chassis) so take many many hours to complete. Very few garages will fit a second hand engine, as they could potentially be liable for a subsequent failure, so simply do work of lower risk. There are many places that claim to fix these vehicles, but often these are shady outfits that have no intention or skills for this kind of work, often stripping the vehicle then simply disappearing overnight.
Unless you are prepared to buy a new short block, and then find a reputable garage to swap everything over (keeping in mine many garages now employ "fitters" not proper mechanics) then you'll probably have to sell it as spares or repairs.
It's sad, but unfortunately these vehicles are horrible to work on, and prices of major components are silly expensive, meaning a broken vehicle isn't worth fixing.
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- Somerset (but I'm a Landanna)
I think due to the Ford quality engine D3 D4 are doomed unless someone can find an alternative.
Hence I thought of EV.
There was a D3 for not much more when I got my D2. Now it is worth more than quite a few D3s.
WatchcamP38
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Good question. I made one big assumption which was my go to mechanic would support me and give it a go.
I didnāt expect him to disappear initially and finally come back to me with a raft of excuses as to why he cannot do the engine swap. Turns out he has a lot going on in his life that is taking priority over his business.
I guess I always knew there would be different approaches and planned to navigate my way through those options.
The lack of skill and laziness of the āspecialistsā also has taken me by surprise. In the old days proper old school mechanics would have picked up the challenge and run with it.
Seems they want an easy life and just want to cjnge parts instead of repair things properly.
That I underestimated also.
Having said all that I now have an engine, its still in a lovely Jag I bought yesterday.
I will find a way.
WatchcamP38
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I would love to put a petrol lump in but I canāt find much on that so going to put the same back in.Usually the standard replace my engine questions are met with fit the greatest engine of all time.....200tdi
WatchcamP38
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- Bath
I wish i had seen this before buying a 3.0Search for disco mikey on the D3 forum and see how much he'd charge to fit a 3.6there's an epic thread on there of him completely rebuilding his D3 with the 3.6 between customer cars. Dream combo
maybe when this one blows up?,
WatchcamP38
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This is the thing. The use warranty as an excuse but bottom line is I don't think these guys have the skills.
If they were good enough engineers they would stand behind their work.
WatchcamP38
Active Member
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- Bath
What did he do?
WatchcamP38
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Crazy prices,
Ian M in France
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we have all done the same from time to time underestimated the problems, good luck, these cars are just to good to scrap, hope someone comes up with a answer to sort out crank problem
It would be an interesting conversion for sure, although I don't think there's enough useful space for the batteries. The motor would take up less space than the V6, but it's still not going to make a very good EV.
Converting to the TDV8 would be easier, and more advantageous than an EV conversion.
The problem is the crankshaft isn't made by Ford. The crank is made in France by one of several small engineering firms around the PSA factory. This is how the French seem to operate, which is odd to me. However it seems that one of these small engineering firms didn't make the crankshaft correctly, either not heat treating them correctly, or using lower specification steel or whatever.
The cranks then get shipped off to Ford for assembly into the blocks, which are made in the UK.
I believe that crank failure is a result of undersized bearings mixed with poor material choices, and ineffective heat treatment of the cranks.
This is resulting in higher than normal failure, especially in the 3.0L where torque is huge at low RPM, where there's little oil pressure available to support the bearings.
It's sad as the D4 is lovely, but with an expensive ticking time bombs under the bonnet, it's not a vehicle I'd own, even though I've worked on quite a few over the years.
Kenbo
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If you look on his profile for his thread you will find it, very interesting read.
J
