Ok, here goes...
I've got a '98 50th Anni diesel (L-series, 96k miles) that I've owned for about 2 months. After reading about some of the VCU problems on here, I thought I'd share some of my car's symptoms to see if it potentially has a problem, or if it's just me reading this and convincing myself it has!
When it's cold, the 1st couple of times changing from 1st to 2nd gear, there's quite a noticeable clunk from the transmission - it feels as though the clunk is the rear axle taking up drive. It does not do this after the 1st 5 mins or so.
When manouvring in tight spaces, the car feels tight and can stop by itself if left to roll on full lock, but this can be normal?
I tried the tippex test, but looking at it again I think i put it in the wrong place. There seemed to be a split in the middle of the VCU - I put it either side of this, drove round the block, and the lines had only moved a few ml; looking back other people seem to put a line on nthe prop either side?
Looking at the rear tyre wear, one tyre has been recently replaced and the other is worn (which in itself isn't great, I know!). The worn tyre, does seem to have a slightly odd wear pattern. I wouldn't say it was a houndstooth pattern, more it seems to wear in ridges, so the end of the tread block is a couple of ml higher than the start.
With this in mind, am I best just removing the rear prop and making it 2wd? I don't want to be spending daft money on it - i only paid £1900 for it and it's 12 year old. Has anybody had a garage do this, and if so how much was it to either remove the rear prop or fit a new/recon vcu?
I've got a '98 50th Anni diesel (L-series, 96k miles) that I've owned for about 2 months. After reading about some of the VCU problems on here, I thought I'd share some of my car's symptoms to see if it potentially has a problem, or if it's just me reading this and convincing myself it has!
When it's cold, the 1st couple of times changing from 1st to 2nd gear, there's quite a noticeable clunk from the transmission - it feels as though the clunk is the rear axle taking up drive. It does not do this after the 1st 5 mins or so.
When manouvring in tight spaces, the car feels tight and can stop by itself if left to roll on full lock, but this can be normal?
I tried the tippex test, but looking at it again I think i put it in the wrong place. There seemed to be a split in the middle of the VCU - I put it either side of this, drove round the block, and the lines had only moved a few ml; looking back other people seem to put a line on nthe prop either side?
Looking at the rear tyre wear, one tyre has been recently replaced and the other is worn (which in itself isn't great, I know!). The worn tyre, does seem to have a slightly odd wear pattern. I wouldn't say it was a houndstooth pattern, more it seems to wear in ridges, so the end of the tread block is a couple of ml higher than the start.
With this in mind, am I best just removing the rear prop and making it 2wd? I don't want to be spending daft money on it - i only paid £1900 for it and it's 12 year old. Has anybody had a garage do this, and if so how much was it to either remove the rear prop or fit a new/recon vcu?
