The Joys Of Land Rover Ownership

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chrispy

chrispy

Active Member
Posts
270
Location
Abergavenny, Monmouthshire
Since I bought my first LR (an 02 Disco) at the beginning of December i've had two leaking sunroofs, a broken heated front seat (not much I know), a passenger window that won't close (needs new window regulator which is being done on monday) and a broken transfer box on my way back from Birmingham. I just took the wife shopping and now the key won't turn in the ignition, we're stranded and i've got a car full of frozen meat pmsl. Funny thing is, rather than cursing the Landy I still love it and wouldn't have another vehicle.

I consider my Disco purchase a step up from my 'technically superior' and newer Mercedes C Class. I need to get it fixed asap as it's started to snow and this is what I got it for. When I got my first Merc there was a special feeling I had when I drove it first fair play and never thought i'd experience it again but it's much better with the Landy.
 
The snow might help with your frozen shopping :)

Good luck, and yes I agree...for all the problems they are still the best.

chrispy said:
Since I bought my first LR (an 02 Disco) at the beginning of December i've had two leaking sunroofs, a broken heated front seat (not much I know), a passenger window that won't close (needs new window regulator which is being done on monday) and a broken transfer box on my way back from Birmingham. I just took the wife shopping and now the key won't turn in the ignition, we're stranded and i've got a car full of frozen meat pmsl. Funny thing is, rather than cursing the Landy I still love it and wouldn't have another vehicle.

I consider my Disco purchase a step up from my 'technically superior' and newer Mercedes C Class. I need to get it fixed asap as it's started to snow and this is what I got it for. When I got my first Merc there was a special feeling I had when I drove it first fair play and never thought i'd experience it again but it's much better with the Landy.
Click to expand...
 
We spent a lot of time and money sorting out our D2 V8, but once all the jobs are done, they are quite reliable and great to drive long distance.

We did 1000 miles to Scotland and back a couple of weeks ago, appalling weather but the D2 just went through it all.

Fix them properly, don't bodge anything and you'll be fine.

Sunroof leaks are a Rite of Passage for Landies, but once again, do it properly and they are fine.

Peter
 
Mine is so straight and in good nic I have every intention of lavishing (the spare) cash on it to get it back to as new condition as possible. I love this vehicle and now understand why there are so many on the road.

With regards the faults, my rear electric sunroof wasn't working anyway so that's been sealed to stop the leak until the weather breaks when if need be it'll have a new sunroof fitted. The front one just needed some channels blown through to unblock it and that's fine now. There appears to be a loose gromit towards the rear of the vehicle on the roof that looks a little suspect. Don't know if someone had an ariel there or if it was an option on Discos that mine didn't have fitted. I've just left the breakdown chappie who got my key turning and he said it's a quite common fault on them as they get older. He advised me to get a new barrel for it which i'm assuming is a LR only order? So i'll be doing that on Monday morning. It's turning freely for now anyway thank god but i'll get it fixed right away anyway.
 
You can go to LR for a barrel to match your existing keys for the steering lock, it'll cost a couple of hundred and take about a fortnight or so for it to be built and sent over from France.

Alternately you could get one from a supplier on fleabay for about £70. Takes about an hour to fit. The only downside is that you'll end up with two keys, one for the steering lock and one for the driver's door and the EKA if it's ever needed.
 
Before fitting a new igniton barrel, get a tin of switch/contact cleaner, one with a straw, put some kitchen roll under the barrel (better with the plastic cowel removed), and blow the best part of the tin through it to clear all the crap out.

Get some graphite lock lube from a locksmith and blow that into the barrel once the cleaner has all evaporated off (hairdryer!).

Chances are it will sort you out.
 
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I have owned my Disco 2 since new - 14 years ago now, and mine has done this 'key won't turn' a couple of times but it has just been the steering wheel lock operating and after a few patient 'jiggles' of the steering wheel it has unlocked and the key just turned as it should do. I do believe the handbook says something about this, but it is a long time since I read it!!!!

Please bear in mind, that I know nothing about the technical idiosyncrasies of cars and rely totally on my trusted mechanic to keep the vehicle in tip top condition. He must be doing something right as it has now got 220,000+ miles on the clock!
 
Thanks guys. It's in to have the passenger window regulator fitted on monday morning and Nick, the guy who does all my repairs is a big Landy bof and he's said he can fix it to save buying a new barrel. I had to call out Green Flag earlier (free with my insurance) and he did the cleaning and WD40 jobie but he said it will go again soon and to get a new one (or at least this one repaired properly). I can honestly still see me owning this 10 years down the line (if i'm still ticking then). Since I bought it i've been bitten big time by the LR bug and wouldn't be without one now. I can't believe it's cheaper to run than my Mercedes was.
 
chrispy said:
Thanks guys. It's in to have the passenger window regulator fitted on monday morning and Nick, the guy who does all my repairs is a big Landy bof and he's said he can fix it to save buying a new barrel. I had to call out Green Flag earlier (free with my insurance) and he did the cleaning and WD40 jobie but he said it will go again soon and to get a new one (or at least this one repaired properly). I can honestly still see me owning this 10 years down the line (if i'm still ticking then). Since I bought it i've been bitten big time by the LR bug and wouldn't be without one now. I can't believe it's cheaper to run than my Mercedes was.
Click to expand...
WD40 will end up gumming the barrel up. The contact cleaner graphite lock lube as already posted is the way to go.
 
chrispy said:
Bloody thieves.
Click to expand...

Not really.

Think about it, someone has to get your details, find the key reference, find the parts and get the key cut and then get it all back to the dealer.

Land Rover won't carry hundreds of barrels for 14-year old Landies, they'll keep blanks and cut one to suit your VIN. Doing a new barrel to suit an existing key is a bit different to getting a key cut.

Peter

Just to add to that:

I've got a couple of our mobile 200A DMU chargers in for repair. Both are 2004 build, but we carry most of the parts for almost everything we build, but you'd be surprised how many people assume that everyone carries everything on the shelf, few do these days.

The other job we are doing is a military charger that we have been producing in small numbers since 1985. Almost everything in the way of the electronics is close to being obsolete, the timer chips went out of production in the 1990's, but we hold stocks for this one customer. We have built 1500 or so in nearly 30 years.
 
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Apologies for the thieves comment, bad terminology but a couple of hundred is a little excessive. It doesn't matter anyway as it's being repaired on Monday. Failing that if Nick isn't 100% happy with it i'll gladly buy a new one wether it's a couple of hundred or not coz I love this Landy.
 
they certainly do get under your skin my 1st LR was a disco 1, I got to drive it with a big smile on my face for a little over a week before the cylinder head gave in, £1400 later and I got it back but it wasn't the same, when it was time for its MOT I was quoted £900 for the welding that was required so been skint and needing transport for work, sadly I had to let her go always promising to one day be a LR owner again, I've had my second LR ironically a disco 2 since October now and had starting problems, leaking sunroofs, leaking windscreen, rear suspension problems , plus other little niggles, its now waiting to go into the garage for the ABS light been on and the brakes been goosed and then I'm saving up to get the gearbox sorted, but I still wouldn't be with out her and aim to have her as good as new as and when finances allow, this ones going nowhere, I even have a back up car now for when she's off the road....
 
I had a regular Rover years ago (the first of the 200 models that was square) and I broke down in Pontypridd outside a Halfords (well the key snapped in the lock). The manager there pulled the barrel out for me to 'hotwire' it to get it home to Abergavenny which I was very grateful for, the trouble was when I was stopped just past Merthyr by traffic police.
 
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