Chaoticus
Member
... still reeling from the after effects. 
Long story. Me and the missus needed a getaway car for the weekends. Preferably something with enough place to sleep in. Quite a challenge, since I'm somewhat lanky...
Searched the markets for a compact caravan but, kept on keeping an eye on the Defenders. The boxy design promised an interesting volume/size ratio...
Fast forward 8 months.
Caravans are prohibitively expensive, nothing acceptable on the market.
An then there's suddenly this '99 TD5 available, acceptable price, foldable bed in the back.
So why don't we take a look?
We took our time examining the beastie from roof to tires. 3 previous owners left their 'improvements'. Some curious switches with non-obvious functions, raised to ridiculous heights, rock sliders instead of sensible steps, M/T tires, some rust...
Went through the service history. The previous owner was a mechanic and did the necessary maintenance, exchanged some parts.
Then the test drive... guess the dealer put something in the coffee. Couldn't keep the stupid grin out of our faces... and somehow convinced ourselves that buying this monstrosity is a sensible decision.
First major investment went into conserving the status quo. Major f*up follows - the garage somehow confuses orders and the underside gets waxed. Stinks for weeks, ugly as hell and impossible to remove. But at least thoroughly executed, so in exchange for this mess I get some discount on some necessary welding.
Two weeks later on our way home - sudden loss of power, and the engine cuts out. Impossible to restart. Good thing my neighbour is at home and willing to tow me in.
Next morning the engine starts and runs... for about five minutes. Than dead again.
We spend the next day working our way through the possible failure sources. My neighbour fixes cars for a living and lots of diagnostic equipment. But nothing that talks to the ECU. So fault finding like it's 1999.
So he's chasing gremlins through the electronics, while I keep the coffee coming and provide the research background...
Learnt a lot about cars, that day.
Finally we're down to listening to the fuel pump... Sounds good? Dunno... Pulled of a tube from the fuel cooler and drew a pint - yes, looked like Pilsener. Lots of foam. Hmmm...
Next day my neighbour arranged for a free readout if the error codes. Mysteriously the Fender is able to reach the garage under own power. Readout is inconclusive - pedal and 3 injectors... The garage think it might be a faulty ECU. Dang.
Of course the Fender dies again, right there in front of the mechanics. So towed back home again. Didn't want to leave it since I still didn't have the slightest clue what's wrong...
Did someone notice an increased anonymous access a month ago? That was me, reading like hell...
Next day the infernal machine won't even start...
On a whim I open the fuel tank, which... takes a deep, audible breath. Hmmm... further reading ensues.
Finally I get it: the guys waxing the underside of the car didn't cover the bleeding breather pipe. Cut of the hose clip and put some air through the valve. Stuck, but applying some pressure from the 'inside' blew it open.
Reattached the piece - voila, problem solved.
Admittedly quite proud for working that one out by myself...
The beastie has been running well, ever since. Still making some noises we have to sort out - or become accustomed to... whatever.
Driving is still fun and exciting. Wife loves it, too - sometimes too much, since she insists on driving a little bit too much...
The beastie draws lots of glances. Some envious, thinking about the crazy **** they could do with this car, some annoyed prepared to call up the authorities in case we do said crazy ****...
Well, almost everything you could do with (or to) your car turns out to be pretty illegal over here. Unless it is testing your top speed, which IS kind of pointless...
In case you haven't guessed - I live a little north of York, but somewhat far east. Other side of the North Sea, Schleswig-Holstein.
I'm looking forward to learning from and (in time) contributing this community.
Thomas
Long story. Me and the missus needed a getaway car for the weekends. Preferably something with enough place to sleep in. Quite a challenge, since I'm somewhat lanky...
Searched the markets for a compact caravan but, kept on keeping an eye on the Defenders. The boxy design promised an interesting volume/size ratio...
Fast forward 8 months.
Caravans are prohibitively expensive, nothing acceptable on the market.
An then there's suddenly this '99 TD5 available, acceptable price, foldable bed in the back.
So why don't we take a look?
We took our time examining the beastie from roof to tires. 3 previous owners left their 'improvements'. Some curious switches with non-obvious functions, raised to ridiculous heights, rock sliders instead of sensible steps, M/T tires, some rust...
Went through the service history. The previous owner was a mechanic and did the necessary maintenance, exchanged some parts.
Then the test drive... guess the dealer put something in the coffee. Couldn't keep the stupid grin out of our faces... and somehow convinced ourselves that buying this monstrosity is a sensible decision.
First major investment went into conserving the status quo. Major f*up follows - the garage somehow confuses orders and the underside gets waxed. Stinks for weeks, ugly as hell and impossible to remove. But at least thoroughly executed, so in exchange for this mess I get some discount on some necessary welding.
Two weeks later on our way home - sudden loss of power, and the engine cuts out. Impossible to restart. Good thing my neighbour is at home and willing to tow me in.
Next morning the engine starts and runs... for about five minutes. Than dead again.
We spend the next day working our way through the possible failure sources. My neighbour fixes cars for a living and lots of diagnostic equipment. But nothing that talks to the ECU. So fault finding like it's 1999.
So he's chasing gremlins through the electronics, while I keep the coffee coming and provide the research background...
Learnt a lot about cars, that day.
Finally we're down to listening to the fuel pump... Sounds good? Dunno... Pulled of a tube from the fuel cooler and drew a pint - yes, looked like Pilsener. Lots of foam. Hmmm...
Next day my neighbour arranged for a free readout if the error codes. Mysteriously the Fender is able to reach the garage under own power. Readout is inconclusive - pedal and 3 injectors... The garage think it might be a faulty ECU. Dang.
Of course the Fender dies again, right there in front of the mechanics. So towed back home again. Didn't want to leave it since I still didn't have the slightest clue what's wrong...
Did someone notice an increased anonymous access a month ago? That was me, reading like hell...
Next day the infernal machine won't even start...
On a whim I open the fuel tank, which... takes a deep, audible breath. Hmmm... further reading ensues.
Finally I get it: the guys waxing the underside of the car didn't cover the bleeding breather pipe. Cut of the hose clip and put some air through the valve. Stuck, but applying some pressure from the 'inside' blew it open.
Reattached the piece - voila, problem solved.
Admittedly quite proud for working that one out by myself...
The beastie has been running well, ever since. Still making some noises we have to sort out - or become accustomed to... whatever.
Driving is still fun and exciting. Wife loves it, too - sometimes too much, since she insists on driving a little bit too much...
The beastie draws lots of glances. Some envious, thinking about the crazy **** they could do with this car, some annoyed prepared to call up the authorities in case we do said crazy ****...
Well, almost everything you could do with (or to) your car turns out to be pretty illegal over here. Unless it is testing your top speed, which IS kind of pointless...
In case you haven't guessed - I live a little north of York, but somewhat far east. Other side of the North Sea, Schleswig-Holstein.
I'm looking forward to learning from and (in time) contributing this community.
Thomas
