when you say it an after market starter on it, do you mean the cold climate start from a key fob as many in Canad have when its cold to allow the car to pre-warm before you venture out into the snow ?

airbag light will probably be the srs cable under the seat. don't worry about that now. first port of call is getting up and running, then fix bits as you go along.

download RAVE its in the sticky links its the workshop manual.. big file.

listen to the guys on here they know their stuff.

don't concern yourself with the audio or door cards. getting running is the priority.. when you come to audio in the p38 @martyuk is your man
 
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Let's rewind back to the beginning...car was driving fine... you then removed stereo did I get it wrong when you said it spluttered and died as you removed it?...then would crank and not fire... now won't crank...
 
Dude, wrong "bus" on a budget.
The '38 is a great daily/offroading machine, but on a small budget is cash chewing monster. It'll get better with the more you invest into it. You are essentially rebuilding this machine and it'll be a good run for you. Mine is a daily runner, soft roader and family bus that goes every where for and with us.
It cost me 3400€ and then a further 1000€ after it came OFF the road at 70kmh/40mph on a sharp bend in the wet with cheap rear tyres the previous owner had bought.. he'd bought it for 4500€ two years before, cost him to a further 1000€ to own it and it only drove on a weekend!!... Constantly changing engine oil at 6000mls, last two repairs cost me 400€ and burns to my arm and then a further 300€ for the one and only electronic injector out of the six there is!
The next thing is chains and the gearbox at 211.000mls and it's coming.. but I won't sell it and I do also do my own repairs, which means I am quite fortunate in that respect.
This place and these people know practically all there is to know through their own experiences... And they love theirs also... Mental... If you need 100% reliability...... Get a Jap 4x4 like everyone else. If you want something different that goes against everything normal in your life then keep the monster and enjoy the time it runs and bite through the times it "won't"....:D
Speech over, breath and
recommence;)
 
Yea it sounds like a journey, but these suv's are beast for sure, I hope the battery solves it, from just a clicking sound with a decent battery to starting it with the 1000 cca one. That would be an experience I have never witnessed before lmao.
 
Let's rewind back to the beginning...car was driving fine... you then removed stereo did I get it wrong when you said it spluttered and died as you removed it?...then would crank and not fire... now won't crank...

What happens if you put the stereo back?

Never heard of that before. I'd be following those wires back and see if something has shorted / pulled out.
 
@AudioInstigator I am looking for a P38 at the moment, probably a 1999-2002 Thor engined 4.6 litre.
I have previously owned 3 Land Rovers & 2 Discoveries.
I already know how unreliable & costly Land Rover products can be from my previous ownership & none of the LR vehicles I have owned (LR 88, 90 & 110 & Disco 200 & 300 TDI) have been anywhere near as complicated as a P38.
Besides the £2,000 - £3,000"ish budget for purchasing a reasonable condition vehicle (that is 3,500 - over 5,000 Canadian dollars) i have also budgeted £500 (850 Canadian) for a Nanocom diagnostic unit which really is a must, plus up to £1,000 (1700 Canadian) for parts/repairs at the beginning of my ownership.
That is a total budget of £3,500 - £4,500 or 6,000 - 7,500 Canadian.
That is not including the £1,750 or 3,000 Canadian it will cost to have an LPG conversion fitted if the vehicle doesn"t already have one.
That is also bearing in mind that I have a car as a daily driver which I will be keeping.
Without meaning to sound to harsh you need to go into LR ownership with your eyes wide open.
Buying a very cheap vehicle, when you are not financially in a position to even be able to afford to replace the battery & then relying on it as an only vehicle, is not, IMHO, the way to enter into ownership of one of these vehicles.
 
Buy a Landcruiser or a Patrol if you want reliability.,

Buy a P38 if you want a hobby or distraction..

They most certainly won't be reliable, they're getting too old.
 
Exactly.
If I needed reliability I would not consider a P38.
This will be an occasional drive/tow cow for me as my car will remain my daily drive & I have a van I use for work.
TBH I think that unfortunately the OP has made a poor choice.
BTW I am still looking :)
 
you’re all wrong lol :D

im here and my P38,
if you were right ; we wouldn’t be.

My mates have had new Navaras, L200s, all sorts of SUVs. They are all scrapped I’m still rolling. Because I have a 25 year old P38 - NOT a SportsUtilityVehicle like my 02 Hilux that is long dead. And it’s not a ‘bus’ either :rolleyes:;)
 

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