Easy start is considered generally bad for engines because it builds up inside the combustion chambers, clogging up piston rings and affecting compression - thus the engine will eventually become reliant on easy-start to be able to get going, often called the engine becoming 'addicted' to it.

Sounds friendlier. :p Can't say I have many solid ideas that I can put forward. My 200TDi when it's very cold will start a bit rough and blow out some white smoke, but clears quickly as soon as driven off and returns a good 30MPG or so on longer runs at around 50MPH.

I feel sorry for the engine if you 'thrash it' from a cold start. :eek:

If you've still only got the standard air intake and the water came up to that height then you may well have taken some water in to the engine. I know the ford you mean, most of the time it's barely a trickle over the road but I know it can get pretty deep with all this rain we've had!

The gearbox level is determined by the filler plug - it's halfway up the box and a bit tricky to get to, but you fill it from there (using oil pump/syringe or oil bottle with tube) and when oil starts to dribble out it is at the right level.

A Disklok is well worth the investment too, they're pretty highly rated. Looks good - a proper workhorse. :)

Seems to me like they should just start making the 200/300TDIs again. :D Don't like the DC100 much at all...but at least they've backed off from calling it the 'next Defender'.

The LT230 is used in both Defenders and Discoverys, same box different ratios. My mistake about the PAS, I did say "I believe" as I was not 100% on the subject.

Can't think of anything gear-wise related to '4C' - probably does just refer to 4 cylinders. Gearbox would be an LT77 with an LT230 transfer box 1.410 ratio assuming it's standard.

PAS wasn't standard until 1990s I believe, but many earlier ones have been retrofitted with it. The black smoke upon start up is common and nothing to worry about as long as it's not excessive and clears quickly.

Looks a good job, but I agree with the others, I certainly wouldn't want carpet stuck on the floor with the amount of rain we're having!

A leisure battery? No wonder you're having problems! Landy engines need a load of juice in a big lump to start, a leisure battery can't provide this as they're meant for long drawn-out discharging, like running caravan electrics.

EP90 should never be used in the gearbox! It takes ATF or MTF - someone else can elaborate on those two. EP90 is too thick, only for transfer box and diffs. Noises could be bearings, they usually whine if on the way out.

Position 2 should bring the electrics on, then you hold the key on the spring between positions 2 and 3 and the glow-plugs should fire (along with dash light) then all the way to position 3 to crank.

2006 is a late model TD5 so it should have an R380 gearbox, with reverse located underneath 5th gear.

I used a screwdriver to lever them out slightly then got a claw-hammer on them and prised them out like that, came out very easily and without damage, went back in fine.

I feel sick at the thought of such a thing :eek:

Loads of things can cause a clunk on up-take of drive. Prop UJs Bushes Rear A-frame balljoint Worn gearbox mainshaft Are just a few common ones.

I understand what you're saying James, I have looked into others and gotten different prices, all quotes and my adding up still all point to £900-1000 for box, new clutch and fitting. Still it's not set in stone yet, I am still thinking.

I sympathise with you on this one. My gearbox mainshaft is buggered, I did order a new input gear to go on it but when I took the old one out it wasn't worth putting the new one in! The synchros are all quite past it too, second gear can be a nightmare and often grinds. I'm hoping I can budget...