The Defender thread

notsobusy

101sean wrote: »

Try Cahir 4x4. 90s aren't plentiful here as I think new ones cop 13.3%VRT rather than the €200 on a 110 van or pickup.

Ah we were wondering why there were so few!

stock>

There was a silver one for sale on the Dock road in Limerick Mike O Dwyer Motors it think...........................

Stonewolf

Hi,
I've been looking at getting a Discovery 3 for a while now but unfortunately I've realised that I'm going to be moving house before I hit my budget for buying one and will be left without a vehicle to move my stuff with (tenant so I don't have enough 3 piece suites to pony for a movers). Rather than cheap out and not get the Disco I want I was thinking of picking up a cheaper Defender for a few months and then selling it on/part trading.

I have a motorbike which would continue to be my daily and is the reason I'd originally decided on a Disco as it complements the bike better (Defender is a bit too like the bike in comfort terms). Reasons for wanting a jeep are I want to try out off roading, do a fair bit of airsoft and lrp and would like something with much boot and seats for my mates. Since Defenders are cool and I don't plan on being saddled with it for years if I don't like it I thought I'd give it a try, you only live once and all that.

I was thinking of picking up a 110 (SW preferably but not adverse to van, no use for a pickup) in Septemberish with a budget of 7-9k, running it for a few months as a weekend/shopping car and then switching to the Disco. I'd be taxing it as a private car (PAYE desk job) which is expensive but probably less so than the Disco. What should I be looking out for?

Something like this is what I have in my mind:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3400674

O.A.P

Stonewolf wrote: »

Hi,
I've been looking at getting a Discovery 3 for a while now but unfortunately I've realised that I'm going to be moving house before I hit my budget for buying one and will be left without a vehicle to move my stuff with (tenant so I don't have enough 3 piece suites to pony for a movers). Rather than cheap out and not get the Disco I want I was thinking of picking up a cheaper Defender for a few months and then selling it on/part trading.

I have a motorbike which would continue to be my daily and is the reason I'd originally decided on a Disco as it complements the bike better (Defender is a bit too like the bike in comfort terms). Reasons for wanting a jeep are I want to try out off roading, do a fair bit of airsoft and lrp and would like something with much boot and seats for my mates. Since Defenders are cool and I don't plan on being saddled with it for years if I don't like it I thought I'd give it a try, you only live once and all that.

I was thinking of picking up a 110 (SW preferably but not adverse to van, no use for a pickup) in Septemberish with a budget of 7-9k, running it for a few months as a weekend/shopping car and then switching to the Disco. I'd be taxing it as a private car (PAYE desk job) which is expensive but probably less so than the Disco. What should I be looking out for?

Something like this is what I have in my mind:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3400674[/QUOTE]

The defender you have linked to seems expensive for a pre 2002 model.

I have a 1999 td5 hardtop (heavy duty van) and its been good to me in the 6 years I have owned it, although I always have something to fix or tighten but I knew that before I got it. (Part of plesure really as long as it dont cost a lot)

Look out for rust on the chassy or damage there or to the drivetrain from off road work. Drive it in every gear high and low range and use the difflock. Tubro's are due to be replaced after 80k on the td5's even though mine has 110k done and still no problems.
It would be better to bring someone who knew landrovers with you when looking (Its so easy to buy a money pit).

Its not what I would buy for only a few months, a ford transit or something like it would suit you better ?

I wish I was getting a disco 3 this year :cool:.
Hope this helps let us know how you get on.

101sean

That's a very clean CSW and would be dearer than that in the UK, no demand for them here because of the road tax on them.

Like OAP said rust is the main enemy, check the door frames and bulkhead as well as the chassis. Td5s will do starship mileage with regular oil changes but will go through a fuel pump and fuel pressure regulator at around 100k. A shiny one like that you may find the difflock is seized through lack of use but it's not a big deal to fix. ABS/TC is an option on CSWs, check the lights go out if it does.

There's not a great deal of room in a SW although the seats are easy to remove, consider a transit as a temporary measure or you could find yourself very attached to the Defender!

banjolin

Hello. At the risk of sounding incredibly stupid, where is the fuse for the windscreen wipers? Its an 05 90. Here we are in the middle of the monsoon (South Tipperary) and the wipers stopped. Went to check the fuse but can't find it in the main fusebox or under the seat. Nor can I find any reference to it in user or workshop manuals. Bumped into a guy who is a mechanic (never worked on Landies) and he couldn't see it either. Rear wiper is fine as are the washer pumps. It's just the windscreen wipers.

Update.

Oops. Its the same as the front washer apparently. Trouble is the washer is working and the fuse is ok. So it is something else.
The wipers were left on when the ignition was turned off, and in a vertical position. When I restarted the engine, the wipers did not return to the park position as they normally do. Doo doo.

101sean

It could be the park switch failed on the motor if it isn't the fuse in passenger compartment fuse box (in front of the gear lever). It's fuse 2 on pre 02, don't know on later ones.

The park switch is on the side of the motor and simply clicks in to it. http://www.lrseries.com/shop/product/listing/1045/520160-WIPER-PARK-SWITCH.html?search=park switch&page=1

If you're stuck, pm me and I may be able to have a look.

banjolin

Thanks Sean. I will check it out. It would be great if that was all it was.

Stonewolf

The seats look like you could get at them with a spanner easily enough which is fine by me. I don't expect the narrow rear door will present a problem either as the only thing I own that wont fit is shelves and those are going in the bin when I move anyway.

I do actually want to have a go at driving off road so a Transit wouldn't really be ideal. Also I'd appreciate being able to try my hand at being rubbish doing it properly before getting all cushy with Discos TR.

Thanks for the advice on test drive, rust and friend.

101sean

If you do buy and want to try some offroading in company (handy when you get stuck!) look out for Leinster 4x4 open days if you are Dublin based.

O.A.P

Stonewolf wrote: »

The seats look like you could get at them with a spanner easily enough which is fine by me. I don't expect the narrow rear door will present a problem either as the only thing I own that wont fit is shelves and those are going in the bin when I move anyway.

I do actually want to have a go at driving off road so a Transit wouldn't really be ideal. Also I'd appreciate being able to try my hand at being rubbish doing it properly before getting all cushy with Discos TR.

Thanks for the advice on test drive, rust and friend.

That door is the only thing I don't like about mine. It limits what I can carry in the load bay but a pick up would not suit me either.
I am happy with it anyway, If money was no problem I'd have a unimog built to my own spec.
Im just a poor man though and I like landrovers always have, so I could be a little pro landrover.:D;)

banjolin

With no wipers, I started to disassemble the dash (factory fit a/c makes this interesting) and when I took off the grab handle I saw this (see attached). Looks like the weekend is cancelled.

I knew it had to happen sooner or later, but with the leak in the back, the broken rear door latch costing €130, and €1005 tax due in a week I have to admit the joys of ownership are occasionally tempered with a gentle backhand flick in the goolies, just so you don't get too smug.

101sean

Something similar on the drivers side of mine plus all the door frames :rolleyes:

banjolin

The irony is, if the wipers weren't banjaxed, I would never have known about the rust and it might well have gotten a lot worse before it was detected. So a bit of a result really, sort of, ....ish. Keep on the sunny side

O.A.P

banjolin wrote: »

The irony is, if the wipers weren't banjaxed, I would never have known about the rust and it might well have gotten a lot worse before it was detected. So a bit of a result really, sort of, ....ish. Keep on the sunny side

Your dead right banjolin get rid of it quick before it cost ya.
I know someone paying top dollar for scrap PM me.

Slidey

2011, full leather and only $50k

Suckler

My defender has developed a habit of reving when I press the clutch rather than the rev's going down. The rev's 'spike' up by 500-100 revs and then go back down, it is more eveident when I start the car. I am thinking the throttle body, anyone had similiar? It's the 2.4 Puma engine?

On a separate note, does anyone know if the AC system in a car can be upgraded? The defender is hopeless at keeping the car cool and the temperatures are going to hit 45-50 degrees here soon.

101sean

Check the switch on the clutch pedal is working, there's one on Td5 to stop throttle flare, I assume Pumas have the same. The switch tells the ecu when the clutch pedal is depressed and is located under the bonnet on top of the pedal box.

Can't help with the AC, though the Puma version was supposed to be pretty good. Anything is better than the knee freezer in earlier ones though! Maybe get an aircon specialist to give it a health check?

tinofapples

Finally got myself a Defender, a 1990 110 with only 131k miles on her. Overall not in too bad shape for it's age. It's far from perfect but it's my introduction to Defender ownership so here we go

O.A.P

tinofapples wrote: »

Finally got myself a Defender, a 1990 110 with only 131k miles on her. Overall not in too bad shape for it's age. It's far from perfect but it's my introduction to Defender ownership so here we go

Welcome to the dark side . Well ware.
Lots of help here or on other sites, and some of us are not far away from Galway. (If we need help);)

caprilicious

Nice one tinofapples, happy motoring!

Suckler

101sean wrote: »

Check the switch on the clutch pedal is working, there's one on Td5 to stop throttle flare, I assume Pumas have the same. The switch tells the ecu when the clutch pedal is depressed and is located under the bonnet on top of the pedal box.

Can't help with the AC, though the Puma version was supposed to be pretty good. Anything is better than the knee freezer in earlier ones though! Maybe get an aircon specialist to give it a health check?

Cheers Sean, will check that - Dont' suppose a RAVE manula for the Puma engine exists?!

The AC isn't too bad when Im driving by myself, I can turn both the outlets to face me but when I've a few in the car the back seat is like a sauna. Granted its 45-50 degree C here so if its been sitting out in the sun it just soakes up the heat. It's the opposite of home, I have to leave the car running sometimes to let the inside cool down! There's days when you can't touch the steering wheel its so hot!

101sean

Land Rover have an online manuals system now, you have to log in and pay a subscription, €8 or so for one hours access to a manual or over €400 for a year! :eek:

https://topix.landrover.jlrext.com/topix/vehicle/lookupForm

O.A.P

It passed the DOE last Friday, just needed some wiper refills which they had there, so thats the good news.
The thing is I had gone over everything before hand first . I cleaned all the brake lines and wiped any excess oil from the off side swivel ,it needs a new seal for ages but I've been to lazy to tackle the messy thing. When I was checking the wheel barings and I was convinced that rear nearside one was fecked but left it alone so they would confirm it on Friday.
I caught the wheel at 3 and 9 o clock and it has about 5mm of play the same at 12 and 6 o clock plus it sounds rough when I let it spin.
What are the chances of them missing something like that? or is it more lightly its fine and I am just a pessimist ?

caprilicious

101sean wrote: »

Land Rover have an online manuals system now, you have to log in and pay a subscription, €8 or so for one hours access to a manual or over €400 for a year! :eek:

https://topix.landrover.jlrext.com/topix/vehicle/lookupForm

Is it any different to what's covered in a Rave manual? It's shocking money though I could see times if I was stuck to get info in a hurry paying that.

101sean

It covers the same for older vehicles, for recent stuff you need Topix until someone comes up with a way round it.

OAP, it will fail with that play on a bearing. You could try nipping it up but sounding rough isn't good, you need to change them.

O.A.P

[QUOTE

OAP, it will fail with that play on a bearing. You could try nipping it up but sounding rough isn't good, you need to change them.[/QUOTE]

But thats the thing Sean it did pass last Friday. Im doubting my diagnosis or is it possible they have missed it?

101sean

Oh right, didn't read the post properly

It is possible for them to go fairly quickly, I'd be surprised if they missed it but you never know. I'd do them anyway, it can be painful if they seize or break up at speed.

O.A.P

Yeah better safe than sorry I suppose.
The half shaft and drive flange on that wheel are in bad shape too it looks like the splines have slipped a tooth and somehow welded themselves together. I went to paint the drive flange last summer but when I saw that I left it on and painted it there. I dont think they will go back together if I seperete them.
Thanks for the reply.

101sean

Wobbly bearing will eat the end of the drive shaft and the drive member (which are made of processed cheese anyway :rolleyes:) Both are cheap to replace. They wear under load as well.

I had a bearing set expire every 6 months and destroying the splines as well, turned out stub axle was worn and replacing it cured the problem. Buy genuine or Timken bearings, the usual suspects do sets which include the lock washer and gasket.