The Defender thread

101sean

How was the lift done, what makes you suspect it?

Fitting standard HD springs will give a bit of a lift or has it long travel shocks and other mods like cranked trailing arms?

All modifications should be declared or you may find the insurance company will use it as an excuse not to pay out (they'll still cover 3rd party though). I used to have mine insured through AXA and it's heavily modded, they said fine and kept the list on file without charging extra. I doubt if all will be that understanding.

Out of interest what did you get and how about a picture

Watch Ryder

Thanks to all for responded to this thread.

I had no idea it would turbo-charge the way it has done

I still have my defender and have made some further upgrades and improvements

This is the solar panel system I've installed:

Very effective and only cost about £600 or so for the fold-up/roll-up panels.

The oil filter change wasn't too hard, although a pain to remove without the strap wrench tool.

You really don't need to screw these tight when installing them.

All for now

101sean

Hi Watch Ryder, glad you've still got it and still on here. Your thread certainly took off although it has it's quiet moments.

I hate it when you come across oil filters that have been screwed up tight. Funnily enough the Td5 one has a habit of loosening itself although I have a specific filter wrench for it. Did the one on my son's MX5 recently, only tool I could get on it from the the many I have was a €7.99 Lidls one!

sparkman

101 Sean - thanks for the reply in the insurance thing - here's a few pics of the defender I bought with a close-up of the suspension...

Tokyo

Hard to tell without some shots of the suspension and of underneath, but I'd guess a set of aftermarket +2" shocks and springs... Can you post a few more photos???

101sean

Nice straight looking one. She does look about the same height as mine which like I said has a 1.5" lift. If the suspension is not modified other than springs and shocks I wouldn't worry.

Your tyres though look like copies of Xtragrips fitted to military series Land Rovers and being cross plies aren't type approved on 110s (bet they howl like a banshee too!). It probably would originally had 7.50R16 Avon Rangemasters from the factory and you can get these cheap as take offs or you can go to a bigger size.

happybob

Gatekeeper?

no12

Right lads this one is not for the purists. I recently purchased a new set of Kahn Defender wheels pics attached (not mine in pic) and have them on a 110. Got them fitted with a nice set of BFG AT 265/65/18 happy with them and they look great now just one problem i have had since they went on is a rattle in the steering wheel when you hit 80kmh - 100 kmh. Now you would say the wheels need balancing they where balanced when fitted in Bradys Arklow i noticed a shake in them so i brought it to a mate who has a balancing machine in his yard he said they were off so he balanced them again. They still weren't right so i brought to a more specialized tyre centre not too far away and he says its the tyres given the size of them and especially and AT tyres generally give off a bit shake anyhow. Now i have noticed in the past week it has got worse has anyone else any experience with this before with BFG AT or is there something else it might be? I have asked the wheel manufacture and they said they have not heard any complaints about them. So I am puzzled to what it might be...

101sean

Aftermarket LEDs are around £120 a set and there's no change in the wiring loom.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/8-RDX-LED-STANDARD-SIZE-Light-lamps-Relay-ONLY-Defender-Td5-Tdci-Red-Clear-/230898056282?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item35c298bc5a

With regard to the tyres, it's unlikely to a problems with them, lots of us run the same size and bigger with no problem. What it may be is that the rims have more offset and have highlighted slight wear in the steering. Check the ball joints and steering damper, at worst it could be swivel pin loading or wear in the steering box in the straight ahead position.

happybob

What is a self levelling headlamp, why is one required, and how does it work?

go faster

Hi all i have a defender tdi5 year 00 110 that gave me a problem yesterday the engine light came on and i had no throttle.It would start no problem but as soon as you put it into gear and try to drive the engine light would come on and no power.The only way to get it to drive would be to press the throttle fully down start it up and keep the refs up go to slow and the engine light would come and no power.plugged in a computer no faults come up.The problem has gone now and is the second time this has happened and only seems to happen when there is alot of water on the roads.Any help welcomed thanks.

101sean

Couple of possibilities spring to mind, neither of which will show a fault. Check the relays under the seat, one of them is for the fuel pump. They can work loose or corrode which will cause momentary problems.

The other is the throttle pedal potentiometer, you'd need to take live readings for this. It should read a 5V supply and the track readings should vary cleanly. A pre 02 should have a 2 track throttle if you had to replace it.

go faster

Thanks ill give them a look is there anything that if it got wet would cause this i was told the air filter when wet can cause this but looked at that dry as could be.

101sean

Not really although I have a leak over the throttle pedal but its not affected it. Otherwise check the various sensor plugs

happybob

For the most novel use/treatment of the interior of a 90 HT whilst preserving its commercial credentials. E.g. mobile office ...

happybob

Any recommendations for insurance for D90HT, e.g., who will insure it with commercial with SD&P usage, or even pure SD&P usage. Any national specialists for Landrovers?

Liberty confusingly won't insure a commercial for someone in 'professional services'. I'm wondering what makes me less entitled than a tradesman; probably lower risk for starters.

101sean

I don't think there's any specific LR insurance but I've seen several recommendations for insuremyvan if you want to try online. You're better off going to a broker, I was with AXA who were very helpful in the local office but I'm now insured through, Campion. It's generally hopeless trying to do it over the phone with something different.

sparkman

Try D'arcy Cleary brokers in Nenagh. They got me a good deal with Setanta Insurance for commercial cover on my LR. I'm also covered for SD&P.

happybob

sparkman wrote: »

Try D'arcy Cleary brokers in Nenagh. They got me a good deal with Setanta Insurance for commercial cover on my LR. I'm also covered for SD&P.

Be interested to know the actual numbers you are paying and what NCDs you have (by PM if you prefer). My issue is that we have 5+ NCD on company car already where we are both named drivers but the main insurers won't mirror that for a new vehicle.

Some of the independents though do advertise that they can mirror. Setanta was one I already noted, as was Insure My Van, and Kinane.

happybob

Seems more Discovery than Defender but worrying precedents all the same from dealers and the parent themselves ...

http://www.landroverhell.com/

sparkman

I know of a guy near me who is suing a local dealer because a Disco that he bought brand new in 2011 has caused so many problems. Apparently in the 10s of thousands, none of which LR has stumped up for. The same fella is minted so he probably continued with repairs as he had the money anyway, but the fact that LR wouldn't cover any of it kinda confirms what is being said in that website.

101sean

Quality is improving greatly but from what I've seen around the forums and comics the biggest problem is that many of the dealers are either technically clueless or have appalling customer relations.

happybob

sparkman wrote: »

I know of a guy near me who is suing a local dealer because a Disco that he bought brand new in 2011 has caused so many problems. Apparently in the 10s of thousands, none of which LR has stumped up for. The same fella is minted so he probably continued with repairs as he had the money anyway, but the fact that LR wouldn't cover any of it kinda confirms what is being said in that website.

Given a 3 year+ warranty would be interested to know why the dealer wasn't playing ball.

Also interested in the relationship between the dealer and LR UK. Since LR UK are bound to uphold the warranty I suspect a legal issue should be arising between the dealer and LR UK, rather than between the customer and dealer.

Should simply be a matter of the dealer effecting necessary repairs and claiming back for parts/labour from the factory.

If there is an issue here, would definititely be cause for concern for buyers.

happybob

101sean wrote: »

Quality is improving greatly

Wondering what supports the view?

Stonewolf

Well, I have to say the only Land Rover experience I've had so far has been pretty reliable and it's a modern one (Disco 3 in fact). The only time it's failed to start in the 4 months I've had it has been when I had a 15 minute conversation with someone with all the lights and the aircon on and no engine running on a cold night which is my fault. It's not totally there yet though, it likes to remind me that HDC is broken every time I start it. It's a 3rd hand '06 with 165kkm on the clock and has done a spot of towing in the past.

Compared to what I've heard about previous models, Freelanders, Defenders etc ... I call that pretty solid.

PhotogTom

Have an 05 Defender and need a new clutch. Can you give me an idea of what a non-dealer garage would charge for that?

Been doing a bit of reading on forums, etc. Not sure I do need a new clutch. Here's the issue - can be difficult, once or twice impossible, to get into gear. Several posts I read talk about needing a clutch when the clutch is engaging or biting very high in its tuvel. This clutch engages when its almost on the floor or at least very early in its travel.

Wonder if some sort of "adjustment" is what's needed? Maybe the clutch isn't engaging fully?

And ideas?

101sean

Before you look at the clutch, check the fluid level in the master cylinder reservoir and look for fluid leaking down the pedal or out of the bellhousing drain. Your symptoms could be failing seals in the clutch master or slave cylinder. Other possibility is the flexible hose ballooning under pressure.

There is no adjustment other than pedal free play and this is set when you fit a new master cylinder.
If one is failing, replace both and the flexible hose at the same time.

Failing clutch is usually just down to wear and will slip in high gears, pedal travel isn't affected.

Clutch change is easy but heavy work, no idea how much as I do my own. Be prepared to change the dual mass flywheel as well, thankfully they are cheap compared to jap ones!

PhotogTom

Thanks for that Sean - much appreciated and money saved! Def not slipping in high gear so can rule that out. Will check leaks/hoses, etc in the AM.

prosmart

Sorry if this has been done to death but im in the process of converting a 97 Discovery 5 door to commercial and was just wondering if i can tint the windows instead of blanking them out??? I seem to remember there was(still is??) a rule that there were no windows allowed behind the driver in a commercial. I just want to keep as much visibility as possible for reversing etc.

sparkman

prosmart wrote: »

Sorry if this has been done to death but im in the process of converting a 97 Discovery 5 door to commercial and was just wondering if i can tint the windows instead of blanking them out??? I seem to remember there was(still is??) a rule that there were no windows allowed behind the driver in a commercial. I just want to keep as much visibility as possible for reversing etc.

Hmmm...u probably already got an answer on this but I'd bet you need to replace them with panels. I think with the 110 defenders and some other LWBs you get away with a rear seat and windows as long as the last section is blanked out. Not much good to you in the Discovery though. TBH, I wouldn't worry too much about the side visibility. I never drove a 4WD in my life, let alone a LWB commercial one until about 3 months ago and within a day or 2 I was driving and reversing around market/pedestrian areas (obviously not for fun, it's the business I'm now in )

You just get used to it. Mind you, without the rear window I'd be goosed I think. Dunno how some van drivers do it...