D
davidrod
Guest
I thought that I would post this to let people know about common problems with the Discovery II. After reading tons of stuff about these vehicles, and owning one for 5 years, I've come to find out that these problems will happen if you own a discovery II.
These will (will) happen in this order:
* First, you will notice a small amount of leaking (probably coolant). You'll start by noticing a sucking sound in the dash. I've seen a million posts about this sound (mostly when you accelerate). You'll read alot of posts that tell you it's hard to eliminate air from the coolant on these vehicles. Wrong (partially right), it's because your vehicle has started leaking coolant. It is the first signs that you have a coolant leak. Just add coolant. It will go away for awhile. (around 45000 miles)
* Next, your wife will tell you that she got burned when you took a left at a light. You'll think, she's crazy. She'll tell you that the floorboard is wet on the passenger side. You'll get online and read about the heater core o-rings leaking and you'll also read about how expensive it is to repair due to the amount of labor involved. You'll end up taking a better look as it gets worse and realize that it's the air cond drain tubes. Easy and cheap fix. (55,000 miles)
* Next, you'll need a brake job. If you let it go too long or if you happen to "touch" the ABS sensors the wrong way, or use the "wrong" brake pads (whatever that means)you'll have the "three amigos" (the hill descent, ABS, traction control) lights. This sounds easy, get it checked out and it will go away. This can be true, but I've noticed an "enigma" that some mechanics cannot repair in a way that it will "go away" for a long amount of time. I've read a million posts about people having this fixed and it starts again in a couple of weeks. Truth be told, I don't know why this is. I don't know if it's that most mechanics don't know how to repair, or if it's just a problem with the discovery. I would bet that it's just a problem with discovery's. I have had this problem first hand. (around 65000 miles)
* Next, you'll notice that the coolant leaking is getting worse. You'll think that you can just add coolant every few months and you're right. The sucking sound in the dash will let you know when you need to add. Just put some coolant in the storage bins and don't let it come close to overheating. Pay attention to the gauges. (70000 miles)
* Next, you notice a squeaking sound when you accelerate (chirping bird). It will start off just sometimes and get worse. You'll get online and read about the rotoflex going bad. They'll check out and tell you that it's your front driveshaft. (easy fix) This is due to the coolant leak that I mentioned before dripping on the front drive shaft. Most mechanics will tell you that it's going to be $900 to $1200 bucks. You can definitely fix this yourself. Remove 8 bolts and contact "Great Basin Rovers". They'll tell you how to fix and the part is only $400 bucks. Makes you Rover drive much better as well.
(75000 miles)
* Next, your leak will get worse. You'll start checking out the engine to find the source. You'll notice that there is a leak on the drivers side valve cover. Then you'll get online and check it out and find out that it's the throttle body heater gasket plate. You can fix this by either replacing or putting in a connector and bypassing this. If you bypass, you'll notice that on cold mornings, it feels like the gas peddle is sticking a little when you start off. It is. This is simple fix and not really expensive. You'll think, great, I've found the coolant leak. (80000 miles)
* Next, your coolant leak will get much worse. (probably cause you fixed the throttle body leak and added pressure to the system which finds the weak parts of your gaskets) You'll start adding coolant every two weeks, then every week, then every three days. Then you'll take it to a shop kind of knowing what they are going to say.
Bam, "you need head gaskets, valve cover gaskets, front seal, intake gaskets (upper and lower), exhaust gaskets, head machine work (since they are removed from the engine), water pump (since everything else is removed). Major fix. $2300 in labor, $500 in parts (and I ordered myself cause I could save money). This was an independent mechanic that I totally trust. Probably $4000-$6000 from the stealer.
(85000 miles)
I know that most of you will say "these aren't common, this guy has a bad land rover". Totally wrong, just get online and read about a million posts. Figure it out for yourself, don't trust me.
I don't know why, but I love this vehicle. I like the way it looks, I like the way it drives. This is crazy because if it were any other vehicle, I'd say it is a piece of shit. I also have a 1988 BMW 535is daily driver that I've had for 15 years that I have never done any mechanical work on (does not leak any (any, meaning none) oil. does not leak any (any, meaning none) coolant) and it has 235000 miles on it, plus everything works on it (cruise control,air, heater, power door locks, trip computer, etc...). It's like you have a double standard with these vehicles. It's like the vehicle is a "Pro-bowl" running back. No matter how many times he beats his wife and gets arrested for drugs, you love him cause he runs great when he is able to run. "Like a scab that you can't resist picking at, cause it feels good in a weird way"
Don't let "land rover" guys tell you that this is normal for "ALL" vehicles. "Everyone needs engine repair at 85000 miles. That's a lot of miles on a vehicle." Bull, I know a ton (most) vehicles that don't need this type of work this soon.
Just thought that I would let all the unsuspecting discovery II owners know that aren't sure if it's their vehicle or if it's common.
You'll also think, "why did this guy write so much about his discovery". Because, I have read a million posts and tons of them are just "dumb". I've wasted so much time reading these posts that I decided to waste more time writing this post.
These will (will) happen in this order:
* First, you will notice a small amount of leaking (probably coolant). You'll start by noticing a sucking sound in the dash. I've seen a million posts about this sound (mostly when you accelerate). You'll read alot of posts that tell you it's hard to eliminate air from the coolant on these vehicles. Wrong (partially right), it's because your vehicle has started leaking coolant. It is the first signs that you have a coolant leak. Just add coolant. It will go away for awhile. (around 45000 miles)
* Next, your wife will tell you that she got burned when you took a left at a light. You'll think, she's crazy. She'll tell you that the floorboard is wet on the passenger side. You'll get online and read about the heater core o-rings leaking and you'll also read about how expensive it is to repair due to the amount of labor involved. You'll end up taking a better look as it gets worse and realize that it's the air cond drain tubes. Easy and cheap fix. (55,000 miles)
* Next, you'll need a brake job. If you let it go too long or if you happen to "touch" the ABS sensors the wrong way, or use the "wrong" brake pads (whatever that means)you'll have the "three amigos" (the hill descent, ABS, traction control) lights. This sounds easy, get it checked out and it will go away. This can be true, but I've noticed an "enigma" that some mechanics cannot repair in a way that it will "go away" for a long amount of time. I've read a million posts about people having this fixed and it starts again in a couple of weeks. Truth be told, I don't know why this is. I don't know if it's that most mechanics don't know how to repair, or if it's just a problem with the discovery. I would bet that it's just a problem with discovery's. I have had this problem first hand. (around 65000 miles)
* Next, you'll notice that the coolant leaking is getting worse. You'll think that you can just add coolant every few months and you're right. The sucking sound in the dash will let you know when you need to add. Just put some coolant in the storage bins and don't let it come close to overheating. Pay attention to the gauges. (70000 miles)
* Next, you notice a squeaking sound when you accelerate (chirping bird). It will start off just sometimes and get worse. You'll get online and read about the rotoflex going bad. They'll check out and tell you that it's your front driveshaft. (easy fix) This is due to the coolant leak that I mentioned before dripping on the front drive shaft. Most mechanics will tell you that it's going to be $900 to $1200 bucks. You can definitely fix this yourself. Remove 8 bolts and contact "Great Basin Rovers". They'll tell you how to fix and the part is only $400 bucks. Makes you Rover drive much better as well.
(75000 miles)
* Next, your leak will get worse. You'll start checking out the engine to find the source. You'll notice that there is a leak on the drivers side valve cover. Then you'll get online and check it out and find out that it's the throttle body heater gasket plate. You can fix this by either replacing or putting in a connector and bypassing this. If you bypass, you'll notice that on cold mornings, it feels like the gas peddle is sticking a little when you start off. It is. This is simple fix and not really expensive. You'll think, great, I've found the coolant leak. (80000 miles)
* Next, your coolant leak will get much worse. (probably cause you fixed the throttle body leak and added pressure to the system which finds the weak parts of your gaskets) You'll start adding coolant every two weeks, then every week, then every three days. Then you'll take it to a shop kind of knowing what they are going to say.
Bam, "you need head gaskets, valve cover gaskets, front seal, intake gaskets (upper and lower), exhaust gaskets, head machine work (since they are removed from the engine), water pump (since everything else is removed). Major fix. $2300 in labor, $500 in parts (and I ordered myself cause I could save money). This was an independent mechanic that I totally trust. Probably $4000-$6000 from the stealer.
(85000 miles)
I know that most of you will say "these aren't common, this guy has a bad land rover". Totally wrong, just get online and read about a million posts. Figure it out for yourself, don't trust me.
I don't know why, but I love this vehicle. I like the way it looks, I like the way it drives. This is crazy because if it were any other vehicle, I'd say it is a piece of shit. I also have a 1988 BMW 535is daily driver that I've had for 15 years that I have never done any mechanical work on (does not leak any (any, meaning none) oil. does not leak any (any, meaning none) coolant) and it has 235000 miles on it, plus everything works on it (cruise control,air, heater, power door locks, trip computer, etc...). It's like you have a double standard with these vehicles. It's like the vehicle is a "Pro-bowl" running back. No matter how many times he beats his wife and gets arrested for drugs, you love him cause he runs great when he is able to run. "Like a scab that you can't resist picking at, cause it feels good in a weird way"
Don't let "land rover" guys tell you that this is normal for "ALL" vehicles. "Everyone needs engine repair at 85000 miles. That's a lot of miles on a vehicle." Bull, I know a ton (most) vehicles that don't need this type of work this soon.
Just thought that I would let all the unsuspecting discovery II owners know that aren't sure if it's their vehicle or if it's common.
You'll also think, "why did this guy write so much about his discovery". Because, I have read a million posts and tons of them are just "dumb". I've wasted so much time reading these posts that I decided to waste more time writing this post.
Go figure.
