SanDiego110

Steering box leaks pretty bad. My options are to rebuild it or buy a refurbished one. Is it worth trying to rebuild or should I spend the extra money to get a refurbished unit? From what I have read on this forum, this steering box is notorious for leaking, even after it is rebuilt or replaced.

Well I got the glow plugs to work... drum roll please... it started up in two revs. Monkie is right. Even if it's sunny and 70F (actually about 65 this evening, brrr), lack of heat from glow plugs delays time to start when cold, even if "cold" is 65F. At least this is the case for my 19J. Thanks monkie, my battery and starter motor are grateful!

Well I found the short at the ignition switch. Assuming I can fix it and get power to the glowplugs, we shall soon have an answer to this "hot" topic. Red90 bets it will still crank over several seconds before starting since heat isn't required unless we're in Siberia, and monkie bets it will fire up much quicker with functioning glowplugs, even though I'm is sunny San Diego. Did I get that right?

So I checked to see if the plugs were getting power (that was easier than tracking down air getting into fuel lines), and there is no power with key in start position (engine off) nor with the engine running. A bit of history here: After replacing the head gasket (and glow plugs) I tried to start the engine not knowing that one of the glow plug wire terminal connectors was contacting the engine block. Not aware of this, I repeatedly held the ignition in start and crank (getting no response from starter), until smoke rose from the dash behind the steering wheel. I think it was monkie that helped me track down the short. After bending the terminal away from the block, it cranked over and started. So I'm assuming there isn't a fuse for the glowplugs since it should have blown before smoking electrical items happened. I think I may have burnt up something on the ignition switch, but the switch still works for starting the engine. Oh and another possibly related clue: the coolant temp gauge doesn't work. I replaced the transmitter on the head, that didn't fix it. So is there a fuse I should check? Should I look at the ignition switch? Something else that I am clueless about? Thanks!

Just wondering how long I should expect to crank the engine before it starts up when it is cold (cold being 70 degrees F OAT). It takes two consecutive 5-second cranks before she starts up. I feel like this is too long, considering the Yanmar diesel on my sailboat takes no more than a second, cold start. Once the engine (Defender, not sailboat) is warm, I can shut it off and restart it with just one second of cranking. Thanks!

I had the same symptoms (crankcase pressure, white smoke) with my 1989 2.5 td, and it was the head gasket. Changed it out and it runs good now, no smoke.

I see only the black wire which I plugged into the top of the transmitter.

Does anyone know where I can find a wiring schematic? I replaced the old temperature transmitter on the head, but still no needle movement when engine warms up to operating temp. It is stuck at the cold end of the gauge. Any ideas? I took a resistance reading from the new transmitter while it was warm and got 40 ohms, which is the same as the old transmitter read, and the same as they both read while the engine was cold.

Thanks, I'll make a note of those shops. I put the engine back together despite the crack between valve seats. It started right up and no more smoke (whoo hoo!!!). Still tinkering with a leaking steering box and a tiny oil leak. I'm prepared for some degree of disaster in the future given the unrepaired head crack, at least I know where to go now for a replacement. No monkie I didn't take it to a professional. Should have done that, but I doubt shops around here have that kind of experience.

Where is a good place to find a new or used head if it comes to that?

You are my Landy hero! I knew I connected it but just checked to make sure the connectors weren't contacting the block... #4 plug connector was indeed touching the block. Bent it out and tried to start. Vroom!!! So awesome... never expected it to fire right up after my first head gasket job... it purrs and no smoke at all. Thank you sir!

I just put my 1989 2.5 TD back together after replacing the head gasket. I tried to start it up, and instead of hearing the starter motor crank, I see smoke rising from behind the steering wheel and smell electrical burning smell. I'll pull out the ignition switch and give an update. What else might cause this?

I looked over everything and this is the only crack I could find... not even sure if it is a crack. This engine is in great shape for a 1989.

I've scrutinized the crack-prone areas... no cracks are visible with my eye. Should I use a dye penetrant? Maybe there are cracks I can't see. You guys have convinced me that a 19J free of cracked pistons/combustion chambers is somewhat of a unicorn.