Markoteal

Certainly hope they aren't structural - mine are propped up against the hut awaiting a rub down and a lick of paint before selling them! Having said that, the state of my hut means they are probably doing a structural job for the shed by holding it up!

This morning (the sun was out so I was up early) i set about doing some prep work ahead of my new cubby box arriving - I thought removing the middle seat would be relatively straight forward! (I'm learning NOTHING is straight forward with a landy - hence me having this prep session ahead of the box arriving!) Apart from being able to get to the two bolts at the rear of the frame to be able to get the frame out, I think I've cracked it (when I've got some help to turn the ratchet while I hold the other bolt from underneath) - however my questions are these I've found the Electric Control unit tucked under the middle seat - a) where should i put it when I fit my cubby box? (clean answers only thanks!) - the wire its attached to that comes through the inspection plate looks like it won't go too far - and it looks to have holes in the casing so it can be screwed to something. b) to answer my curiosity, what's the separate thing on the white,black & green wires that looks like a plastic pointy thing? Ta PS - have people found when fitting cubbys that they need to remove the two big bolts for the seat belt moorings for the middle seat or does the cubby fit between them?

Mines exactly the same - I'll now have a look at these ideas - was thinking of staying up all night after first drying it out and watching what happens - is as though the magic landy fairies come in and have a water fight!

Cheers guys - I'll have a look at the Haynes one this weekend - be good to get a bit more clued up

Ok - aside from creating a circuit in science at school with a AA battery, some wire, clips and a small bulb - car electrics are a real mystery to me - can anyone suggest a web site/book that starts off someone to learn about electrics right from the beginning so eventually can wire up new additional lights,u pieces of kit etc easily AND safely in a defender Ta Mark

Yes - agree about finding a local auto paint person - I know my landy is Epsom Green but I had an old escort many years ago and they did a great job in matching a colour that our favourite orange coloured retail park supplier didn't carry. Let us know where you are located roughly and I'm sure people can direct you in the right direction. Also worth a crawl around under panels - also worth a peek under the bonnet (literally before someone starts a discussion about the various colours of engines! :-)

Cheers - I'll go shopping tomorrow

I'm replacing the bottom seal on the rear door on my 1996 90 - stripped out old seal and metal retaining plate - repainting the metal plate while off - when finished, what's the best adhesive to attach the seal to the metal strip before reattaching with the screws to the body? When I took the old one off , it was well attached with something - not sure of the best stuff to bond the rubber to the metal Ta

Cheers Western - much appreciated Mark

Cheers guys - it looks like its painted black Its currently tucked out of the way of the fan but when I've a bit more time, I 'll have a go at wiggling it out - if I can't get it free, if I reach in as far as I can to cut it, will that be a suitable solution? Or am I best to leave it tucked out of the way till the next time there's a need to have access to the fan? Will the fan be ok with this missing or not not correctly connected? Thanks again Mark

After driving around 80 miles this weekend of great driving, parked the 90 up at home, had lunch, pottered around and then around 3pm , popped out to top up oil etc and checked levels - after popping up the bonnet I notice the wire that is circled in the attached photo, sticking out through between the fan blades pointing into the engine bay. I can't quite see where it starts but it appears to originate from near the bonnet release mechanism but its not the release wire. Obviously I couldn't start the engine with it there as it would have either have demolished the fan blades or got tangled in the mechanism, so I've bent it up against the back of the radiator and poked the end our of one of the slots in the metal frame that forms the front of the engine bay (and thats where the picture is taken!) I've started it up and all appears ok - no odd rattles or anything looking loose ANY CLUES WHAT THE WIRE IS? I can only think its pinged off from somewhere near the back of the radiator after I arrived home or I would have heard it when driving "tickling the fan blades". Its probably 30 cm long with a 90 degree return at the end about 1cm long Cheers Mark

I'm about to tackle the same challenge but can't get the link above to work - anyone else got a similar link I could look at? Ta

Cheers Western

Decided I need a new locking mechanism on the rear door (1996 90) - noticed I can get a left hand or a right hand one. Mmmmm - is this looking at the rear from outside - if which case it's on the left hand side - however if I get in the truck, and look out to the back and it's now on the right hand side. Is there a Landrover standard as to which is the vehicle's right and which is left? I'm more used to near and offside on other vehicles Anyone know the answer? as I'm new to this is probably blindingly obvious!

These look good - I'll think I'll get one as a temp measure until I can get a new lock sorted! Be interested how they got the bracket under the door seal

Mmmmmm - trying pushing door right to and then locking but appears the same - sat inside and watched what happens and the noise you hear when the door is pressed in when it's locked is the little sliding metal piece on the inside dropping. From the top of the slot to the bottom as the door is pushed - hence it becoming unlocked - I'm sensing that means its busted and I'll need to replace The only way to lock it is to do it from inside - that seems to stop it happening - means I'll be getting more closer to my new purchase than I thought in the next few days until new lock arrives clambering out of the back into the front after every trip! My initiation to Landrovers I guess!

Ok - sounds an idea - will report back in a bit :-)

Firstly, just to let you know I have now acquired a defender! After lookin.g at lots, I found one in good nick, ready converted to a SW and around the price I wanted - shows patience pays off! I'll update with pics etc soon - here's my first query ( and I have searched on the subject on the forum and can't find thIs specific issue although rear doors do appear a regular subject!) Rear door - closes fine and appears to lock ok - however if you push hard on the back door , you feel the door move slightly further in and a slight click from the lock area and hey presto, pull the handle and the blooming thing opens! Anyone have experience of this - is it the lock that need changing or does the striker plate need "adjusting"? No doubt this will be the first of many post as I get to love my new machine!

Cheers Everyone - the decision was taken out of my hands as it was sold to someone else before I could decide - back to my lists!

Cheers guys - thanks for the feedback - I've still to check for chuffing with the oil filler cap off - will give it a look :-)

Thanks again for all the advice - been busy visiting garages and private sellers with my list of wants and the various checklists I've been sent - helped me spots a few sheds and ones that appear over priced. I have spotted and done a visit today to what appears to be a good older F reg 90 - 120k on the clock - loads of supporting paperwork and physical evidence to show the old girl has been looked after through her life - the chassis is in very good condition (waxolyed from day one and repeated at various points by one very diligent owner) - the current owner uses it as a local run around and makes sure she gets all the servicing and repairs required. Rear cross member is a bit rusty but not bad - bulkhead looks and sounds ok - a bit of filling but not much - its just been serviced and MoT'd Overall against my checklists it does very well - yes the body work up top has a few bangs and scratches and maybe a respray may be in order at some point in the future but not urgent - there's also a small oil leak off the engine so looks genuine!!!!!!!!!! The one query I have is that it's a 2.5T/D engine - sounds fine, no smoke on running, traction feels fine - looks ok - I just know that various peoples advice and probably historical fact is that these units are prone to die early - is this likely if the engine has been well maintained and driven normally. Any views welcome - I may go back for another look at the weekend Cheers Mark

Thanks again for the advice and the other posts - what a journey! Cheers Mark

Thats loads of fantastic feedback - thanks so much everyone for being so generous with sharing your knowledge and time Yes, taking my time and looking around I think is going to be key - hard when you want to go out and get stuck in but deffo worth it in the long run I'll print all your comments out in the morning and make myself a good check list - I have already started to identify a friendly face at the pub that is involved in LR's and I think I may be able to get some help in looking at potentials. Likewise, like buying a house, thinking about the longer term for starting basic and building up seems a good idea - as well as setting aside money for repairs/replacement parts - yes part of the attraction of getting a defender is learning how to do some of he basic mechanical stuff and grow that knowledge over the years - as well as a decent toolkit! As someone that started driving at 17 who worked in a decent job, I was always lucky enough to have a fairly new car and didn't have to worry about serious servicing etc - now in my 40's, I'm looking forward to literally getting my hands dirty and spending time getting to know my future purchase - no doubt very intimately! I will be an avid reader of the LR4x4 forum and will keep you updated on progress Cheers Mark

Looking in the up to £10k bracket - Been thinking about it for a while - had other 4x4's before but really always fancied a 90 - will be used mainly on the road with a little green lane'ing in he winter - nothing serious! I'm not hugely mechanically minded - I have a good garage I use who have dealt with friends LR's before - I'll be willing to do some bodywork/interior refurb stuff myself but will leave he under the bonnet stuff to him. My dilemma is Do I spend 3-5k on an older higher mileage model which Will need some work sooner rather than later or do I bite the bullet and buy a newer model - normally a decision like this with cars is a no brainer but defenders are a bit different and does 50k less mileage and 10 years less age make 5k's worn of difference? I know this is like asking "what is he meaning of life?" to scientists but would be interested in hearing your views Also located in he Kent/Sussex area - anyone recommend any good LR second hand dealers in his area? Cheers Mark