My first discovery

[uazvet]

Hi All

So, a few weeks back I joined the merry band on this board, and last weekend i bought my first ever land rover, initial impressions - wow, i've been missing out! a purring V8 engine, comfy ride albeit a tendency to bounce a bit if you hit a lumpy bit of tarmac, though generally feels quite planted on the road - i have yet to take it offroad, and its then that i am expecting to be furter impressed.

It's a 97 ES 3.9, everything electric seems to work ok, but without handbook i am not sure about several buttons (motorway symbol switch, sel switch), it has a tendency to veer left, whilst cruising and under braking, but this is not overly noticable, perhaps a idiosync? No towbar has been fitted and it's spent 90% of its life in NW1, with 60k on clock. I suspect there will be certain issues with the car with this type of useage, appreciate any thoughts, ideas, things to check etc. Additionally, unless i am very firm footed on brake when engaging reverse there's a noticable clunk, though auto box performs faultlessly in forward drive.

I will taking the car back to russia with me at the end of next week (when log book arrives), and hope to be able to join the convoy enroute to ladoga (any invitation in the offing hint hint!?!?) I can leave anytime after 27th. Since i am making long journey, i do intend to service it - and whilst i know it is not encouraged to advertise here, can anyone accidently mention a specialist or jolly good engineer near cambridge:) I also want to take a spares pack, uj's, filters,pads, etc, again any pointers as to what may be handy and compact enough to store in a box? Oh and a dumb newbie question, is the engine chain or belt driven?

Cheers

Simon

[teabag]

Hi Simon. U should not bounce, so perhaps the dampers ar getting a bit soft which is understandable after 10/11 years.

Motorway symbol is on the master switch for the cruise control once pressed a light will show and then steering wheel controls do the rest, the cc only works over 28mph.

Veering to the left, don't know. could be any thing from a soft tyre, or tracking to a worn ball joint it needs looking into though.

Clunk, 'they all do that' if it's an auto just like the old RRC did the clunk comes from the transfer box and not the auto gear box.

For servicing get your self a copy of a Land Rover mag and have a look, but i'm sure that other owner will post a recommendation.

Finaly, NO the engine is petrol driven (could not resist that) the camshaft is chain driven and the alternator, a/c and the other external bits and bobs are driven by a single belt.

Have a look at this link for an owners manual...................http://www.ownerinfo.landrover.com/extfree2viewlrprod/index.jsp

Regards

[uazvet]

thanks for the link teabag! and for pointing out the bleeding obvious:) which for some reason i had completely overlooked! So presumably it would be a good idea to carry one of the all performing single belts in a service pack. It's resassuring to know the clunk is part of standard LR operating procedure, though bit unsettling when heard the first time.

Another question if i may. the kickdown only seems to work after throttle actually touches the floor and only then after what seems to be a couple of seconds (sure the delay is probably much shorter in realtime, but scary if you have an immediate need for 100%power). Is there a solution to this?

Thanks again.

[teabag]

That's it pedal to the floor or it seem like it (all the way down) for kickdown and half way for the gear box to dropdown to a lower gear depending on road speed and engine rpm so no probs there.

With the belt there two lenghts so look for the part no. on the existing belt and get the same. LR recommend a change after five years but i waited for ten before replacing mine. Look for lots of fine cracks on the ribed side it's then time for a change or so they say.

Take a few air filters with u V8s gulp a lot of air so best to change them every year they are not that expensive.

Also get a Haynes service/repair manual no.3016 from Halfords, very handy for even just the basic info on the car.

Ive had 21 years in total of CLUNK so i'm use to it.

Regards

[teabag]

Also the kick down delay, I missed that bit, yes thats normal only 1 or 2 seconds may be, but there is a delay.

Regards

[thebiglad]

thanks for the link teabag! and for pointing out the bleeding obvious:) which for some reason i had completely overlooked! So presumably it would be a good idea to carry one of the all performing single belts in a service pack. It's resassuring to know the clunk is part of standard LR operating procedure, though bit unsettling when heard the first time.

Another question if i may. the kickdown only seems to work after throttle actually touches the floor and only then after what seems to be a couple of seconds (sure the delay is probably much shorter in realtime, but scary if you have an immediate need for 100%power). Is there a solution to this?

Thanks again.

The solution is bury the pedal, really, be quite brutal with it and you'll find it reacts better !!

[V8SMYMATE]

The solution is bury the pedal, really, be quite brutal with it and you'll find it reacts better !!

Hi the the disco will only kickdown in 1st if you are doing less than 30mph! as for what i would look for if going on a long jounery. HMMMMMM! i would change disc and pads wheel bearings all round springs and shocks all the bushes that will get you to a level where you know that all the handling components are sorted. drain all the fluids diff oil, engine oil, gearbox,transfer box, grease all uj,s on the props check the swivels on the front and change for swivel one shot grease. the spares i would take depend on the journey terrain, oil, water, coolant, spare diff, shafts, cv coil, battrey, tools,fuses, hope this helps.Have a good trip

Duncan