Still searching

Hello there, still searching for a secondhand Disco. I was keen on a late model Series I diesel but have had no luck, part of the problem is SWMBO insists that it must have dual airbags or at least one on the passenger side. Any argument against this requirement=divorce.

So know I'm looking at the Series II with Td5 (MY 2000, YA)and the associated extra expense. What should be on the look out for? I have heard of problems with the fly-by-wire throttle not being to everyone's liking and poor performance problems due to oil leaks into the ECU loom.

Also I believe the centre diff is still there but cannot be activated from the cabin, is this true? It would look like a serious handicap, practically speaking is this so? I have heard there are aftermarket kits to fix this, is it worth it?

Thanks for your time.

Tim in OZ.

Reply to
Tim Wise
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Never had this problem with mine (99MY), Oil pissing all over the engine, the turbo and everything on the nearside of the engine bay yes, but not the ECU loom. I did have some problems with the ABS/ETC/EBD/whatever you want to call it (google for earlier rants for details)

The fly by wire throttle isn't too bad as the TD5 is quite a perky engine, especially for a diesel. The electronics are problematic at best.

P.

Reply to
Paul S. Brown

And. . . Don't forget the spigot shaft bush on the manual models.

On some, there was never enough lubricant impregnated into it.

Steve W

Reply to
QuickDraw Steve

|| Hello there, still searching for a secondhand Disco. || I was keen on a late model Series I diesel but have had no || luck, part of the problem is SWMBO insists that it must have || dual airbags or at least one on the passenger side. Any argument || against this requirement=divorce. || || So know I'm looking at the Series II with Td5 (MY 2000, YA)and the || associated extra expense. What should be on the look out for? I have || heard of problems with the fly-by-wire throttle not being to || everyone's liking and poor performance problems due to oil leaks || into the ECU loom. || || Also I believe the centre diff is still there but cannot be activated || from the cabin, is this true? It would look like a serious handicap, || practically speaking is this so? I have heard there are aftermarket || kits to fix this, is it worth it? || || Thanks for your time. || || Tim in OZ.

As Paul says, check gooogle for previous rants from me on this. Briefly:

  1. Early ECUs gave a hole in the torque curve between 800 and 2000 rpm - right where you need it off-road or when towing. Later models (2002 on?) had this rectified, or so I'm told. The fly-by-wire throttle is very light and precise (I liked this) but after a year I was still stalling it in traffic so I gave up. Once it was up to speed (2500 rpm and up) it was a stormer.

  1. The turning circle is absolutely HUGE. Parking in tight spots was a nightmare. Test drive in a supermarket car park essential.

  2. Chassis weakness around the steering box. I complained of a groaning noise when I reversed out of the drive, and the dealer made a modification involving extra welding around this point. The ease with which he suggested this solution made me think it was a common problem, but I've not heard of it from anyone else. Worrying, though.

  1. Never convinced the traction control did very much. I got stopped regularly where my previous LRs (90, RRC) romped through, with TC whirring and wheels spinning madly. Again, others have found it brilliant. I longed for the difflock, though. Some can be retro-fitted, others cannot - technical folks will tell you which.

Overall, the Disco was 90% brilliant, but the 10% that wasn't, I couldn't live with. If the P38A hadn't turned up when it did, I was going to sell it and get a late Series I Disco with V8 and spend the difference on LPG. By comparison, the Rangie is a) awesomely good at towing, b) awesomely good off-road, c) like an 80" trialler with fiddle brakes in car parks* and I have never regretted making the change. I'm not advocating you get a RR (although it has the flippin' airbags), just pointing out some issues I had with the Disco.

Just one person's view, and YMMV etc.

  • I exaggerate, but the comparison is true.

HTH

Reply to
Richard Brookman

On or around 26 Nov 2003 16:31:01 -0800, snipped-for-privacy@chw.net.au (Tim Wise) enlightened us thusly:

so's you can turn it off when carrying a sprog-carrier.

personally, I detest the mentality that's given us airbags.

Reply to
Austin Shackles

"...part of the problem is SWMBO insists that it must have dual airbags or at least one on the passenger side. Any argument against this requirement=divorce."

Don't women carry their own air bags? Well, some of them anyway.

After seeing a picture of someone with a broken nose, fractured cheek bone, two black eyes and various cuts and abrasions FROM the air bag - I'm hoping I never need mine. It was a straight on rear impact, and he suffered more injury from the air bag than he did the impact of the car!

Reply to
H

I do the kits for this.

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It was not able to be fitted from mid 2001.

I have had the usual problems with ECU and looms, but rectified now.

Reply to
mm

bring back the large chest impaling spike - I mean the series 2 steering column! i leave PLENTY of room in front of me and never pull out stupidly, I also have a habit of reading peoples minds at junctions and i can usually tell if they are going to pull out in front of me, forcing me into an emergency braking situation. If i do sense that, I slow down and flash them and just let them out. Driving an old car with no safety features and drum brakes all round makes you conciencious and SAFE on the road. Shame the same can`t be said for people who drive modern cars at stupid speeds thinking electronics will fix everything,

rant over with, sorry,

Nick C

Reply to
Nick C

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