Fist an update on the Disco. It's still in CZ, sitting in the Land Rover dealer waiting for some parts to arrive so they can reassemble the heads, after which we'll know if it was just the heads or a block problem, so fingers crossed! Meanwhile, I've had to return to the UK and have bought a 1989 Range Rover to use until I get my Disco back. It was a V8 EFI but has had a 300TDI conversion. It runs and drives fine, and most things (including the aircon to my amazement) seem to be working. But the heater blows only cold air, the temperature of which seems pretty much the same irrespective of the position of control lever. As summer still seems a way off, judging by yesterday's weather, I'm keen to fix it. I'm hoping it's just a control lever problem, but am wondering if there are any known problems with heaters on Rangies of that age, and, when they are working, how good were they/should they be? As good as a 300TDI Disco, for example? Second thing is starting. I don't know how the ignition switch and glow plugs have been wired up. I assumed it would be like a 200TDI Defender, ignition on, wait for glow plug warning light to go off, turn key and engine fires before you can say "Boo!". But there's no sign of a glow plug warning light in the "ignition on" position and it takes a fair bit of cranking to get the engine to fire from cold. As it's a conversion from a petrol model , I don't know if there is / should be a warning light, or if I should be doing something different with the ignition key to activate the glow plugs (e.g. turning it and holding it against the spring until just before the starter motor engages???). The other odd thing is that it usually starts fine when hot, but sometimes just spins over with no sign of firing. If I then turn the ignition off and retry, there can be a clunk (like you get with a flat battery or some types of immobiliser when they are active) and the starter motor does not operate. Turn the ignition off and try again, starter spins happily and engine fires immediately.Any one any experience of
300TDI conversions on that generation of Rangie, and / or any ideas? Many thanks. Simon- posted
18 years ago