"Austin Shackles" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:
[email protected]...
> On or around Mon, 12 Dec 2005 22:51:26 -0000, "Nige"
> <[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:
>
>>Austin Shackles wrote:
>>> Engine aside, what's the rest of the motor like to work on?
Pretty much the same as any other modern motor, the nuts and bolts are just
that, it's the electronics that can cause problems if and when they play up.
A lot of the trim etc is very similar if not identical to a 300 series
disco.
>>> I've a liking for old-fashioned things that you can bodge with bits
>>> of wire and string. But then again, it might be that disco IIs are
>>> in the bracket that we want to look at for replacing the '95 one with
>>> a newer/lower mileage model.
>>>
>>> Disco I TDis only go up to about 98 or maybe early 99 anyway... so
>>> increasingly, there will be fewer really tidy ones about.
>>
>>Think of it as a P38 with a nicer bum. it has a SERIOUS amount of the
>>leccy stuff in it. Whilst my LSE
>>has the same amount, the D2 bits & bats are newer & MUCH more expensive.
>
> Is it actually the same system as the P38? erm... lessee (dredges through
> forgettory) GEMS? or is it an updated one?
Nope, it's the later "Thor" inlet setup, cast iron exhaust manifolds and the
Bosch Motronic engine management system. The Motronic system is in many ways
very similar in architecture to the BMW V8 and V12 engines using it, very
reliable. Be warned though, if going the LPG route, it HAS to be SGI,
vapourmix will not work properly, and be careful installing the injectors as
the inlet manifold as you look down on it has the centre 2 cylinders crossed
side to side, important when working out the injector sequencing, or it'll
cause the ecu to chuck a teddy or 3.
> I've no real objection to electronics (mostly, the electronics themselves
> are reliable - it's the connections between 'em that tend to give trouble
> IME.
>
> The real problem I have is things that turn around a tell me "dealer only
> servicing". Although I gather that more of the independents are getting
> testbook and/or Rovacom to be able to work on these.
Only issues, same as any other newer vehicle, are that it needs to go on the
computer to diagnose a lot of the systems (rear air suspension, HDC, HVAC,
autobox, BCU etc etc) but the actual repairing can be done quite simply at
home once you know what has failed. Personally, I use Rovacom Lite, but only
because Autologic was way too expensive.
> one thing about the TD5, for exmaple: it's said (by some) that it needs
> checking and retuning every X miles, which can "only" be done on testbook.
> Is this true, either about the necessity or the doing?
Pass, never heard that one myself.
Badger.
