LR Knowledge

I am new to the Land Rover world and have had no experience of maintaining vehicles, since getting the Discovery two weeks ago i am keen to do as much work as i can myself. I have purchased the Haynes book today so will get my head in that to carry out basic stuff, i imagine there is no room for trial and error but does all this Land Rover knowledge come with experience or is everyone a bloody mechanic It is a 1997 TDI so imagine maintenance is going to play an important part in keeping her on the road.....

On the scale of things, LR Discovery 1 is simple to maintain compared to other cars. But you still need a reasonable level of mechanical knowledge, a reasonable place to be able to work on it in comfort, and a basic set of semi-decent tools. There's plenty of stories on here of people who don't know if they're having a **** or a haircut when it comes to mechanical work, and make a right mess of the simplest jobs.

youve made a good start by buying the haynes manual.... it aint perfect but still well worth having.... gives the answere to most of the basic questions. most of us arnt trained mehanics and dont have comfortable heated workshops. busters photo guides on here are worth looking at .

Copy this to file to go with your Haynes Manual.
Best of luck

http://www.landy.pl/LandRoverDiscoveryWorkshop1995-1996.pdf

You need a tool box before you start

hammer and a Bigger hammer WD40 and gaffer tape, covers most situation

Landies are good to work on difficult to break if you follow the rules, haynes is good with photo's

Rave that nicedayforit has provided covers all the things that you will ever need to know

Go for it you'll enjoy the Landy more by knowing you did it yourself, satisfaction will be high when driving it

Nice one guys! Thanks for the tips and the manual, looking forward to that feel good feeling. Already managed to settle down the dancing rev counter due to old threads on here, bring on the the real challenges

Hodge0007 said:

Nice one guys! Thanks for the tips and the manual, looking forward to that feel good feeling. Already managed to settle down the dancing rev counter due to old threads on here, bring on the the real challenges

Click to expand...

You may already have a std socket set but if I may offer a piece of advice - get yourself a set of 6 sided sockets in addition. They will save a lot of rounded off of nuts and bolts, frustration and bloody knuckles.

Thanks for the advice, my tool box at present is minimal to non existent!! Need to start from scratch and get the essentials, i will need all the help i can get so may as well have the right tools for the job

you also need a good trolly jack and a pair of 3ton axle stands landy are heavy pair of good car ramps also heavy duty one these are most important for saving your life dont ever go under a landy without it having axle stands in place make some big wheels chocks out od wood 3inch by 2in just screw it all together so it make a good chock landy dont have a handbrake like a car it.s a transmisson brake so it only works on one wheel
halfrauds do a good range of tools with lifetime warranty so good offers if you register online machine mart tool station fleybay carboot make sure it,s all locked up and out of site so some little scrote might fancy it all good fun main thing is if in doubt ask

Cheers Octo, will add them to my list:violin: any thoughts on this Halfords socket set? reviews look good....

Halfords | Halfords Advanced Professional 150 piece Socket/Ratchet Set

Seems to have most the items/sizes people have suggested in other threads....

Hodge0007 said:

Cheers Octo, will add them to my list:violin: any thoughts on this Halfords socket set? reviews look good....

Halfords | Halfords Advanced Professional 150 piece Socket/Ratchet Set

Seems to have most the items/sizes people have suggested in other threads....

Click to expand...

That looks like a good starter set as it has 6 and 12 sided sockets, std spanners and very usefully ratchet spanners.

With the screwdriver set as well you would have a good basis to build on.

As others have set, a good trolley jack is indispensable, as are axle stands and some form of ramps.


When you have done your first jobs you will feel so proud of yourself, you'll never let a garage touch your car again.

One overriding piece of advice - always buy the best tools you can manage to afford. My wife gave me a Draper socket set about 25yrs ago and I still use it every day.

Good tools pay for themselves many, many times over.

You will also need a big tub of Copper Grease, Loctite, a grease gun and lithium grease.

The very best of luck to you.

thebiglad said:

That looks like a good starter set as it has 6 and 12 sided sockets, std spanners and very usefully ratchet spanners.

With the screwdriver set as well you would have a good basis to build on.

As others have set, a good trolley jack is indispensable, as are axle stands and some form of ramps.


When you have done your first jobs you will feel so proud of yourself, you'll never let a garage touch your car again.

One overriding piece of advice - always buy the best tools you can manage to afford. My wife gave me a Draper socket set about 25yrs ago and I still use it every day.

Good tools pay for themselves many, many times over.

You will also need a big tub of Copper Grease, Loctite, a grease gun and lithium grease.

The very best of luck to you.

Click to expand...

Thanks Biglad, have just been and purchased the socket set. Glad i reserved it as the cheeky gits are still selling it at £199 in store!! They are doing a lifting kit at £59.99 but after looking at a few threads on here i was not sure if it met my needs sufficiently?

Halfords | Halfords 5 Piece Lifting Kit

looking forward to that feel good factor, assuming i do the job right:5bcheers2:

Hodge0007 said:

Thanks Biglad, have just been and purchased the socket set. Glad i reserved it as the cheeky gits are still selling it at £199 in store!! They are doing a lifting kit at £59.99 but after looking at a few threads on here i was not sure if it met my needs sufficiently?

Halfords | Halfords 5 Piece Lifting Kit

looking forward to that feel good factor, assuming i do the job right:5bcheers2:

Click to expand...

I wouldn't buy that to work on a Disco. Bear in mind that it weighs 2100kgs and even though you won't be dead-lifting the vehicle, that kit it too lightweight.

I use a 3ton trolley jack, 6 ton axle stands and 2 ton ramps. Personally I wouldn't bother with the sliding trolley affair - spend your money on quality kit.

Happy days, appreciate the advice!!

Just a quickie based on todays experience.

We are selling Wend's TDi 300 and it is going in for it's pre sale Contrôle Technique (mot to you and me) so I thought I would, amongst other things, check and if necessary repack and adjust the wheel bearings.

Well they did need a bit of adjustment after re-greasing so got that sorted then I noticed the front brake pads.

Now because parts are so cheap for these cars I felt sure that I had done this a little while ago - obviously NOT!!!! They were shâgged !!!! and the important message here (apart from Alzheimers) is that because I had let them go so long the pistons were really far out, cacked up and a real sôd to get back in.

So, my advice for what it's worth, check your car all over, make a list of stuff to do - and do it!!!!! Don't just think about it like I did.

Cheers
Dave

Ramps F##k that dig a pit in your garage like me friend is doing just now or if like me you are geting to old & sore to crawl under the old girl get a 4 post lift. Ok not every one has the room but ow!boy joy to work