ACE - Question please

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M6SJG

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285
Location
Nottinghamshire UK
I've got a significant leak in my ACE system - looks like its the ACE fluid pump thats blown.
I need to drive the car in the morning to pick up family from Heathrow (200 miles away) and probably wont have time to fix the leak/replace the pump beforehand.
QUESTION PLEASE: As I see some Discoveries dont have ACE fitted at all am I correct in assuming it will be OK to drive that distance at speed with a leaking or failed ACE system? ?

An early response would be really appreciated!
 
Bu**er! just been quoted £563.52 for a replacement pump from the dealers!!!! So if anyone also knows of an alternative supplier I'd be really obliged!
 
M6SJG said:
I've got a significant leak in my ACE system - looks like its the ACE fluid pump thats blown.
I need to drive the car in the morning to pick up family from Heathrow (200 miles away) and probably wont have time to fix the leak/replace the pump beforehand.
QUESTION PLEASE: As I see some Discoveries dont have ACE fitted at all am I correct in assuming it will be OK to drive that distance at speed with a leaking or failed ACE system? ?

An early response would be really appreciated!
Click to expand...

NOOOOO, not with the leaking one...if u know the pump has failed then u have nothing more to lose....u can drive it without probs. If the ACE is leaking bad then u'll get soon a red warning on dash......watch the reservoir to not go empty coz the pump is greasing itself with the ACE fluid so without it will burnout. The only way to go is to get the cheapest transmission fluid and top up the reservoir time to time....do your urgent job then get it fixed, after that fill it with the proper fluid and bleed it via tester.....to fix a pipe leak or something similar will be much cheaper than replace the pump too or make a conversion on torsion bars.
 
Many thanks - No Warning light as yet, but the ACE fluid level is half way down the reservoir and pool of fluid on drive. From what I can see from under the engine with the engine running its dripping from the end of the pump closest to the `pully wheel' - indeed it looks like its coming out of there. I'f I get the time tonight I'll strip it down and check exactly where but if I do that I'll need to be sure I can get a replacement pump early in the morning.
 
Paddocks dont have them in - which is a shame as they are fairly local. ACE Pump say that they do at about half dealer price. so thanks. I'll have a closer look tonight and if its not just a pipe I'll do the drive to Heathrow with a large bottle of transmission fluid and replace it when I get back.

Cheers guys.
Ian
 
If u'll be certain that u need to replace the pump u dont have to hurry......u can drive it without probs and replace it when u'll have the time.............if no warning lamp then the system is working...keep filling up the reservoir and check out the problem carefully .......maybe u dont need a new pump and save some money............i drove a week with a big ACE pipe leak without probs(after the red lamp came on)....just that i've wasted about 1g of TF(the cheapest one).
 
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David Pye said:
Yeah, but when the pump seizes solid and the aux belt comes off, it's suddenly not quite so funny....
Click to expand...


That's exactly what I was thinking - it's alright saying the ACE may or may not work but if the pump seizes it'll take the belt with it so no water pump/alternator/pas etc etc
 
OK - I've been looking for the right fluid for the ACE system. Apparently the MTF is quite hard to come by. Are you sure I can use standard AF? The plan is to take a Gallon of fluid with me.

Incidentally I've also managed to track down an ACE pump from Breakeryard.com for just £60. If it doesnt work they'll replace it or refund. Given the price and that I'm fairly sure where the leak is coming from I've ordered it - arrives Monday. I'll strip her down when i get back and see exactly where the leak is and sort it.

For info. I've now owned this Disco for 3 weeks and done around 1,500 mainly motorway miles. The seals on the transfer box needed to be replaced last week (£340) and now the ACE pump has gone (perhaps DIY). Neither problem covered on the cars warranty. PAS now sounding noisy (but that is covered!). I suspect this disco may have been unused for a while and the change of ownership and increased use has put strain on the system - or are they all this unreliable??

The cash I was going to use to lift her suspension and get the intercooler is now going on trying to keep her together!
 
As i said i used the red cheap fluid untill the pipes came from U.K (6 days), the green one is too expensive to waste it...but i didnt have probs with the pump, only a pipe leaked...... David and Dave have a point there about the possibility that the pump could seize but i think it is just leaking and doesnt have a mechanical problem. I did what i've said and "survived" without more damage but by George.... dont call down the wrath of God on my head if something bad happens:eek:........maybe i was just lucky:eek:
 
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Thanks for all the advice guys - very reassuring but at the same time making me very aware of the risks. Very much appreciated. Great resource this :eek:)
 
My ACE burst a pipe at the back last week because a main stealer expert technician couldn't bother his arse to fit ONE small nut and bolt to clamp the pipe in place, so it wore through on the suspension arm.

It emptied the fuid in under a mile.

Battenberg was here on holiday. A new pipe was about £100 and not available on the spot anyway so we had nothing to lose by trying. We took off the old leaky pipe, forund the leak, cleaned it with a file and brazed the leaky bit, and put it back with the right number of bolts and nuts holding it in place.

Took about an hour and a half I suppose, and some PAS fluid.

CharlesY
 
Just a thought.... the fluid that is leaking from the ACE is red....! If thats the cheap stuff then its been ran on non-spec lubricant and perhaps therefore its not suprising that its blown?
 
OK guys - I made it down to London and took 5 litres of fluid with me. HOWEVER I didnt need any!!!!! Big pool of ACE fluid on the drive before I left, topped up the reservoir, then drove down to London from Nottingham stopping at every serviuce station on the way and... it didnt lose a drop - all that fluid not needed! HOWEVER once I'd stopped there was a puddle of ACE fluid under the car again (about half the reservoir)

I'm now confused. It looked like the pump was leaking when I had a look from underneath, but why would a leak stop when the car is moving but start again for a short whiile after it stopped???

Any ideas welcomed!
 
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