Had my defender a week

Well i got me a 2004 td5 with 151000 miles on the clock, it drives great but have a few minor problems that maybe people could help with?

1) Steering box is leaking from the bottom where the drop arm attatches, would it be best to get a recon or get the seal replaced?

2) suspension seems to be leaning on the left side? Sagging springs?

3) wheres the ecu located as i want to check for oil ingress?

4) boot doesnt lock, new latch? Or can it be repaired?


Its bloody ace though

Ecu under passenger seat, just buy a new boot lock 30 quid iirc you have to swap your old lock barrel over easy enough so long as your key fits!
Try a search for the seal.
May be worth trying lucas stop leak from e bay, worked on a scania truck we used to run.


Lynall

Cheers, mine has central locking so thought the boot latch would be more £££

Well imho , if your planning on keeping the car , steering box is like £100 for one from an LR breakers, but im of the mind where recon is best, bout £240+sur iirc.

Seals are cheap but imho more effort than worth Lots of 'give it a shot' methods to seal it though , including the odd brakefluid one

Thanks il look into getting a recon then, can the rear door lock be stripped and repaired? It looks as though a spring has come out of it but its riveted together?

Also checked it over on a ramp and cant see any reason for it to be leaning? Springs worn?

Strip the rear lock - it is an easy repair and a new spring kit is a fiver off fleabay.

Vissie said:

Well imho , if your planning on keeping the car , steering box is like £100 for one from an LR breakers, but im of the mind where recon is best, bout £240+sur iirc.

Seals are cheap but imho more effort than worth Lots of 'give it a shot' methods to seal it though , including the odd brakefluid one

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Where do yu buy from?????

Power Steering Boxes | Steering | Defender | Parts & Accessories

lynall said:

Ecu under passenger seat, just buy a new boot lock 30 quid iirc you have to swap your old lock barrel over easy enough so long as your key fits!
Try a search for the seal.
May be worth trying lucas stop leak from e bay, worked on a scania truck we used to run.


Lynall

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ecu is located under drivers seat, battery is under passenger seat

johnlad said:

ecu is located under drivers seat, battery is under passenger seat

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I assume thats because the td5 has the rear fuel tank?

Lynall

Vissie said:

Well imho , if your planning on keeping the car , steering box is like £100 for one from an LR breakers, but im of the mind where recon is best, bout £240+sur iirc.

Seals are cheap but imho more effort than worth Lots of 'give it a shot' methods to seal it though , including the odd brakefluid one

Click to expand...

This does actually work. If you put an egg cup full of brake fluid in the power steering reservoir (should be ATF) it makes the seals swell and can extend the life of the steering box for months if not years if the box is only leaking a little.

Mullen said:

Thanks il look into getting a recon then, can the rear door lock be stripped and repaired? It looks as though a spring has come out of it but its riveted together?

Also checked it over on a ramp and cant see any reason for it to be leaning? Springs worn?

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You take the lock out from inside, moving away from the hinge. and it leaves behind the bit that's riveted to the door.

Got the latch off, drilled the rivets out of the lock and its broke in several parts inside so iv ordered a new latch

Checked the ecu and no oil in there so thats good

Tried a drop of brake fluid in the steering box and its still leaking, iv found a company in birmingham that will supply and fit a recon steering box for £250 or supply for £200 but its on an exchange basis

Thanks for the help everyone

Take some pics during the strip and rebuild to help others.

Mullen said:

Got the latch off, drilled the rivets out of the lock and its broke in several parts inside so iv ordered a new latch

Checked the ecu and no oil in there so thats good

Tried a drop of brake fluid in the steering box and its still leaking, iv found a company in birmingham that will supply and fit a recon steering box for £250 or supply for £200 but its on an exchange basis

Thanks for the help everyone

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you will need more than a drop and it takes time for the seals to swell and stop the leak.

I put a cap full in so il give it a few days/weeks and report back

Ok il take some pics when i get the new latch delivered