New Disco 1 Owner!

Hi everyone,

just introduced myself on the newbies thread. Like I said, I've recently bought a 96 Disco 1 V8.

I'm already impressed with it's sheer capability having taking it up some slippy green lanes near where I live.

Like most of the Discos I looked at, and judging by some of the threads on here, my car also seems to be afflicted with the usual quirks, but hopefully nothing major. The plan is to get it all the little bits done before investing in some shorter bumpers, guards, snorkel and ATs.

It will be going to a specialist to have a decent service, stop the noisy tappits - probably hydraulic issue, new steering box (creaking and rubbing when you steer - hopefully under warranty), a rocker gasket replacement and electric seat motor (again hopefully under warranty).

Spent this weekend (hopefully) preventing the boot floor from destroying itself in the future. It appears that something once leaked - it doesn't anymore after I tested it with a Karcher - looks like a window seal has been repaired. A few tiny rust spots - all less than 10p size were rubbed down completely and I've hammerited the whole boot floor so I know there's no rust on top and it can't get rusty that way.
There are a few slight bumps in the floor though in line with the floor supports and x-members. Had a look underneath and I cleaned it off as much as I could and sprayed a load of waxoyl around the supports and inbetween the ridges of the floor. Have I done the right thing here??? I really don't want to replace the whole thing - I'm not that competent!

A few other things which I wonder if you more experienced landy owners might know about..

Behind each headlamp unit, there is a socket off a wiring loom - what could these have been used for? Additional driving lights? Light wipers?

I have a small leak coming into the footwells, which it appears no-one has ever done anything about. Slight surface rust spots which easily rub off as a result. Finding the leak source could be tricky - it is worth coating the footwells the same way as I have the boot floor just in case?

Cruise control doesn't work - I found a split hose behind the washer bottle (3 way join) which I've fixed, but no luck. What else should I check? I can hear the relays click when I switch it on, press (-) or press the brake pedal, so that side of it is working.

How do you remove the mudflaps at the rear? One has broken off, so I need to replace it, but the bracket is still there. It looks like it's rivetted or studded on?

Finally, after driving, I get a burning smell - not sure what of - at the back of the car - could it be burning off mud as this is the side without the mudflap?

I hope you don't mind me asking these questions, but one of the threads on here has already solved my low speed stalling problem so I figured this would be a good place to hang out!

Cheers.

Hello mate, a new Disco owner here too, my first job was to remove the side steps, it was when I did that I saw the front mudflaps had been cut to sit around the steps.

So off I went and bought 4 new ones (because the new fronts were aftermarket and didn't match the perfectly serviceable back ones)
The way I got them off was to undo the 3 nuts that hole the bracket to the underside of the vehicle, then I had to cut the funny nut/bolt thing off with a hacksaw, when I put the new mudflaps on I used M8 stainless bolts instead of the weird looking fasteners that were supplied.

So, in my garage I have got 2 perfectly useable rear mudflaps, free if you want them, you'll just have to do the bracket removal thing with the ones you have now and use nuts and bolts to secure the new flaps to the brackets.

If you want them, PM me your address and I'll get them posted this week to you.

All the best.

yep disco's are great machines, great engines and drive but the bodywork and interior are like a feeble rover metro. keep seat covers on if you have the cloth interior!

if you plan to off-road a lot get MT's, a spade and a winch (a 9000 will be spot on). disco's have poor ground clearance and get stuck in wet mud far too easily. only put a snorkel on a disco if you are definitely using it off-road.

i may know nothing about this, but i doubt anything on your car is in warranty???

your boot floor sounds fine, hammerite and waxoyl - good work!

the electrical sockets behind the lights should be your front fogs.

normally the mudflaps are bolted on, someone may have pot riveted them? if its a rivet then drill it out - if its a bolt try to un-do, however it is more likely you will need to carefully cut it off with an angle grinder.
all the mudflaps have steel mounting plates - from the sounds of it, they're still there. but it is generally a good idea to buy these new when you get the mudflaps (as mud catches ontop of them and they rust up). completely up to you though.

by all means rustproof your footwells if they leak, but its more important to source the leak and sort it out.

if you get a burning smell check to see exactly where it is coming from - it could soooo many things??? if its at the back of the car its probably just the exhaust still releasing vapours, do you get any smoke from the exhaust when the engine is turning over.
could be many things though!

thanks for your thoughts guys.

Cheers Strongstuff - like you I have the side steps but with the factory moulded front mud guards. I will probably get them taken off and replaced with rocksliders.
Appreciate the offer of the mudflaps, but a mate of mine took a hacksaw to the rivets on his (he gave up trying!) and I was wondering whether I could salvage that (mudflap still in one piece). If I don't have any luck, I'll get back to you! If I can grind off the rivets, and remove what's left of the existing flap. I should be able to offer the his old mudflap up and bolt it on.

Tom - thanks for the advice. Yep, I plan to get a winch bumper and then a winch when funds permit. I bought a three month warranty with the car, just to cover initial issues, so I'll use it on whatever I can!
I have front fogs, so the sockets can't be for those. I guess I just want to make sure I'm not missing anything.

I think the leak is coming via the windscreen seal at the top. But can't be 100% sure. It ends up dripping past the relays on the right hand side of the footwell. No harm I guess to use that rubber-sealant-in-a-gun type stuff. I read you lift back the seal and squeeze it in there to help prevent leaks. I'll give it a go.

thanks guys. looking forward to getting this beast off-road

Congrats on your purchase. Where did you get it? I got mine from ebay. Mines diesel. Its funny what you were saying about the cruise control. I couldnt get mine going either. I later realised that the buttons I was pressing were for the stereo! Turns out I dont have cruise control (even on an ES). I dont know how involved you want to get with the technical side but I just got hold of the entire LR workshop manual for series 1 discos v8/300tdi. Its on a pdf file and not big so I can email to any that want it if they PM me. I would post the link but cant remember where I got it from!

OK sorry my mistake its actually 15MB and therefore too big to attach to an email. However, I have found where I got it from so download it yourself here Hope this helps!

James

PS yes the manuals are in English!

Thanks James, that might come in handy. I'm not all that competent at the technical side. My knowledge is greater than my ability

But seeing as I'm doing this on as tight a budget as possible, I might have to learn quickly!

I got mine from a used car dealer near me in Wargrave. Decided I was better off paying less and getting bits done myself rather than paying more and still finding I'd need stuff doing! Mine looks just like yours sideways on, except mine's blue.

Cheers.

So did you figure out the cruise control? or do you have remote control for your stereo too? I am really pleased with this one. I have always wanted a landrover but most are a bit too agricultural if you know what I mean. Anyway buying secondhand from a private seller has its risks compared to getting from a dealer but so far no nasty surprises!

Yeah I worked out the cruise control

I did wonder what the buttons on the dash were for though at first - didn't realise they were stereo controls.

I think the vacuum hoses have split other than where I looked, so it will take a bit more hunting around before I can fix it totally - assuming it's nothing major of course!

Hi Signia & welcome,

I've had my 98 Disco for just under a year now & initially had probs with the cruise control which turned out to be split hoses at the t-piece just between the brake fluid reservoir & the top of the engine. I also wondered about the spare plugs behind each headlight & was told that they were for the motorized headlight adjustment (which I dont have) controlled by a selector switch next to the electric mirror controls.

Hope this helps...........Kertir.

Ah yes - thanks Kertir, that makes sense, mine doesn't have headlight adjustment so it is probably that.

Also, I fixed the vacuum pipe T piece behind the washer fluid bottle, I will check for one behind the brake fluid reservoir.

Thanks for your help.

That was top advice about the vacuum tubing!

Checked mine today (cruise wasn't working) and it was split where it joins the rubber thingy at the throttle end, cut an inch off pushed the pipe on and now it works perfectly!!!