Ok, so finally got the hippo....

So after waiting 9, yes 9 weeks waiting on a replacement logbook for the bike I was swapping for the hippo, (thanks Swansea....) everything's now sorted and I'm now the proud owner of a landrover! It's a 1.8 petrol 2001 5 dr with 112000 on the clock.
After doing some tinkering and stuff with it, it seems like it has been well looked after down the years. Maiden voyage went well, very smooth and quiet runner but not exactly great at acceleration. I put 30 quid of BP ultimate in it and everything was fine.

Today was the second journey and after about 5 miles the power went a bit bubbley, just like it feels when you run out of petrol. I pulled over and listened, and it seemed to be sort of popping from the tailpipe. Apart from this the engine was running fine.

I drove on and it cleared but the amber engine light came on. It went off again after about 10 miles but although everything still seems OK, I'm still getting a hint of bubbliness from the acceleration.

Any ideas where I should look first?

I'd get a box of beer ready and put a thread up asking if anyone in NI has a code reader for a 2001 K Series. Might be the fuel pump - but could be lots of things.

Looks like you've been introduced to 'bubbles' and K Series quite early on!

hovismon said:

So after waiting 9, yes 9 weeks waiting on a replacement logbook for the bike I was swapping for the hippo, (thanks Swansea....) everything's now sorted and I'm now the proud owner of a landrover! It's a 1.8 petrol 2001 5 dr with 112000 on the clock.
After doing some tinkering and stuff with it, it seems like it has been well looked after down the years. Maiden voyage went well, very smooth and quiet runner but not exactly great at acceleration. I put 30 quid of BP ultimate in it and everything was fine.

Today was the second journey and after about 5 miles the power went a bit bubbley, just like it feels when you run out of petrol. I pulled over and listened, and it seemed to be sort of popping from the tailpipe. Apart from this the engine was running fine.

I drove on and it cleared but the amber engine light came on. It went off again after about 10 miles but although everything still seems OK, I'm still getting a hint of bubbliness from the acceleration.

Any ideas where I should look first?

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A 1.8 of your very own!!..what more could a man want

Treat "Bubbles" (blame Grumpy) to a new set of Bosch plug leads if you can swing it money wise. Wouldn't advise using Lucas. Cant remember if it has a dizzy cap, if it does change that as well...and the plugs/dizzy arm. Just give it a good going over. Throw a tin of "Fortis" system cleaner in as well.

The plug leads "Cook" after a few years and break down under load/heat, so you can get misfires. Sort this asap or you could get head gasket problems.

It's only money after all

Ha, See, I'm not the only one over here stupid enough to buy a K series.

Good luck with it, I hope your head gasket lasts longer than mine did. Less than 500 miles after buying it and I currently have the head and sump off mine.
Only saving grace was I kinda expected it and refused to pay the asking price as it came with no history and some obvious electrical faults. I bought it as a fixer upper and hopefully once back together it will be good for a few years.

Thanks all for taking the time to reply, much appreciated.

She has driven pretty well the rest of the day so I suppose I should put my numpty hat on and confess....

Whilst washing the freelander yesterday, with the power washer (you can probably see where this is going...) I thought it would be a geg to give the engine a short blast..... so, could it have been the soaking that made my hippo behave like it did earlier?

However, I think like Longbolt says I'll be giving the plugs and leads a good inspection anyway, cheers for the advice on the Bosch leads, I'll bow to your wisdom and tell the wife to buy me them

All I can say to you Alibro is at least I didn't "buy" mine...... still reckon it'll turn round and bite me on the bum though Good luck with yours.

Ahh, so it was a waterlogged hippo

I mentioned the Bosch leads, as i had a "Bubbles" exhaust about 2 years ago. Shotgunned the whole system..Coil/Dizzy cap/plugs/Injectors/fuel pump/ even inlet temp sensor. Replaced the lot!...and it was a plug lead!.

So threw some new lucas ones on. Six months later missing on no3 cylinder. But i was on the case this time and swapped the leads out for Bosch. No more trouble.

The first misfire washed out the cat and stuffed the O2 sensor (lights on and off like yours). The head gasket went south as well fire ring wise, as it took weeks to find the problem. Even had an auto tune guy out (grrr!), and he didn't find it.

Top tips. Gentle warm up in the morning to let the stretch bolts work. Prt stat conversion if you don't have one (NOT Britparts), new coolant tank would be good as well, or check for cracks in the old one. Either way change the coolant tank cap for a GENUINE LR One...not e-bays finest.

Watch the water level like a hawk. Lubricate the bonnet release mechanism, as will be used a lot for watching said water level. Use the proper OAT anti freeze if it needs topping up in the right dilution. ANY water leaks at all sort them very quickly.

Say a few hail mary's and our fathers...and it shouldn't bite you if you follow the above advice.

Amen

I think it was just a bit waterlogged in the end.

I was out today to check the plugs and stuff, seems I have the newer type without the distributer. Took off cover, shearing one bolt on the way, and checked each plug and coil in turn. A bit of a clean, and I reset the plugs to 1mm, squirt of WD40, check the leads, they seem nice and rubbery still. Beru coils seem newish, and it had NGK plugs, so i reckon it has been looked after in the recent past. Put everything back and it's running smoothly.

Looking at the coolant tank it looks like it has been replaced too within the last couple of years, and I *think* the cap is a replacement genuine one. It's in great nick, very clean. Also, I drive like the head gasket is made of glass, extremely gently, no unnecessary revving and keeping her below 60mph in the meantime. What's the Prt stat conversion? Am I showing my inexperience here?

Also today I had a wheel off to check the front pads, lots of rust about but still seems solid. Pads about 2/3rds worn so might have a go with those in the near future.

Also with the wheel off I was able to access the washer pumps on the tank, but I was losing daylight. My rear washer isn't working and the pump isn't making a sound when the button's pressed so that's my next big job.

Fingers crossed I have a decent hippo. Thanks again for the advice, always welcome.

hovismon said:

All I can say to you Alibro is at least I didn't "buy" mine...... still reckon it'll turn round and bite me on the bum though Good luck with yours.

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LOL, So the bike was completely worthless then.

You were lucky if yours was looked after. Mine looks like it hasn't had an oil change since the head gasket was changed. Since they usually fail around 70,000 (ish) then it could have done up to 40,000 with the same oil. That's why the sump is off as there is a tar like substance everywhere. The biggest surprise (thankfully) is the lack of damage done. Hoping to be back on the road Saturday though.

Not worthless Ali bro (the bike) but it was in our bedroom for 5 years and neither me nor the wife can ride! Make what you can from that!

That's good news about the lack of damage on your hippo, small mercies, eh?

Btw we've another bike in our bedroom If you know anybody wants one......

hovismon said:

Not worthless Ali bro (the bike) but it was in our bedroom for 5 years and neither me nor the wife can ride! Make what you can from that!

That's good news about the lack of damage on your hippo, small mercies, eh?

Btw we've another bike in our bedroom If you know anybody wants one......

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Bedroom????? Crikey what kind of fun goes on in there?
An how'd you get them up the stairs?

Good news indeed, Hippo back on the road.

Sounds akin to what happened to mine - popping sound in the end was down to a burnt valve on cylinder 2. Still haven't got rid of the engine light but after a new set of valves, seals, head gasket and various other parts (and fixing stupidity) I've got her running well.

PRT stat relocation kit is probably a worthwhile upgrade - basically uses a thermostat that triggers at a lower temperature and somewhat increases the volume of the coolant system to compensate for the increased heat output of the 1.8. The reduced triggering temperature reduces the number of heat up and cooldowns the head goes through - prolonging the life of the gasket and head itself.

That's my understanding of it anyway, if I'm wrong someone please correct me!

I've attached a pic of the PRT, sits between the gearbox and airbox.

be carefull about jet washing any engine,the wife took our last car a Rover 75 with the M47 (TD4)to the local illegal immigrants hand car wash,they got water in the lump and distorted the crankshaft,it was banging its nuts off

Must look into that PRT, sounds quite handy the way you describe it nilchaos. thanks for the advice and the pic.

Needless to say after that little episode I described at the beginning, nothing more seems to be happening and she's running very well. Fingers crossed!

Alibro, it's a bungelow!!! :rofl:

Peeing myself laughing here thinking about someone having bikes upstairs.....

hovismon said:

Alibro, it's a bungelow!!! :rofl:

Peeing myself laughing here thinking about someone having bikes upstairs.....

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Cos bikes in the bedroom is like normal.

GrumpyGel said:

Cos bikes in the bedroom is like normal.

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Hey! whatever floats ya boat, ok?