Picked her up yesterday…..

So I collected my 300 TDI County yesterday and had a lovely 260 mile drive back, she drove brilliantly.
Gonna get to work on her this week with a new cubby box and seat trims, just got a few questions for you guys….

1. Clock isn’t working on the binnacle - loose connection behind possibly as the binnacle is loose on one side? And also can you swap out the clock and fuel gauge for new ones?? Or is it a new binnacle in full.

2. Interior light also is intermittent again could this be a loose connection on the doors somewhere?

3. Has anyone stripped the bonnet lining out and put the dyna sound proof matting in? Does it make a material difference or should I be looking at sound proofing/insulating the foot wells also to help with sound etc.

4. and finally should the aerial auto go up and down when turning the engine on??
Thanks guys can’t wait to get started this week, first job is the centre seat removal and cubby install

So you want a clock that works, an aerial that operates automatically, and sound proofing????? You sure you bought the right vehicle????

Instruments in 300tdi are individual items. The binnacle being loose shows someone has been in there before. Check it still has all its plastic mounts where the screwclips sit, often broken off leaving nothing to fix it in place. First thing is checking wiring in dash for any signs of damage.

I would ignnore that stuff at first and check the whole car out top to bottom, then make a list of what needs doing.

lynall said:

I would ignnore that stuff at first and check the whole car out top to bottom, then make a list of what needs doing.

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+1 check your axel oil levels, colour of engine oil gearbox flush and trans oil. Then I’d worry about ICE. Good luck and get some pictures posted of your work

I’ve got my interior list and exterior list
Gonna get booked in for Minor service - she’s only done 3000 miles since her last one.

karlp606 said:

I’ve got my interior list and exterior list
Gonna get booked in for Minor service - she’s only done 3000 miles since her last one.

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A minor service is right in your bailiwick, don’t pay Halfrauds to do it. This is where a 5 minute job takes five hours and you’ll learn where the potential issues are. Oil, air filter etc are very simple tasks for anyone.

Search here

Wow great knowledge base - will check all the fluids tommorrow pre service.

There was a very small drip patch underneath this morning very central and a bit further behind the front seats, poss transfer box?

karlp606 said:

Wow great knowledge base - will check all the fluids tommorrow pre service.

There was a very small drip patch underneath this morning very central and a bit further behind the front seats, poss transfer box?

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Could be the notorious intermediate shaft O ring. On the front end of the tbox in a really awkward place.

I just ignore mine..LOL.

Cheers

neilly said:

Could be the notorious intermediate shaft O ring. On the front end of the tbox in a really awkward place.

I just ignore mine..LOL.

Cheers

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+1

Ah is that the one where the whole box has to come out gonna check it back out later and get a photo

karlp606 said:

Wow great knowledge base - will check all the fluids tommorrow pre service.

There was a very small drip patch underneath this morning very central and a bit further behind the front seats, poss transfer box?

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Problem is nowadays an oil change tends to constitute a service, weirdly people believe it as well, sadly a defender on any age needs more than just an oil change to keep it reliable.
Oil every 6k, plus fuel and air filter if needed
Valve clearances every 12k
Cannot remember trans oil change intervals but it is not very long at all.
Cambelt every 70k unless you know 100 percent it has just been done.
Grease all the nipples, dont think any current car has grease nipples any more.
The list is endless, this is why you wany ==t someone who knows what they are looking fr to check it over, even if it just for the first service in your ownership.

Check P gasket for leaks very important on 300

Has anyone mentioned security yet?

Security yes - fitting a aftermarket Hawk alarm and central locking. Also have a pedal guard and a steering wheel lock fitted. Luckily we have a decent size drive way so we can block the defender in with 2 other cars also.

karlp606 said:

Security yes - fitting a aftermarket Hawk alarm and central locking. Also have a pedal guard and a steering wheel lock fitted. Luckily we have a decent size drive way so we can block the defender in with 2 other cars also.

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Drop in couple of HD security posts into the driveway, chain rear axle to house and install a good quality tracker

https://www.paddockspares.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=tracker

https://www.landroverdefendersecurity.com/pages/land-rover-defender-security

Any photos as is?

Do all the fluids and filters yourself, do them asap, check the swivel balls as well, you will learn a lot about your motor just being underneath and doing it. On an unknown vehicle remember to loosen the filler plugs on G'box and T'box before you drop the oils out, just to make sure you can refill with new. It's also worth checking the axle breathers are clear as well before you start to get problems.

Thanks guys - Going to do a fluid check tonight when home from work - Its only done 2k since its last service and MOT, just going through the previous invoices/reciepts in the last 18 months its had
New fuel tank
New power steering pump and track rods
New front calipers/discs/pads and master cylinder
New Clutch
New Battery/Rewire Loom
Front Bumper/ Rear Cross Member
Full Service

So its had a decent going over as as been undersealed about 15k year ago. Belt was done 35k ago also.

Just want to keep an eye out on the small drip in the middle of the motor.

lynall said:

Cannot remember trans oil change intervals but it is not very long at all.

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Every 24k for diff gearbox and transfer box

karlp606 said:

Thanks guys - Going to do a fluid check tonight when home from work - Its only done 2k since its last service and MOT, just going through the previous invoices/reciepts in the last 18 months its had
New fuel tank
New power steering pump and track rods
New front calipers/discs/pads and master cylinder
New Clutch
New Battery/Rewire Loom
Front Bumper/ Rear Cross Member
Full Service

So its had a decent going over as as been undersealed about 15k year ago. Belt was done 35k ago also.

Just want to keep an eye out on the small drip in the middle of the motor.

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Also remember that just because it has not done that many miles does not mean it does not need a service. A lot of them are time as well as distance. I would do oil and filters every 12months or 6k which ever comes first.
From memory the timing belt is every seven years but would need to look that up.
Similarly brake fluid and coolant has a time limit on it as well. mad has been stated they are not like modern vehicle that can go 5yesrs and 50k between services.

couple of sources for service interval:
Haynes (just gives mileage): link
LR workshop (gives mileage and time): link

although the lr Worksop link seems to omit oil change (unless missing something am on my phone) it give an idea of what the mileage intervals relate to in terms of time. And how much more than just oil and filters is involved in a service as @lynall was saying.