Range Rover Classic starting and heater (was Help! Disco II stranded in Czech Republic)

Fist an update on the Disco. It's still in CZ, sitting in the Land Rover
dealer waiting for some parts to arrive so they can reassemble the heads,
after which we'll know if it was just the heads or a block problem, so
fingers crossed!
Meanwhile, I've had to return to the UK and have bought a 1989 Range Rover
to use until I get my Disco back. It was a V8 EFI but has had a 300TDI
conversion. It runs and drives fine, and most things (including the aircon
to my amazement) seem to be working. But the heater blows only cold air, the
temperature of which seems pretty much the same irrespective of the position
of control lever. As summer still seems a way off, judging by yesterday's
weather, I'm keen to fix it. I'm hoping it's just a control lever problem,
but am wondering if there are any known problems with heaters on Rangies of
that age, and, when they are working, how good were they/should they be? As
good as a 300TDI Disco, for example?
Second thing is starting. I don't know how the ignition switch and glow
plugs have been wired up. I assumed it would be like a 200TDI Defender,
ignition on, wait for glow plug warning light to go off, turn key and engine
fires before you can say "Boo!". But there's no sign of a glow plug warning
light in the "ignition on" position and it takes a fair bit of cranking to
get the engine to fire from cold. As it's a conversion from a petrol model ,
I don't know if there is / should be a warning light, or if I should be
doing something different with the ignition key to activate the glow plugs
(e.g. turning it and holding it against the spring until just before the
starter motor engages???). The other odd thing is that it usually starts
fine when hot, but sometimes just spins over with no sign of firing. If I
then turn the ignition off and retry, there can be a clunk (like you get
with a flat battery or some types of immobiliser when they are active) and
the starter motor does not operate. Turn the ignition off and try again,
starter spins happily and engine fires immediately.Any one any experience of
300TDI conversions on that generation of Rangie, and / or any ideas? Many
thanks.
Simon

A little obvious, but I assume that the heater pieps have been hooked
up, and not bypassed. If so, then the next bit is to try and get some
of the dash out and see if the control levers are doing their thing.

I had a porblem with the heater on my disco after replacing the heater
matrix. Stuck in full heat position (not ideal in South Africa.) After
having a few bits out, i discovered the bit that holds the cable outer
in place just near the level control, was not doing its job. Bit of
epoxy later and all was well again.

Regards
Stephen

On Mon, 10 Apr 2006 09:26:40 +0100, "Simon Oates"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Fist an update on the Disco. It's still in CZ, sitting in the Land Rover
>dealer waiting for some parts to arrive so they can reassemble the heads,
>after which we'll know if it was just the heads or a block problem, so
>fingers crossed!
>Meanwhile, I've had to return to the UK and have bought a 1989 Range Rover
>to use until I get my Disco back. It was a V8 EFI but has had a 300TDI
>conversion. It runs and drives fine, and most things (including the aircon
>to my amazement) seem to be working. But the heater blows only cold air, the
>temperature of which seems pretty much the same irrespective of the position
>of control lever. As summer still seems a way off, judging by yesterday's
>weather, I'm keen to fix it. I'm hoping it's just a control lever problem,
>but am wondering if there are any known problems with heaters on Rangies of
>that age, and, when they are working, how good were they/should they be? As
>good as a 300TDI Disco, for example?
>Second thing is starting. I don't know how the ignition switch and glow
>plugs have been wired up. I assumed it would be like a 200TDI Defender,
>ignition on, wait for glow plug warning light to go off, turn key and engine
>fires before you can say "Boo!". But there's no sign of a glow plug warning
>light in the "ignition on" position and it takes a fair bit of cranking to
>get the engine to fire from cold. As it's a conversion from a petrol model ,
>I don't know if there is / should be a warning light, or if I should be
>doing something different with the ignition key to activate the glow plugs
>(e.g. turning it and holding it against the spring until just before the
>starter motor engages???). The other odd thing is that it usually starts
>fine when hot, but sometimes just spins over with no sign of firing. If I
>then turn the ignition off and retry, there can be a clunk (like you get
>with a flat battery or some types of immobiliser when they are active) and
>the starter motor does not operate. Turn the ignition off and try again,
>starter spins happily and engine fires immediately.Any one any experience of
>300TDI conversions on that generation of Rangie, and / or any ideas? Many
>thanks.
>Simon
>

"fanie" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>A little obvious, but I assume that the heater pieps have been hooked
> up, and not bypassed. If so, then the next bit is to try and get some
> of the dash out and see if the control levers are doing their thing.
>
> I had a porblem with the heater on my disco after replacing the heater
> matrix. Stuck in full heat position (not ideal in South Africa.) After
> having a few bits out, i discovered the bit that holds the cable outer
> in place just near the level control, was not doing its job. Bit of
> epoxy later and all was well again.
>
> Regards
> Stephen
>
> On Mon, 10 Apr 2006 09:26:40 +0100, "Simon Oates"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>Fist an update on the Disco. It's still in CZ, sitting in the Land Rover
>>dealer waiting for some parts to arrive so they can reassemble the heads,
>>after which we'll know if it was just the heads or a block problem, so
>>fingers crossed!
>>Meanwhile, I've had to return to the UK and have bought a 1989 Range Rover
>>to use until I get my Disco back. It was a V8 EFI but has had a 300TDI
>>conversion. It runs and drives fine, and most things (including the aircon
>>to my amazement) seem to be working. But the heater blows only cold air,
>>the
>>temperature of which seems pretty much the same irrespective of the
>>position
>>of control lever. As summer still seems a way off, judging by yesterday's
>>weather, I'm keen to fix it. I'm hoping it's just a control lever problem,
>>but am wondering if there are any known problems with heaters on Rangies
>>of
>>that age, and, when they are working, how good were they/should they be?
>>As
>>good as a 300TDI Disco, for example?
>>Second thing is starting. I don't know how the ignition switch and glow
>>plugs have been wired up. I assumed it would be like a 200TDI Defender,
>>ignition on, wait for glow plug warning light to go off, turn key and
>>engine
>>fires before you can say "Boo!". But there's no sign of a glow plug
>>warning
>>light in the "ignition on" position and it takes a fair bit of cranking to
>>get the engine to fire from cold. As it's a conversion from a petrol model
>>,
>>I don't know if there is / should be a warning light, or if I should be
>>doing something different with the ignition key to activate the glow plugs
>>(e.g. turning it and holding it against the spring until just before the
>>starter motor engages???). The other odd thing is that it usually starts
>>fine when hot, but sometimes just spins over with no sign of firing. If I
>>then turn the ignition off and retry, there can be a clunk (like you get
>>with a flat battery or some types of immobiliser when they are active)
>>and
>>the starter motor does not operate. Turn the ignition off and try again,
>>starter spins happily and engine fires immediately.Any one any experience
>>of
>>300TDI conversions on that generation of Rangie, and / or any ideas? Many
>>thanks.
>>Simon

I'd check the heater has been piped up correctly first.. then check the
hoses to the heater are hot. They can oon a v8 be a bit of a faff to bleed
the air out but I've found bunging a hose on one with the other also
disconnected usually sorts it. You know the heater it's self is full then.
Pipe it up with one hose loose ( which ever is the highest if poss) then run
the engine. Wait for the water to spirt out of the loose hose and then
tighten it up so your are sure as you can be it's bleed fully.

My old Renault 18 used to have a bleed thingy on the water hoses...very
useful ARE YOU LISTENING LANDROVER!! ;-)

Don't forget the Diesels tend to run cooler so it may also be worth checking
it actually has a thermostat fitted.

Lee
--
www.lrproject.com
Reaching the parts other Landrover restorers can't reach - JLo makes new
home in the USA.
Percy IIa - two Engines to the mile, awaits a new chassis.
Morph - He's "living the dream".

"Lee_D" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "fanie" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>>A little obvious, but I assume that the heater pieps have been hooked
>> up, and not bypassed. If so, then the next bit is to try and get some
>> of the dash out and see if the control levers are doing their thing.
>>
>> I had a porblem with the heater on my disco after replacing the heater
>> matrix. Stuck in full heat position (not ideal in South Africa.) After
>> having a few bits out, i discovered the bit that holds the cable outer
>> in place just near the level control, was not doing its job. Bit of
>> epoxy later and all was well again.
>>
>> Regards
>> Stephen
>>
>> On Mon, 10 Apr 2006 09:26:40 +0100, "Simon Oates"
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>>Fist an update on the Disco. It's still in CZ, sitting in the Land Rover
>>>dealer waiting for some parts to arrive so they can reassemble the heads,
>>>after which we'll know if it was just the heads or a block problem, so
>>>fingers crossed!
>>>Meanwhile, I've had to return to the UK and have bought a 1989 Range
>>>Rover
>>>to use until I get my Disco back. It was a V8 EFI but has had a 300TDI
>>>conversion. It runs and drives fine, and most things (including the
>>>aircon
>>>to my amazement) seem to be working. But the heater blows only cold air,
>>>the
>>>temperature of which seems pretty much the same irrespective of the
>>>position
>>>of control lever. As summer still seems a way off, judging by yesterday's
>>>weather, I'm keen to fix it. I'm hoping it's just a control lever
>>>problem,
>>>but am wondering if there are any known problems with heaters on Rangies
>>>of
>>>that age, and, when they are working, how good were they/should they be?
>>>As
>>>good as a 300TDI Disco, for example?
>>>Second thing is starting. I don't know how the ignition switch and glow
>>>plugs have been wired up. I assumed it would be like a 200TDI Defender,
>>>ignition on, wait for glow plug warning light to go off, turn key and
>>>engine
>>>fires before you can say "Boo!". But there's no sign of a glow plug
>>>warning
>>>light in the "ignition on" position and it takes a fair bit of cranking
>>>to
>>>get the engine to fire from cold. As it's a conversion from a petrol
>>>model ,
>>>I don't know if there is / should be a warning light, or if I should be
>>>doing something different with the ignition key to activate the glow
>>>plugs
>>>(e.g. turning it and holding it against the spring until just before the
>>>starter motor engages???). The other odd thing is that it usually starts
>>>fine when hot, but sometimes just spins over with no sign of firing. If I
>>>then turn the ignition off and retry, there can be a clunk (like you get
>>>with a flat battery or some types of immobiliser when they are active)
>>>and
>>>the starter motor does not operate. Turn the ignition off and try again,
>>>starter spins happily and engine fires immediately.Any one any experience
>>>of
>>>300TDI conversions on that generation of Rangie, and / or any ideas? Many
>>>thanks.
>>>Simon
>
> I'd check the heater has been piped up correctly first.. then check the
> hoses to the heater are hot. They can oon a v8 be a bit of a faff to bleed
> the air out but I've found bunging a hose on one with the other also
> disconnected usually sorts it. You know the heater it's self is full then.
> Pipe it up with one hose loose ( which ever is the highest if poss) then
> run the engine. Wait for the water to spirt out of the loose hose and then
> tighten it up so your are sure as you can be it's bleed fully.
>
> My old Renault 18 used to have a bleed thingy on the water hoses...very
> useful ARE YOU LISTENING LANDROVER!! ;-)
>
> Don't forget the Diesels tend to run cooler so it may also be worth
> checking it actually has a thermostat fitted.
>
> Lee
> --
> www.lrproject.com
> Reaching the parts other Landrover restorers can't reach - JLo makes new
> home in the USA.
> Percy IIa - two Engines to the mile, awaits a new chassis.
> Morph - He's "living the dream".
Sort of like the bleed tower thingy on the Rangie?
Derek

"Derek" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:n%[email protected]...
> Sort of like the bleed tower thingy on the Rangie?
> Derek

They have them? The last one I had was an 1983 V8 , none on that one and
none on the 3.9 Disco or that I've noticed...I'll no doubt get to take a
look over the next couple of days... finally getting to do the manifold
gasket.

Lee

"Lee_D" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Derek" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:n%[email protected]...
>> Sort of like the bleed tower thingy on the Rangie?
>> Derek
>
> They have them? The last one I had was an 1983 V8 , none on that one and
> none on the 3.9 Disco or that I've noticed...I'll no doubt get to take a
> look over the next couple of days... finally getting to do the manifold
> gasket.
>
> Lee
Dunno when exactly they used them from, Peggy was a late 89 3.5 ( Haynes
predictably say 90 onwards) so prob from then until the 3.9 came in - bloody
handy still took two or three attempts to get all the air out. Off to see
another Disco saturday if my sanity lasts ( tdi200)
Derek