TD5 Head gasket blown.

So you took your chances with a pre 2002 Disco II (even a 2001 would have been a better choice) but you didn't gamble all the money by having some kind of warranty on it. Good thing that 3rd option. Except for the inconvenience (to say the least) that something went wrong in the middle of your family vacation trip, nothing much is lost.

As about the V70 D5s, ok. So you say you have 3 of those and you like how they performed so far. Now I come and give three links to read: 2004 Volvo V70 D5 S Review - Carsurvey.org 2005 Volvo V70 D5 SE Review - Carsurvey.org or 2002 Volvo V70 D5 SE Review - Carsurvey.org
and, related to the 3rd link here's a video: YouTube - Cold start attempt with broken glowplugs, Part 2

Guess what? neither of us is right. I mean those 3+3 examples are not enough for a proper picture/statistics.

Coming back to what I said earlier about the two alternatives that I see fit when considering buying a car I forgot to mention a 3rd but main one: you have to fall in love with that car/model. Love is blind. You'll get over anything it could happen, still be happy driving and owning it and this is what it counts, not the money in your pocket.
We can talk a year on this subject, both of us finding pros and cons on any car you might consider, if you don't love it, forget about it.
But I admit I always read all the info I can find regarless. I read all forums in the world, mainly english, french, italian, german, russian etc even japanese, as the case might be. I dont really speak all these languages (I dont think I know more than 50 words in german and 10 in japanese - the other ones are ok, at least for reading) but there are plenty online translators over the net.

Better luck next time, whatever you chose to do or to buy.

Well, the garage has told me it's not a head gasket failure, the radiator was part blocked (we'll see.....), and I should be able to collect tomorrow.

I'm having second thoughts at changing it now, (must be going soft in the head...) we did Alton Towers (rip off merchants) in the wifes Focus yesterday, could have really used the extra room and I have to admit, I do seem to have missed the Disco.

I've seen you can buy an extended warranty cover, anybody had any experiences with these type of firms? Might be a good idea if I'm going to keep it...

Rob

RobCSH said:

Well, the garage has told me it's not a head gasket failure, the radiator was part blocked (we'll see.....), and I should be able to collect tomorrow.

I'm having second thoughts at changing it now, (must be going soft in the head...) we did Alton Towers (rip off merchants) in the wifes Focus yesterday, could have really used the extra room and I have to admit, I do seem to have missed the Disco.

I've seen you can buy an extended warranty cover, anybody had any experiences with these type of firms? Might be a good idea if I'm going to keep it...

Rob

Click to expand...

See ,you're missing it already,

sorry to hear about your troubles , I too bought a 2001 td5 ES about 3 months ago - from specialist dealer (they only deal in Discos, Range Rovers, Mercs, Aston Martin & Porsche) - I had them re-gass aircon & re-seal both sunroofs before I bought it & in those 3 months I haven't had a single problem & have loved every minute of owning it. - it seems you've just been unlucky - did it have full service history - mine had just had 84k service done at main dealer with 9 previous service stamps.

have just come back from 10 days with caravan to Wales & didn't even notice the caravan was there

on the warranty front - mine came with 3 months parts & labour - but because of all the scare stories that I read about on the forum I bought a 12 months warranty from Warranty Direct - cost about £500 but covers almost everything you can get cheaper but look at what they cover - bought mine when I got the disco & they allow the warrant to 'roll over' so that if you don't claim in the first 3 months it re-starts when the dealer warrany expires so i get a 15 month warranty altogether.

Warrant direct also covers 'wear and tear' - so after you've had the vehicle 90 days any item that other companies/garages could claim was down to 'wear & tear' are covered. you can also get covered for mot failure.

you can pay in 1 go or in monthly instalments - check out their website below

I looked at lots of other warranty companies and in my opinion the warranty direct one is the best - the only stipulation is that you have to have the vehicle regularly serviced - doesn't have to be main dealer - any VAT registered garage counts.

one important thing - DO NOT buy the warrany online - just get a quote - leave it for a day or 2 and you will get a call back asking you if they can do you a better price - haggle with them & you WILL get it cheaper - I saved almost £100 on their online quote


Warranty Direct :: The UK's leading direct personal warranty supplier. Providing used car warranties, new car warranties, and household protection for your TV, washing machine and other products.

Yes, mine does have a full service history, and I think we have just been unlucky. The dealers 3 month warranty is almost at an end so I'm thinking it might be a good idea. Thanks for the link, I've had a look and I'll wait for a call back!

Rob

We seem to be having similar problems as my water loss is down to the rad leaking , strange, same ferry same part playing up , glad it doesn't seem to be the head gasket though and on a lighter note mine passed it's MOT on Friday no probs just did the 2 advisories from last year (rear bump stops and change brake fluid) and a service

Well, just got back from picking it up, drove back, opened the bonnet, and the top hose is so big it look's like it will explode....

Waiting for a phone call back to say take it back in again....

The temptation to say 'I told you so..' is unbelievable.

At least the fuel bill lower this month.

Rob

CharlesY said:

Are you sure your head gasket is away?

Seems to be doing a lot of miles .....

CharlesY

Click to expand...

I had my doubts..... way back at the start!
Well done you if it's only a rad-flush job.

However, let me tell you this, and I'm pretty sure Slob will agree, if you had not taken so much care on the way home not to over-heat it, you'd have been looking at a head gasket job for sure, and perhaps a short engine to bolt on under it.

Now get out there and enjoy your Landy!

Yesterday morning I used my Disco TD5 with traction control and Michelin roady tyres to tow-start a tractor in a field, and did it, even though the tractor had a grass "rower-upper" on the back dragging on the ground.

There were plenty "experts" watching, and only one thought we could do it, and he's the one who has a lot of Landies himself. The guy with the Trooper 3 litre auto wasn't even thinking about trying it.

A LandRover generally does what it says on the tin, and often quite a bit more.

CharlesY

No Charles, it's still not right, and got to go back again. I still think it's a head gasket, but the garage are reluctant to spend money on it.

Waiting to see what today brings...

Rob

WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unless the rad cap has "BLOWN OFF" do not assume an inflated hose is a sign of over-pressure yet. If the head gasket is leaking and is pressurising the system the rad cap WILL blow every so often to relieve the pressure before damage is caused by the pressure going too high.

It is as likely a HOSE FAILURE - the structure of that hose can't handle NORMAL WORKING PRESSURE which would be at least 10 psi / 0.65 BAR

If this was my car I would fit a new hose, and a new rad cap, and try again.

Ask yourself .... why is it only THAT hose blown up fat? Whay did they all not do it?

CharlesY

Good point, the hose has gone weak, when it's cool it's obvious. Decided to have a quick look myself, the 'blockage' the dealer is talking about is a brown film inside the pipework... sound familiar? Some donkey has put radweld in it at sometime.
Back it goes Monday...


Rob

Hopefully that brown film is not mayo caused by the oil and water mixing - usually a result of HGF.

The problem with all this warranty bollix is that, you pay good money up front for a motor that predominantly is never checked out first by the dealer."**** happens" you take it back,hassle, dealer has yeh car for 4 days to sort out squeaky giggling pin's or what ever, hassle,go pick car up,hassle,a week later something else goes belly up,hassle, and again because you have this warranty "thing" you are loathed to look at it your self as you have coughed up for this mega warranty thingy so you take it in again and cos they don't want you to keep taking it back keep it for another 4 days before they even look at yeh dodgy doo dar's just to **** you off etc........etc...........get the gist........

Moral of the story,Do your homework,go with a mate that "knows",knock the price down as seen, & if you have prob's fix it yeh self or find a "man that can"-Job done

Quote:
Moral of the story,Do your homework,go with a mate that "knows",knock the price down as seen, & if you have prob's fix it yeh self or find a "man that can"-Job done
unquote

That's what I did with my Disco TD5, and it was barely 18 months old. When it blew an injector copper washer I fixed it myself rather than let the drug-crazed primitives in the main dealer place even look at it.

At least I know it has been done carefully, and exactly what was done.

CharlesY

Coming to the same conclusion, do it myself, at least I know it's done right.

Rob

Greetings.

I have very similar symptoms to the problem in the original post. I put a capture bottle under the water overflow hose but the amount therein did not tally with the amount I had to top-up. There are no water spots on the floor of the garage, the oil is clean (no water mixed) and the water has no oil. There is some pressure when I take-off the radiator bottle cap but nothing to write home about. The hoses feel OK.

If I replace the head gasket to see if that is what it is (moving dowels and all that), do I have to shave/grind the head? I hate having to pull the camshafts out for head jobs.

Aug 2000 build, done 205000Km. I have spent $15,000 fixing this damn thing over the past 5 years. Injector loom twice, radiator, alternator, both rear air bags (suspension), front shockers, transfer case shims, Tx case oil leak, sump gasket, front main oil seal, key barrel, turbo hoses, you name it. Like the gentleman above, I have had enough. My Mazda 626 went 399,000Km in 10 years without a fault save for a broken fan belt. The Landie is poor form for more than twice the price. The only off road I do is to the snow (if you call that off road). Australia is a big place, we have to travel a lot and successive fools in Govt haven't provided much public transport; and what we have been provided breaks down more than the Landie.

Frustrated. Stephen

RobCSH said:

One point in it's defence... it's got the best stereo I've ever heard in a car...

Rob

Click to expand...

Arh... That's because you haven't heard a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Mate has a Jeep 2004 I think with Merc Common rail diesel 2.7. Quiet as a mouse. My Td5 sounds like a traction engine by comparison. But his sound system, man what a blast! Goes like a stung cat too, 0 - 100KMH in 9 Sec and brakes from 100 in half the distance of my disco (which takes 19 seconds to get to 100). Matches me off road (hydraulic diffs). Wobbles like a drunk though, makes you car sick. Back seats only fit for height challenged personnel.

Just a comment - don't buy one if you're scared of maintenance costs. His radiator was twice the price of mine to replace. Tail light 3 times that of the Disco. Minor service from dealer under warranty $100 more than Landie.

Do hope someone can advise about the need or not for a head grind in the above post. Thanks.

This is me all over Rob, same car as you, kids love it but im on my second head gasket in 18 months, roof leaks, injector probs, can't over take etc etc, looking at repairing it and getting rid, its done 85k, i have all the reciepts for oils filters and any work done, will make a cracking car for the person who really wants it, I was looking at Audi Allroads,Volvo xc90 and BMW 525 touring, need the room occasional 6th/7th seat.

Never mind

Hi
A freind of mine has a 2002 TD5 and has just been told that his head gasket has failed, the car still drives and he was not aware that he had a problem. they are telling him £1000 for a simple gasket, £2-3000 if the head is cracked and £5,000 for an engine, he is at his wits end, what do you think. we are in Essex, are there any decent independants in the south east. This was the main dealer.
Thanks
Robin

those prices sound about right im sorry to say.......**** happens

I wonder ... I have a Disco TD5, and parked in my yard is a rusty Disco with a good 200 tdi engine and transmission complete.

Maybe I could upgrade my TD5 by fitting the 200 tdi ?

CharlesY