What do you guys think? (300tdi issues)

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discomania

Well-Known Member
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6,949
As some of you may know I have been looking to drop a 200/300TDI into my 90.

I got a call just over two weeks ago from my LR specialist (who I have come to know quite well and think is a decent guy) who deals with chassis swaps, hybrids, engine swaps etc… He called to say that he had some parts in for my Disco and during the conversation I mentioned I was looking for a 200tdi. He said would I like a 300tdi, he had one sitting here from a 300 Auto 1998 Disco. I asked if it was in good order, was it running well to which he said it was. So I said price it up for me inc. the cooling system, exhaust and unfortunately fitting (due to a lack of time these days).

So it went in 2 weeks ago today, and I got it back yesterday morning. Everything looked pretty good, a few little niggles that I found and I was going to put right myself – the alternator charge light wasn’t working, the cables had a ring and a spade on them and they had put the spade connector onto the spade but that’s the tacho on the 300tdi alts – so I put that right. I need to get a temp gauge for it, none of the glow plugs work – all dead (ordered some last night).

The engine is generally running pretty well; however last night as posted in another post I could not restart it after a relatively long motorway drive – it turned out that the Alt is not charging and the long drive with full beams had knocked the battery out. I got it going with a jump start, and got home, however by the time I was home the lights were nearly out!

When I was trying to get it going last night, I had gone underneath the Landy to see if the starter harness was OK, it was sort of hot from all the failed attempts at starting – but when I was under there I discovered a nice puddle of oil – couldn’t see any leaks from the standard leak zones and then discovered that there is a rusty dent on the sump and its leaking oil. The dipstick tube also has a fracture in it at the point where the little bracket holds it onto the engine, so that’s leaking oil.

The brake line had to be moved so they made a new one up, and now the brakes feel a bit spongy – maybe air in the system, don’t think there is a leak as its not sinking, it just feels spongy then stiffens up about 2 inches from the floor – or maybe I have just got used to the Disco brakes (driving it only more or less for last month).

So what do you guys think, phone him up and get him to fix some of it, or is this my fault for buying an unseen second hand engine? I am so angry at the whole thing, I though this was the end to all this crap, I put it in because the 300tdi Disco has been so good and I thought it was a good move. I am in 2 minds, get her all fixed up and pray she works. Or get a new alt in it and sell it with a known faults list and buy a late 2000ish 90. Problem is I have done so much to my 90, new chassis, bulkhead, axles, shockers, springs, PAS and now the engine – it really is in good nick (well for the want of a new gearbox and all these engine issues fixed)!

Thanks for reading all this - all your advice and help will be much appreciated - I am standing by with a box of matches.
 
ring him up, tell him the niggles you have and see what his reaction is.

the sump and dipstick faults, if there when he put the engine in, should have been noticed. Also the Alt should have been wired correctly - down to him I think.
 
Definitely - if he's a decent chap and a dealer then go and point out the problems and ask him to sort them out, if he's not playing then you will have to go down the 3 month warranty and supply of defective goods and services route. How much did you pay for it, and is he a professional landy man?

ps wonder how many "**** the ****'s fookin head in" quotes you'll get from the other place you posted this :D:D:D
 
Yes he is a professional LR man - he has a buisness and does it full time. He does some bloody brillaint work, I am going to give him the benifit of the doubt and assume that his other mechanic made some of these mistakes.
 
I'd go back to the guy who installed it with your list of problems and get him to sort them.
You paid for servicable job which it obviously is not. Basic stuff such as glow plugs not working, spongy brakes, and oil leaks are unacceptable.
You asked about the engine and were reassured and in the UK a verbal confirmation is as good as a written one although harder to prove.
If he's any kind of "decent guy" he should do the decent thing and get them sorted.
With full workshop facilities and experienced technicians it would cost him virtually nothing in time and money and would earn lots of goodwill.
Failing that go to trading standards and they will be very interested in him giving you a car that drips oil with iffy brakes for use on the road.
Also let everybody here know (and tell him what you are going to do) who he is and it will cost him dear in terms of referred business etc.
 
OK - just spoke to the guy.

He was really decent about it all - appologised and said off the bat that it was "not a good way to let a car go out".

I have to take it in at the weekend and leave it for a day or two and he is going to sort the alt and replace the sump and look at the brakes.

I may be a very happy bunny this time next week.

Thanks for the advice!
 
Hi , harsh position to be in , ring him up for some "advice" on the problems you are getting and as Mad Hat said "see what his reaction is" just to test the water....
 
Yeah it certainly was, it looks like it might work out well now.

I may be able to eat some lunch safe in the knowledge I don't need to fork out £100's on repairs!

Mind you I still have a possible broken difflock!
 
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