Whats your most hated repair/maintenace job on a Defender?

Got to be clutch, usually when some arsehole has fitted the plate the wrong way round, and denies any fresponsibility for sorting it

How on earth can you fit the plate the wrong way? it wont even clear so wont work from the get go.

Never had a problem changing the starter on a N/A but I haven't tried it on a TDI yet.
Electrics no problem either but electrickery is my job
What I hate is a long job that means lying on a cold damp driveway with oil and rust dripping onto my face.

I don't like bleeding brakes very much but it is a lot easier now that I have a pressure bleeder. I'm not to keen in intermittent electrical faults that originate deep inside the wiring loom in inaccessible places. Electrical faults that can be dealt with by replacing components are quite satisfying though.

Turboman said:

My starter isn't easy to get out either. I always remove the exhaust downpipe, no intercooler pipes on mine.
Think shifty has Td5, which have a bit better access to some things, clutch slave is another.

Nice clutch method! Might be an idea to say to support the gearbox on something before sliding it back!

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Yes talking about the TD5. Only ever had petrol engines in my series motors so no comment on the Tdi engines as I've never done them.

Shifty1962 said:

Yes talking about the TD5. Only ever had petrol engines in my series motors so no comment on the Tdi engines as I've never done them.

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I have never had a Tdi either, mine is a 2.5td. And it isn't in a series, it is in a Ninety.

But I have changed the starters, and quite awkward to access.

I have noticed on Muds Td5, the clutch slave is also much easier to reach then the older models, guess they must have had a rethink of access for servicing at some time in the 90s.

Changing the 25 year old swivel balls.

Simple in theory. Turned into a nightmare.

payydg said:

Changing the 25 year old swivel balls.

Simple in theory. Turned into a nightmare.

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oh good, got that soon.

I did 29year old swivels a week before mot. Was determined not to do them as i knew it would be a night mare.....then a swivel bearing colapsed on me,

It really wast too bad of a job to get the swivels off imo...get a good spanner....

It's gotta be bleeding the brakes for me, absolute ball ache of a job every time.

Me & 'im indoors have quickly realised that we don't just have a Defender, we have a new way of life! This is what you buy into, it makes you a bit grumpy, because you want to be driving it, but be proud fellow enthusiasts, for you are preserving a thing of joy for future generations! Even our dogs love the Landie!

Defenders are like cats, we think we own them.
In reality we are their slaves!

Defenders are like piles of ****, that is the reality!

Moominmama said:

Me & 'im indoors have quickly realised that we don't just have a Defender, we have a new way of life! This is what you buy into, it makes you a bit grumpy, because you want to be driving it, but be proud fellow enthusiasts, for you are preserving a thing of joy for future generations! Even our dogs love the Landie!

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Yes, dogs like going in Land Rovers. It's as if they know it's for them. Friends' dogs, even though they are reluctant to go in ordinary cars will jump into the back of the Land Rover with some enthusiasm.

Brown said:

Yes, dogs like going in Land Rovers. It's as if they know it's for them. Friends' dogs, even though they are reluctant to go in ordinary cars will jump into the back of the Land Rover with some enthusiasm.

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I think its the damp smell and tatty interiors they like

trax said:

oh good, got that soon.

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Lol. I blame the previous owners.

top drive said:

I did 29year old swivels a week before mot. Was determined not to do them as i knew it would be a night mare.....then a swivel bearing colapsed on me,

It really wast too bad of a job to get the swivels off imo...get a good spanner....

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The bolts were rounded. I think someone had tried before and failed. Got one off with a chisel and the others had to be cut off.

+1 on swivels. This time I forgot to put the seal on before assembling everything and also for some reason got the preload massively wrong. One side wouldn't move and the other would move with my little finger.

Fingers crossed it is sorted now...

tottot said:

The steering box drop arm and it's poxy joint.

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Yeah your are not wrong!! Changing the steering box seals took me two days to get the drop arm off!