Brought a defender 90: Few questions

Hi

Have been looking for a defender for years and finely saved enough cash and got a local one

Its a 94 300tdi one owner with 200,000 miles on the clock, had it checked out by "Off road rovers" in Suffolk and they gave the go ahead!

It is tatty having been a farm truck all its life but on cleaning it out found a full service history with oil changes every 6k

I have put a few hundred miles on it so far and have noticed that it runs a bit hot at about 3/4 towards the red on the temp gauge, only does this when on the motorway and at 60mph, as soon as I go back to 50mph it settles back to just above half way. Where should I start looking,? I will give the radiator a flush and clean the fins but it looks quite clean, any other common things to check?

I will eventually be using this for commuting and a few long distance runs of around 3000 miles to Ireland and back later in the year. It runs well and doesn't use any oil but want to ensure it is as reliable as possible and at 200k i imagine a few bits will be a bit tired. What items would be worth replacing or carrying as spares so i don't get stuck? Would it be worth replacing the lift pump as a precaution?

Sure there will be many more questions in the future but after owning 15 cars in the last 4 years i must say i think the 90 is a keeper Its great fun to drive and even good on fuel (well better than expected!)

Good stuff, and we like pictures!

Check the cambelt has been changed too within the service docs

Engine should run very cool - my 1994 300 Tdi sits with the needle just to the left of centre.

As you say, check radiator fins and radiator for blockages - with the engine warm feel the rad for any cold spots - there shouldn't be.

May also be something silly such as wrong temp sender fitted, but from your description of the temp only rising when the engine is worked I'd say that was unlikely

Join Green Flag... they will cover YOU for any vehicle and go for the recovery cover. They don't cover specific vehicle over a certain age. Its a hell of a lot cheaper than trying to get it home as they need a full lift. My diff selector went in the winter and I would have been in real trouble without cover. So a little green app on your phone is all you need to enjoy..... a cheap socket set, tow rope, gaffa tape, screw drivers, can of fuel, shovel in winter... just enjoy
Cant help with the slight overheating.... but you need to sort it.

check the drive belt too, mine got a tad warm this weekend, to the point of I was looking for a motorway exit browed the hill, and it cooled down again (albit a little slowly).
Checking my other guages, noticed voltage was down too, had a nosey, and my belt is slipping quite a bit, so not pumping enough water round.
worth a look/swap for the couple of quid it costs

looks to me like a blocked / aged radiator - I would fit a new one they aren't too expensve, and easy to swap

wantaquad said:

looks to me like a blocked / aged radiator - I would fit a new one they aren't too expensve, and easy to swap

Click to expand...

+1 on that , 100 quid or less on ebay for a nice ally one