Joining the club/cult

Hi all, I'm in the process of getting an 89 defender 90 2.4 and very excited. It looks to be in great shape and has had a great quality respray and facelift. I'm already planning a few things to make it my regular use car including either heater seat covers or the pads that you fit below the seat lining. Going to get a noco gb70 for piece of mind and some led strip light for the rear bay.
I do have a question in that there's a switch on the dash for the glow plugs so just wondering if that's normal as I don't remember one when I drove many defenders in the RAF.
Cheers in advance and no doubt I'll be back to ask more advice when I finally pick it up.

Welcome aboard. What engine is fitted? Is it the 19J as originally fitted in 1989 (2.5) or has it had a replacement?
I have a 1987 90 with a 200tdi replacement engine and that does not have a separate glow plug switch.
I hope you enjoy it!

Not sure if it's the original engine. Going over later this week to have a better poke around and drive. I'll update with what I find. Cheers

Nywanderer said:

I do have a question in that there's a switch on the dash for the glow plugs so just wondering if that's normal as I don't remember one when I drove many defenders in the RAF.

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Somebody probably fitted it to bypass an electrical problem, instead of fixing the problem?

Hello fellow RAFite.
Is this an ex-service model or civvy. As 200 TDI became the norm 1989 to 1992ish. Hence Defender. Before that the TD and Na was fairly standard. Have a look under bonnet near the driver bulkhead top should look like a thick spring with wires attached.
What did you do for your sins in the RAF quite a few are fellow RAFites Pongo's and Matlows I am ex-supplier helicopter refueller. 81-90.

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Cheers for the replies so far. It's one of the questions I am going to ask when I go back to have a proper look.
I was in supply too with one of my last jobs on 25 tornado sqn at Leeming. Came out end of 2000

Welcome.

Hope its all you have expected, and not just shiny on the top.

J

Hello and welcome

Nywanderer said:

Cheers for the replies so far. It's one of the questions I am going to ask when I go back to have a proper look.
I was in supply too with one of my last jobs on 25 tornado sqn at Leeming. Came out end of 2000

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Glad to hear a fellow supplier. I did the graveyard 16mu and tsw 81-84 Belize jungle bunny 84-85 refueller 85-88 kinloss Falklands refueller Stanley/hillcove Nimrod then electrical stock controller 88-89 saxavord stock controller 89-90 Falklands refueller foxbay Buchan stock controller. Just dodge gulf one detachment by a whisker.

I arrived at Kinloss Feb 89 as my 1st posting. Got the sleeper from bham new street to Inverness and when I opened the curtain the snow was blowing horizontal across the window and the train was sat at the station. Spent 2 years there before going to Neatishead for a year and then Marham for 3 years leaving just as gulf 1 was deploying. Last 6 years at Leeming.

Nywanderer said:

I arrived at Kinloss Feb 89 as my 1st posting. Got the sleeper from bham new street to Inverness and when I opened the curtain the snow was blowing horizontal across the window and the train was sat at the station. Spent 2 years there before going to Neatishead for a year and then Marham for 3 years leaving just as gulf 1 was deploying. Last 6 years at Leeming.

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So I suspect you got your tapes within that time. Kinloss was a nice posting shame they closed in fact most of my posting closed. Are you Highland originally as first postings tend to be nearer to home. Mine was the graveyard with most of our Hereford course from North West Midlands North Wales. Stafford town was brilliant place Camp was the Zombies assigned with D.A.C. on the foreheads. Kinloss I was first line stores Nimrods then Stock Controller driving and working mainly Electrical. Driving was great touring around Scotland John a Groats Dunnoch Firth Cromatty Firth Aviemore Elgin Lossie Forres All of Morayshire Grampian .
I had ask for a posting for Scotland for a flying unit when I was a month in HOT HOT HOT SWEATING STEAMING GASPING FOR AIR Jungle in Belize not thinking my flight back arriving Brize 85 freezing my nuts off when we landed. So two weeks Manchester R+R then nighttrain on a broken heater service to Inverness like you with frozen bones blocks of ice for feet. Next to travel the final journey with fresh clean air of the Morayfirth and a frozen smile to Forres. Cannot slag I loved that posting worth a visit again.

Yep my years at Kinloss were very warm during thd summer. I only put it down as my 3rd choice behind Leeming and Linton on ouse. No one mention Linton was civvie and two 16 year old were sent to leeming so I got my 3rd choice. Had to stand on a chair to see where it was it was so high up on the map. Saw the northern lights whilst on guard duty up there too. Happy days especially dj'ing at the capercaillie club.
Redcar boy originally but never went back after I left for the forces.

Nywanderer said:

Yep my years at Kinloss were very warm during thd summer. I only put it down as my 3rd choice behind Leeming and Linton on ouse. No one mention Linton was civvie and two 16 year old were sent to leeming so I got my 3rd choice. Had to stand on a chair to see where it was it was so high up on the map. Saw the northern lights whilst on guard duty up there too. Happy days especially dj'ing at the capercaillie club.
Redcar boy originally but never went back after I left for the forces.

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Pity you wasn't a Rugby player too. There was a base called Binbrook not far from Linton. When I was stationed at Saxavord we suffered heavy at the Binbrook bomb rugby sevens. Being Vikings stinking drunk didn't help from the boat journey and Sherpa bus and camp finally side refreshments during the warm up match. Both matches was a blur but we got a shield for taking part. let's just say our home game was due against lerwick ex oil workers dockers fishermen local police and prisoners released to make up the numbers.
We won just
Fond memories worth cherishing.
Well I wish you well on this zoo toolbag of information there lots of great laughing at each other fellow suffering here and you have great help large and small. Not forgetting help in other ways if needed. Watch out for Bob is gay

Yep looking forward to getting involved and no doubt asking lots of questions.

Wimblowdriver said:

Somebody probably fitted it to bypass an electrical problem, instead of fixing the problem?

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What would be the electrical issue to prompt someone to put a switch in? Any info would be great as I can zero in on it when I view it next. Cheers

Nywanderer said:

Yep looking forward to getting involved and no doubt asking lots of questions.

What would be the electrical issue to prompt someone to put a switch in? Any info would be great as I can zero in on it when I view it next. Cheers

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Must be related to the glow plugs failure from pre ignition. Older engine TD or Na had a ballast spring when you pre heat this would be for several seconds. A button version to bypass the ignition version I think so if the TDI like most electronic been bypass.

Worth popping over to the defender section for a better answer. There help on the spot will be faster even as you looking at the vehicle.

Great cheers. I'll ask over there and I think that's what you meant by looking under the bonnet near the drivers side bulkhead. Great info to help me out thanks

Hi and welcome!

Welcome to the forum