Looking for a Defender - anything to be careful of?
Discussion
Hi,
I am looking to buy a Td5 or later 90 hardtop in green (hopefully not too difficult!).
Does anyone have an opionion on how many miles is getting too much for a given age and how have people found owning Td5's well over 10 years old. I used to have a 5 yearold Td5 which was superb, really just trying to get a handle on what to look out for now they are considerably older.
Any advice or potential sellers welcome!
I am looking to buy a Td5 or later 90 hardtop in green (hopefully not too difficult!).
Does anyone have an opionion on how many miles is getting too much for a given age and how have people found owning Td5's well over 10 years old. I used to have a 5 yearold Td5 which was superb, really just trying to get a handle on what to look out for now they are considerably older.
Any advice or potential sellers welcome!
Buy on condition, not mileage.
A well looked after family station wagon with 250k on the clock can sometimes be a better bet than a 90k commercial van.
Key points to prod are the chassis and bulkhead.
Both corrode before your eyes. Both replaceable but take a bit of time, lots of space or a wad of cash.
My Td5 90 is seventeen years old this year and so far has needed:
New bulkhead
New rear cross member
New gearbox
New steering box
Plus the usual nonsense like ball joints and bushes.
I also replaced the steel doors with ali slidey window versions as the bottom edges rotted. Not really a show stopper, more cosmetic.
A well looked after family station wagon with 250k on the clock can sometimes be a better bet than a 90k commercial van.
Key points to prod are the chassis and bulkhead.
Both corrode before your eyes. Both replaceable but take a bit of time, lots of space or a wad of cash.
My Td5 90 is seventeen years old this year and so far has needed:
New bulkhead
New rear cross member
New gearbox
New steering box
Plus the usual nonsense like ball joints and bushes.
I also replaced the steel doors with ali slidey window versions as the bottom edges rotted. Not really a show stopper, more cosmetic.
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 4th February 11:34
phib said:
Wasn't there also some sort of issue with oil getting into one of the electrical looms ? ( cant remember which)
I am sure someone will know the correct facts ?
Phib
TD5s sometimes develop a weep from the rocker cover into the injector harness (which sits inside said rocker cover) - oil wicks down the harness connector and into the ECU - causing all sorts of mayhem in the process. A new harness is around £30 for a pattern replacement and an easy/cheap DIY fix so long as the ECU isn't awash with oil. Some people have simply opened up the unit and cleaned/dried them out with success - others have needed a new one (which is a pain).I am sure someone will know the correct facts ?
Phib
The only real way to check is to pop off the ECU connectors and see if they are oily (they should be spotless) and to listen if the engine sounds like it can't make up it's mind whether it wants to be an inline-5 or a three/four-pot (random misfire symptoms, etc.). I'd replace the harness as a precautionary measure if it looks like it has an original item on there - since the seals will be approaching 20-15 years old.
Also check for signs of coolant loss, bubbles in expansion tank upon revving and that you don't get the sounds of bubbling water from the heater matrix when the engine is revved. This could be signs of a head gasket gone (cheap in parts - a weekend DIY job) or a leak in the coolant system (which can lead to head gasket failure).
Check that the oil doesn't stink of diesel on the dipstick and that the level isn't too high as well - this could be a cracked head allowing fuel to get into the sump (major expense) or injector seals (not so major - but still worth fixing ASAP). Only other thing is acracked exhaust manifold - check that it doesn't scream or woosh as exhaust gases escape when under load (you'll know what I mean if you hear it). Some of them show signs of black carbon around the failure point where hot gases have been escaping - so check for this. Annoying, but fairly cheap to get a used one fitted - it may be worth going with an upgraded part if you ever choose to remap/chip it.
Drive train gearbox/transfer box is generally good so long the owners keep on top of fluid changes. Diffs begin to whine after a while but can go on for donkeys before they let go. Gears should be easy to engage/disengage - check that low-range pops in/out okay - the linkage can often be stiff due to lack of use.
Other than that - the dreaded 'R' word. Most ones begin to rot at the rear cross-member - but you ideally want to spend a good 5-10 minutes grovelling under your planned purchase to check it from nose to tail. If the owner has previously waxoyled it - then good - but just make sure it isn't hiding a shot chassis rail or outrigger.
Im going to look at this next week if i can. been put off by horror stories on the td5! from what I've heard any one can really work on a 300tdi?? is this right
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l...
prestige worldwide said:
Im going to look at this next week if i can. been put off by horror stories on the td5! from what I've heard any one can really work on a 300tdi?? is this right
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l...
That looks cool. Td5 problems! Had my 2004 90 xs for 8 years, the window motor went wrong. Ok it's only done 74 k. And is having to go, but not because of any problems. http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l...
prestige worldwide said:
Im going to look at this next week if i can. been put off by horror stories on the td5! from what I've heard any one can really work on a 300tdi?? is this right
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l...
Cars to avoid in the small ads:http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l...
Ex-police cars.
Insurance jobs.
Unfinished projects.
Anything with a "MASSIVE SPEC!"
All that blingy tat could easily be hiding many things, not all of them good.
Crossflow Kid said:
Cars to avoid in the small ads:
Ex-police cars.
Insurance jobs.
Unfinished projects.
Anything with a "MASSIVE SPEC!"
All that blingy tat could easily be hiding many things, not all of them good.
Anything with massive spec is the reason I bought my XS. Blingy I added and I was not hiding anything.Ex-police cars.
Insurance jobs.
Unfinished projects.
Anything with a "MASSIVE SPEC!"
All that blingy tat could easily be hiding many things, not all of them good.
Did a autotrader valuation 6 weeks ago and did one a couple of days ago!!!!
Of corse it doesn't mean I will get it.
prestige worldwide said:
Im going to look at this next week if i can. been put off by horror stories on the td5! from what I've heard any one can really work on a 300tdi?? is this right
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l...
What do you want it for or is just driveway porn (which is fine)http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l...
Not sure I'd bother going to look at that. Poor pics put me off as does the word 'beast' and the poorly colour coded chequer plate.
Owning a defender is a hobby in its self. They will nearly always need something fixing and as long as you enjoy that it will be fine
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