Disco TD5

[moose]

As mentioned we have a TD5, it is the only car that I have hated, I seized the engine a short while ago, we did try to bump start the car using a Land Rover 110, just to see how seized it was, when I dropped the clutch the 110 stopped, it is knackered.

Replacement TD5 engine has just been fitted, what a difference, you have acceleration it actually pulls with power, always thought the old engine was cr*p but now realise how bad.
Believe on the replacement a small hose might be torn so will replace that and that will cure the slight flat spot, which even with is still far better than the old one.

Why did it seize we have always had a water/coolant leak, needed filling every couple of weeks could never find the leak and when a hose did go jump for joy as believed that was the issue ( small pipe below the turbo about 3inches long with different diameters at each end!

But no it still leaked, new radiator etc still leaked, why did the engine stop we believed it hydraulic'ed.

Speaking to someone else the TD5 does have some issues and this is one of them

 

[Kayos]

Mine has plenty of power, only difference between fully loaded and empty is how quick the fuel gauge drops

 

[msh10]

The one I had started to loose power and noticed it was using water, fortunately mine pressurised the cooling system and forced water out through a bleed screw on the top hose, new head gasket and skim and all was good (luck the head could be skimmed as many are knackered when the gasket fails) all down to stupid plastic locating pins on the Disco TD5, Defender TD5 use steel locaters.

 

[Kayos]

The one I had started to loose power and noticed it was using water, fortunately mine pressurised the cooling system and forced water out through a bleed screw on the top hose, new head gasket and skim and all was good (luck the head could be skimmed as many are knackered when the gasket fails) all down to stupid plastic locating pins on the Disco TD5, Defender TD5 use steel locaters.

Later Disco’s have steel dowels as well

 

[MoreWellie]

My oldest had a 200 tdi that hydrauliced on the way home after a play day

there was a hole big enough to put your arm through on each side of the engine and the starter was dismantled. About the only thing that he was able to recover was the timing chest

 

[Wozzaaah]

I’ve just had the misfortune of driving wifey’s Disco Td5.
I find it totally gutless and it steers and handles like a cross-channel ferry.
But then I drive a Civic Type-R which goes like the proverbial and handles like a go-kart.

 

[Kayos]

I’ve just had the misfortune of driving wifey’s Disco Td5.
I find it totally gutless and it steers and handles like a cross-channel ferry.
But then I drive a Civic Type-R which goes like the proverbial and handles like a go-kart.

Gutless is relative, but they are not the quickest off the mark

When pushing on you get fwd style understeer, push it too far and you get rwd style oversteer

Mine doesn’t have ACE so it tends to roll, a lot. No danger of increasing the points on my licence in it......

 

[Wozzaaah]

Ours is a good workhorse to be fair, she uses it to tow the horse trailer.
Going from my Civic to it I find it hard work to drive but it is ermmm..... leisurely.
I had an A4 1.9 Tdi 130 before my Type-R, that thing used to pull like a train, even up hills in fairly high gears, whereas I find I have to drop right down in the Disco or it bogs down, which surprises me.

 

[Kayos]

Ours is a good workhorse to be fair, she uses it to tow the horse trailer.
Going from my Civic to it I find it hard work to drive but it is ermmm..... leisurely.
I had an A4 1.9 Tdi 130 before my Type-R, that thing used to pull like a train, even up hills in fairly high gears, whereas I find I have to drop right down in the Disco or it bogs down, which surprises me.

Unplug the maf, they fail but the ecu just accepts the readings

 

[indy4x]

They respond really well with a remap

My TD5 had ACE and rear air, even with 170k on the clock you could really stuff it into corners and it would stay flat. Didn't like really twisty bits tho, trying to change direction quickly in 2t 4x4 isn't gonna happen

With ACE it always felt really planted and when approaching the limit mine would very slightly oversteer

My current D3 feels more boaty than my D2

Either way, 2t of Solihulls finest with live axles and ladder chassis is not gonna feel like a Type R

 

[Wozzaaah]

Unplug the maf, they fail but the ecu just accepts the readings

Ours has failed so I unplugged it but it didn’t make a noticeable difference.
I should really check all the turbo pipework for leaks.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

flat as a fart without a remap, can see respectable power with a bit of money spent though. mate somehow managed to walk away (albeit painfully) from a head on with a d3 in on the other day at a 120mph combined impact, so theyre not too bad!

 

[msh10]

Later Disco’s have steel dowels as well

TD5
Mine was a 2004 last of the D2 TD5's so pot luck if steel or plastic.

 

[indy4x]

And TD5 autos, all revs and no action, get a manual, way better

 

[Cyberprog]

I have a TD5 auto - currently off road waiting on some welding that I can't get at - but as standard it was awful. I spent tons on it, running about 175bhp currently, had to upgrade the gearbox twice to cope with the power, straight thru stainless system etc. Goes well now.