Landrover Reliability

[Rannsachair]

Well my 52 plate defender TD5 has been reluctant to start recently, turn the key, click and no starter, so was taking a few turns.

Apparently a common fault - the starter solenoid in the Nippon Denso starter motor - the solenoid contacts burn away.... strange that a Japanese part is the cause of the first engine problem that could have got me stuck!

Lucky you can buy a £15 repair kit:

you can see the erosion on the contacts:

So an easy repair, half an hour and the starter motor was back in and working first turn.

Its a change for me repairing a starter motor, I normally just buy a new one, though this is a quick easy fix...trust it to be a Japanese part to cause my Landy not to start after 16 years of ownership!

 

[8ob]

Worth keeping a contact kit on the shelf Mr Chair, we get the same grief with the Denso Kubota starters.

 

[Rannsachair]

Worth keeping a contact kit on the shelf Mr Chair, we get the same grief with the Denso Kubota starters.

Looks about the same as the Landy one bar the extended drains:

My shelf of Landy spares is getting bigger: brake pads, fitting kits, wheel bearings and seals, spare hubs, spare swivels, 1 each UJ.....solenoid kit

 

[daro]

That's unusual, in my experience with Land Rovers & Range Rovers its usually all the British made parts that fail regularly
( if they don't fail they just rust away to nothing )
Had to change an alternator on a 2010 Range Rover last year, body had to be lifted off the chassis to do this.
there was no way of cheating - every LR specialist I called confirmed it was the only way , and body off chassis required for some engine changes etc.
cant remember where the alternator was made

 

[Rannsachair]

That's unusual, in my experience with Land Rovers & Range Rovers its usually all the British made parts that fail regularly
( if they don't fail they just rust away to nothing )
Had to change an alternator on a 2010 Range Rover last year, body had to be lifted off the chassis to do this.
there was no way of cheating - every LR specialist I called confirmed it was the only way , and body off chassis required for some engine changes etc.
cant remember where the alternator was made

At least on a Defender everything is reasonably accessible. My TD5 has proved to be a pretty good engine.

 

[Rrobson]

That's unusual, in my experience with Land Rovers & Range Rovers its usually all the British made parts that fail regularly
( if they don't fail they just rust away to nothing )
Had to change an alternator on a 2010 Range Rover last year, body had to be lifted off the chassis to do this.
there was no way of cheating - every LR specialist I called confirmed it was the only way , and body off chassis required for some engine changes etc.
cant remember where the alternator was made

That's why I went with a Japanese 4x4 when I was in the market a few years back. I looked at the land rovers but couldn't bring my self to buy one, even though I've got an odd obsession with all things mg and rover which are arguably worse in many areas!
That being said my terrano hasn't been without its niggles but continues to pass mot's. This afternoons job is the rear prop uj's, oh joy!

 

[stuvy]

That's why I went with a Japanese 4x4 when I was in the market a few years back. I looked at the land rovers but couldn't bring my self to buy one, even though I've got an odd obsession with all things mg and rover which are arguably worse in many areas!
That being said my terrano hasn't been without its niggles but continues to pass mot's. This afternoons job is the rear prop uj's, oh joy!

I’d love an early land cruiser but there stupid money.

I have three landys and I promised myself a few years back I wouldn’t have another one

I must be a gluten for punishment

 

[armalites]

That's unusual, in my experience with Land Rovers & Range Rovers its usually all the British made parts that fail regularly
( if they don't fail they just rust away to nothing )
Had to change an alternator on a 2010 Range Rover last year, body had to be lifted off the chassis to do this.
there was no way of cheating - every LR specialist I called confirmed it was the only way , and body off chassis required for some engine changes etc.
cant remember where the alternator was made

That is exactly the sort generalised nonsense that makes people think every Land Rover will let you down before you get to the end of your road.

 

[armalites]

Those contact are pretty nuch the only thing that goes wrong with those TD5 starters and it's a cheap fix although I'm sure many people end up buying a new starter.

The top bolt can be fiddly, I've seen few where it wasn't even fitted.

@Rannsachair you've fixed yours at the right time, most people will just keep using it until it stops working at all. Nothing better than taking something apart and making it as good as new for less than £20

 

[Rannsachair]

Those contact are pretty nuch the only thing that goes wrong with those TD5 starters and it's a cheap fix although I'm sure many people end up buying a new starter.

The top bolt can be fiddly, I've seen few where it wasn't even fitted.

@Rannsachair you've fixed yours at the right time, most people will just keep using it until it stops working at all. Nothing better than taking something apart and making it as good as new for less than £20

2 lowers were bolts, top is a nut on a stud on mine, 3/8 socket with a long extension and not too awkward.

 

[Burdekin]

I’d love an early land cruiser but there stupid money.

I have three landys and I promised myself a few years back I wouldn’t have another one

I must be a gluten for punishment

Me too, what was around in Oz when I was a kid and a lot of my mates first car was a FJ Ute. Would love one now, just one of my all time favourite vehicles, mainly because of all the memories I have of going amazing places in them with my dad and my mates.

 

[stuvy]

Me too, what was around in Oz when I was a kid and a lot of my mates first car was a FJ Ute. Would love one now, just one of my all time favourite vehicles, mainly because of all the memories I have of going amazing places in them with my dad and my mates.

there’s one rotting in a fellas garden near me he’s asking waaaay to much for it and it’s a 90’s swb so not as desirable considering Iv looked on the mot history and it has 192k miles

 

[Burdekin]

there’s one rotting in a fellas garden near me he’s asking waaaay to much for it and it’s a 90’s swb so not as desirable considering Iv looked on the mot history and it has 192k miles

I'd get one from Oz if I was going to do it. It would be a Ute as well. :-)

 

[Kayos]

Bloody Japanese rubbish.

I do miss the Td5 sound

 

[stuvy]

Bloody Japanese rubbish.

I do miss the Td5 sound

I will say your wrong

but the td5 does sound brilliant with a straight through pipe

 

[Kayos]

I will say your wrong

but the td5 does sound brilliant with a straight through pipe

Straight pipe, decat and a tiny silencer on the back

I hammered my Td5 Disco, on road, off road and used it for work. 25-30k miles a year.

The L200 is nice but it has zero character

 

[Rannsachair]

I will say your wrong

but the td5 does sound brilliant with a straight through pipe

I have no Cat and a Janspeed big bore Stainless exhaust, it sounds OK

 

[slim_boy_fat]

it sounds OK

In a "get out of my way" sort of thing.

 

[daro]

That is exactly the sort generalised nonsense that makes people think every Land Rover will let you down before you get to the end of your road.

Its NOT generalised nonsense - Its 30 years real world experience of Land Rover & Range Rover while working in the motor trade

 

[Rrobson]

I will say your wrong

but the td5 does sound brilliant with a straight through pipe

For a diesel they sound brilliant! Did my b+e in one which had 170k on it. Drove fine but it was absolutely gutless! Not sure if it was a problem with the car itself but according to his garage it was one of the better ones they looked after! That in itself put me off. Mine goes a lot better but it has got an extra half a litre on it...

Yes the old landcruiser, I'd have an 80 given the choice, don't know what it is about them but I really like the way they sit and they get proper engines. Think when the terrano dies I'm going to upgrade to a patrol it's just a shame we didn't get the 4.2 over here!