1995 Range Rover P38 4.6 HSE - Bloody cars!
Nov 2, 2020 10:20:40 GMT
fer4l, grumpynorthener, and 3 more like this
Post by georgeb on Nov 2, 2020 10:20:40 GMT
Not so much a build thread, but it doesn't really fit in the finished bit either. More a "How to Keep One of the Most (reputedly) Unreliable Vehicles on the Planet Alive, 7,000 Miles Away From its Birthplace."
I got her almost exactly seven years ago now, so some of you will be familiar with this ve-hic-le, some won't. I'm not going deep into the history, but suffice to say I actually did some work on it today. Yes, actual mechanical work.
Anyway, have a pic or two to start with...
From the advert. Note 20" drug dealer wheels and tasteful chrome exhaust tip.
One of the early jobs. 16" wheels and meaty rubber to put as much air between the Manila roads and my ass as possible.
Oh, and the exhaust has been replaced as well. SS front pipes with sport cats with OEM centre and back end. No more chrome tip!
A recent one after fitting new (to me) newly sprayed front and rear bumpers, smashed to pieces by motorbikes and pedal sidecars.
And taking of air; another of the earlier jobs was to reinstate the air suspension which had been replaced with coils. This is called an "enhancement" here, mainly because nobody knows either how it works or how to set it up. After a year of hunting, I managed to get all the bits needed (doing a straight swap, my coils for a set of brand new Dunlop air-bags). I'd rebuilt the valve block beforehand, so the deed was done, one of the best jobs - along with the wheels and tyres - to bring back the ride I knew she should have.
So that was six years ago and it's not been a jot of trouble since - until a fortnight ago.
I'd noticed it was taking a long time to get up to height when she'd been stood for a while, so today I decided to investigate. There were no leaks in the air-lines, so that left height sensors, or the pump. Now, one job involves grovelling around on your back, the other, after removal, can be undertaken in the comfort of your own home. Guess which one I went for first?
Whilst the pump was running, I unscrewed the air-filter and put my pinky over the hole. Received wisdom has it that the pump will now try to suck you into it. It didn't. There was hardly a breath of air.
Just to go back again, when I first did the job, I got hold of a refurbished pump but it was always a bit rattley, so I ordered a now one from the UK and fitted that when it arrived. So, taking the pump apart and on first look, the piston "ring" basically a teflon washer, looked fine, along with the cylinder, so further investigations were needed. In what we'll call the cylinder head, are the inlet and outlet reed valves. The outlet (to the tank) has a small o-ring, the inlet doesn't. The ring was looking decidedly goosed whereas, on inspecting the refurbished head, it looked fine.
Cleaned up the old head, swapped it over onto the newer body and bolted it all together. Fitted it to the car, fired up and she rose like a young salmon.
Free fix and score one for the good guys.
Amazing to think that an o-ring, smaller than your little fingernail could, literally, bring a Range Rover to its knees.
Good morning's work.
Next up, driver's window regulator. I already have it and am slowly running out of excuses.
I got her almost exactly seven years ago now, so some of you will be familiar with this ve-hic-le, some won't. I'm not going deep into the history, but suffice to say I actually did some work on it today. Yes, actual mechanical work.
Anyway, have a pic or two to start with...
From the advert. Note 20" drug dealer wheels and tasteful chrome exhaust tip.
One of the early jobs. 16" wheels and meaty rubber to put as much air between the Manila roads and my ass as possible.
Oh, and the exhaust has been replaced as well. SS front pipes with sport cats with OEM centre and back end. No more chrome tip!
A recent one after fitting new (to me) newly sprayed front and rear bumpers, smashed to pieces by motorbikes and pedal sidecars.
And taking of air; another of the earlier jobs was to reinstate the air suspension which had been replaced with coils. This is called an "enhancement" here, mainly because nobody knows either how it works or how to set it up. After a year of hunting, I managed to get all the bits needed (doing a straight swap, my coils for a set of brand new Dunlop air-bags). I'd rebuilt the valve block beforehand, so the deed was done, one of the best jobs - along with the wheels and tyres - to bring back the ride I knew she should have.
So that was six years ago and it's not been a jot of trouble since - until a fortnight ago.
I'd noticed it was taking a long time to get up to height when she'd been stood for a while, so today I decided to investigate. There were no leaks in the air-lines, so that left height sensors, or the pump. Now, one job involves grovelling around on your back, the other, after removal, can be undertaken in the comfort of your own home. Guess which one I went for first?
Whilst the pump was running, I unscrewed the air-filter and put my pinky over the hole. Received wisdom has it that the pump will now try to suck you into it. It didn't. There was hardly a breath of air.
Just to go back again, when I first did the job, I got hold of a refurbished pump but it was always a bit rattley, so I ordered a now one from the UK and fitted that when it arrived. So, taking the pump apart and on first look, the piston "ring" basically a teflon washer, looked fine, along with the cylinder, so further investigations were needed. In what we'll call the cylinder head, are the inlet and outlet reed valves. The outlet (to the tank) has a small o-ring, the inlet doesn't. The ring was looking decidedly goosed whereas, on inspecting the refurbished head, it looked fine.
Cleaned up the old head, swapped it over onto the newer body and bolted it all together. Fitted it to the car, fired up and she rose like a young salmon.
Free fix and score one for the good guys.
Amazing to think that an o-ring, smaller than your little fingernail could, literally, bring a Range Rover to its knees.
Good morning's work.
Next up, driver's window regulator. I already have it and am slowly running out of excuses.
