subject: 10 Common Problems You Need To Be Aware Of When Looking To Buy A Land Rover Discovery [print this page] According to Used Car Expert, if you buy a Land Rover Discovery that was manufactured between 1989 and 1998, there are 28 common problems that you need to keep an eye out for.
Whilst 18 of these faults were manufacturer problems and should have been resolved by taking the car to Land Rover dealers when they became apparent, 10 of them are simply common faults.
Not meaning you shouldn't purchase the car, take a look for the 10 faults below and if they're there, simply reduce your asking price to reflect the problem.
1. Rust on doors, seals and tailgate tread plate - possibly the most common Discovery (and car in general) fault, rust is apparent on a Discovery in three main places - the bottom of each door, the seals above the mud flaps and the tread plate part of the tailgate.
2. Faulty wing mirrors - if the mirror itself is damaged, don't worry too much about it, as new glass can be purchased relatively inexpensively. If the whole mirror is damaged, however, this could cost you around 200 pounds.
3. Cam belt change - supposed to be changed every 5 years (or every 60,000 miles), if it hasn't been done, reduce your asking price to reflect this and get it done straight away - a new cam belt might cost up to 400 pounds, but if you leave it and it goes whilst the engine is running, you could be looking at a possible full engine rebuild.
4. Sump gasket leak - start up the Discovery, leave it for 10 minutes and then drive it forward. If there's oil on the floor, the sump gasket is likely to be leaking.
5. Clogged engine - when turning the car over, if black smoke comes from the exhaust, it will often mean that the engine is clogged. Fortunately, it sounds worse than it is and a long drive will often solve this problem.
6. Clutch change - if you're buying a Discovery that has done over 60,000 miles, ensure that the clutch has been changed. The most costly common fault (a new clutch can set you back over 700 pounds), Discovery clutches are said to only last 60,000 miles and so it's worthwhile checking the clutch for any noticeable stiffness or sponginess if it hasn't been fixed.
7. Electric window faults - one of the most annoying faults but fortunately one of the cheapest to fix, test each electric window in the car and if one sticks or doesn't go up or down fully in one go, chance are it's a faulty switch.
8. Dashboard light failures - if a light doesn't come on that should, this is might seem like a quick process of changing the bulb. Unfortunately, whilst the bulb does need changing, it requires for the full dashboard to be taken off and can cost around 100 pounds.
9. Leaking shock absorbers - requiring for you to get a little dirty, when the engine is off, put your hand under the wheel arch and feel the suspension spring. If it's full of oil, it's likely that the shock absorbers need replacing.
10. Faulty ball joints / suspension arms - one of the more common faults, it's easy to determine whether the car has this problem by simply driving on a straight, flat road. If the car pulls to one side of the road, chances are its ball joints or suspension arms need repairing.
