Adrian Hollister - Landrover

Discovery headlight falling out? Simple repair

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0100

If you've a Landrover Discovery 1, doesn't seem to matter which engine (200TDI, 300TDI, V8) and your headlight keeps falling out, there is a simple repair and a cheap part number to sort it out.

Get yourself some of these... its part number STC3368.

STC3368 Landrover Discovery Headlight Plastic Clip

You need three of these for each light, or just check the broken ones and replace them. They are cheap, so I've replaced all three for a nice snug fit. Pull out your headlight and you will see three plastic clips in three corners of the headlight. It's a simple bit of screw driver action to take the old ones out and put the new ones in. Don't over tighten them as they could crack your plastic headlight unit - and you don't want to have to replace that.

Three plastic clips holding the Discover headlight in place.

When your done, just push it back in place. Remembering that it may be a little tight now. Shame this sort of thing isn't included in my Land Rover Discovery Petrol and Diesel Service and Repair Manual: 1989-1998 (Haynes Service and Repair Manuals).

Head Gasket gone again - 300TDI - is it the veggie oil?

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 21:44:00 +0100

It's annoying, but it seems that after only 10K miles the head gasket has gone (or is going) again. Got quite a bit of white smoke on start-up, so I suspect that water is leaking into the exhaust system again. Given that my Discovery 300TDI is old and high mileage, I would not be surprised, but it's had a new skimmed head and a new gasket. This leads me to think that either their is a problem with the new gasket, perhaps a problem with the block or perhaps it's the WVO (waste veggie oil) that I'm using? Each sound progressively less likely, but there is clearly a problem here. When I get a moment, I will take the head off again and have a look. Bit annoying though.

Mud, water and rust in my Discovery 300TDI Gear Box Selector

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Sun, 08 May 2011 10:41:30 +0200

Been having a problem for a while changing gear, it's ok when cold, but as it warms up the darn thing gets stiffer and stiffer. I'm starting to get arm fatigue and debating if the Discovery 300TDI should go in the bin. After a lot of suggestions from forums etc I decided that it's either a broken gear box (likely to be too expensive to repair), or a selector problem. So with my 'hoping its the selector cos it's easier to fix' hat on I stripped out the centre console, drilled out the rivets holding the rubber membrane and peered into the top of the gear box.

Not quite sure what I was looking at I stuck a good ole finger down the hole, which came out covered in water, mud, and rust. A soup of nasties that should not be sat on in the gear stick housing. So off with the housing. It was full to the top with this stuff. Not good.

Discovery 300TDI gearbox selector housing full of water

Time to dig a bit deeper. With the housing off a good slug of gross, muddy water came out leaving a sludge of rust, mud and small stones. After a good deal of cleaning it finally looked more like the gear selector.

I used up half a can of WD-40 just to loosen the compacted mud and rust. But at least it's all gone now. Last step was to pull the gear lever out and check the bush, ball and general yolk condition.

Thankfully it's not too bad. A lot of scratches from small stones, but after a bit of light sanding it looks as new. Nylon bush was in good condition. When reassembled there is perhaps too light a movement now - perhaps a sign a new bush/yolk is required.

Moral of the story - if you pay a shed load of cash to someone from a reputable garage to put a reconditioned box in for you - go check their work. All they did here was leave off a single metal gasket around the gear selector housing allowing mud and water to get in. Simple mistake, damn annoying to fix. Oh and no - they refused to offer compensation or an apology. Seriously bad form.

Rats ate my gearbox

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 10:06:17 +0200

I've been having a right pain changing gear recently in the old Discovery 300TDI, the gear shift seems to get stiffer the 'warmer' the engine (or gearbox) leaving the gear leave tight and non-centering. I've been putting off looking at it fearing something very expensive, but finally got around to looking last night. Checked the oil levels and they are fine with the oil appearing clear and almost new on the end of my finger. So off with the cover surrounding the gear lever and start my visual inspections before removing the centre console. But hang on - what's happened to all the foam? err and why is it in small shredded bits?

Don't know how yet, but it's clear rats or mice have got in and shredded the foam for nest use. I'm pleased I didn't find one looking back at me and no sign of droppings either. But I can't help wondering of the small shredded bits of foam rubber have made it into my gear box via the gear lever. Gonna have some fun this weekend taking the centre console out and having a look.