Thread: Defender DIY Tips, Tricks and Fixes ?!?

Hi Lou,

Thanks heaps for your reply - only just learning that Chips and Reprogramming may/will effect warranty issues !! - bummer . . . will have to stick with the planned factory equipment upgrades for the time being.

Can you recommend a Chip that can be removed without leaving trace evidence in the vehicles ECU etc. Was thinking about the aussie 'CHIP IT' brand for the time being until I can get a complete upgrade after warranty. Thoughts ??

Thanks again Lou for your reply.

Cheers,
Dave

Dave,

With 3,500km on the clock your vehicle is still going to be very stiff. I would really wait for it to "loosen up" before playing with the ECU. All manufacturers claim that vehicles have been run in, but everyone on here will confirm that it takes a good 20,000km for a Defender to start running really smoothly and I personally would not try for extra performance until then.

IMO there is really no better option than the Alive Tuning arrangement (or similar) for a vehicle in waranty. You buy the Atric device from them (no duty, VAT or GST) and you follow the instructions supplied. You e-mail them your existing map, the create 2 "new" maps and e-mail them back to you as part of the original purchase. When the car goes for its service you just reinstall the original map and no one is the wiser.

There are many plug in/out chips out there including an apparent "untraceable" one from TerraFirma, but my personal view is that I'm not 100% convinced they leave no evidence behind that can give LRO reason not to honour waranty.

I'm playing it safe with LRA until 20 April 2013 when my waranty runs out and then I'll no doubt be looking at mechanical mods to make my car last as long as possible...

Take each wheel off in turn and anti-sieze the inside of the rim that contacts the hub,they won't migrate then,also pull the rubber dust cap off the axle flange and give it a smear of grease to lube the axle splines. Pat

Thanks Lou for taking the time to reply with details. As this is my first LR I really appreciate your information and help.

Thanks Pat for the info re wheels and dust covers, will do.

To all, I really appreciate your info, help and guidance you provide to a fledgling Defender owner !!

Cheers,
Dave

Yeh Dave I'd just run it for a while.
If it's going to play up it will already have done it or perhaps over the next 10 or 15K.

There is so much stuff out there to build your landy it takes time to discover and digest. Don't have a rush of blood and just go down to ARB and give them the go ahead to make it look like a cruiser.
Have a good think what you want to do with it, picture an end product. By running it for a while you will get to know it, and prove to it you are a worthy owner. It will most likely give you **** soon enough for a little test.
It's hard to say do this immediately, because they are ready for an expedition out of the box. But in saying that a Defender evolves and bits and pieces are added and tinkered with as you evolve with it.

Actually there is a first thing, find a track, engage low, and have some fun.

Originally Posted by newhue

Yeh Dave I'd just run it for a while.
If it's going to play up it will already have done it or perhaps over the next 10 or 15K.

There is so much stuff out there to build your landy it takes time to discover and digest. Don't have a rush of blood and just go down to ARB and give them the go ahead to make it look like a cruiser.
Have a good think what you want to do with it, picture an end product. By running it for a while you will get to know it, and prove to it you are a worthy owner. It will most likely give you **** soon enough for a little test.
It's hard to say do this immediately, because they are ready for an expedition out of the box. But in saying that a Defender evolves and bits and pieces are added and tinkered with as you evolve with it.

Actually there is a first thing, find a track, engage low, and have some fun.

Sound advice, cheers

Do what I did to mine and give it a flogging straight up to seat the rings,no point babying the thing. Pat

is he bronze or silver