Thread: Top Ten Puma self-servicing and on-road repairs to know.

Originally Posted by Summiitt

Another thing to remember on the pumas,(ford engine), when I last did googs track, I was having problems with a check engine light, thought it was dirty fuel so changed filter, as this has been an issue with me before. ended up taking a punt and going to a little ford dealership, where not only did their diagnostic equipment tell us which sensor was buggered but they had one in stock to suit. Talking with the mechanics they said they hadn't had a close look at the puma engines until then but there was a lot of common parts and components. A good thing to remember given every country town has a ford dealership..

I've wondered about just taking it to a Ford dealer,, after all, in Albury, the LR dealer Is the Ford dealer first and foremost.

Theres a couple of us will be staying in your area, Burra, a couple of days before Easter

Cheers

When changing the diesel filter I never had a false start after filling the new filter with diesel and putting it on.So practise doing an oil/filter change lying on your back as that is how you will be doing it on your trip. That oil does gush out from the sump! Maybe you would consider replacing the origional sump plug with one of these Femco Drainplugs.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JRHLZ9eDoc]Femco Drainplug - How does it work - YouTube[/ame]
Would be advantageous for oil changes on your trip.
I'd take the bonnet off and get a bright flashlight and check every hose for signs of chaffing.
If not already off get rid of the red lifting bracket at the back of the engine as it has a habit of working loose.
I never had any trouble "assisting" with servicing at an independent I use. Im always under the lift when it's up and allowed as much hands on as I want.
Sometimes I've gone round the back to the "scrapyard", sorry the SPARE PARTS DEPT, and practised doing stuff on old wrecks of Land Rovers.I know there are health and safety regs etc but if you are known to them and sensible you should have no bother. I learned a lot by being present and servicing of my vehicles.
If you have to pay for some educational time at a garage the most important thing to do is to bring the WIFE. I found that my wife is actually the brains of the operation around here. Sometimes when doing stuff on the Land Rover with her assistance she'll spot a commonsense approach to doing something. As I assume the Mrs will be going on the trip you'll be amazed at how sensible and level headed she will be.Every Land Rover toolkit should have one.
Just some thoughts from someone who has never been anywhere.
ENJOY as it is something we all dream about doing, and lots of people on this site actually do it.
P.S. I was present at the birth of both my daughters but I did'nt even consider "assisting" in those situations.

Im taking delivery of my first Defender ever in late August and heading for corner country/Lake Eyre in September. So far my list is:

replacement turbo hoses
replacement cooling hoses
belts
fluids
beer
cable ties, both plastic & stainless
Metric tools - are there any AF bits on a new Defender ?
Service manual
Looks like i need to add

wheel bearing and bits
uni joint

So following this thread with great interest.

The only special tool I had to use on a long trip outback was torx bits (the Defender is riddled with torx headed fixings) for the socket set to take the passenger side door off to fix a loose wing mirror...oh and zip ties to hold the rhino rack bar on after one of the nuts on the clamp fell out.

Good informative thread this. I've been wondering about changing the wheel bearing system back to what was but haven't yet been convinced.
Only other thing is I'm one of those that just fill the fuel filter before refitting and have not had a problem. Just get in, start it and let it tick over for a few minutes.
AlanH.

Originally Posted by AndyG

Im taking delivery of my first Defender ever in late August and heading for corner country/Lake Eyre in September. So far my list is:

replacement turbo hoses
replacement cooling hoses
belts
fluids
beer
cable ties, both plastic & stainless
Metric tools - are there any AF bits on a new Defender ?
Service manual
Looks like i need to add

wheel bearing and bits
uni joint

So following this thread with great interest.

Are you taking delivery of a new or near new defender? If so I wouldn't bother about wheel bearings, it's unlikely for them to fail.i had one fail at 195,000km. I would recommend a practice change fuel filter at home as the common rail diesels are quiet fussy when it comes to diesel quality, having said that Ive only had fuel issues running around town, but it got the check engine light on and a stint in limp home. As long as you haven't run the engine dry of fuel, Change filter by refilling filter to the brim and run the engine until it settles into a normal idle. As someone else said think of the things that will stop you, not the things that will slow you down.ie.holes in sumps/diffs, filters, belts etc

Thanks,
Yes new, bearings are probably an overkill, where do you stop. I will see how the price pans out from the UK. But yes a range of tapes, gasket goo and liquid steel, plus a steering guard ot reduce the odds. & a multimeter of course.

Originally Posted by Chops

Bobby, one thing which probably sounds really stupid, but something as simple as knowing how to change a fanbelt correctly/tensioning/etc. Maybe have a practice, and if your not carrying computer with you, carry a hard back manual for reference. .

I've asked the LR Specialists at Ayres if they'll spend some time with me in the next couple of weeks showing me a few jobs so we'll see what they come back with.

I printed the LR Workshop Manual on Sunday. More than 400 pages thick, it's a beast! Now to find a suitable binder for it!