Thread: TD5 extreme the same engine as the Disco

Originally Posted by MLD

If you are looking at a defender Extreme then you are looking at the 1999 to 2002/3 age bracket. The second generation TD5 was released in late 2002 but there were some first generation TD5's rolling off the showroom floor into 2003. The 1999 to 2002/3 TD5 defender came in 2 specs. The standard and the extreme. The extreme, as noted below, had traction control, ABS and a few niceties in the cabin. You get the salisbury rear diff in the first gen TD5.

As far as i'm aware the ECU for the Disco and the defender in the first generation TD5 are not a direct swap. You can reprogram the chip by replacing the chip. The alternative is to buy a second hand NNN series ECU from the likes of BAS in the UK and have it re-written for your injector codes and security codes then flash the program when you like with the Nanocom or like product.

The prop shaft should be greasable. Mine is (1999). If it doesn't have nipples on the UJ's, replace them with greasable UJ's. It's an extra cost but better than blowing out a UJ on the highway.

Disco 1 and defender have compatible wheel stud pattern. Not compatible with the D2. I have disco 1 alloys on my defender. Not to everyone's taste but the alloy rim compensates for the heavier 33" tyre and i'm yet to have a rolled rim or any other tyre/rim related event.

As already mentioned the typical things that go wrong on the TD5:

- plastic head dowels on the earlier TD5's can shift causing head gaskets to blow, leaking of water into the engine.
- head doesn't like being run dry. Budget $3k for a SH rebuilt replacement
- injectors are $1500 each
- injector journals can crack leaking diesel onto the sump. Keep an eye on the oil quality at service time. Increasing oil level is a give away of a problem.
- oil pump bolt
- exhaust manifold bolts can snap if chipped or used as a tow vehicle (high EGT's)
- the drive splines on the rear axles tend to wear and cause a clunking noise on takeoff. Fixed by replacing the flange or upgrading to the HD axles and flange (or just the flange).
- some complain about leaking diesel heat exchanger. Someone may be able to clarify this complaint.

If it's got some kms on it there will likely be some play in the transfer case when you rotate the prop shafts. It's normal. 2nd gear may be a bit sticky when cold. I found quality oil to remedy it.

Look for rust in the lower door frames and bulkhead. The air vents on the bulkhead leak (usually) and sods law says it dribbles on your right foot. Check that the rear door frame hasn't cracked from the weight of the spare tyre. Creaking and flexing metal sounds when you push the wheel are the give away. An afternoon with the welder and some checker plate will fix that or an aftermarket wheel carrier that bolts to the cross member.

Air con is an after though and good for chilling the knees only. The condenser can leak into the front passenger foot well. The wife loves her handbag getting wet.

Happy shopping for a defender.

MLD

Yep I had a TD5 disco for about 8 yrs so know all the pit falls of the TD5 engine, just wondered how the Defender differed from the Disco.

Thanks for the info it helps heaps.

Cheers Ean

The main difference between the Defender and Disco and IMO significantly so is that fact it is so much cooler (& I ain't talking about the A/C)

As far as I am aware the principle difference between the td5 in the defender and that in the disco (disregarding the air box configuration, which is just plumbing) is the way the turbo dump is operated. The disco unit has an electronic modulator to control boost, in the defender it is a mechanical waste gate set up. Other than that AFAIK they are the same. You can't use a disco map in a defender and visa versa for that reason.

Off the shelf the disco was more powerful but that is easily remedied.

As stated you can activate the latent cruise controll function in the later defender ecus which is nice.

As far as the three amigos goes, I thought one of them was caused by SLABS malfunction, so that would not really be applicable to a defender.

I Could be wrong though I have never owned a disco but that's what I have picked up.

Ian.