Thread: Td5 defender

Hi mate I just purchase a td5 xtreme about 4 months ago now and have found it pretty good standard with abs traction control and the centre diff lock seems to work well together mines also been remapped so goes pretty good.

Only things I noticed while looking every td5 had oil in main loom caused by injector loom leaking but cheap easy fix and good leverage too get a better price dont think many people ever check under there drivers seat coz all were shocked when I pointed it out to them other than that and some other small fixes I'm very happy.

Just on a side not TD5s are a pain to bleed the cooling system haha only thing i don't like about them

Td5's are getting on a bit now. Id avoid pre 2003 as there were a few improvements to the engine around then.. Avoid any that give the slightest hint of overheating or coolant loss. Some td5s are going to need a new head at this age and that is expensive. Check for clutch judder, or a clunk sound as you turn the engine off. That may be a worn flywheel, and that is expensive. Check the lower pulley on the front of the engine, any run out or nasty knocking sounds may mean a new harmonic balancer. Expensive and getting hard to get a good quality one. If there are power steering pump leaks and the oil is getting near that pulley, it will be rooted very soon...

Then its just looking for rust.

The rocker cover gaskets leak all day particularly at the back and the rear drivers side corner.
The injector looms do fill with oil that follows the loom to the ECU, you can check it at the ECU under the drivers seat and also at the round plug at the front on the intake side.
Check the exhaust manifold they can often blow the studs out just check the ends particularly if its remapped but doesn't have an EGT. The turbo heat shields crack.
The Tcase will probably be leaking but thats not just a td5 thing.
If its an older one I'd check the fuel cooler bolted to the inlet manifold if its the round type it can often leak coolant.

I do like them though!