Thread: Advice on Buying Defender 200tdi Ute

The gearbox may well need overhauling at that mileage, but a bit of a whine is unlikely to signal imminent failure - as long as it has oil in it. Lazy synchro may reflect a dragging clutch, almost certainly a hydraulic problem and much cheaper to fix than anything involving pulling the gearbox.

The leaky power steering is likely to be the seal on the Pitman shaft. While this seal can be replaced cheaply, if the shaft is worn where it is sealing, it will be expensive.

Probably your biggest concern though should be a point not mentioned - chassis rust. Especially if you are not capable of doing this yourself, it is expensive to fix. Also, check suspension bushes and the ball joint on top of the rear axle - these, while not individually very expensive, add up, especially if paying someone to do the work. Similarly, check the tie rod ends.

If it has been reasonably well looked after, it should still have a few hundred thousand before major work, but, as you apparently understand, it is a long way from new, and could be getting into the age when unusual problems may emerge.

Change the gearbox oil for some light grade manual gear oil, should ease the synchro, don't fret the whine.

Swap out the front diff centre with a second hand one, Range Rover and D1 diff centres should fit.

Originally Posted by bee utey

Change the gearbox oil for some light grade manual gear oil, should ease the synchro, don't fret the whine.

Swap out the front diff centre with a second hand one, Range Rover and D1 diff centres should fit.

I second this the diff center is irrelevant cheap to replace and common
Angry second gear syncros are very common and are often oil related all of these oils are a compromise in my opinion. but once they warm up they should change ok.

I forget the whole story but LT77s get bad second gear synchros when a washer on the mainshaft breaks and the synchro baulks on something. The details are hazy but I think it's likely the box will need a rebuild. Maybe you'll be lucky though.

Thanks heaps for the replies. I have been doing some research and it seems it could be a money pit, defenders that have not been well maintained (like any car) can be a huge headache and you can throw more money at getting them to a reliable (and comfortable) level then purchasing a restored and well looked after vehicle.

Definitely something to think about. I don't have a mechanical background or a great deal of down time so labour expenses and time are a concern for me.

Doesn't look like I will be purchasing a defender just yet (pretty bummed)!

Cheers again guys