One day in...

[T34]

Finally picked up the P38 on Friday, and must admit we're wrapped (yes SWMBO is impressed too). It's more than met it's main purpose of providing more room (not hard when our daily had been a Suzuki Swift - lol) and has done so in style. :)

Also fitted a set of late vogue 18" wheels that I picked up via Triumph Rover Spares. I got talked out of buying later L322 wheels in favour of correct 18" style rims - and I'm glad I did, as no issue with adaptor rings or different bolts, plus they really suit it. (will post some pics later)

So far everything has been working as it should, and we have found no major gremlins - well none except one - It has a bit of a shake at about 80kmh.

Now when I say a 'bit of a shake' it actually starts to oscillate when it hits a bump - a tad worrying - but also something that I have experienced before. Accelerating through the shake remedies the issue - it stops at about 90k/h. I have a feeling that a suspension bush may be shot, as when I've come across this before, the culprit has been loose suspension joints. BUT.... (and here's the thing...) The suspension did not seem loose in any way (I did a quick top to bottom + side to side check on the front).

So, as a next stop, I decided to measure the geometry and found that the alignment was waaaaaay out - some 15mm toe-in, which equates to about 1.8 degrees. The RAVE CD tells me it should be at about 0.6-1.8mm toe OUT. I'm going to address this tomorrow morning, before we go on a trip to Victor Harbour, and see how things are. Worst case scenario - it's a slow drive home at 70k/h. Worst, worst case scenario, the RAA man takes us home (or we and up in a ditch). LOL

Other than having to deal with this hopefully minor issue, I've ordered an ipod adaptor from incaripod, and done a bit of digging into rooftop tents and stuff like Drifta kitchens (they seem pretty cool). Managed to pick up a cheap (badly listed on ebay) petrol stove (dual burner version of a coleman stove I used to have in my old VW Kombi), and have been looking about for other camping stuff. We've decided to eventually get it kitted out for some family holidays and go 'bush'. (with cash that I could have spent on restoring our '62 Kombi - which was originally supposed to be the family holiday wagon - but such is life - lol)

So, one day in, we both love it. Hopefully the shaking issue is a minor one, but at any rate I'm going to book it into an interim service at Triumph Rover Spares, so will get them to give it the once-over.

I'm a little ****ed that I did not manage to pick the shaking issue on the test drive, the steering did seem to track a little, but the brakes pulled up straight, and it took off in a straight line, so I figured it could not be too much, only thing I did not get to do was take it to the freeway (Adelaide is only small and has no major fast roads).

Either adjusting it will solve the issue, or I'm in for my first instalment in P38 ownership :)

Mick.

[Junosi]

Congrats on the P38 - should be a nice step up from a zook :) First thing I'd check re your steering would be front tyre pressure. It's common for tyre fitters etc to overinflate them. RAVE says 28psi for the fronts (back is much higher) - if its much higher than 28psi you can get weird steering/tracking issues developing. I'd get all the tyres checked for balance and a wheel alignment done too - easy fix maybe.

[Hoges]

May you continue to be very happy with your purchase!!:D;)

38psi rear/28psi front is a good compromise. It also serves to slightly preload the viscous coupling due to slight differences f/r in tyre circumfrences.

Front wheels with zero toe in/out is best. If it were simply a front wheel drive car then a small (1mm) toe out is recommended but as it is AWD they seem to function better with zero.

Don't forget to drive it slowly in a tight circle on concrete or asphalt surface and see if you can sense any "hopping" in the steering. If it does this the viscous coupling maybe on the way out... there are a couple of other tests for this as well... search Range Rovers (http://www.rangerovers.net) in the P38 (4.0/4.6) section " common problems and fixes" . If so, it needs to be addressed early... (pls don't ask how I know this:mad::()

[PaulP38a]

Welcome Mick, we all wish you a happy ownership with your P38 and that you find this forum useful.
In my experience with 16 and 18 rim wheels, the 18's tend to be more inclined to track and their lower profile gives a harsher ride. Still, they look good on the road.
Cheers, Paul.

[T34]

Thanks for the replies guys. :)

Will deffo check the tyre pressures, and I'm out with SWMBO this arvo - so plenty of driving round in circles (LOL).

I set the toe to about 1 degree toe out yesterday morning before went on our excursion, and am happy to report that the steering issue was pretty much fixed. There is still a very small amount of 'tracking' (bump-steer?) - and I will have to agree with Paul, that as soon as i changed from the 16's to the 18's (on Friday) this was much more pronounced (maybe more noticeable as a result of the steering issue), so this could simply be the larger rims. The effect lessens when the EAS is in highway mode. (was actually pretty impressed with the handling down the country lanes out to Victor Harbour)

There is still a bit of a residual 'looseness' to the steering, which I think may something along the lines of a tie rod end. It's just a really, really small, occasional 'knock' felt through the steering wheel. I really need to get both wheels up in the air and have a bit of a closer look to see if I can determine where this is coming from. I may also zero out the toe, as parallel makes more sense.

The wheels were balanced by Triumph Rover Spares when I bought them, so (at this stage) I will assume that these are okay.

Only other thing I noticed, was that at 100kph, we developed what I can only describe as a high pitch 'whistle', it almost sounded like wind noise, but I don't think it was. Anyone experienced something similar before?

Regards

Mick.

[Hoges]

re. the high pitched whistle above 100kmh

1. check SWMBO is not inhaling/exhaling through clenched teeth :o:wasntme:

2. ...does your vehicle have the OE "sportz bars" fitted?

If so, there's an insert strip of rubber-like material which is designed to fill the channel on top of the bars. If this is missing the air flow causes it to whistle...like blowing across the top of an empty bottle:eek: replacements available from roof rack suppliers

3. Check also for correct alignment of the sunroof when closed

[T34]

Nope, there's no racks fitted, although I'm looking to buy some so that I can fit a full length rack for the roof tent, so will make sure I check to see if those strips are included. (cheers). Although... the noise sounds very similar to how you describe it - blowing across the top of a bottle.

I would say that the sound seems to be emanating from the lower front offside area - perhaps related to the steering / alignment / whatever issue??? - although that could simply be my paranoia.

Mick.

[T34]

Here's some pics of the beast, for those who're interested.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=29493&stc=1&d=1286160166

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=29494&stc=1&d=1286160166

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=29495&stc=1&d=1286160166

[Scouse]

Only other thing I noticed, was that at 100kph, we developed what I can only describe as a high pitch 'whistle', it almost sounded like wind noise, but I don't think it was. Anyone experienced something similar before?

Check the top windscreen mould. It can lift along the leading edge resulting a bit of wind noise.

[daljames]

Hi all, my autobiography has 18 inch wheels and i dont think it rides or tracks as well as my old hse with 16's. Any ideas? And if it isn't just me, where's a good place to get 16's from?

[T34]

I've now got a spare set of 16's for sale - Will sort out some pics for you if you're interested

[T34]

Checked the tyre pressures - they were massively over-inflated (50psi) Set them to suggested 28/38 front/rear which was a massive improvement in both ride and the 'tracking' issue.

Didn't get a chance to test at higher speeds (only up to 80k's) as was only out around town (yes there is an 80kph stretch down by the airport). I will take it for a bit of a longer / faster spin next week.

The screen seal looks to be fine, and although the noise is very difficult to place, to me it seems to be more of a mechanical related noise. It's very hard to describe it, but the previous suggestion of a bottle 'resonating' from blowing over the top seems to be the most apt - the noise is also constant, and doesn't change in pitch or volume as you might expect from wind noise. However, I'm not ruling something like a rogue bit of trim out, as it these things always have a habit of being what you least expect them to be.

Would still like to get the weight off of both front wheels at same time, or even better the whole axle, to check the tie rod ends and other suspension components for play. Tis a bit hard to do on my gravel driveway, and unfortunately the pit has another project semi-permanently stuck over it.

Thanks for all the suggestions, will let you know how I get on with the high speed run next week.

Mick.

[Keithy P38]

Thats a tidy RR you've got there!! I think I may have looked at it (or one very similar) on carsales when I was in the market for a P38 (over a year ago!!).

Looks good with the later model rims on too!

Cheers
Keithy

[T34]

Cheers :)

Not sure how long it had been up for sale - it only recently appeared at the dealers near us, but it could possibly have been up for sale on one of his other lots previous to that.

I'm stoked with the wheels. Originally I fancied a set of L322 20" rims, but I'm glad I got talked out of it. No adaptors needed, stock lug nuts, and to me they just look, 'right'.

[adm333]

Howdy and Congratulations on your P38 ownership status.

The strange whistling noise will go away after you've had your iPod adapter fitted.

There is a very good reason why these cars have such a great sound system. You can turn it up and drown out the 27 wierd indecipherable noises that are going on at any one time.

If you start obsessing about these noises you will end up like me ....

:D

Welcome aboard

Dave

[T34]

The strange whistling noise will go away after you've had your iPod adapter fitted.

Dave

LOL. True, very true.

I managed to get a decent test run the weekend, and the noise appears to have gone. My guess is that it was related to the tyre pressure, although will admit is not a noise that I would have related to tyres. I can only think that the toe is still a little out and somehow at a certain speed it caused it to resonate. (yeah it sounds far fetched I know).

It's in for a service this weekend so will get them to give it the once over.

[Grahamsusan]

Help ,we got the dreaded blowing over the top of a bottle noise at 105--115 klm syndrome Quiet as a mouse at illegal speeds, can anyone please tell me how to fix it . I have already used approx 2 tonnes of silicone sealant on the bonnet lineing etc Cheers Graham

[Keithy P38]

Sunroof or door seals would be my next check!

Fuel usage may increase with 2 tonnes of silicone though...

Cheers
Keithy