D2 TD5 record London to Capetown, pre drive service

[bob10]

Just read the report in LRM on the record attempt, London to Capetown. Keeping it short, some of the servicing items completed before the attempt :

REPLACE:

clutch
fuel pressure regulator
thermostat
water pump
radiator expansion tank hose [ top of radiator]
oil, air @ fuel filters
serpentine belt
belt tensioner
sump plug bolt @ washer
plastic disc at front of rocker cover
airflow meter
all fluids
rubber propshaft coupling

CHECK
propshaft U/J 's
MODIFY
sleeve the fuel pipe from tank that is prone to chafing on the cross member

All of the above were regarded as mandatory, whether in good condition or not, the original parts to be used as spares. A snorkel was not considered, because , it was said, a snorkel drains power from the engine, @ increases fuel consumption, and any passage thru water over the recommended 500 mm is foolish. A steering guard was not fitted, because of the weight, [16 kg], but heavy duty track rods @ drag links were a better option. They didn't fit a bull bar, because of weight, no high lift jack, or winch, same reason. Bearing in mind this was a record attempt, driving at 70 mph constant, some of these things could be important for Disco drivers driving remote here. I would like to hear from members their opinions on this. Bob

[northiam]

leads me to a question.
How many here would seroiusly take their D2 to really remote areas in oz given the vehicles chequered reputation for some? :o

[mattyg]

That is not that big or expensive a list. I reakon I've done 3/4 of those things in 2 years of ownership and it's cost me less than a grand.

[mattyg]

That is not that big or expensive a list. I reakon I've done 3/4 of those things in 2 years of ownership and it's cost me less than a grand.

Plus alot of those are service items - fluids, sump plug and wAsher etc

[alpick]

They better carry a spare set of trans cooler hoses/pipes!

Apart from my own experience 300km NE of Alice Springs (remote enough for me!) I noticed a couple of other failures of a trans cooler swage connection mentioned on this forum.

Not common but a real show stopper.

[bob10]

leads me to a question.
How many here would seroiusly take their D2 to really remote areas in oz given the vehicles chequered reputation for some? :o
Well,you have a good point, but my take on that is this : if you are the type of driver who does not try to maintain the D2 yourself, to the limit of your capability, does not have some type of diagnostic device, and does not have the RAVE dvd for your vehicle, you should not consider going to really remote areas. The absolute minimum mechanical knowledge, in my view, would be;
ability to change water pump, all hoses, crankshaft speed sensor, fuel pump relay, main relay, @ throttle position sensor [ all of these items will ,bar the throttle position sensor., be car-stoppers , the tps reduces the vehicle to idle only] this will sound simplistic to the average disco driver, but the reputation of the D2 as a unreliable 4wd was founded on drivers jumping in with no background knowledge of the vehicle, IMO. The RAVE DVD is absolutely essential. When you get one, study it, don't wait for a problem, get to know your vehicle, doesn't make you an expert, but does give you a certain amount of peace of mind, and at the very least, you get an idea when the dealers start bull****ting.Would I take my D2 to remote areas? for sure. Would I expect problems? of course, any vehicle with 345,560 km's on it, as mine has, will always have wear @ tear problems .Not saying the D2 is bulletproof [ unlike a certain 4x4 magazine, on a certain Jap. vehicle], but it is very capable, @ if you educate yourself, very fixable. But you do need a library of swearwords, and a lot of patience. Bob

[Pedro_The_Swift]

leads me to a question.
How many here would seroiusly take their D2 to really remote areas in oz given the vehicles chequered reputation for some? :o

The last one I would've driven to the moon,,
and the first one went remote.

This one is a lemon.

I dont know why.
This is my third D since '97.
I have treated them all equally.

I suppose the odds were against me getting a third good one,,:(

[Bytemrk]

I took mine here a few years ago and I will definitely be taking it more remote than this in the next few years.


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/03/725.jpg


I'm not silly enough to hex myself be telling everyone how good this Disco has been.... but things are going OK. :p

[Redback]

leads me to a question.
How many here would seroiusly take their D2 to really remote areas in oz given the vehicles chequered reputation for some? :o

We would and did many times, when we had our D2 AND towed a camper as well.

Never even considered not taking our D2 to remote areas and the same goes for our new tug, after the Yorke Peninsular this year, we doing the CSR in 2013.

Baz.