What not to do with a p38

[mtb_gary]

Around 2 weeks ago I made a fatal mistake with the car..........I made mention to a friend that I did not have any problems with it and that it was going really well!

Since then, I've snapped a drive shaft, destroyed a CV joint, will probably need to replace the VC and have an EAS error come up on the dash (Nanocom is indicating that there is something wrong with the LHR sensor) then this morning I have gone out through the garage to find the front right of the car down on the bump stop. Pumped it up manually through the bypass and it was back down again in 30 minutes.

You've really gotta love these cars :angel:

Moral of the story... never, never, never say that the car is running problem free

Gary

[Hoges]

Any chance you may have partly dislodged the front airbag during your recent "vigorous exercise" ..it may be just a matter of re-seating it... I hope;)

[mtb_gary]

Any chance you may have partly dislodged the front airbag during your recent "vigorous exercise" ..it may be just a matter of re-seating it... I hope;)

Good idea......Definitely worth a look!

Gary

[TheTree]

Gary

This is along the lines of my "Are p38s Psychic" :p

And I agree !

Steve

[mtb_gary]

Good news at last, I pumped up the bag and listened, no noise coming from around the bag, so I wandered over to the valve block, still nothing, then a faint hiss was heard coming from the EAS bypass.....one of the valves had come loose, tightened it up and the car is staying at the correct height woohoo.

Now for the VC or whatever is causing the loss of 4wd

Gary

[Sidewinder76]

I fell foul of the psychic side of the car recently after saying that everything was fine.

Since then I have rebuilt the EAS valve block, replaced two thermostats, water pump, top and bottom hoses, viscous hub and the radiator.

Then the fan destroyed itself meaning a new fan, fan shroud, top hose, belt, belt tensioner and another radiator.

Filled it up with coolant and the oil was milky so off it went to have the head gaskets replaced and the heads skimmed.

Around six weeks and $5k+ later and I am not going to tempt fate by telling anyone that it is running well.
I may just tell everyone that it isn't running then anything more will be a bonus, or maybe I'll buy a t****a. ;)

[snowbound]

Around 2 weeks ago I made a fatal mistake with the car..........I made mention to a friend that I did not have any problems with it and that it was going really well!

Since then, I've snapped a drive shaft, destroyed a CV joint, will probably need to replace the VC and have an EAS error come up on the dash (Nanocom is indicating that there is something wrong with the LHR sensor) then this morning I have gone out through the garage to find the front right of the car down on the bump stop. Pumped it up manually through the bypass and it was back down again in 30 minutes.

You've really gotta love these cars :angel:

Moral of the story... never, never, never say that the car is running problem free

Gary
Mate, I talk to my "Rangella" like a human! I'm convinced she has real personality. definitely a female, way to temperamental to be a fella! :wasntme:

[mtb_gary]

Yes, I'm convinced the p38 is definitely female! Looks good, builds up your confidence then bang, just when you think it's all going well she's in a bad mood and not even a trip to the florist is going to help....it's going to take $$$ to repair the relationship :wasntme:

Gary

[benji]

Chocolates don't help either......

[TheTree]

HI

Seriously though for a moment :wasntme:

We are dealing with 13 to 18 yr old vehicles here, every piece of plastic or rubber must be viewed with suspicion, especially in the engine compartment.

Many or most of our vehicles have unknown service histories, but we can pretty well bet things like that plastic idler pulley, the fan , the oil separators, the washer jets and more, will all be getting brittle and need replacing, in the case of some of them, sooner rather than later.

Steve

I just added fan replacement to my service list :eek:

[redandy3575]

Yeah but seriously guys/gals. The P38s & classics (not too sure about the L322s ) are very serviceable vehicles. You try and self service many of the Japanese el-moldo-plasticus 4x4s as easy and as thorough as the Rangies.

The one thing that I love about my p38 is that you can just about strip down the vehicle to the very part that's faulty, and be able to either buy or fabricate something similar to rectify the problem. With most other 4x4s ( and I'm not Jap bashing here !!!) you generally have to replace the whole component to fix the same problem in most cases, costing you more.

In other words the Rangies are designed to gradually wear and be owner serviceable ( I.e for African safari's ) instead of being at the mercy of a manufacturer dealership mechanic.

[mtb_gary]

Guys I totally agree, whilst it hurts when something else breaks on the car, these are old cars. Chances are in their younger days they may have seen a grassy field to drive over carefully we are now pushing them to the limits on what are potentially fatigued parts. Redandy, as you rightly point out at least we can fix them ourselves in a home workshop (and for a reasonable price). And for me, spending time working on the car is both enjoyable as well as rewarding after seeing the end result (it's amazing how we soon forget the scrapes to the knuckles the frustrations of a seized nut etc).
I will openly admit though without the support of this forum and the collective advice from you all, many of the projects I have done and completed would not have been attempted. Thank you to all who contribute!

Gary

[johnyrover]

I've been lucky enough to get one that has been ignored in its later years, but not neglected. All the big bits seem ok. So I'm getting the luxury of learning on the minor stuff, while the big stuff hangs in long enough for me to get the experience to be able to fix it if or when it breaks. It is a process I am enjoying heaps. Then again it's a real highway star and doesn't get off road too much. In fact I have to make a point of taking up the logging tracks just so the 4wd bits know they are still alive. They are addictive and very rewarding cars.
Rover On!:D

[Gippslander]

I have only owned one for 2 1/2 years i have spent a bit on fixing it but i have punished it off road including an Alpine rally did i mention we got 9th place against all manner of 35" equipped off roaders any how my recommendation is fit lockers a lift kit and Dobinson springs then drive it like you stole it they do excellent when pushed and you don't give a S#W$%^&*.
Seriously they are a great off road vehicle but you have to decide if you want off raod or hard core off road.
I love mine it rattles and shakes but does the job i ask of it i am not a consummate Land Rover freak but i love the Rangie for what it is.

Gippslander:p