My Def... keep or throw

[bismillah]

Hi guys, I am writing to ask your advice . I'm in crisis with my Defender Td5 . Let me explain , now it has 155k km (bought new) and in this last period I'm having different problems , all in the last period.

1 ) clutch bellows a lot when cold and when hot too with the clutch partially depressed. I know that the cause is a springot and in meantime is convenient to change clutch, flywheel as well as the springot
2 ) the car brakes not straight due it needs a refresh of springs, bumpers, ball joint and bushings
3) The fuel pump has all at one time to whistle a lot after a while it goes. I pulled it out and I cleand (what a work!!), but now when I turn on the key at II position i heard a sound like a cat screaming and sometimes it seems to me that makes it hard to start the engine
4) the windscreen cleaners make an unhappy noise and sometimes go out of the glass .
5 ) downshifting from 3rd to 2nd I hear a metallic noise, i think it's the synchronizer .

I should point out that I always kept well my car and other car I've never had any major problem.

I wanted to clear two things:
1 ) worth repairing the car? I think there is not few money to spend
2 ) I'm form italy but I think also in austalia there are generic mechanics and mechanics that only deal with this type of vehicle but which are obviously very expensive. I wanted to ask you, do you think a generic mechanic is able to eventualy fix my car ( clutch , bushings, springs, bumper, windscreen and first of all the shift) or just makes disasters ?

I am in doubt whether to sell or hold on the machine and fix it. Obviously the heart you know which way is up ...

Thanks to anyone who is close to me right now and to who can give me an advice.

[debruiser]

I know how you feel, I had a car that was starting to 'give trouble' and was torn with the decision between keeping and selling for something better/more reliable. I don't have any experience with a TD5, but I would be fixing the old girl up and keeping her. I'm sure it'd only got a few thousand (in Australia at least) a new car will cost a lot more than that.

Maybe keep your eye out for someone who is upgrading their suspension - there are lots of people doing it here and some of their 'old' stuff is only maybe 1000kms old! could be a cheap way to get around that....

[87County]

One thing about an older defender, even a Td5, is that it is repairable, unlike more modern motor cars.

That being the case, we do not know what a defender is worth in your country and if there are capable mechanics competent to work on it.

Here in Australia there are competent mechanics who know these older cars, and cost of the repairs you list would be much less than the cost of a new car.

The best advice I can give is to either learn to work on it yourself, or find a capable mechanic who wants to work on it.

Your written English is very good !

[rar110]

Specialist land rover mechanics can be cheaper for some jobs as they know exactly what to do. I used a non specialist to swap over my steering box. It took him nearly twice the time quoted by a specialist.

[bismillah]

Thanks for the replies (especially for the compliments to my english), I think now my defender may worth more or less half of what I paid 7 years ago. So not depreciated so much. I am very fond to my Def but the mechanics that I have known so far do not seem very competent ...

Does not stop straight? "what can you do? Keep it so, they are so made ​​machines, a bit basic"
Does the shift make noise? You have to ask to who fix those British car

Do you understand in what hand I risk to put my car? I'd like to keep it but I'm afraid of having a car always broken.

[debruiser]

have you tried looking for a land rover club or similar in your country? you could probe them for info on who they use to fix their cars.

[frantic]

Depending upon how much cash you have to spend there is a third option because of where you live.:D
Book your car in for a major refresh, brakes, gearbox, suspension at one of the U.K's specialist's and drive there( or catch a ferry), as it would be either a full days drive or maybe a 1 night stop-over trip. Then hire a car for a few days and have a holiday while your defender gets fixed. This way you know the job's done right and you and maybe your partner could have a few days or week away touring U.K, Scotland and maybe Ireland . Talk with a few clubs on the route and maybe have a few detours on your return trip to enjoy the refreshed defender.
As others have said look to a local club for mechanics and as your in the E.U use the UK suppliers to send you cheaper parts like paddocks, devon etc.

[debruiser]

Depending upon how much cash you have to spend there is a third option because of where you live.:D
Book your car in for a major refresh, brakes, gearbox, suspension at one of the U.K's specialist's and drive there( or catch a ferry), as it would be either a full days drive or maybe a 1 night stop-over trip. Then hire a car for a few days and have a holiday while your defender gets fixed. This way you know the job's done right and you and maybe your partner could have a few days or week away touring U.K, Scotland and maybe Ireland . Talk with a few clubs on the route and maybe have a few detours on your return trip to enjoy the refreshed defender.
As others have said look to a local club for mechanics and as your in the E.U use the UK suppliers to send you cheaper parts like paddocks, devon etc.

That is GENIUS! I love it. :D :D :D :D

[bismillah]

Book your car in for a major refresh, brakes, gearbox, suspension at one of the U.K's specialist's and drive there( or catch a ferry), as it would be either a full days drive or maybe a 1 night stop-over trip. Then hire a car for a few days and have a holiday while your defender gets fixed.

fascinating:wub:

[bismillah]

Goodmorning! This is the point, if I go to a generic mechanic I can order parts from paddock saving a lot of money; mechanics that deal only Land Rover seems to me that are very good for raise the cars, cut the body to make prototypes but for these "small" problems do not tend so, by arranging with non-original parts and especially used (of course without saying it) and obviously I can not i order spare parts..

[bismillah]

up :p