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Virtualgaz
29th October 2014, 12:15 AM
G'day Team! I'm a new member, fresh out of the box with my newly registered 98 Oxford Blue P38. 4.0 GEMS SE with 256,000km which has been serviced by the LR dealer every 10,000 without fail until 240,000! Never owned one before but have driven many LR products. I like it a lot - the comfort of the airsus, the elevated driving position and room for my gut - as I look down on the Jeep owners, the way I can now say "..we'll take the Range Rover.." (to Coles) and the way it has introduced me already to so many different staff at so many servo's. In fact I like it so much I'm considering taking up cigar smoking, buying a Drizabone and getting a dog called 'Fenton'.

The car has a couple of tasks to pay me back after just spending 3 months getting it roadworthy - namely, light occasional w/e 4x4 work (unsealed roads and beach etc.) and keeping the wife out of my ear as it becomes her daily driver over the pathetic Rav4 she had. Can you believe we sold that 2000MY Rav for the same coin the RR cost. The world has gone mad!

Anyhow, very much a DIY man, I am now a semi-pro on the following:
% ball joint removal & replacement in situ in the front yard with bindies
% how to break plastic trims when removing the headliner
% how to bodgy up broken trim after refitting retrimmed headliner
% welding the LHR quarter without setting fire to the car much
% how to use 4kg of fibreglass kit on a rear bumper bar
% repainting the bonnet twice due to temperature problems
% paying Beaurepaires' wage bill for a week with the purchase of 2 tyres
% fighting the new HT leads into submission behind the engine
% and getting the spark plug socket stuck in the head!

It hasn't been all pain though - great clearance to do the fuel filter, oil checks and changes, run the spanners around anything not caked in mud and get to the exhaust for repairing. Pollen filters etc easy accessible and so on.

OK, so now you guys know that *I* know what I've let myself in for - I can take the hurt, it's OK, it's the way of life of the RR owner, right? Here come my top 4 issues for the week...

#1) Drives OK (returning a true 18L/100km), not using water or oil, new ignition parts but has a misfire across the board on light throttle - I've sprayed the WD40 around to try and detect an intake leak or vacuum leak - no change in the idle so my guess is the famous flattening of the camshaft - has it become a broomhandle?

#2) My god, that alternator looks like the original! Anyone modified a cheaper alternative instead of the $400+ I'm seeing to replace it? Can't be that spesh?

#3) Coilpacks? Fair dinkum, that can't be the right price for new ones can it??? Please tell me there's a work-around!

#4) Getting a spare key (original lost) cut could be a challenge with all those hieroglyphics on the blade, even though the module/remote no longer syncs to the car (disabled)... any experience there?

Cheers guys, I did a fair bit of research into the car and the spares and support groups and forums and this one seemed by far the friendliest and most knowledgeable. Hopefully I'll to be able to be of some use to the group in the future!

Cheers, Virtualgaz

Pickles2
29th October 2014, 07:30 AM
Ha ha ha. Excellent first post.
Welcome to the BEST Aussie LR Forum.
Pickles.

davidsonsm
29th October 2014, 07:44 AM
VirtualGaz,

I like your writing style. Amusing.

In response to Q's 2) and 3). There are aftermarket alternators available (in Australia) for $250. I've just replaced my Magnetti Marelli original (which was pumping up to 13.6V in the cabin) with a nearly new one (off RedAndy's defunct P38) and it appeared identical to the original. I'm now getting a much healthier 14.1V in the cabin. It appears an exact copy. Time will tell.

Regarding the coil packs. There was a post just recently (by The Tree I recall), suggesting alternate sources for them. I'll dregge it up if nobody beats me to it.

deano2469
29th October 2014, 09:02 AM
Great to see more people joining the battle against mediocrity and boredom. You will grow to love the quirks, and grow an extensive tool box. I've been realigning the median on my P38 for over two years now with the help and advice of people on this forum and if i had a bit of extra folding stuff, my car would be awesome. As it stands now its pretty good but can and will be better. I've chased most of the things you have, I have a few spares and an engine to rebuild to go back in as soon as i work out my best options.the more you learn, the easier these cars are, and you will learn a lot here. I buy 90% of my parts from the UK, I find them to be about a third of the price here, and that includes the postage. The guys at MR Automotive are the best around us too, they are at Redcliffe..."Burpengary by the sea"

Good luck.:cool:

daf11e
29th October 2014, 09:10 AM
Welcome to the crazy world of P38 Ownership........and good luck!

mtb_gary
29th October 2014, 09:18 AM
Welcome aboard.

Gary

benji
29th October 2014, 10:47 AM
Welcome to the left brained world of p38s, you'll fit right in by the look of it. :)

I remember a similar job to your bindi epic; however mine involved a viscous coupling and a bill ants nest.

Sent from my GT-I9305T using AULRO mobile app

TheTree
29th October 2014, 10:53 AM
Welcome to the madness :p

If you think getting at the plug leads and coil packs on a GEMS engine is hard, take a look at the Bosch setup !!:wasntme:

This is the thread on the Ignition coils

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/p38a-range-rover/207858-gems-ignition-coils.html

I may have a spare complete rail for sale soon, due to a complicated set of circumstances!

Steve

TheTree
29th October 2014, 10:56 AM
#4) Getting a spare key (original lost) cut could be a challenge with all those hieroglyphics on the blade, even though the module/remote no longer syncs to the car (disabled)... any experience there?

Cheers, Virtualgaz

Probably need a separate thread for this issue !

You can easily buy blanks from eBay suppliers and a good locksmith will cut them for you no problems, the one I used even found my key code for future reference

The remote is an entire topic on it's own it could be as simple as flat batteries or bad connector or as complex as a replacement BECM :eek:

Steve

Hoges
29th October 2014, 10:59 AM
Oh dear! Virtualgaz...you poor bastard :p you certainly have the P38 virus, but you will not be quarantined...unless you inadvertently (or deliberately :twisted: ) wander inside the house having been up close and personal with P38 and your hitherto pristine attire lovingly washed and ironed by your better half, is besmirched with its bodily fluids:eek:

Welcome to the forum... we are an egalitarian bunch...of a sort, ready to assist and take people at their word simply because they own a particular sort of vehicle... what a wondrous social evolution that is! If you are "retired" ..as the tone of your post suggests, then in reality you have not "retired" but simply gained full time self-employment in the field of P38-sustainability;)
Have fun, hope to hear more from you!

poleonpom
30th October 2014, 06:09 AM
You don't yet have a dog called 'Fenton'?
Welcome. Always good to have another owner with a twisted sense of humour, with a P38 you'll need it!
Cheers
Poleonpom

Virtualgaz
30th October 2014, 07:39 PM
Cheapest alternator so far I've found is REPCO's at $340. Occasionally they give 20% to RACQ members and 10% standard... so that's the one to beat for me - $306 I guess!

bsperka
30th October 2014, 07:45 PM
Cheapest alternator so far I've found is REPCO's at $340. Occasionally they give 20% to RACQ members and 10% standard... so that's the one to beat for me - $306 I guess!
20% is on in October......

Virtualgaz
30th October 2014, 07:48 PM
Cheers, yeah I found MR Automotive very helpful so far - in fact, so impressed was I, the old girl is booked in for a quick health check next week and hopefully the computer will give me lead on the misfire. MR also expedited parts to me via Courier - same day service - great stuff!

Scouse
31st October 2014, 06:22 AM
Have you checked a LR dealer for an alternator? A while ago, these had been knocked down to $100-120. I bought a couple & I know of one or two others on here who grabbed them too.


You never know, they might have some left.

bsperka
31st October 2014, 07:23 AM
Cheers, yeah I found MR Automotive very helpful so far - in fact, so impressed was I, the old girl is booked in for a quick health check next week and hopefully the computer will give me lead on the misfire. MR also expedited parts to me via Courier - same day service - great stuff!
Haven't used MRA yet, only 4x4 down in Newcastle (parts) and BOR at Forest Glen (parts and repair). In my experience, always helpful. I'll keep MRA in mind for future reference; just down the road for you.

TheTree
31st October 2014, 09:03 AM
Cheapest alternator so far I've found is REPCO's at $340. Occasionally they give 20% to RACQ members and 10% standard... so that's the one to beat for me - $306 I guess!

Hi

Is that the 100AMP or the 120AMP model?

You can get a 120AMP out of the UK landed for about $340.00

Item# 281153251658

Steve

Virtualgaz
31st October 2014, 02:41 PM
Cheers, not retired just yet - 22 yrs to go according to Mssrs Abbott and Hockey, but I think about it every day. In the meantime I'll reserve my energy for keeping our species alive. The P38 doesn't seem like a car - more a a way of life!

Virtualgaz
31st October 2014, 02:48 PM
120amp she be. Did try the dealer but never thought of the Old Dart for that, will look into it, ta. Great website BTW, more reading for me!!!

TheTree
1st November 2014, 08:52 PM
120amp she be. Did try the dealer but never thought of the Old Dart for that, will look into it, ta. Great website BTW, more reading for me!!!

Mate Blighty is definitely the place to go for most parts, I find lrdirect to be pretty good as long as you know the part numbers

Steve

FANTOM P38
11th November 2014, 07:43 PM
Welcome to P38 ownership, should go a bit like this
:D :o :( :mad: :confused: :censored: :angel: :p :) then :D
follow me?
Good luck & keep coming back!

TheTree
12th November 2014, 08:39 AM
Mate you left out the one thread which runs through all ownership $$$$$ :eek:

Steve