Thread: Discovery 1997 tdi, 4 cylinder, Auto, Diesel

The Disco will go anywhere (and some) that the Jeep will.
If you intend to frequent beaches, keep an eye out for tin worm in the rear floor, footwells and around the alpine windows.

You have probable got the best combo of vehicle and driveline for what you want. The 300TDi will tow well as long as you are not in a huge hurry. Like most Discos, the three main things to keep an eye on would be the cooling system, the cooling system and the cooling system

Welcome to the forum. Regarding the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd points above, get an engine saver from the shop here. Link above.
https://www.davesitshop.com/emporium...egory&cat_id=4
Don.

Originally Posted by hair_of_the_dog

...
Im interested in things such as:
* Towing
* How they go in the sand
* Trips - where they went, how they went ... any surprises? etc.
* Things to look out for.
* Things i might want to do.
&
* Peoples experience with the 97 model in general.

Im also most interested in peoples thoughts on the following. Over christmas we hit up some beaches in S.A in a 1995 jeep cherokee to launch and retrieve a 14 ft boat & trailer (600kg). It might sound silly, but does this sound like a bad plan with a disco (capability).

I have a '97 300tdi manual disco. To answer your points in order:

* Towing - They tow fine just not quickly (see below about cooling)
* How they go in the sand - as well as any other - let tyre pressures down!
* Trips - no complaints apart from head gasket and dodgy spare parts...
* Things to look out for. Cooling and head gasket
* Things i might want to do. 1. Get a rad shop to close up the bypass in the rad, 2. Fit Low coolant alarm, EGT and aftermarket temp guage, 3. Replace any part of the cooling system that is not up to scratch, 4. Change timing belt is any doubt when it was lask changed, 5. Consider a pre-emptive head gasket change if over 250000 km.

* Peoples experience with the 97 model in general.
Mine has generally been OK, but in the last couple of years I have owned it:
Replaced head and head gasket
Replaced head gasket a 2nd time due to dodgy viscous hub (OEM)
Replaced clutch (near new but failed due to faulty spring retainer)
Repaired circuit for rear windows
Repaired winder mechanisms on 3 windows
Repaired driver's door lock actuator (made a new steel part to replace broken plastic part)

(Vehicle had a replacement - 2nd hand - gearbox just before I bought it).

Service items - oils, filters and timing belt.

It only takes a decent set of tyres to make a disco capable,reliability will come down to previous owner an now your maintenance regime.
Coming up to 330k on my 98 tdi auto and love it.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using AULRO mobile app

Thats excellent, thanks for the link Don

Originally Posted by isuzurover

* Towing - They tow fine just not quickly (see below about cooling)

* Things i might want to do. 1. Get a rad shop to close up the bypass in the rad, 2. Fit Low coolant alarm, EGT and aftermarket temp guage, 3. Replace any part of the cooling system that is not up to scratch, 4. Change timing belt is any doubt when it was last changed, 5. Consider a pre-emptive head gasket change if over 250000 km.

This is gold. Thanks. Its clear ... cooling system is no 1 priority.

Originally Posted by Don 130

*Welcome to the forum.
*Get an engine saver from the shop.

Thanks for the link Don, its just what i wanted.