Thread: Second Year of D2 Ownership

PICS!
Two years for me too
Starting to get the fiddly problems now, but at the same time I've been gathering info on silly mods....

Yes I agree, some pictures would be great.

Thanks, it's really good to read other peoples summary of the year just past, and gives hope to people like me!

I'm also in the market for a replacement leather steering wheel.

Cheers Jerry

Just click on the links in the first post you can see the pics of the Kaymar bumper, UHF radio install and Roof bar Fittings

I'll put a pic of the brake controller location up on the weekend.

With respect to the steering wheel TRS in Adelaide would be the best bet. I recall paying about $200 for a second land leather one, but for $300? they can get a wheel professionally covered.

Cheers

Steve

For $25- you can get a cover from ebay shipped with thread and needle. Good quality, a few people, including myself have used them.

Brake Controller Location Pics.





Clubagreenie. I did buy and fit one of the ebay leather wraps to the original wheel soon after I got the car. It worked quite well and looked neat, so I would certainly recommend them to anyone wanting to fix a sun damaged Disco wheel. However my personal preference was it made the wheel feel a bit too fat for my liking and I could still feel the sun damage indentions to the original wheel underneath. Though the rim above cost more, it did include horn, audio and cruise buttons, and all now reside in the spares crate.

Cheers

Steve

I'm after a set of audio buttons at less than a kidney and lung prices.

Yep

I am starting second year with our d2a 2003 td5 auto.

Learned a bit, its fantastic off road, amzing compared to my memories of my 1967 lla landy.

New head from Turner engineering has transformed the car after diesel in sump.

Rear hearside door lock works now, not sure ifits because of winter and some moisture bu i credit that to my wife who pressed the remote one day to let the dog and i in the back and hey presto its kept working for the past month!

I managed to replace the horn buttons with a good second hand unit from the Uk.

Still keen on a bull bar for lights, sand flag etc but not sure which. Steel vs ally etc.

My mechanic is great, a real whizz but i must learn more myself.

Consumption on a recent run and off road was 28 mpg which i am very happy with.

All in all have not done a lot of k's but once i replaced the head and the auto sttled down after service its been a beaut.

Kids findit slow but faster than walking!

Still sluggish until turbo spins but used to that now.

Will spread our wings and drive it a bit further now that we are more confident about reliability. 176,000km

Whats others experiences? Is 11 years old and 176,000 km ok to do some long distance, reliable touring?

I really want to take it away up north in WA, travel up the coral coast near Exmouth.

Any tips for preparing it and spares to take?

Cheers. iain

Hi Iain

I'm glad to hear you are enjoying your D2, despite the major first year surgery. From my experience the first year of second hand car ownership is always the worst financially, getting on top of the inherited problems.

With respect to age/kms, provided the car is well maintained, I wouldn't be too worried about going bush in an older vehicle. I've had as many, if not more problems with new vehicles.

As to pre trip preparation and spares kits, it really depends on what you are planning. If it is a long trip to very remote areas, then serious pre trip preparation is required, along with carrying a good selection of spares/tools and the requisite mechanical knowledge. At the the other end of the scale, staying every night in caravan parks and doing day trips to known locations in areas of mobile phone coverage, would require a standard pre trip inspection/service and carrying few, if any, spares.

At a minimum I'd suggest discussing your plans with your mechanic and based on his advice do a pre trip service including replacement of any potentially problematic parts, such as belts, radiator and inter-cooler hoses, battery etc. Other D2/TD5 particularities to check would include leaks from the fuel pressure regulator and fuel cooler and oil in the ECU loom. Checking the oil pump bolt is another and also the SLS airbag rear suspension (if you have it) as at +10 years they will be getting close to the end of their life.

Spares.... I generally carry the following:

• Fuses, fusible links and relays.
• Serpentine belt.
• Fuel filter.
• Crank angle sensor.
• Engine oil, coolant.
• Contact cleaner.
• Type repair kit (inc compressor and tools)
• Couple of air filters (if you don't have a snorkel fitted)

It's a bit lighter that a lot of other forum members would recommend but is based on over 30 years experience working in remote areas and having a well maintained vehicle, that I know well. That said if I was going somewhere serious I'd be carrying a few more items and replacing the coolant hoses and SLS airbags.

The only "must have" specialist tool I'd recommend would be an electronic diagnostic device such as a Nanocom or Hawkeye. If nothing else reading the error codes will give the local bush mechanic valuable information and they can be posted here for the Guru's to advise. Likewise buying a copy of the Rave CD with PDF workshop and electrical manuals from the Forum Shop and packing it or putting the documents on your laptop/tablet is also a good idea.

Good travels

Steve