Thread: Twice in a week?

I parked my previously super reliable V8 Disco 2 at the auto electricians on Friday afternoon to order a new battery to replace my slowly dying main battery. Jumped back in the car, and the key felt odd and would not turn no matter what I did. The barrel was seized totally. More fool me: it had been sticking on odd occasions for 11 months previously, but always worked if I jiggled it a bit. I should have fixed it then, but didn't. Anyway, I rang the NRMA for the first time in at least 20+ years, and they had it and me collected within 30 minutes and taken to Canberra Motor Works. CMW dropped everything and had me mobile again with a temporary fix within about 30 minutes.

This morning I had to tow the new van back to Jayco Canberra for some minor work. I was almost there after a lovely drive along country roads to avoid the peak hour traffic, when all of a sudden a great white cloud appeared in the rear view mirror. A T join in one of the drivers side radiator hoses had failed. I more or less coasted around the next intersection into a road side parking area and called Jayco Canberra who collected the van, and the NRMA who again picked up the Disco and me and took us back to CMW.

CMW were again prepared to drop everything to get me going again, but I asked for them to replace all the hoses to give Pam and me some peace of mind on our September trip, and since they didn't have a full set, it will be tomorrow before it is ready to go again. They even hope to have the new barrel in the ignition/steering lock by then.

It could have been worse. Earlier last week I was showing some people the snow on Mt Coree in the Brindabellas, so glad neither problem happened up there!

My old Mum used to say that bad things happen in threes. Now I am waiting for the third failure!!! Maybe I can get away with calling the main battery failure the third, so am I off the hook?

Anyway, I just wanted to let everyone know of the fantastic service I received from everyone involved: Canberra Motor Works, Jayco Canberra and NRMA. Thankyou all.

Cheers,

Terry

Hi Stu,

I don't have an actual price for the short motor, just an estimate for the whole job. However I would guess about $6,000. It is factory new and includes sump, water pump etc. We just have to change over the heads and the bolt-ons.

The heads are being reconditioned at the same time (valves and valve guides/oil seals).

The head gaskets, while not excluded, were considered unlikely to have been the problem as they had only recently been replaced due to oil leaks. The failed radiator hose had failed as a result of the joining piece being torn out of the main hose. This suggested much higher internal pressure than normal. It was replaced and the engine run, but it would only run on 7 cylinders. Removal of plugs showed the RH rear cylinder was the one that slipped. The diagnosis was to be confirmed when the heads came off yesterday, but I haven't spoken to them since then.

As for CMW's credentials, I know that one of our local members has issues with them, but my experience has been extremely good, and I have two mates here with Discos who also have had nothing but good experiences.

Terry