Thread: How to feel dumb and happy all at once

As some of you maybe aware i have been bemoaning the lack of acceleration in my tdi auto disco since shortly after i bought it. I was forced into buying an auto so the wife could drive it but i had never test driven one. I had test driven a few manuals and assumed the difference was the effect of the slush box. Over the years ive tried a few different things like turbo and fuel pump tweaks with limited improvement. The car has been serviced by three different mechanics during this time aswell including one landy specific mechanic. Well ive been seriously thinking about bailing out of the disco even though it still owes me cash.
Last week i had to tow a trailer to pick up a rear tub and the thing would barely pull 100kph after a long run up and i was thoroughly fed up with it. Then for some reason i hopped in it with out shoes on to go down to the garage and i noticed some free play in the accelerator. When i got home i checked the cable in the engine bay but it didnt look slack. I crawled under the dash and fiddled with the cable attachment to the accelerator pedal. By pulling quite firmly i was able to get about an inch and a half of slack in the cable . I tried this again pulling hard on the engine bay end for the same result. Ten seconds later after adjusting out the slack i went for a drive.
**** me what a difference. I can accelerate up hills and overtake at will. The disco now drives like a car and its new found speed has highlighted how bad the suspension is. I cant believe the difference. Its like a completely different car. Ive been driving round all day with a stupid grin on my head. To think of all the complicated and expensive buggering round i did in a typical stubborn way when all the time it was the damn cable. Just goes to show how even a very simple thing can have a huge effect. I had looked at the cable a few times but it looked fine and didnt appear slack on a poke of the finger unbelievable.
Now i actually like driving it and it may have found its way back into my good books. This thing is a beast for what it is. Im draging pootrols off at the lights left right and centre. Almost no exhaust smoke either.

Originally Posted by Ace

Yep sure do, but you would be surprised how many there are on a TDi disco, some resourcefulness and you can fix problems for a fraction of the cost and it will end up better than a new one. Free fixes are even better, i cant see how a mechanic didnt pick that up, surely a reported lack of acceleration would lead you to the accelerator eventually. Matt

Ace,

Where have you been the last two years?

From my copious experience of Defender 300tdi breakdown and repair I have found that there has only been one surprisingly cheap repair, and that was the clutch master cylinder.

For everything else I call up a LR specialist mechanic and ask for a range of prices. Then in my experience add 20% on the top. Last quote was, 'once we get to that price we replace the engine. Except in my case where they didn't replace the engine and it cost the 20% more.

Oh, sorry were you joking?



Cheers
Simon