Thread: D4 SDV6 Engine Failure

Welcome to the forum, Julian. Do a search in the D3/4 forum, where this thread will, no doubt, end up.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/l319-discovery-3-and-4-a/

Given that the vehicles in that date range are now 8-9 years old with 100-200k on them all you can do is hope the PO didn't follow the LR service schedule and that once in your ownership you don't follow it either and service it at 10k intervals - and pray to the crankshaft gods that yours wasn't made of cheese.

There are multiple threads on the likelihood of failure of the D4 3.0 engine to spend many hours to read through (I did and still bought one).

Ultimately the number of failed engines is not known, due in part to JLR refusing to acknowledge it as an issue (apart from country specific recalls - Jaguar Land Rover recall TDV6 engined vehicles).

No maintenance is guaranteed to prevent failure, but look for one that has been serviced at 10k or less internals. Also make sure the timing belt has been done (expensive) and transmission fluid replaced.

My advice having gone through the process previously is ask the following questions before buying one:
Do I have a second car to use when it breaks down?
Do I have the spare cash to fix it when it breaks down?
Do I want an exciting life?
Am I happy to settle for an alternative (i.e. prado) that is probably more reliable but nowhere near as nice to drive (and shows I'm a boring person)?

If yes to the first 3 & no to the last - welcome to the club!

"look for one that has been serviced at 10k or less internals. Also make sure the timing belt has been done (expensive) and transmission fluid replaced." Mine fits exactly but ain't available until late this year or early next...depends on when the Prado is delivered.
LCAs being done this week and belts planned for later in the year irrespective of the fact I'm selling it .... probably.
Big decision to make but I've never kept a car as long as this beast but it is a pleasure to drive and even the Cook likes driving it !!!!
AlanH.

I'd put the D4 in a garage for the first year of Prado ownership because you might find the ride isn't worth the reassurance.

Originally Posted by BradC

I'd put the D4 in a garage for the first year of Prado ownership because you might find the ride isn't worth the reassurance.

This.

I drove a new prado for a week whilst the disco had surgery. Couldn’t wait to hand that piece of **** back. Awful ride, no grunt to speak of, diabolical stereo, Bluetooth calls were incomprehensible.

I do understand why people take them bush - I wouldn’t care if it got beaten up either.

Originally Posted by veebs

I do understand why people take them bush -

Me too. I just don't understand why they bring them back.

There is nothing in that market that gets even close to a D4 for driving enjoyment... Apart from a D3, of course.

Yes the "Ds" ride is going to be hard to beat but the Cook reckons the Prado wasn't bad on a short test run. Haven't changed much since we had a 120 series moons ago. I still hate the barn door at the back but whispers say a new model is on the way.... but like most things from the car sales lot you take it with a very large pinch of salt.
I'd get a new Defender but really can't see 130 grand + value in it and the space in the back seems constricted when thinking of where all Cooks crap we cart around is going to go, plus the essentials like the Engel for cold beverages.
I'm still teetering on the edge, shall I shan't I?
Plenty of time to make up my tiny mind yet....
AlanH.