Thread: Stockholm syndrome- life with my captor RRS TDV8

Bit of a long story, but if it helps anyone on the journey, then well worth it.

After about 12 years of disco 4 ownership, it was time to either spend a heap of cash or get another 1. I was looking to spend less time working on the car and more time in it. Our lives have changed. The kids are a bit older and we have a caravan now, so the size of the D4 wasn't needed, I knew I didn't want another V6, but that's about it, looked at D4 with petrol, then RRS with petrol but was guided to the bullet proof TDV8. I would be going from their worst engine to their best and picking up a 8 sp box at the same time.

Shopped around for a while, I'm picky on colours, couldn't be black car, had to be black interior, ended up with a white HSE dynamic.

During the test drive, it threw a fuel code and went into limp. The owner knew about it but acted suprised, would then go on to show me the receipt from having it fixed, but it wasn't. On the long drive home I googled the fault. Parts prices etc and made an offer on the car. If the fuel pump needed doing. I had the available funds if it didn't. I'd pocket the cash from the Diag.

Picked up the car, filled the tank, drive it home. Two weeks later, filled the tank. So approx 700ks of ownership. The car started knocking on the way home. Tried LR for warranty, tried the dealer, tried the owner. All on me.

So I pulled the engine out and down. Diagnosed a slightly rotated main bearing which starved the big ends. Parts ordered. The rest off for machining. Then assembly.

All the parts were genuine except the rings. They came from a supplier in the UK. I wish I stopped there. Anyway get rings from where Christian does on LR time or I used dex parts this time. That's right. The second time. The engine was in and running sweet. But I had a weep at the valve cover. Injectors out to reseal.. While they were out. I put my scope in to have a look and the rings had grabbed on One cylinder.

Back out.. Back apart. Round 2. Re honed and replaced all rings with the dex parts rings. Where I made the error was I didn't measure the ring end gap. I looked at it. But didn't measure. The UK rings were 12 thou. Which isn't enough. Even though they were "OEM" in a 100,000k then honed cylinder. Anyway I did the engine again the new rings were different and had much better gaps. So now I'm back to running.

Due to the timeline and the cost and lack of help and my unwilling to sell it or trade it. My work mates call it the captor. Maybe I'll get a badge for it.

Anyway.. I'll be chiming in where I can help and as I get to know the car. If I can help at all. Please just ask.

Yes I've got thousands of photos if you need them too

I was going to say, mate, your story is exactly the same as a mate I know, what are the odds, and then I clicked . I knew you’d be back.