DISCO3.CO.UK - View topic - My 2005 D3 TDV6 Manual.

disco-nut

Member Since: 27 Dec 2013
Location: Kent
Posts: 951

2005 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Manual Tonga Green

Will, my Discovery finally spat its dummy out of the pram lol

I drove for over 40 minutes to do my monthly food shop, car drove fine all the way there but nearer to my destination going up hill I ended up overtaking this nitwit in some weird little car which involved me dropping a gear and flooring it.

Then on the way home, it just would not pick up speed normally even if I dropped a gear, you could hear the turbo, but no power until it was at over 3000RPM. No smoke or dodgy noises either. So a little wound up I went on line to a group I am part of on Facebook and was given a few suggestions as to the problem. Following that advice I had to go to main dealer Land Rover in Ashford and collect my brand new steering wheel wiring loom, so I picked there brains and took the car with me, It drove perfectly ALL the way there and back and has continued to drive normally ever since.

I was told that either the Intercooler pipe could be split or EGR valve is failing or has failed. Well it hasn't failed yet as the car is going normally. Everyone keeps saying, blank it off and be done with it, But I prefer to have working EGR valves. I have blanked them off on many previous cars and couldn't honestly see a great improvement. So they stay. But what I have done as it is only on rare occasions that I get to work on my cars at my parent. Well being honest. This is the first time EVER, but I am allowed to occasionally from now on lol. I decided with the advice of Land Rover too who stated that if I am going to have the ECU reprogrammed for performance etc... It is worth me getting Silicon hoses instead of buying standard hoses. Well after a bit of hunting around, I managed to get the Britpart blue hoses for Â£69 delivered. So they should arrive Tuesday. And the Intercooler pipes look very worn and old anyway. So on Saturday I am cleaning the intercooler out and replacing the pipes to it.

I also plan on fitting many of the mods and upgrades I have already bought as well as clean out the EGR pipes and EGR valves both sides.

And as the date for parts fitting has been moved up a week I have had to get crazy and get on with refurbishing the sidesteps I bought. Needless to say, the one with the missing trim was in better condition than I thought and the one with the trim in place still was in worse condition than I thought.

And apart from a dodgy neighbour who wont leave me alone and the unpredictable weather, I have managed to start the refurb work.

I am really please with myself too as I have found it very difficult controlling the tools, even holding the screw driver etc...

But I will get it finished. My finish goal is Wednesday to have them both sanded, rust treated and painted. I won't be putting a new silver strip on the sidestep just yet though and have also contacted a friend who does chequer plating for 4x4's to see about a possible custom trim set for my sidesteps.

Also had my Land Rover taken in for the Safety check on the tow bars which it sailed through and they did a health check. On the health check they found that my rear discs had a lip and that the drivers side pads have worn unevenly. 1 side of the disc is 9mm and the other 4mm and the rest of my pads all round are 9mm.

And to help me not be too delayed with the sidesteps I now have my Gazebo up in the garden until the steps are finished.

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15th Jun 2015 2:13 am

disco-nut

Member Since: 27 Dec 2013
Location: Kent
Posts: 951

I am collecting a trailer tomorrow. I really hope the D3 behaves itself on the longish journey.

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17th Jun 2015 6:11 pm

disco-nut

Member Since: 27 Dec 2013
Location: Kent
Posts: 951

I'm on the mad rush getting everything ready for tomorrow, Unfortunately, hit a hurdle as per usual.

I am going to have to mount the internal bracket for the nudge bar and cut the holes ready as I have not had time to separate the rusted sleeves and bolts.

Sidesteps are nearly done though. Only need 1 coat of hammerite on 1 side then I can put the new nuts and bolts in and put the rubber grips back on.

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19th Jun 2015 7:57 pm

disco-nut

Member Since: 27 Dec 2013
Location: Kent
Posts: 951

Today certainly has been interesting. I have to say, I am horrified at the bodge repair I found which was done by a so called Land Rover Specialist, who I won't name, but I will never trust or use again!!! The bodge job was not done during my ownership of this Discovery.

As some people know, I was having power loss problems and an unresponsive accelerator which seemed to be an intermittent issue.

So after lots of begging, my parents agreed to let me dismantle my car on their drive which took us 7 and a half hours!

We got the front end off and immediately saw that the left hand intercooler pipe was badly perished at the top. We got the wheel off, wheel arch liner moved and uncovered the pipe at the bottom. Pulled the pipe off and found that it had been bodge repaired with glue and 2 cotton sleeves which were covering up massive splits in the pipe! I just simply don't understand why anyone who would have gone to all that effort to take the car apart, would choose to bodge a broken pipe when simply buying a replacement pipe would have been much easier!

Anyway, mini rant over, it started to rain so we ended up just replacing the 1 large pipe. So now a silicone pipe is in place. While the bumper was off I took another D3 club members advice and have started to cut out the holes for the fog lights. Also fitted the A bar. I wasn't sure how I felt about the look of the A bar, but now it's on, I love it!

I managed to get the LED rear lights in the bumper fitted but not wired in and sadly ran out of time for the wind deflectors and the sidesteps. I managed to get my parents to agree to letting me use their drive again next week

I also ran out of time for fitting the brand new steering wheel wiring loom

And I don't know why, But I just love being able to see the A bar over the bonnet from the drivers seat lol

I have to admit, especially now I really have properly starting working on this beasty, I am falling more and more in love with it.

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21st Jun 2015 1:25 am

disco-nut

Member Since: 27 Dec 2013
Location: Kent
Posts: 951

Gave the car a wash on Sunday which was much needed I thought, Especially after each trim we took off seemed to cover us or the ground in mud lol.

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23rd Jun 2015 1:00 am

disco-nut

Member Since: 27 Dec 2013
Location: Kent
Posts: 951

Rain!!! HA, managed to beat it.

The weather forecast on Friday said it was going to be dry all weekend, so I didn't think anymore of it, begged my Mum for use of her driveway again which she gave in and said yes, so I went over today thinking I had all afternoon of DRY weather. And for a while it was ok, got the sidestep brackets in place, forgot the damn bolts so had to rush to Toolstation as a passenger in my Mums Toyota and buy some more lol.

1st the road going to Toolstation was closed due to an accident so had to take a detour, luckily I noticed as we started to take a detour that the road was just being opened so made her turn round which she was not happy lol.

Got back, handed the bolts to my other half and started on the 1st wind deflector, just as I started the 1st deflector, it started raining! Then let up a bit and finally stopped briefly long enough to get the 1st deflector on. Then it rained quite hard again, and had the same thing happen for each wind deflector. Then finally sidesteps fitted although rushed because of the rain so not actually flush to the car YET, and we started tidying the mass mess we had made and the ruddy sun came out and it remained DRY!

I then got the brand new wiring loom fitted in the steering wheel and soon found the cause of my part time working switches. It luckily was the old loom. I hadn't noticed when I fitted the switches that the wires were creased on the plug going to the middle of the steering wheel, and 2 of the wires had clearly broken but were making contact OCCASIONALLY.

So I was really pleased ALL the way home that my cruise control worked no matter what direction the steering wheel got turned and my audio controls work properly now too. SOO HAPPY.

I did drive like a grandad for at least 2 thirds of the journey home though as I was petrified of the wind deflectors flying off. But I did heat the door up with the glass down before sticking the deflectors on and also kept heat on the wind deflectors after they had been stuck on to make sure the sticky tape activated properly and before that I used paint preparation wipes to get rid of all the dirt.

I am ecstatic with how my car is coming together now.

But now I am banned from my parents drive and from working on my Discovery for a couple of weeks lol

But this coming week I am off to see Geoff. who is kindly fitting new pads and discs on the front and new pads, discs and calipers on the rear. The pads are all fine but I noticed that the front discs have nearly as big a lip as the rear discs. The rear discs and off side rear pads were the only thing Land Rover main dealer mentioned though.

I have also noticed that I have a dodgy connection or loom on my stereo and climate control panel as when I go round corners or brake (not all the time) the radio spits the CD out and / or the climate control cuts out. Hopefully a loose connection.

Sadly the LED's have not been wired in yet as I have not had time to wire them in yet.

But for now the spending stops as we are having to save money for an imminent emergency move.

We are currently suffering a major hate crime where the police have felt the need to install there own cameras in addition to my CCTV cameras and the housing association are desperately searching for a suitable property for us. Finger and toes are crossed for a property with a driveway lol.

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28th Jun 2015 11:10 pm

disco-nut

Member Since: 27 Dec 2013
Location: Kent
Posts: 951

I can't believe the journey I have been through already with this car. But the more I look at the journey I have been with it, the more I love it. This Discovery beats all my previous Discovery's by miles.

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30th Jun 2015 7:13 pm

disco-nut

Member Since: 27 Dec 2013
Location: Kent
Posts: 951

HUGE THANKS GOES OUT TO GEOFF. Yes I know capitals = shouting, but he deserves the huge thank you.

I arrived with the plans of having all new discs and pads and rear calipers, and luckily my front pads and discs have about another year (ish) with the mileage that was guestimated on them. So the rear pads, discs and shoes were replaced as they were badly needed. Since I posted about what Barretts found with the brakes pads, the odd wearing pads wore almost to the metal and I had done around 500 miles.

Then as normal for me, I yabber on and Geoff opened the bonnet and saw that a part I had paid for to be replaced, HAD NOT been replaced. The auxiliary belt! The tensioner was knackered too, warped and coming apart, the bolt had rusted through. So new belt and tensioner was then fitted.

And although I kept saying I was happy to keep the EGR's in previous posts and conversations with people I ended up having both EGR's blanked by Geoff. Very noticeable difference and glad I had it done.

Also have my Reverse Lights come on with the Follow Me Home function which a lot of people will think is not needed, but where I live, there is no street lights and these reverse lights are a life saver for disable people like me.

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Unfortunately found a hole in the outer casing of the OSR air suspension which Land Rover should have spotted as it was the same wheel that had the odd wearing pads and bad discs.

And the knocking on the rear that was left after finding the tow bar attachment has turned out to be ARB bushes.

I have to also say that I felt very privileged to have got to see an ACTUAL G4 Discovery 3 that had been around the world. Very nice.

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Then on the way home as the brake shoes still needed to bed in, I ended up with a parking brake fault light lol But I restarted the car and it went away and the handbrake is slowly working better and better.

Geoff. Really is awesome.

3rd Jul 2015 4:52 pm

disco-nut

Member Since: 27 Dec 2013
Location: Kent
Posts: 951

After owning the Disco since February, I finally noticed something else today.

After I added cruise control, I noticed the steering wheel controls didn't light up thinking that it was a daft decision made by Land Rover, I didn't link it to the intermittent cruise control and audio controls.

I replaced the wiring loom a couple of weeks ago and tonight went for a drive and was pleasantly surprised to find the controls actually light up.

8th Jul 2015 2:30 am

disco-nut

Member Since: 27 Dec 2013
Location: Kent
Posts: 951

My rantings and ramblings will most likely be quiet for about 2 weeks unless something goes wrong, like the clutch which seems to be causing some grief for me.

But finally I have been offered an adapted property to move to, and I am viewing it later today, if it is suitable, which I already took a sneak peak last week lol, I will be grabbing the keys at the time of viewing and start moving straight away, which should mean that my D3 should no longer suffer from constant vandalism and I won't have to suffer constant abuse from the next door neighbour who thinks he owns the world!

CAN'T WAIT!!!

Only downer is there is no driveway and because of the properties location on the road, there is no way of putting one in. So back on the street it goes.

28th Jul 2015 3:08 am

disco-nut

Member Since: 27 Dec 2013
Location: Kent
Posts: 951

Unexpected update

Sadly on the 7th of August, a kind Citroen Berlingo decided it was going to tailgate me and even attempt to overtake me several times in dangerous places. I made no effort to stop him from overtaking and just left a much larger gap between me and the car in front, unfortunately coming down a slight hill on the A259 near Rye, The car in front stopped suddenly and I managed to stop and leave at least a cars length gap, however the van apparently didn't see my brake lights which had been on for at least 100 yards as I saw the traffic ahead slowing down already and after I had stopped completely, the van slammed into the back of me while he was doing approx 30mph. He actually hit my car at 30mph while I was at a stand still!

This resulted in my ending up in hospital and have now got fractured spine, severe whiplash and minor swelling of the brain. Nothing serious, but really hard to deal with as it has affected my speech ability although been told it is only temporary.

The Land Rover appears to have a bent cross member, looked like the spare wheel winch had moved forwards in the hole so I am assuming a bent floor as well as damaged rear bumper, flat spots on all 4 wheels where my car was shunted forward about half a car length with my foot on the brakes and I have no idea what other damage.

I am now driving a hire vehicle which although is a top of the range 4x4 is not a Land Rover.
And my car is at the accident repair centre as I had it delivered there as the insurance company couldn't recover it from my house until the 20th of August. The car was driveable and drove beautifully after the accident although I did not drive it home as I was in hospital.

I have a bad feeling that this may be THE END of my current D3 thanks to a bellend who decided it was ok to drive dangerously. However luckily for the van driver, he got out of his van which the front end leveled with the windscreen, without any apparent injuries according to witnesses.

I was in so much pain that 5 police cars and 3 ambulances attended. All 3 crews were on scene to attend to me only.

If my baby does get written off, I will be looking for an Auto HSE D3 next as I absolutely adored my Discovery.

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15th Aug 2015 12:56 am

Barn1e
D3 Decade

Member Since: 28 Aug 2006
Location: Mid-sussex
Posts: 2021

2005 Discovery 3 TDV6 S Auto Tonga Green

Hope you and the car get better soon. Really enjoyed this thread. 2005, TDV6 S, Auto, 190k miles, owned from new, V8 Brake Upgrade, Nancom Evo, RLD protector, BAS EGR blanking & Remap, separate ATF cooler, changing all the fluids ahead of time.

15th Aug 2015 8:33 am

disco-nut

Member Since: 27 Dec 2013
Location: Kent
Posts: 951

Feeling very depressed and impatient! Stuck in a hire car and although I had the D3 delivered to the accident repair centre a few days ago, I haven't heard anything yet.

I just want to know if I am getting my baby back, or if I should be hitting the internet and papers to look for my next Discovery!

I have already found several potential replacements in case mine is a write off.

I hope I hear back soon as the current hire car is driving me up the wall. It is great to drive, but very difficult to get in and out of.

19th Aug 2015 1:14 am

DN
D3 Decade

Member Since: 24 Jun 2006
Location: W.London.
Posts: 2294

2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 Base 7 Seat Auto Zambezi Silver

Make sure that it is assessed /checked out properly, that is quite an impact, as you found out. The last time I had to take a car in for repair, (admittedly a fair few years ago,and not a D3),I questioned the repair centre about how they determined that the car wasn't seriously bent. The chap just said he drove it and it 'felt' ok, and stomped on the brakes, and because it stopped in a straight line he declared it OK

.......not good enough under any circumstances IMHO. Lots of cowboys in the vehicle repair industry, especially those 'approved' by the insurance co.

D3 owned from new, P017 brake recall, BAS FBHIC, new FBH, LR013487 oil pump, new water pump. RRS front lower suspension arms. New suspension compressor/ relay. New Denso alternator. CuNifer rear brake pipes. New GKN rear propshaft. New HPFP belt & tensioner. New A/C Condenser.NO WARRANTY for many many years.

19th Aug 2015 11:09 am

disco-nut

Member Since: 27 Dec 2013
Location: Kent
Posts: 951

Update on my Discovery. It lives on. The insurance assessor who works directly for my insurance company gave me a list of things they will approve and after a little bit of a heated discussion a few more things got added to that list. The car has no chassis or boot floor damage apparently. The assessor drove the car and said it drove really well for a 162000 miler.

1 thing they wouldn't replace which started playing up badly after the accident was the CD Player. But never mind. The repairs have now been authorised and I should be getting the car back hopefully within 2 weeks.

So next things on my list to get done are the anti roll bar bushes, a service and then the MOT which is coming up very fast.

Nudge bar will be going back on and I am going to treat the D3 to a full in depth valet inside and out.

And I really need to finish off the bumper fog light holes.

I can't wait to get my baby back.

28th Aug 2015 1:52 pm