Agri Vehicles Insurance from Greenlands

Author Topic: land rover defender help!!!!!!!!  (Read 7426 times)

dizzydexter

  • Joined Jan 2011
land rover defender help!!!!!!!!
« on: February 18, 2011, 07:39:17 pm »
hi guys
saw a post on here about landrovers so hope i can get some help
i just bought one and the problem is the heaters only blow cold and the temperature gauge is not registering
any ideas
thanks

robert waddell

  • Guest
Re: land rover defender help!!!!!!!!
« Reply #1 on: February 18, 2011, 07:53:52 pm »
land rover heaters don't blow hot tepid maybe what engine is fitted all have overheating problems(cyl head) but if cared for are fantastic vehicles the gauge does not work if it has had an engine change(different engine) the thermostat could be faulty or not there

Fergie

  • Joined Oct 2009
Re: land rover defender help!!!!!!!!
« Reply #2 on: February 18, 2011, 08:02:05 pm »
It sounds as if the circulating water is stone cold - which probably means that the thermostat is faulty, ie jammed open.  It's the first thing to check anyway, and a replacement is cheap.

If you find the thermostat has been removed by someone, then you'll need to find out why - it might have been overheating and removing the thermostat before selling the car hides the problem. This would need to be investigated, but rather than anticipate complex problems, the first thing to do is just remove the thermostat & have a look at it.

Land Rover Defenders have fairly basic engines and spares are quite cheap, so don't panic.  It might be worth finding a self employed mechanic to help you if you don't have confidence - there's very few tasks that need a main dealer to be involved.

Good luck,

John


hughesy

  • Joined Feb 2010
  • Anglesey
Re: land rover defender help!!!!!!!!
« Reply #3 on: February 18, 2011, 10:40:38 pm »
Land Rover heaters are notoriously poor. Often the heater matrix is blocked with gunge if it's more than a few years old. You do need to investigate why the temp guage doesn't work though as overheating is very bad for engines. It would help if you could tell us what engine it is? Or what year is the landy? They are indeed simple machines and very suitable for fixing yourself if they go wrong.

cooper956

  • Joined Dec 2009
Re: land rover defender help!!!!!!!!
« Reply #4 on: February 19, 2011, 11:12:56 pm »
what age of defender is it and what engine?yes the heaters are poor but they do still blow hot air out it could be a number of things.

lazybee

  • Joined Mar 2010
Re: land rover defender help!!!!!!!!
« Reply #5 on: February 20, 2011, 04:35:55 am »
If it's a Tdi model the heater matrix gunges up regularly. If you take the inlet and outlet hoses off, A garden hose fits quite well inside the matrix. Get someone to turn on the water while you hold the hose in place and give it a good flush until clean water is seen. Or as the others have said the thermostat needs changing. Very cheap 'JSF Landrovers' online shop. Or Allmakes.co.uk . If the heater/cooling system is gunged up It's probably because someone in the past has put Rad seal in it. Best to change the coolant and flush the lot. Landrovers/discoveries are great BUT you need to know how to pick up a spanner now and again to keep on top. Good luck

dizzydexter

  • Joined Jan 2011
Re: land rover defender help!!!!!!!!
« Reply #6 on: February 21, 2011, 08:47:48 pm »
thanks all
job done
it had no thermostat in!!!!!!!!!!!! put one in and been running it for 2 days now and have no overheating problems
god knows why it was taken out
heaters are stll not the best but i love the defender!!
im hooked
thanks for help

ambriel

  • Joined Jan 2011
  • Kinlochbervie, NW Sutherland, Scotland
  • Mad, bad, and dangerous to know!
    • Harbour Cottage
Re: land rover defender help!!!!!!!!
« Reply #7 on: March 09, 2011, 12:44:06 pm »

It may be that a previous owner had problems with it over-heating - maybe they left it running for long periods while they were doing something? Taking out the thermostat is a common bodge for this.

That being said, I never found the heater on my old S2A to produce anything more than tepid air at best.

Norfolk Newby

  • Joined Aug 2009
  • West Norfolk, UK
Re: land rover defender help!!!!!!!!
« Reply #8 on: March 12, 2011, 02:48:04 pm »
Avoid taking the thermostat out if you can.

The reason is a bit technical but it is basically because the piston rings (which are made of really hard steel) get hot in the inside from the piston and then get cold on the outside from the cylinder walls. Without a thermostat to keep the cylinder reasonably warm the rings crack then break from this temperature difference.

A broken piston ring will mess up the cylinder surface very quickly.

You can get thermostats which allow the engine to run a bit cooler or a bit hotter than standard so fit what meets your car's needs.

Most old cars actually run a bit better if a hotter thermostat is fitted. The proviso is that the engine is well adjusted (aren't we all?) and is driven reasonably considering its age.



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