Possible Grand Cherokee to Discovery Convert - need quick schooling

LRNAD90

Adventurer
Robert Bills said:
OK, what is good and bad about these particular model years, particularly from the standpoint of a potential daily driver / mild expedition vehicle?

Ever heard of the Disco Web (www.discoweb.org)? I'm not a fan of alot of the 'characters' over there, but there is ALOT of good information, and quite a few extremely knowledgable members, if you can cut through the otherwise constant B.S.

Search away and ask questiosn over there, and there is nothing you will not be able to find out about any year Discovery...

Do so research on what years had issues with 'porous' blocks leading to head gasket leak like syndroms, and the need for a new engine block to rectify (go figure).

All the Disco II's seem to have the dreeded 'Three Amigos' (ABS, Traction Control, Hill Descent Control failure lamps illuminated) issue at some point.

Just a few of the hundreds of Three Amigosposts on the Disco Web: http://www.discoweb.org/forums/showthread.php?t=45726&highlight=Amigos
http://www.discoweb.org/forums/showthread.php?t=48771&highlight=Amigos
http://www.discoweb.org/forums/showthread.php?t=45855&highlight=Amigos
http://www.discoweb.org/forums/showthread.php?t=46247&highlight=Amigos
http://www.discoweb.org/forums/showthread.php?t=46843&highlight=Amigos

Earlier Disco II's also had an option that used computer controlled hydraulic rams to keep the truck cornering flat until a certain point. I beleive they called it Active Corner Enhancment (ACE). I'd avoid it like the plauge if I were you. These had issues with hydraulic pump failures, noise, vibration, etc.

Fully equipped trucks also had autoleveling airbag rear suspensions. Most people eventually replace them with coil springs when they start going wacky, because they are costly and problematic to repair...


 

david despain

Adventurer
superpowerdave said:
Just wondering what the train of thought was on this ... the 04 and up linkage, while quieter, is solenoid and electrics whereas the DI linkage is pure mechanics. I was just wondering why you considered it 'better.'

I looked at the 04 linkage for while before I pulled the trigger on the DI linkage. Aside from cost, I figured I was slowly trying to remove electronic dependent systems from the truck rather than add them so it made more sense to drop the DI in.

Hijack off, apologies to the OP.

to clear up a little mis-info in this thread. first off the DI and DII transfer cases are not exactly the same. they have a differnt suffix letter. they are very very similar though. i believe some bearings are different and i know some of the electronic switches are different. the ones with out the ability to lcok the center diff have a different fwd case casting. its arguing semantics though, i know.
second off the 04 DII does not use a solenoid to actuate the center diff lock it uses a push-pull cable. it was done to reduce noise vibration and harshness (NVH) as the DI linkage is mounted to the transfer case and the DII is mounted to the vehicle body so it doesnt rattle around with the drive train.
 

R_Lefebvre

Expedition Leader
david despain said:
to clear up a little mis-info in this thread. first off the DI and DII transfer cases are not exactly the same. they have a differnt suffix letter. they are very very similar though. i believe some bearings are different and i know some of the electronic switches are different. the ones with out the ability to lcok the center diff have a different fwd case casting. its arguing semantics though, i know.
second off the 04 DII does not use a solenoid to actuate the center diff lock it uses a push-pull cable. it was done to reduce noise vibration and harshness (NVH) as the DI linkage is mounted to the transfer case and the DII is mounted to the vehicle body so it doesnt rattle around with the drive train.

Thanks Dave, I was pretty sure the linkage was in fact mechanical. It sure feels like it. Soundes like more "late model trucks sucke because of electrickery" stuff to me.

Back to the original poster's questions, the earlier years of a given model are likely to be more trouble than later models. That's true of *any* vehicle really. I've heard the best D1 is a 98, and the best DII is an 04.
 

superpowerdave

Adventurer
R_Lefebvre said:
Soundes like more "late model trucks sucke because of electrickery" stuff to me.

Are you kidding me? Can't ask a simple question these days without some backlash I guess. If I had thought late model trucks sucked because of electrics I would have stated so and given reasons why - none of the subtle subterfuge.

Dave - push pull cable, copy. Thanks for the education. I know DiscoMike runs a solenoid activated CDL and I had wrongly assumed that it was from an 04. Maybe it's an Ashcroft, whatever the case may be.
 

david despain

Adventurer
Robert Bills said:
I parked next to what appeared to be a well maintained bright red Discovery on Thursday. Don't know what possessed me, but I put a note on it suggesting that I might be in the market to buy if they were in the market to sell. Got a call the next day.

I need to educate myself quickly before I call back. What years did Land Rover market the bright red color on the Discovery? (I've seen many "dull" red and maroon, but only a few with bright red paint). Where are some websites that can quickly provide me with information regarding the good, bad and ugly about Discoveries, particularly desirable vs. undesirable models/years/equipment, etc.

(PS - the reason for "red" vs. any other color is the color of my '46 Bantam trailer, see link below.)

was it this color of red? http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=107346#post107346 i think mine was called rutland red. it wasn't bright fire engine red though, almost a subdued version of that. kind of a brighter brick red. it is my favorite color of red on a vehicle ever.
as far as web sites to glean info quickly discoweb.org is good. just use the search function as most of your questions have been answered there. and have thick skin doent hurt either.
through purely anticdotal evidence (although there is a poll on dweb) it would seem that the 2003 year was the worst for oil pump failures and that particular problem is fairly limited to that year as well. a good history is a good thing to have on these trucks.
they are pretty easy to keep running and will generaly get you home.
 

david despain

Adventurer
superpowerdave said:
Are you kidding me? Can't ask a simple question these days without some backlash I guess. If I had thought late model trucks sucked because of electrics I would have stated so and given reasons why - none of the subtle subterfuge.

Dave - push pull cable, copy. Thanks for the education. I know DiscoMike runs a solenoid activated CDL and I had wrongly assumed that it was from an 04. Maybe it's an Ashcroft, whatever the case may be.

http://www.amv.com.au/SeriesIIDifflock.htm
this is the electronic one that comes to mind. its a worm gear unit. i cant remember off hand who makes the solenoid one. the down side to a solenoid unit is that it always has power going to it when activated. they can get quite hot that way and that can affect lifespan.

ashcroft sells the 2004 cable assy. http://www.ashcroft-transmissions.co.uk/part_17.html hmmm out of stock. well i would just as soon do business with EE any day of the week. great products and even better service https://www.expeditionexchange.com/kit/

speaking of electrickery here is an interesting poll for anyone interested in DII stuff. http://www.discoweb.org/forums/showthread.php?t=46593&highlight=stranded
 

david despain

Adventurer
Robert Bills said:
Yes, that's it! The color charts I looked at called this Rutland Red. The years it was available appear to be 98, 99 and 00.

The Discovery I looked at was almost identical to the one you sold.


cool. thats my favorite red of all time. i wish i had not sold that truck, although i am glad that i didnt wait a day longer to sell it. any more info or pics on the one you are looking at? things to ask about: have the head gaskets been done, has the radiator been replaced? spark plug wires? are there any lights on? make sure that the traction control, hill descent control and abs lights come on when you first turn the key to on. its common for people to remove them or blank them off in order to mask the "three amigos"
 

superpowerdave

Adventurer
david despain said:
http://www.amv.com.au/SeriesIIDifflock.htm
this is the electronic one that comes to mind. its a worm gear unit. i cant remember off hand who makes the solenoid one. the down side to a solenoid unit is that it always has power going to it when activated. they can get quite hot that way and that can affect lifespan.

ashcroft sells the 2004 cable assy. http://www.ashcroft-transmissions.co.uk/part_17.html hmmm out of stock. well i would just as soon do business with EE any day of the week. great products and even better service https://www.expeditionexchange.com/kit/

speaking of electrickery here is an interesting poll for anyone interested in DII stuff. http://www.discoweb.org/forums/showthread.php?t=46593&highlight=stranded

I think the AMV one you linked to is the one I had in mind, especially when you commented on the assembly getting hot in use. It's been awhile, but one or two I looked at were electrical and I wasn't interested in adding any of that to the mix.

I had seen that DiscoWeb poll and never did comment on it ... my DII has only left me stranded once, and that was due to a crankshaft position sensor going out after 90K miles of service. I replaced it and hope to get as much life out of that one. My P38 on the other hand ...
 

R_Lefebvre

Expedition Leader
superpowerdave said:
Are you kidding me? Can't ask a simple question these days without some backlash I guess. If I had thought late model trucks sucked because of electrics I would have stated so and given reasons why - none of the subtle subterfuge.

Sorry, just a little sensitive about the issue. It seems to happen a lot.

as far as web sites to glean info quickly discoweb.org is good. just use the search function as most of your questions have been answered there. and have thick skin doent hurt either.

You have to be careful with some things. The search is difficult to use effectively, adding extra terms broadens the search instead of narrowing it. There are also some threads that totally have the wrong conclusions but were ignored by those who knew better, so you need to read many threads on the same subject to make sure you're not missing anything. And then there is the typical misinformation on some things, like anti-D2-electrickery sentiment, anti-non-harcore sentiment (everybody needs a rock crusher truck, etc.), all ARB's "tweak" even though some have different designs, etc...
 

MuddyMudskipper

Camp Ninja
R_Lefebvre said:
Sorry, just a little sensitive about the issue. It seems to happen a lot.

8951.jpg

:hehe: :hehe:
 

steph

New member
greetings guys, this is my first post here. I'm a regular on other Rover forums, and just found this site thanks to a member's link. So I,ll butt in if you don't mind.

I have the solenoid activated CDL, and it comes from discoparts.com.
Works like a charm and best of all, you can run with the diff locked, in 4 high. Works marvels in huge snowstorms when the roads havent been plowed etc...


Picture will not load, but from the discoparts.com site:



Solenoid Activated Central Diff Lock
When the Disco Series 2 was released Landrover decided that the Central Diff Lock (CDL) was not needed as they had introduced Electronic Traction Control. This kit will reintroduce the ability to lock the centre diff via a switch on the binnacle.

This can only be fitted to a Disco II that has the spigot on the transfer case. Landrover decided to phase this out from mid 2001. Please check that you have it on your transfer case before ordering; look at the second picture to the right on where to find it.

Key Benefits

Be able to lock the centre diff when off-roading, improved traction
Can be used with or without Electronic Traction Control (ETC)
No body will know that you have it fitted from within the cabin
Can be used in Hi or Low range
 

david despain

Adventurer
steph said:
Works like a charm and best of all, you can run with the diff locked, in 4 high. Works marvels in huge snowstorms when the roads havent been plowed etc...

any of the diff lock solutions can be used in high range.
 

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