Do reliability issues=Stranded in the middle of no-where

[Austin]

Hello all,

I've read quite a few of the posts on this forum. Most speak of reliability and problems/fixes. My question is this: Of the problems that are normally associated with the Land Rovers, how many and what are problems that will leave you stranded either on the side of the road or on the trail. We are looking at a '03-'04 Discovery HSE, and since my wife will be driving it often, I'd like to know in advance what to look out/prepare for...

Thanks,
Austin

 

[Moose]

Only a couple things have left me utterly stranded:

- Inertia switch (fixed at Pep Boys with a paper clip that bypassed the switch)
- Alternator (could happen to any truck with 100,000+ miles)

Other things are either easily repairable by anyone with any mechanical knowledge, or still allow you to limp home.

I do recommed adding roadside assistance to your auto insurance policy, or a AAA membership. Doesn't help too much if deep into a trail, but if you're wheeling with another person (and you always should be), you can get tugged out and towed from the road


Andy

 

[roverman]

I was stranded when my torque convertor blew out. One snap and that was that. It happened under very light throttle accelerating from zero to about 5 mph. I only had 73000 miles. Fortunately I was only 1/4 mile from my office, but if I was out in the boonies, I'd a been walking...
I think i'm the only guy on this forum this has happened to, so it's certainly not the norm.

 

[NHESS81]

Ive run on only 7 cylinders for a bit before...ignition coil blew out, and it ran but rough and awful...thats my biggest issue so far...but it seems that most issues are big and bad, but the rover is still very strong to make it through even with many things amiss, it wont be pretty but you can nurse it home...

 

[fbrems]

Hey Austin, it all depend how handy you are, if you depend entirely to others for any kind of defect you may have, my personal opinion is that a Land Rover is an expensive experience. Parts are not cheap and workshops eather. The worst experience I got was my fuel pump which gave up (95.000km) in the middle of nowhere. Try to tow out a 2T truck when you are 70km from the first asphalt road. So I had to replace the pump on the place where I got stuck, I'll spare you the details and the swearing.

Recently wit 20.000km more on the meter my gearbox got a shifting problem, even you are handy, such works I leave to the professionals. But... for most of the works you should consider to spare some time under the hood and enjoy the Land Rover in all his aspects. More you work on it more confident you become in knowing your truck.

By the way, the newer Models (as you are looking for) can not be compared with the models we are driving and appear mostly in this forum. The new Disco's are stepping away from their English habbits and getting better (and more expensive) all the time.

Enjoy your new car.