I bought a '97 Discovery on ebay and it's great, but the check engine light is on. I bought a code reader on ebay, and now can read the codes, and temporarily turn them off (well they turn me off too). The local Tucson dealer did $1500 work, and the light still comes on. He changed the cam sensor, etc. The reason for owning my Land Rover is to drive to a remote place in a sandy part of Arizona where I bought some land (on ebay). There I can use the coleman lanterns, and stoves-you guessed it-that I bought on ebay. Anyone have any ideas about any of these 'issues', or want to talk about any aspects of this-glad to hear of it. Any info about related ebay products welcome.
I'd be willing to bet that it's the MAF sensor. Additionally, the Discos tend to get finicky on the whole air intake line. If you put in a K&N air filter, that can set it off (strange air flow). If you have fouled plugs, a loose exhaust manifold, or even a loose fuel cap, that can throw the codes too. I have had 2 discos now and have seen most every issue that they can potentially have. A recurrent code like that is likely caused by some portion of the air flow / pressure.
Have you found the problem? What are the code numbers? Can't tell you much without the codes. A new MAF will run you over $600 and a K&N won't mess with a D1 like the previous poster said...
There is no way to guess at what the problem could be. The code is needed to even start diagnosis. Don't listen to people just guessing at what part they think is at fault!
Thanks for all the posts! The service engine light went out at the same time the fuse that works the seat positions, and cigar lighter. Then after the fuse was inserted it stayed off. I've had no service to redo the cam sensor which was the original part that was supposed to have been the problem. It just wore in?! And I passed emissions since so it just wasn't a fluke. The disco is running fine for a 40 mile daily commute, and the occasional off road trip so I'm very happy. It's expensive, but it gets the job done. I'd recommend getting into one, biting the expense bullet for gas and service, and let it take you there, and bring you back- which is priceless.
I have a 97 too, and the first couple of fill ups, the same thing happened, best to have LR Dealer check it, but I bet it'll stop after about 3 fuelings.
Thanks for all the disco discussion! My gas level indicator is off so 1/2 is more like 1/4 so when I got low I put some old gas from an old metal can in to get me to the gas station. All was well until I almost got there when it seemed to lose power a bit-sort of like I was running out of gas, which I expected. I gassed up using Costco regular which seemed to usually work fine, but later on trouble with a capital T. Sputtering, and unable to keep up to speed. Well, I figured the gas I added to get me to the station was 'bad' (old , or rusty). After the same symptoms (which were intermittant-sometimes cleared up, but returned to bad) kept up, and I used up a bit of the gas I added a pint of Lucas gas treatment for injector cleaning and clearing ou the gas. The next day I added 10 gallons of premium. There's some improvement, but it reverts to bad. I might look at the fuel filter next, and I will have our local Land Rover independent garage look at it. It's not the horse's fault if you feed her bad hay. I'll share the 'rest of the story' as it unfolds...
I have a disco 2 a 99 and my check engine light came on when ever the feul tank would get below 1/2 a tank. I brought it in and they checked the error codes and it was a vaccumk leak and that the purge valve had to be replaced. I paid $107 for the purge valve and put it on myself and the check engine light does not come on anymore even when the tank is on empty.
My favorite Land Rover shop, Falconworks, replaced the fuel pump, which was on it's last legs, and aside from the check engine light problem, it runs fine. The light won't be a problem :-) until emissions time next year, but we'll get r done sooner than that. I had a problem reading codes for a while, but I finally got the reader to seat. The plug under the dash floats around (the plastic mount isn't working-needs an expensive part, or some super glue) Another development is getting the Haynes Land Rover Discovery book-which shows a lot even is helpful for a non-mechanic like me. BTW does anyone else have the floating dash instrument cluster problem? Seems like the plastic parts Rover used don't last forever, and is one of those parts of owning an older ride. Always something...The longer you keep a vehicle the more you get to know it, and I am getting an education, as well as a good ride out of my Discovery. I'm keeping my eyes open to see what developments are being made in vehicles, and maybe when it's over I'll find another... but give it another couple years!
Floating dashboard, curly dashboards are known issues for that truck. They are others too (rust under the alpine window seals, rust under the rear floor which will typically eat the entire floor, rear pads eating the rear disk/rotors causing catastrophic failure at brake time, oil cooler lines blowing causing engine fire/lost vehicule, etc), but most can be prevented if you check the truck often enough and give it some good TLC.
BTW, you never gave us the codes you are reading from the truck? Unless you fix the fault, the light will come on. You will also fail inspection (and remember that resetting the light just before showing up at the inspection place without fixing the fault is illegal).
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