Defender mechanics in the Southwest

66rover99

66rover99

Well-known member
We are planning a shakedown trip on our Defender 110 over the Christmas break. Aiming to go from our home in BC, Canada to a friends home in BC, Mexico -- and back.

Route down will be Oroville border/Wenatchee/Twin Falls/Las Vegas/Yuma. Route back will likely be along I5 or the coast.

I'm hoping to get the name of a few Land Rover mechanics or enthusiasts or parts suppliers along the way in case we run into problems. Not anticipating any but in the first 90 days on the road with this truck the list was long. Hope we've turned a corner on reliability but would be nice to have a few safe harbours in case we have to fix somethng major.

cheers, Dave
 
xplorutah

xplorutah

Well-known member
Be sure to join the Birmabright Brotherhood.

Not sure about mechanics on your route, unless you are moving through Salt Lake City. If so then there is British 4x4 and Great Basin Rovers. I haven't used British 4x4 but have heard good enough things about them. GBR always has a ton of work, so I think it would be hard to get your 110 in there. They are pretty good about letting "overlanders" work on their stuff in the lot though.

What year is your 110? Stock drivetrain? Pics?
 
nas90tdi

nas90tdi

Well-known member
Good luck on the trip David. Doesn't do you much good as you are nearly home, but you know you are welcome to ask for help if needed as you come through here.
 
66rover99

66rover99

Well-known member
Thanks Guys, I am scrambling this weekend with last minute preps. I have to work in Vancouver next week again so there won't be much time after this weekend and maybe next Saturday.
The 110 is a 1995 ex-Mod, drivetrain is mostly stock with a 300 tdi installed, suspension has had a TF 2" lift but otherwise quite stock.
You can follow our prep and progress on Instagram @expeditiondefenders.
 
66rover99

66rover99

Well-known member
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66rover99

66rover99

Well-known member
It?s an Alu-Cab Icarus with Shadow Awning. This is a full replacement roof with internal access.
 
SMac

SMac

Well-known member
Be sure to join Birmabright. I?d be more than happy to assist if needed as you hit Eastern Oregon (LaGrande) through Boise and Southern Idaho to the Utah/Nevada Line. Tow, place to wrench, address for parts delivery, rides, etc. There?s also a good independent in Boise though I?m not sure what experience they have with TDi. Sam
 
66rover99

66rover99

Well-known member
Thanks for all the input. I’ve joined Birmabright but haven’t got the confirmation back yet. Also took a good look at the tires and decided I would be better with new rubber for winter roads. I spent the weekend getting the roof rack and tied downs attached, and wiring up an accessory deep cycle battery and an old-school constant duty solenoid to link it to the starting battery. Things are coming together pretty quick now.
 
66rover99

66rover99

Well-known member
About 9500 KM later... we arrived back home last week with no major mishaps along the way. I did have a few niggling things, one of which I'd like to get some feedback on...

The oil pressure light comes on occasionally at unexpected times. This is rather disconcerting as of course the result of lost oil pressure is catastrophic. so here's the situation:

If all the below are true
1. in 5th gear at greater than 60 mph
2. on a slight uphill so under slight load
3. moist air conditions, i.e. raining or at least recently raining and wet road

Then about 20% of the time the oil light will flicker, and I can hear the relay down in the fusebox start to chatter.

Letting my foot off slightly stops it immediately, but accelerating will start the situation again.

The first time this happened a few months ago I was on the side of the road instantly. I thought it was a bad oil filter and drove carefully to a shop and got the oil filter replaced.

That seemed to work for awhile, but the roads were dry so it wouldn't have come on anyway.

I also checked the spade connection to the oil pressure sender, and wiggled it off and on a few times. No difference.

So my plan is to install a gauge via a T at the sender so I can monitor actual pressure. During the approximately 600 KM of driving in wet conditions on this trip it happened perhaps a half dozen times. I backed off and the problem cleared itself.

Has anyone else had this sort of issue? Maybe a bad sender? or a faulty relay?

cheers, Dave
 
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Napalm00

Napalm00

Technical Excellence Contributor
A few notes:

Check the oil level and that the dipsticknis at the correct height so you are getting a good reading.

The oil pressure light is not relayed so if you hear a chattering and the light is flickering you may have a short somewhere, loose fuse, low battery voltage, etc

Remove the sender wire and plug in one lead of your multimeter, go behind gauge cluster and find wire to oil pressure light by using wiring diagram then check for resistance. If it's near zero you are gtg anything high and you probably have a short or broken wire.

The sender is cheap, replace it before you buy a "t" and slap on a gauge or do it at the same time.

Unfortunately if all of this is good you may have low oil pressure, I had this symptom before I blew up my 200tdi about seven years ago. Flickering oil light, semi randomly

200/300 tdi can suffer from a cam bearing that "walks" out of its bore causing low oil pressure. You can check for a walked bearing by removing the inspection cover being the Injection pump and the lift pump. Also check the oil feed and return the turbo, front timing case and clutch housing by removing the wading plug if equipped
 
R

Red90

Well-known member
What engine and year is this truck? There should not be a relay in the oil light circuit. Has something been put on like a DRL relay that runs front the oil switch?
 
66rover99

66rover99

Well-known member
Thanks for the feedback. I'll look into the relay first. Problem is, I can only hear the relay click when the light flickers as speed, and I'm generally paying attention to the road at that time...

Could be a short or wiring issue, this truck has a few electrical gremlins to get sorted.

It is a 95 with 300 TDI. Not sure the engine is a 95 but would be close to it. Not the original engine.
 
R

Red90

Well-known member
I assume it must have had DRLs fitted by someone to enable registration in Canada. Sometimes people use the oil pressure switch for this purpose. It is not the best way and perhaps they did a bit of a hack job. Have a look for some non original wiring.

How come you don?t have a Madman fitted?
 
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