Hello folks,

Having spent the last few months ferrying around bits of Scimitar, sitting watching me work on the Scimitar and even not getting much mention in the magazine (because the focus is on the Scimitar), my long suffering and neglected P38 is making its feelings felt.

I knew I was carrying a few snags on her and she was due a service but two recent new issues have made me stop and take stock of the old girl. Particularly as I'm taking her to a small local car show in a few weeks.

So the current list is:

Engine
Oil & Filters
Crankcase breather loose and leaking oil
Turbo heat shield shot
Aux drive belt

Mechanical
EAS Valve block and pump seals
Steering backlash (suspect box adjustment)
Drivers window regulator - recent failure, worn (started making machine gun noises at top of travel)
Air-con hasn't worked since purchase

Electrical
Very reluctant to lock from key-fob, but unlocks instantly - recent failure (brand new key one year ago)
Heated seats haven't worked since purchase
Instrument cluster info display screen dull on left end (back light bulb?)
HEVAC does not regulate temperature
Transmission temp sensor (new fitted, just not yet attached to transmission cooler as can't get front bumper off).

Body & Fittings
Needs a blumin good clean and polish!
Pollen filters and foam scuttle panel insert.
Nearside front indicator housing loose due to broken clip.
Dashboard warped around outer end of passenger side windscreen demisting vent.
Air ducting joints need sealing as poor air flow.
Rear bumper not fitted correctly at center, sitting high as it has worn paint from lower tailgate.
Tailgate release button weather seal perished

Upgrades
Fit reversing camera to go with new touch screen android head unit.
Read instruction manual for new touch screen android head unit.

That's quite a list, and I suspect that there may be one or two more that I have either missed or are unaware of yet. I feel quite ashamed.

How does it compare to other peoples 'snag lists'?

Regards,

Smiler.

I have also never been in an L322 but I can't help thinking that the change in priorities would come through too much. The thing I love about driving the P38 is the fact that you still feel like you are driving a vehicle designed to fullfill a purpose. It is still a rugged truck as it were. I have a feeling that the later models with there obviously on road performance biased independent suspension set-ups are going to feel more car like. In my odd mind the L322 was when Land Rover admitted that the Range Rover had become a life style accessorie as oposed to a vehicle for touring the country estate and towing horse boxes and thus, the purpose built Chelsea Tractor was born.

Oh, RutlandRover, it's Practical Performance Car (yes, I know. Mines a diesel too...).

I might just have to keepan eye out for that. I have to say, after being a life long fan but never actually an owner of the Range Rover Classic, I now would not swap my P38 for one. Well, I might for a really tidy sorted one but I think that six months down the line I would probably end up selling it on and buying a tidy P38. They are just so better finished and less hassle.

Thanks for the replies, much appreciated.

I might be looking to get a spare set-up sometime in the future for a little project I have in mind.

I will be making sure that this fact is mentioned in my magazine article for september. So long as it makes it to print...

Hello folks,

Could someone please point me in the direction of the decent suppliers of the O-ring and Pump Seal kits? I know that there are numerous kits out there of dubious quality (fallen fowl of that in the past) but can't remember who the supplier of my last kits was that were actually fit for purpose.

Cheers for any help,

Smiler.

Ooh, that would be tempting. Pity I don't have time or space for another project.

Thanks for advice regarding the steering play.

The front discs were replaced about 10 months ago so I hope they aren't worn.

Didn't get chance to look yet as have been annoyingly busy all weekend sorting the house out.

Hello folks,

When braking from anything over 40mph I am getting shimying through the steering wheel. This has only just started happening.
I willget underneath and check all thefront bushes tomorrow afternoon but just thought I'd mention it on here in case it was a known symptom of a particular failure. If it where a BMW E34 then it would be the upper track control arms.
It has also highlighted some play in the steering which I need to locate (steering column splines or steering box).

Thanks in advance,

Smiler.

Aww nuts, missed a met. Oh well, it's my own fault for not coming on here for ages. Been busy with work and house and the P38 has been behaving splendidly.

The position of the top section of the body can also have an effect. If it has been disturbed it may need moving towards the back of the engine a smidge. But only a smidge as it is quite sensative. If you move it too far back you will find that the revs hang on the over-run.

Looks nice

Fingers crossed then. As I said, I'll give it time and see how it goes.

Interesting video, but not the same symptoms. I don't have any shimmy through the steering wheel. It just vibrates in tune with the rest of the vehicle.

I have had one new thought though, maybe I've broken an anti-oll bar link. Could it possibly be that the now free end of the anti-roll bar is vibrating at a naturual frequency at around 25mph? I'll try to get under there tomorrow.

Gilbertd wrote:

I was thinking maybe you had one and it had dropped off which was the cause of the vibration rather than suggesting you fit one.

I guessed that was what you meant, it wouldn't suddenly need one unless it had suddenly lost one. :)

Need to get it up on a lift and give the underside a good going over. Sadly the four post ramp I did have acces to is out of action.

Right, I am getting told that the diesel does and doesn't have a front harmonic balance weight fitted in equal measure. Anyone know for definite?

Also, replacing the steering damper has dulled the vibration a bit but not cured it. It has masked the symptom rather than reduced the cause.

Fitted the TerraFirma steering damper last night. The steering does feel a bit duller and has lost some of the self-centering. That may be because the original was duff but I preferred how it felt previously. I'll see how I get used to it.

Thanks for that, most informative. I have ordered the Terrafirma version in the hope it will be a 'fit and forget'purchase rather than a 'fit and hope for the best'. It was only £35 delivered so not exactly braking the bank.

Awesome, thanks. :)

Hello folks,

I belive that my steering damper is worn out. There are lots of replacements to choose from, tha majority being based on the original. However, for the same price as the standard type I can get one from terrafirma with a bogger tube and greater oil capacity. This sounds great for longivity but there is no mention of whether the loading as been increased. I belive that Terrafirma usualy make stuff for off-road use so will fitting one of these just make my steering feel heavier or does it only effect sharp inputs from the wheels hitting an obstacle such as when off-roading?