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A look back at the 1999-2004 Land Rover Discovery: a modern classic SUV - Newark Classic cars
According towards the 1999 land Rover Discovery II brochure, "Since 1948, land Rover offers produced purpose-built vehicles in which thrive within the most challenging circumstances imaginable. This specific isn't an idle boast. Terrain Rover vehicles are already the backbone of major expeditions to the many remote corners with the globe. Equally important, each day they offer his or her owners along with loyal along with faithful service within circumstances as attempting as a muddly area or maybe a crowded city street. This particular year's introduction regarding the new Discovery Series II...reflects the experience, care, as well as integrity in which certainly are a part of each Territory Rover".

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Land Rover USA

Perfect prose to complement the actual British marque's mid-range Discovery model, developed to be the bridge between your manufacturer's utilitarian Defender and also prestigious Range Rover models. Searching to construct about the cult subsequent of the first-generation Discovery (1990-99 model years) along with boost its revenue appeal, land Rover widened the newest Discovery's monitor (using wider axles in the 1996 Range Rover) along with increased its overall duration by simply 6 inches for you to enable optional forward-facing third row seats. (see slideshow regarding picture)

second generation Discoveries were badged as "Discovery IIs", as well as offered alongside the actual original Discovery (both as '99 models) until production lines were fully changed over. Although Terrain Rover have been purchased by simply BMW inside 1994 (subsequently marketed for you to Ford inside 2000), progression of the Discovery II was left mostly to be able to British hands using a couple of exceptions. Pricing involving base model Discoverys had been kept competitive along with fully-loaded Ford Explorers.

Discovery II styling has been evolutionary as well as although the business claimed 85% of all parts had been new, it retained your squared-off profile, tall height, sunroofs, bumped up roofline, along with overall believe clients liked about the Discovery I. body panels were stamped from rust-free aluminum for as well long life inside salt- as well as humidity-filled environments.

Standard features about almost all U.S. models 1999-2004 included normal full time 4-wheel-drive system using high- and also low-range gear selector, electronic traction control that will braked individual wheels for you to steer clear of spin along with restore lost grip, a Hill Descent control button that will employed the actual automatic braking when descending steep hills inside Reduced Range mode, 4-wheel antilock disc brakes, dual front airbags, 4-speed automatic transmission, and also V8 engine.

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"Modern classic" applies for the Discovery. Although sophisticated, engineering can be decidedly outdated school. Sound front along with rear axles (rigid beam) are used rather than more modern impartial suspensions along with multiple back links and also control arms. Although the actual motor block is aluminum, it's fundamental style just isn't modern overhead camshaft design. Entire Body panels are created from rust-free aluminum, yet attached with a steel body underneath mounted into a separate ladder-frame chassis. Although these few examples may seem similar to drawbacks, on the Discovery that they work. Classic truck suspensions, body-on-frame design, worm-and-roller steering, pushrod V8 engines almost all actually add simplicity as well as durability.

Options Regarding Note upon most 1999-2004 Discoverys:

- Forward facing third row seats along with integrated seat belts had been optional on all trim levels. Through model year 2001-on when Discoverys were separated straight into three trim ranges (SD, SE, HSE, etc), a new "7" in the model designation indicated the vehicle had been built using the added seats. With Regard To example, an "SE7" would feature seating with regard to seven, an "SE" would not. 7-passenger models most feature any rear step beneath the rear bumper about the driver's facet (see slide display for picture).

- Rear Self Leveling Suspension ("SLS" wink replaced regular coil springs inside the rear for air bellow bags in each side. while these smooth out ride quality and allow the driver to adjust the actual ride height manually, air suspension techniques are complex, failure susceptible as well as costly to repair. to remove air-ride shocks and also swap throughout metal coil springs is not overly labor intensive, and many owners have done so. you can tell in case a Discovery is really equipped by the existence or absence of the button using a drawing associated http://www.tyrecheckers.com.au/61-wheel-nut-indicators-flat-version.html with an up arrow from the rear wheels (see slide demonstrate with regard to picture). SLS ended up being normal about most 2003-04 HSE models, and has been equipped upon the majority of 7-passenger Discoverys from 1999-02.

- Active Cornering Enhancement ("ACE" wink utilized a new separate hydraulic pump set up of normal metal anti-roll bars to reduce body lean about corners. This option is better avoided for your exact same purpose as self-leveling suspension above. The Particular product is quite complex, adding the tank, multiple lines, a pump, manage block and a pair of acceleration sensors (one more than the front interior light, the other beneath the body for the proper close to with the A-pillar). ACE had been regular about 2003-04 HSE models, optional in almost all else.

- Winter Package. This kind of features a heated front windshield, heated front seats, plus a heated washer squirt system. the heated front windshield functions extremely well and is worth its weight inside gold in the event you are living in the cold climate.

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CHANGES EACH MODEL YEAR AFTER 1999

2000 sad Ford purchases Territory Rover coming from BMW this year)

-An integrated digital compass is additional towards the rearview mirror this year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piFCJiZp1fI

2002:

-The '01 "LE" model ended up being gone, leaving just the base SD as well as midline SE editions that have got been basically unchanged via '01.

-A limited-production Kalahari off-road edition went on sale later on in the year.

2003:the model 12 months on most noteable changes.

-The 4.0-liter V8 engine was given any lengthier piston stroke, escalating measured displacement in order to 4.6 liters as well as horsepower through 188 to 217. Torque in addition increased through 250 in order to 300 foot-pounds.

-Headlights were restyled to complement the style with the new-for-'03 Range Rover, featuring a couple of round "projector beam" lights. Since the headlight assemblies themselves did not alter size as well as shape, it's relatively simple to retrofit '03-'04 right straight into a 1999-'02 model.

-Grilles as well as front bumpers had been restyled, along with rear flip signal lights were relocated in the bumper for the high-mounted taillight assemblies, displacing the reverse lights down for the bumper location (see images in slide show).

-Model designations changed as well. the base model "SD" took more than as "S", and "SE" models remained unchanged. due in order to growing popularity amongst wealthy buyers, a manufacturer new "HSE" model was introduced with more features regular (DVD, navigation) plus a higher cost compared to virtually any Discovery previously. Because before, any "7" after all virtually any model designation indicated the car was equipped with just about all the third-row seat option. A New rear-obstacle-detection system has been new as well as exclusive for the HSE.

-Base models (now called "S" as opposed to "SD" wink no more received just about any badging in front fenders the way "SD"s formerly did. As in prior years, front bumpers had been totally unpainted upon base models.

2004:

-Roof rack rails found above both front doors were beefed up from thin strips to thick round metal tubes (see slide display pertaining to contrasting pictures) - visibly the easiest method to tell an '04 through an '03.

-200 limited-edition G4 Edition models were produced, named after the Territory Rover sponsored off-road challenge. G4s are painted orange with blue stripes over the side, as well as feature self-leveling air suspension, any front bumper protector bar, a new rear access ladder, and taillight brush guards.

-The "V8" logo previously found about the passenger aspect of the tailgate since 1999 disappeared. Most other nomenclature letters went coming from being flat two-dimensional for you to 3-D bas relief.

-'04s were the only model yr involving Series IIs equipped having a Central Differential Lock activation lever (see above section in differential locks).

OF NOTE:

-Oil pump failures in 2003 Discovery Series II 4.6-liter V8 engines.

According into a factory bulletin, "vehicles along with VIN numbers between 3A771801 in order to 3A808362 (last 8 digits) could get oil pumps that will fall short as any outcome of manufacturing error. Locating dowel pins might become slightly misaligned permitting assembly with the oil pump for the engine block, nevertheless placing tension on the pump housing which could ultimately lead to leakage as well as failure. Anytime an oil pump failure will be encountered upon vehicles inside the aforementioned VIN range the only efficient repair available today is replacement of the complete motor assembly such as the leading cover/oil pump manufactured for the latest tolerances."

The upside is each '03 motor affected by simply this flaw suffered the particular oil pump difficulty within the initial 10,000 miles. Therefore every engine had been replaced already. According to 1 Property Rover service manager, "There has been absolutely nothing wrong with most the motors from all, it absolutely was just the timing cover. While Rover ran out of motors, they will told us to merely place timing covers on the motors if the motor was turned off as quickly since the pump failed. land Rover in no way known as for your previous motors back, so alot in the motors that people removed had been repaired with a new timing deal with and also immediately place into technicians' personal cars. Consequently if you look for a 1999-02 Discovery having a 4.6 within loose wheel nut indicator it, odds are it's an '03 motor that blew up with a new timing protect installed."

Front Driveshaft Failure:

The driveshaft running from the middle all-wheel-drive transfer case for the front axle is actually prone to become able to failure, and flying apart from high rpms. due into a design flaw, your u-joints (they allow the shaft for you to flex inside a distinct direction although rotating) haven't any provision for adding lubrication. eventually the joints use coming from lack of lubrication, and also falter in speed. While this happens, the still-spinning shaft which can be no more secured flays about loose along with usually drills a dent inside the facet with the automatic transmission housing. Requiring replacement in the transmission in excellent expense.

The preventative fix with regard to this is in order to purchase a rebuilt or even aftermarket shaft using much better designed u-joints with nipples designed to accept periodic lubrication from the grease gun. A New front axle shaft that's getting ready to break will exhibit a new chirping sound whilst rotating, akin in order to "angry sparrows". owners hearing this would pull over immediately along with tow the vehicle to some mechanic shop in order to steer clear of a huge repair bill.

Locking center Differential:

A center all-wheel-drive differential usually enables a few slippage therefore front along with rear driveshafts may turn in various speeds as needed in your course of regular driving. In Order To "lock" a middle differential indicates to end up being able to literally lock the front as well as rear driveshafts together, forcing them to rotate with the same speed sending equal power to the front and also rear axles. This specific feature is invaluable for obtaining out of deep mud or even snow in which usually a non-locking middle diff would allow wheelspin infinitum.

To save production costs, BMW bosses took several shortcuts on this item. Whilst locking middle diffs remained fitted for you to 1999 in order to early '01 Discoverys, the in-cabin lever to always be able to function it absolutely was left off your vehicle. BMW studies showed land Rover has been losing money once they bought the brand name in the mid-1990s, along with in which drivers in their target expansion marketplace (United States) never took their own SUVs off road. so in order to save production expense upon each along with every vehicle, your shift lever assembly has been removed. However, despite the extremely fact that the actual lever for you to activate the locking diff has been gone, it may still be switched about by simply climbing underneath the vehicle along with utilizing a wrench to turn a nut together with the actual transfer case 90 degrees

In the middle of model-year '01 via 2003, they will went one step further as well as removed the actual locking differential altogether since the actual shift lever was lacking anyway.

While the actual electronic braking techniques worked really effectively, these people didn't supply the identical level of manage along with smooth operation as vehicles fitted using the diff lock. customer demand finally led Territory Rover management to become able to reinstate the particular locking differential in 2004 models along with for that very first time on a Discovery II, install a real lever in order to operate it. Consequently '04s were the just real model yr with this feature completely equipped standard in each vehicle, increasing their particular worth for you to off-roaders along with hard core fanatics alike.

"What would you call any Property Rover that doesn't leak?"

This joke informed amongst Discovery owners and mechanics could be answered with the word "Empty." Whilst Discovery strengths are now being well-built along with retaining solid physique integrity for a fantastic deal of miles and years, its Achilles heel may become the above-average tendency pertaining to fluids in order to leak. Oil leaks are common coming from valve deal with gaskets, rear major seal among engine along with transmission, as well as in the oil pan seal itself. Radiators and cylinder head gaskets are typical resources regarding coolant leaks. And Also yes the center differential case, axle differential housings front rear, power steering lines pump will eventually all leak too. The Majority Of mechanical problems about Discoverys arise coming from not necessarily catching leaks in time.

At this point, even the actual newest Discoverys are very out of warranty. Three-year leases to end up being able to soccer moms get extended since expired, along with dwindling folks very own all of them through accident anymore. The Majority Of 1999-04s been employed by his or her method in to be able to the hands associated with those that desire them as well as appreciate them with regard to their particular fun-to-drive truckish demeanor, old-school mechanical layout, styling, and/or off-road usefulness. Following investing in a three-year-old '04 SE7, I get located it among probably the particular most rewarding cars I've at any kind of time owned. Nevertheless they aren't with regard to everybody. In case you're trying to purchase one, Discoverys are like Ferraris - maintenance records count regarding everything! Don't buy one in case a person are certainly not mechanically inclined...or ready to create the particular financial committment involving effectively keeping the vehicle. Acquire one without having documentation from your own risk. Locate the good one together with records along with treat it right, you will be capable of sell it off regarding much associated with everything you compensated pertaining to it.

TO SEE OTHER ARTICLES WRITTEN BY THIS AUTHOR, CLICK HERE http://www.examiner.com/classic-cars-in-newark/sean-connor





 
 
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