Buying a D-90

[thug1313]

What should I look for on a potential purchase?

Stats:
Tricked-out 1995 D-90 hard top with 83,000 miles, V-8, 5 speed, AC plus brush guards, CD player, fog lights, etc.

Main concern: the mileage. Everything else looks well cared for. I test drive it this Thursday, May 13th. I'd love tips, advice, assurances. Been looking to own one for awhile and feel this is 'the one'. I'm ready to pull the trigger on it, after several other disappointing D-90 auctions. :confused

[bugula]

don't be worried about mileage...while not spectacular, 83k on a '95 is definitely not bad.

the best advice anyone could give you would be to have any 90 checked out by a mechanic/shop that knows the model before you purchase it.

also, think about what you want out of it as that might dictate whether you buy a rig that's already built or find a stocker that you can easily turn into what you want.

[TwisteD90]

Rust, and oil leaks.

Good luck :)

[thug1313]

Thanks for the tips!
I saw it, drove it and bought it. The odometer read high because of the larger diameter tires. It had tiny rust spots around the bolts that attach the external roll cage. The rear door's hinges had rust too. I can replace those in time. Screw it, I'm a Defender owner now!
I'll have it home Tuesday. Pictures soon.

[Mike Hippert]

Congratulations!:toast

[Burke]

Congrats Brian, you won't regret it!

[ronward]

Actually, larger diameter tires will make the odometer and speedometer read low.

[thug1313]

Well, I should have known about the tires.

So anyway, I went to pick up the '95 and the guy couldn't get it started. He parked it after I test drove it (for 5 days). He went to crank it to bring it to me at our meeting spot and it fired up for about 10 seconds and then it died. His local mechanic buddy came by and said it was getting spark but no gas. Hmmmmmmm. They towed it to his shop. Still awaiting the word about what is wrong.

Did it run out of gas? No.
Fuel Pump? Working fine, I'm told.
Fuel injectors clogged? Don't know.
Fuel Filter blocked? Don't know.
Fuse blown somewhere? Probably not.
Vapor Lock? Who Knows?

This guy (the seller) is a straight-shooter and I believe him when he says he has had no trouble in the 2 1/2 years he has owned it. He's not very mechanical, though. So I'm viewing this as a 'hiccup' in my future as a D-90 owner. But it is so very frustrating.

Now I will go back a third time to try to get my Rover when it's fixed. I feel I should now take it to a place and run a full diagnostics on it. What does anyone think?

[ELCIDd90]

Brian,

has it rained up there recently? Has he done any mudding with it? The EFI is real finicky with moisture and this might be the problem.

Ft. Campbell - are you with the 101st?

[Campbell]

I thought larger tires makes the speedo fast which in turn makes the milage higher?

[ronward]

You know, you are right on that. The speedo does run higher than it should, therefore the odo will read high. Sorry, my bad, I was too quick to jump to that conclussion.

[Mike Hippert]

A taller tire will have a larger Circumference. A 31" tire has a 97" Circumference, so it takes about 653 rotations to go 1 mile. A 35" tire has a Circumference of 109", so it takes about 581 rotations to go one mile. Your speedo is set up to adjust for the stock tire size. When you increase the tire size you travel more distance in one rotation thus the speedometer reads slower then you are actually going and the odometer also reads low.

[Mike Hippert]

My explination may not be as clear as mud so lets look at it more simply. Your speedo has a gear reduction in it, At stock its 653 to 1. 653 turns on the input = 1 turn on the output (every 653 turns of the tire = 1 mile on the odometer) . So when you put a 35" tire on by the time the tire turns 653 times it has traveled 1.12 miles but the speedo only reads 1 mile (653/581, or 35/31). Or when the speedo reads 65 mph you are really going 73mph.

Clear as mud yet?

[thug1313]

Still waiting! Rover is in line to get fixed. Hopefully pick up on Saturday.

Thanks for all the math on the odo/speedo. Quite a discussion I stimulated.

To Joe Z: Not in 101st.

[evilfij]

Odds are ECU or fuel pump relay.

Relays are a very very common failure. So much so I used to keep them on the shelf at work. Spendy for a relay. If it is the ECU I have a spare on the shelf I could sell you rather than buying new $$$$.

Ron

[ronward]

Well I'm not sure at all about the speedo running slower or faster on my 255's after thinking about it too much. Guess I'll get in and go for a drive with the GPS on today...

[Mike Hippert]

Ron, Even more smiple, 4 seepding tickets and 6 different cops can't be wrong.

[thug1313]

Well, my seller has towed the D-90 to a different mechanic who speaks Rover. He diagnosed the non-starting to a bad 'EMC'. The other guy just couldn't get to it. Time down the drain.
I don't know what that means, but I am trying to diagnose it from 150 miles away. So I'll have to take their word for it. Bottom line is I still haven't picked up my D-90 yet. I'm trying to keep a smile on, but I'm into the 2nd week of waiting. It's frustrating.

My wife thinks I should go down there and tow it to my house and work on it myself. But I am trying to be patient. The seller wants it to be squared away for me to drive it home 100% fixed. I reluctantly agree with that policy. The EMC sounded expensive, and FEDEX takes 2 days to get it out to these back country fellows. They live out in the sticks apparently.

So I am still waiting. Maybe this weekend? Updates soon!

Happy Memorial Day to all!

[evilfij]

I have a spare ECU if you are in need. I could get it fedexed to you. They are CRAZY money new. $1800 and up.

Ron

evilfij (at) yahoo.com

[Doug]

I just bought a used 14CUX from a dismantler in FL named RoverLand (not RoversLand). $250.00 I was told by RPI that the 14CUX will work on a wide range of Defenders, Discos and RRs prior to the GEMS system that is in the 97 D90 and other LR models. I bought the CUX to replace my 14CU in the 93 110, because the 14CU cannot be re-chipped, whereas the 14CUX can. The differences for the various years and models are all controlled by other chips, resistors and parts that are outside the ECU, but tied in somewhere in each model's wiring harnesses.

Just FYI. According to the experts in the UK, there is also no mystique about changing out ECUs. Read David HardCastle's book about 'Tuning Rover V8s', and he says that they are really simple little boxes that can be unplugged, changed and moved about just like most other automotive parts.

My 2 cents.

DW

DW

[evilfij]

Does your 14CU have the rev limiter?

Ron

[Doug]

Indeed it does. Humm, come to think of it, that's an issue. The TVR is supposed to be able to climb over 6500, but I'll never see that without a work-around.

[Mike Hippert]

Brian, how did he figure it was the ECU? And if he's willing to pay to get it fixed for you I say let him!

[Eric Siepmann]

Sounds prudent. Then take it to a mechanic versed in all thing rover and have it gone over very carefully.

EwS