'93 RRC LWB - small problems

[roverthen]

I started driving the rangie to work yesterday. The biggest thing I found was that it wonders on the road a little but get really bad when the highway has truck grooves or indentations. I stop driving it today because of it. There are some vibrations that progress slightly with speed but it's not as bad as a broken or damage u-joint (went thru that with the DII). I'm thinking that might just be the wheels that need balancing. Here are a few other things going on. Maybe you guys can shed some light with a few things:

-Oil light blinks only for a few seconds at start up.

-Heater fan does not seem to work. I feel the heat from the dash but no air. The matrix seems to get hot coolant going thru. The fan only work when the AC is selected and fan speed on III (max). Any other combination does not work.

-When I activate the alarm, either by remote or door lock, it locks down and pops right up again. The alarm is still active. If you open any door it goes off.

Thanks

[OkieRover]

First thing.
How are you driving my Rover?
Mine does all of these things.

Originally Posted by roverthen

The biggest thing I found was that it wonders on the road a little but get really bad when the highway has truck grooves or indentations.

Bushings. And perhaps your steering damper. Most likely bushings.

Originally Posted by roverthen

-Oil light blinks only for a few seconds at start up.

No worries. Mine does the same thing.

Originally Posted by roverthen

-Heater fan does not seem to work. I feel the heat from the dash but no air. The matrix seems to get hot coolant going thru. The fan only work when the AC is selected and fan speed on III (max). Any other combination does not work.

Resistors in the fan have failed. There is a kit you can buy to fix it. The heat fan and the AC fan are separate.
Only AC will blow out the dash. Heat comes out of the windscreen vents and the floor.

Originally Posted by roverthen

-When I activate the alarm, either by remote or door lock, it locks down and pops right up again. The alarm is still active. If you open any door it goes off.

One of your door actuators is "weak". What I found on mine was the driver's front door lock mechanism was binding a bit. And when it can't go down it goes back up. This is also known as the "bouncing lock" problem. You need to figure out which lock is causing the problem. Then find out if it is binding or misadjusted or has a weak actuator. Bad news is the actuators are expensive.

Wow this could be a to do list for my 93 LWB.

[roverthen]

Great info!!!!!

Thanks! Eric, is that right?

[OkieRover]

Yep. I'm an Eric.

[daway]

hey,
about the steering:
check the t-rods boots to see if there not torn, allignment might need to be done and rotate/balance, steering damper. that helped out on my rrc and it rides straight. my rrc does the drift alittle (tiny) not much and my dad 91 does alittle to. i read that rrc's r known to gost alittle, but all road r so uneven etc.
heater:
the heat only goes through the floor and defrost holes on the top of dash and not through the center vents. http://www.roverparts.com/ProductLis...e=20&CurPage=4
here is a link to some parts that it could be. my dads rrc needed a new switch but that might b more w/ your rrc.

[daway]

sorry to give same info that okie said. boss walked in and had to close the screen!!! LOL!!!

[DevynsDad]

Yeah, that sounds a lot like my truck too. I changed the steering dampner on mine and it took care of the worst of the wander.

My locks work fine until it gets cold. If it is cold, all of them except the driver's door pop back up. Once the heater has warned up the interior, they work fine.

Since you just got your truck, be forewarned that you'll discover new nagging little problems that you would have never expected. It's part of the fun of owning an old Rover.

[Kevin88RRC]

Originally Posted by roverthen

The biggest thing I found was that it wonders on the road a little but get really bad when the highway has truck grooves or indentations.

Check the ball joint at the drop arm. After mine got replaced, it cleared up almost all of my wandering. Also, your swivel preload could be off.

[roverthen]

Thank you all for the input. Now I have plenty of work to do this weekend

[choffa@comcast.net]

A bit more reading on the steering:

http://www.rangerovers.net/rremedies.htm#shakes

Wandering is unfortunately a common problem, certainly not a razor sharp handling vehicle. Common parts as mentioned:
Pitman arm (steering box drop arm)
Bushings especially the panhard rod
Steering box backlash. Can be adjusted
Swivel ball preload, usually accompanied by the shakes
Unevenly worn tires, rotate them

Blower resistor is likely your heating fan problem. Can be replaced by going in through the air vent on passenger side just behind hood (bonnet in British speak). Tricky job, plastic remove grill, filter material, drill out pop rivets holding the filter bracket, then reach in with a small ratcheting right angle screwdriver. Wiring can be pulled through firewall just enough to disconnect the connector. Expect some cursing & skinned knuckles. Other way is to remove the cowl (scuttle in British speak), wipers off, screws along the sides & front edge, possibly need to take the hood off as well, I always went through the air vent (twice). Atlantic British's part is a nicely made upgrade. Be aware that your blower motor might be dying. This can cause high current draw & burn up the resistor (mine):

http://www.rangerovers.net/rremedies.htm#heatfan

Oil light blinking is "low oil level" not low oil pressure. There is a sensor in the side of the oil pan. If your level is OK, ignore it, or trouble shoot the sensor & the logic unit:

http://www.rangerovers.net/rremedies.htm#oilpress

Good luck,, I like the others have experienced all of these problems, some come & go.

[roverthen]

Originally Posted by choffa@comcast.net

A bit more reading on the steering:

http://www.rangerovers.net/rremedies.htm#shakes

Wandering is unfortunately a common problem, certainly not a razor sharp handling vehicle. Common parts as mentioned:
Pitman arm (steering box drop arm)
Bushings especially the panhard rod
Steering box backlash. Can be adjusted
Swivel ball preload, usually accompanied by the shakes
Unevenly worn tires, rotate them

Blower resistor is likely your heating fan problem. Can be replaced by going in through the air vent on passenger side just behind hood (bonnet in British speak). Tricky job, plastic remove grill, filter material, drill out pop rivets holding the filter bracket, then reach in with a small ratcheting right angle screwdriver. Wiring can be pulled through firewall just enough to disconnect the connector. Expect some cursing & skinned knuckles. Other way is to remove the cowl (scuttle in British speak), wipers off, screws along the sides & front edge, possibly need to take the hood off as well, I always went through the air vent (twice). Atlantic British's part is a nicely made upgrade. Be aware that your blower motor might be dying. This can cause high current draw & burn up the resistor (mine):

http://www.rangerovers.net/rremedies.htm#heatfan

Oil light blinking is "low oil level" not low oil pressure. There is a sensor in the side of the oil pan. If your level is OK, ignore it, or trouble shoot the sensor & the logic unit:

http://www.rangerovers.net/rremedies.htm#oilpress

Good luck,, I like the others have experienced all of these problems, some come & go.

Awesome man!

I looked at the suspension last night. It seems like I need to replace ALL the bushings. They looked dry and shrunk. I also pulled the spark plugs which looked very new. They where a little dirty, so I cleaned them up and put them back in. Quite a diffrence when I started it up again.

Tomorrow I'll take out the resistor and also the fan unit. I'm pretty sure the fan unit just need to be cleaned and lubed. I'll order a new resistor pack. As far as the oil light goes, I'll take a look at the sensor and clean it up.
The air suspension stopped working too. I already got springs just need to get perches/ spring seat to complete the conversion.

[daway]

the locks, the locks!! i have fun ones to!! i do not have the fob or alarm hooked up. funny thing is that sometimes they will all lock/unlock from the driver side key hole and sometimes they dont. other times they all do not open w/ the key hole. then i get in and start up the rrc and put the rig into rev. or drive then all the lock will unlock/lock or sometime if i press the window buttons they will do the samething! LOL!! the passager side key hole will only unlock put will not lock! the world of rrc's and lucas. my dad's has some funny things to. some day i will look at them but my next summer list is full! LOL! cruise control, headliner, shocks/springs, and some fun extras, roof rack, lights, and etc.

[OkieRover]

The headliner is just a day project. Stop wussing out.

[daway]

Originally Posted by OkieRover

The headliner is just a day project. Stop wussing out.

what! LOL! i was going to this summer but alot of things came up w/ my daughter and family. to much things going on. your lucky down their w/ weather compared to up here w/ 3 month of warm weather. i have so many things that i can do. i did alot this summer! i will get to it and i thank u for your tips and pic one your site they help out!!

one thing i will do differnt then u did w/ your headliner. i will fold the fabric in 1/2 long ways and start from the center and push outwards then do the other 1/2.
less chance of getting ripples.

[DevynsDad]

I don't know... Okie is pretty close to a little slice of Heaven called Lawton, Oklahoma. I was fortunate enough to spend some time (basic training) there, and it isn't exactly a tropical clime. It was actually pretty damn cold.

Oh, and Roverthen: This doesn't necessarily apply to the problems you have right now, but for everything else that goes wrong, always check the fuse first. One of the first things I bought to keep in my truck was a nice big assortment of spade fuses.