Help with 89 RRC!! - Land Rovers Only

Rinconman · 04-07-2006, 08:02 AM

I am looking at 89 RRC Country. I only looked at it in the dark last night, but I know that it has a broken back glass and back drivers side(door) glass. The paint is also faded pretty bad. The interior appeared to be in good shape, and it has 127,000 miles on it. I talked to the owner and he said that it ran like a champ, but I haven,t got to drive it yet. I was hoping that you RRC guys could help me out, what defects should I look for and what should I expect to pay. Also how much will I be looking at to fix the broken glass?

OkieRover · 04-07-2006, 08:53 AM

The fun and expensive head gasket replacement is the first one I'd mention.
The glass you can get from a number of places.
Rover Cannibal is my choice and they are in Oklahoma City.

Greg M · 04-07-2006, 12:41 PM

Go here www.rangerovers.net

Paul Grant · 04-07-2006, 09:32 PM

If you do buy the truck and need glass I have just about every pane you might need for a Range Rover Classic. You can contact me at:

paulgrant@mac.com

Good luck,
Paul

Funrover · 04-07-2006, 09:56 PM

Well....looks for rust in the rear hatch......head gaskets....power steering leaks... The web site mentioned above will tell all!!

RageRover · 04-07-2006, 10:17 PM

Yeah, and an upper tailgate, with the glass, is a common problem; it takes a good wiggle to open when you press the button.

Spraying some WD-40 into the latches, w/o getting anything else will free things up, it worked for me. The power locks might freeze on ya if the conditions are right.

Just my 2 cents.

Paul Grant · 04-08-2006, 06:22 AM

The trouble with the rear hatch not opening can be addressed two ways. First, there are two strikers mounted in the rear pillar and held in place with two screws. Sometimes, by moving those strikers ever so slightly, you can cure the problem. More like however, you will need to uncover the mechanism in the glass hatch itself. Once you do that you will see two adjustable rods on either end. Using two very small wrenches you can move these rods either out or in. If you experiment with moving them you will find that they will enable the hatch to secure and release itself from the strikers thus solving your sticking problem.

Paul Grant · 04-08-2006, 06:40 AM

I'm curious how much he wants for the truck. Is it running? I'm unsure whether it is or not. When you stated that he said it "ran like a champ" the past tense has be confused. Was he driving it until the two windows broke and then simply parked it?

If it's not running I wouldn't consider offering a penny over $500 for a non-running Rover. If it is running, what does the dash look like? What warning lights are on? If the EFI light's not on check under the passenger seat for the brown "Emissions Reminder" relay and make sure it's plugged in. There are so many things to check on a seventeen year old truck that the list would be endless.

If you buy the truck will you be doing all the maintenance? How handy are you with a welder? I only ask because I would be surprised it the sills on the truck aren't rotting. Also, the floors are probably shot unless the owner has already address the problem of all that nice soundproofing holding in all the water that likes to collect in these old trucks.

As I'm typing this I'm thinking of all the Range Rovers I have had my hands on over the years and the more I think, the more the number $1000 keeps coming to mind for an '89 that is a driver. It is important to remember that should you buy this truck for $1000 it is not really a $1000 truck to fix. The parts for a truck like this are still going to go at premium rates. That's why it is so important to pay as little as you can get away with upfront. The backside of Rover ownership can be rather steep.

I'm not trying to discourage you from buying one of these wonders of British engineering. I just want you to be aware that ownership of an old British luxury automobile can be very expensive. Really examine all aspects of this truck and your intended use. I love my current Range Rover and have, at times, loved all my other Rovers as well. But, they are not easy vehicles to own and do require a high level of commitment both financially and psychologically.

So, give us some more details on this truck so we can help you further with what to look for and what to lookout for as well.
Cheers,
Paul

Rinconman · 04-08-2006, 07:24 AM

Thanks guys, I am going to test drive it at 4:00 this afternoon. The owner says that it runs strong and is very tight. He said some kids broke the glass, and it is his 3rd vehicle and he didn't want to bother fixing it. My mechanic specalizes in imports, so maintance will not be as expensive and I am kinda good with wrenches myself. I will need to get a service manuel, how easy are they to find. I looked some parts up online and the head gasket sets are only like $100.00, but I see online that it costs like $2000 for the repairs?

He is asking $1500 for it, but I am gonna try to get it as cheap as possible. I don't know what the condition of the frame or other parts of the vehicle, but I am gonna take it for a few hours today and look it over good, if it didn't get blowed away yesterday here in North Mississippi. Thanks again for the help, I am torn between getting the RRC or an ol' FJ40 and restoring it, Both will be expensive, but the FJ's that I've looked at for $1500-$2500, you can bet that they are rusted out and not running. So I think the RRC is the way to go.

04-07-2006, 08:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
Rinconman Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 7 Gallery: 0	Help with 89 RRC!! I am looking at 89 RRC Country. I only looked at it in the dark last night, but I know that it has a broken back glass and back drivers side(door) glass. The paint is also faded pretty bad. The interior appeared to be in good shape, and it has 127,000 miles on it. I talked to the owner and he said that it ran like a champ, but I haven,t got to drive it yet. I was hoping that you RRC guys could help me out, what defects should I look for and what should I expect to pay. Also how much will I be looking at to fix the broken glass?

04-07-2006, 12:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
Greg M Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Boise ID Posts: 219 Gallery: 0	Go here www.rangerovers.net __________________ Greg M 1987 RRC Rovers haven't made it to the far reaches of the Earth worrying about warning lights.

04-07-2006, 10:17 PM	#6 (permalink)
RageRover Crazy about Rovers and more... Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Westland, MI Posts: 2,889 Gallery: 0	Yeah, and an upper tailgate, with the glass, is a common problem; it takes a good wiggle to open when you press the button. Spraying some WD-40 into the latches, w/o getting anything else will free things up, it worked for me. The power locks might freeze on ya if the conditions are right. Just my 2 cents. __________________ Pat Albaugh, Midwest Moderator "Diffage" -the point at which the truck's differential makes contact with the ground. http://www.cardomain.com/id/RageRover42Visit my RRC and others here!(updated as of September 15, 2006) 1995 RRC LWB -LT265/75R16 Pathfinder All Terrains -RTE 2" Lift Springs -Pro Comp ES9000 Shocks (from DAP Enterprises) -KMC Front Diff Guard -4 Desert Fox 55 watt Lighting -Radio Shack CB Radio (never know when signal fails on a cell phone) -2 Halogen Super Sport 100 watt forward lights -Custom slim style front bumper w/ integrated bull bar -Lowe's Special "Homemade" Snorkel -T-Case out of an 92' RRC

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04-07-2006, 09:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
Paul Grant Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: CT Posts: 941 Gallery: 0	If you do buy the truck and need glass I have just about every pane you might need for a Range Rover Classic. You can contact me at: paulgrant@mac.com Good luck, Paul

04-08-2006, 06:22 AM	#7 (permalink)
Paul Grant Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: CT Posts: 941 Gallery: 0	The trouble with the rear hatch not opening can be addressed two ways. First, there are two strikers mounted in the rear pillar and held in place with two screws. Sometimes, by moving those strikers ever so slightly, you can cure the problem. More like however, you will need to uncover the mechanism in the glass hatch itself. Once you do that you will see two adjustable rods on either end. Using two very small wrenches you can move these rods either out or in. If you experiment with moving them you will find that they will enable the hatch to secure and release itself from the strikers thus solving your sticking problem.

04-08-2006, 06:40 AM	#8 (permalink)
Paul Grant Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: CT Posts: 941 Gallery: 0	I'm curious how much he wants for the truck. Is it running? I'm unsure whether it is or not. When you stated that he said it "ran like a champ" the past tense has be confused. Was he driving it until the two windows broke and then simply parked it? If it's not running I wouldn't consider offering a penny over $500 for a non-running Rover. If it is running, what does the dash look like? What warning lights are on? If the EFI light's not on check under the passenger seat for the brown "Emissions Reminder" relay and make sure it's plugged in. There are so many things to check on a seventeen year old truck that the list would be endless. If you buy the truck will you be doing all the maintenance? How handy are you with a welder? I only ask because I would be surprised it the sills on the truck aren't rotting. Also, the floors are probably shot unless the owner has already address the problem of all that nice soundproofing holding in all the water that likes to collect in these old trucks. As I'm typing this I'm thinking of all the Range Rovers I have had my hands on over the years and the more I think, the more the number $1000 keeps coming to mind for an '89 that is a driver. It is important to remember that should you buy this truck for $1000 it is not really a $1000 truck to fix. The parts for a truck like this are still going to go at premium rates. That's why it is so important to pay as little as you can get away with upfront. The backside of Rover ownership can be rather steep. I'm not trying to discourage you from buying one of these wonders of British engineering. I just want you to be aware that ownership of an old British luxury automobile can be very expensive. Really examine all aspects of this truck and your intended use. I love my current Range Rover and have, at times, loved all my other Rovers as well. But, they are not easy vehicles to own and do require a high level of commitment both financially and psychologically. So, give us some more details on this truck so we can help you further with what to look for and what to lookout for as well. Cheers, Paul

04-08-2006, 07:24 AM	#9 (permalink)
Rinconman Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 7 Gallery: 0	Thanks guys, I am going to test drive it at 4:00 this afternoon. The owner says that it runs strong and is very tight. He said some kids broke the glass, and it is his 3rd vehicle and he didn't want to bother fixing it. My mechanic specalizes in imports, so maintance will not be as expensive and I am kinda good with wrenches myself. I will need to get a service manuel, how easy are they to find. I looked some parts up online and the head gasket sets are only like $100.00, but I see online that it costs like $2000 for the repairs? He is asking $1500 for it, but I am gonna try to get it as cheap as possible. I don't know what the condition of the frame or other parts of the vehicle, but I am gonna take it for a few hours today and look it over good, if it didn't get blowed away yesterday here in North Mississippi. Thanks again for the help, I am torn between getting the RRC or an ol' FJ40 and restoring it, Both will be expensive, but the FJ's that I've looked at for $1500-$2500, you can bet that they are rusted out and not running. So I think the RRC is the way to go.

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