Hi everyone, a real beginner here. I've had my eye on a Disco II for a while now and I finally found one I wanted to test drive. I'm aware of the main issues with this car (rickety drive shaft, overheating, lots of preventative maintenance) and I'm planning to execute DiscoMike's recommended high-mileage maintenance. I'm looking forward to learning to repair stuff as I go, but obviously I want to avoid anything catastrophic. This particular vehicle is a 2004 with 96k miles on it, selling for around $5,000. It looks to have been reasonably well-maintained, with the usual electrical/window/gasket replacements having been done. It has a cigarette smell to it (which my wife hates), but the interior is otherwise good. If the indy inspection doesn't turn up anything major, I'm willing to go for it.
It drove well with no rumble in the steering column. No engine tapping or knocking. No drips. No sign of oil splattering under the hood. My wife thought there was a faint burning smell coming from it, but it didn't seem that out of the ordinary to me.
The only problem I encountered was difficulty with the transfer box. I managed to get it stuck with the CDL on. I'm assuming it's stuck from not getting much use. I maaay have tried to lock the diff while stopped with my foot on the brake but still in Drive. I then remembered to put it in Neutral. Would this have harmed it? The dealership (Toyota) couldn't get the CDL off, either.
My question is, how serious is this CDL problem, how expensive to fix, and should it scare me away from this car if the inspection doesn't turn up anything else?
It drove well with no rumble in the steering column. No engine tapping or knocking. No drips. No sign of oil splattering under the hood. My wife thought there was a faint burning smell coming from it, but it didn't seem that out of the ordinary to me.
The only problem I encountered was difficulty with the transfer box. I managed to get it stuck with the CDL on. I'm assuming it's stuck from not getting much use. I maaay have tried to lock the diff while stopped with my foot on the brake but still in Drive. I then remembered to put it in Neutral. Would this have harmed it? The dealership (Toyota) couldn't get the CDL off, either.
My question is, how serious is this CDL problem, how expensive to fix, and should it scare me away from this car if the inspection doesn't turn up anything else?