2004 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER

Typical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi

Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (1+ quart per 1,000 miles), Cold-start smoke (blue-white) that clears after warmup, Loss of compression in multiple cylinders, Rough idle and misfires that worsen over time, Metal shavings in oil during analysis

Fix: Early M62 blocks used Nikasil bore coating that degrades with high-sulfur fuel. Repair requires complete short block replacement or engine rebuild with Alusil-lined block. Figure 35-45 labor hours for block swap, plus machine work if rebuilding. Many shops won't touch it—you're looking at a specialist or replacement with later Alusil engine.

Estimated cost: $8,000-15,000

Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi

Symptoms: Coolant loss with no visible external leaks, White smoke from exhaust on cold start, Coolant smell from vents, Milky oil if leak progresses to catastrophic failure, Overheating in severe cases

Fix: The plastic coolant crossover pipe (valley pan) between cylinder heads cracks and leaks coolant into the valley, sometimes into the crankcase. Requires intake manifold removal to access. 12-16 hours labor. While you're in there, replace all coolant hoses and thermostat housings—they're 20 years old and you don't want to do this twice.

Estimated cost: $2,500-4,000

Typical onset: 90,000-130,000 mi

Symptoms: Shudder during 3rd-4th gear lockup at 40-50 mph, Transmission slipping under load, Metal debris in transmission pan, Fluid leaks at cooler line connections, Check engine light with torque converter clutch codes

Fix: The ZF 5HP24 transmission's torque converter clutch material delaminates and contaminates the entire system. Proper repair means transmission removal, full rebuild with new torque converter, and flushing all cooler lines—some shops replace the external cooler too. The cooler lines themselves are known leak points. 18-24 hours for full service.

Estimated cost: $4,500-7,000

Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi

Symptoms: Vehicle sagging at one or more corners after sitting, Suspension fault warning on dash, Compressor running constantly (audible under vehicle), Inability to raise or lower ride height, Harsh ride quality when bags deflate

Fix: Air springs develop leaks at the bellows or mounting points; compressor wears from overwork. Single bag replacement is 2-3 hours per corner. Compressor itself is 4-5 hours due to location under the vehicle. Smart move: if one bag fails after 80k, replace all four and the compressor together—they're all the same age. Some owners convert to coil springs ($1,500-2,000) to escape the cycle.

Estimated cost: $1,200-3,500

Symptoms: Intermittent no-start with multiple warning lights, Windows, locks, or sunroof operating randomly, Phantom battery drain (dead battery after 2-3 days), Instrument cluster warnings that come and go, HVAC blower or climate control malfunctions

Fix: Water intrusion through sunroof drains or windshield cowl corrodes connectors and modules. The BCM under the passenger seat is especially vulnerable. Diagnosis is time-consuming (3-6 hours) because symptoms are intermittent. Fixing may involve BCM replacement and repinning corroded harness sections. Clear sunroof drains every oil change—they clog with debris and overflow into the cabin.

Estimated cost: $800-2,500

Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi

Symptoms: Clunking from underneath during acceleration or deceleration, Vibration at highway speeds (55-70 mph), Squeaking or chirping during low-speed turns, Visible grease spray on underbody, Play in driveshaft when checking underneath

Fix: The front driveshaft has a center support bearing and multiple U-joints that wear out. Some can be replaced individually (2-3 hours labor), but often the entire driveshaft assembly is replaced because pressed U-joints are difficult to source and install correctly. This was subject to a recall but many vehicles never got the repair.

Estimated cost: $600-1,200

Typical onset: 90,000+ mi

Symptoms: Erratic idle speed (hunting between 500-1,200 rpm), Stalling when coming to a stop, Hesitation on initial throttle application, High idle that doesn't drop, Check engine light with idle control codes

Fix: The throttle body bushings wear and the idle air control valve carbons up or fails electrically. Throttle body removal and cleaning sometimes helps temporarily (1.5 hours), but replacement of the ICV or entire throttle body is often needed. While it's off, clean the intake tract—these engines build up significant carbon deposits.

Estimated cost: $400-900