2001 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY

Typical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi

Symptoms: White smoke from exhaust on cold start, Coolant loss with no external leaks, Overheating despite new thermostat and water pump, Rough idle and misfires that worsen over time, Coolant contamination in oil (milky dipstick)

Fix: The Rover V8 uses pressed-in cylinder liners that slip when overheated, allowing coolant into combustion chambers. Only real fix is short block replacement or engine rebuild with top-hat liners. Expect 25-35 hours labor for engine R&R and rebuild.

Estimated cost: $4,500-8,000

Typical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi

Symptoms: External coolant leaks at block deck surface, Overheating under load or highway speeds, Bubbles in coolant reservoir, Combustion gases in cooling system (failed block test), Loss of power and rough running

Fix: Often misdiagnosed early-stage liner slip, but gaskets do fail independently. Both heads must come off (book time ~18-22 hours). Always pressure-test block for liner movement before reassembly or you'll do it twice. Include timing chain components while you're in there.

Estimated cost: $2,800-4,200

Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi

Symptoms: Plastic thermostat housing cracks and dumps coolant, Water pump bearing failure with grinding noise, Radiator tank separation (plastic end tanks crack), Heater core leaks soaking passenger carpet, Hose connections brittle and snap off

Fix: The entire cooling system is a time bomb of plastic components. Do it all at once: radiator, water pump, thermostat housing, all hoses, expansion tank. Heater core requires full dash removal (12-15 hours). Cooling repairs are when—not if.

Estimated cost: $1,200-2,500 (not including heater core at $1,800-2,800)

Typical onset: Any mileage—age and heat cycles

Symptoms: ATF puddle under front of vehicle, Trans temp warning light illuminates, Slipping or harsh shifts when hot, Pink milkshake in coolant if internal cooler fails

Fix: Steel lines rust through where they pass near exhaust; internal radiator cooler can also fail mixing ATF and coolant (engine killer). Replace external lines and add external trans cooler. If coolant contaminated, flush trans immediately (6-8 hours for full service and lines). NHTSA recall addressed some cooler issues but not all years.

Estimated cost: $600-1,400

Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi

Symptoms: Vehicle sags to bump stops overnight or after sitting, Compressor runs constantly with loud cycling, Suspension warning light illuminated, Uneven ride height side-to-side, Compressor thermal shutdown in hot weather

Fix: Air bags crack, compressor wears out from constant cycling, and valve block leaks. Many owners convert to coil springs ($800-1,200 kit plus 6-8 hours labor). Replacing compressor and all four bags runs similar cost but you'll do it again. Valve block rebuild adds another $400-600.

Estimated cost: $1,800-3,200 (OEM air) or $1,400-2,000 (coil conversion)

Typical onset: Any mileage

Symptoms: ABS, traction control, and hill descent lights on together, No ABS function (brakes work normally otherwise), Intermittent or permanent illumination, Sometimes triggered by battery disconnect or low voltage

Fix: Usually wheel speed sensor corrosion (front sensors most common) or failing ABS shuttle valve switch. Sensor replacement is 1-2 hours per corner, shuttle valve switch is dealer part requiring shuttle valve removal (3-4 hours). Can also be wiring harness chafe. Diagnostics critical—don't parts-cannon this one.

Estimated cost: $200-800

Typical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi

Symptoms: Grinding or binding in tight turns on dry pavement, Center diff lock won't engage or disengage, Clunking from center of vehicle on deceleration, Transfer case locked in 4WD mode, Metal shavings in transfer case fluid

Fix: Viscous coupling in center diff wears and locks up, or CDL mechanism fails. Requires transfer case R&R and rebuild or replacement. Book time 8-10 hours. If driven with binding diff, can damage transmission or front diff. Regular fluid changes (every 30k) help but don't prevent forever.

Estimated cost: $2,200-3,800