1991 ROLLS-ROYCE CORNICHE

Typical onset: any mileage, age-related

Symptoms: Brake pedal sinks to floor after sitting overnight, Rear suspension drops to bump stops when parked, Hydraulic fluid puddles under center of car (green LHM fluid), Warning lights for brakes or suspension on dash

Fix: Brake accumulators (two) fail from internal diaphragm rupture; rear suspension spheres leak. Requires specialized high-pressure hydraulic tools and system bleed. 6-10 hours labor depending on components replaced.

Estimated cost: $2,800-5,500

Typical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi

Symptoms: Transmission fluid dripping from radiator area or bellhousing, Slipping or delayed engagement after warm-up, Milky pink fluid in transmission pan (coolant contamination), Overheating transmission in traffic or towing

Fix: Factory cooler inside radiator fails, mixing ATF with coolant and destroying transmission. External aftermarket cooler installation mandatory. If contamination occurred, transmission rebuild required. Cooler replacement alone: 3-4 hours; full transmission rebuild adds 12-16 hours.

Estimated cost: $800-1,200 (cooler only), $4,500-7,500 (with transmission rebuild)

Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi

Symptoms: Oil pooling on top of bellhousing and transmission, Smoke from exhaust manifolds after highway driving, Drips on garage floor after overnight parking, Low oil warnings despite regular top-ups (1 qt per 500-800 mi)

Fix: Valley pan gasket (between intake manifold and block) leaks internally; oil runs down to rear main seal area. Intake manifold removal required for valley pan (8-10 hours); rear main seal demands transmission removal (14-18 hours total). Often done together.

Estimated cost: $2,200-3,800 (valley pan), $3,500-5,200 (rear main seal), $4,800-7,000 (both)

Typical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi

Symptoms: Engine dies in hot weather after 20-30 minutes of driving, restarts after cooling, Hard starting when engine is hot, Loss of power on acceleration above 3,000 RPM, Whining noise from rear fuel tank area

Fix: Twin SU fuel pumps mounted near exhaust heat-soak and fail. Vapor lock common due to proximity to catalytic converters. Pump replacement straightforward (2-3 hours), but heat shielding and rerouting lines adds time. Some owners relocate pumps or add electric pusher pump.

Estimated cost: $900-1,800

Typical onset: any mileage, age-related

Symptoms: Power windows move slowly or stop halfway, Door locks operate intermittently or not at all, Climate control blows only hot or only cold despite selector position, Instrument cluster gauges drop to zero randomly

Fix: Lucas electrical components and corroded ground points plague this car. Window regulators are specific to Rolls-Royce and expensive. Door lock actuators fail from dried grease. Climate control servo motors seize. Diagnosis time-consuming (3-6 hours per system), parts expensive and often NLA (new old stock or used only).

Estimated cost: $800-2,500 per system

Typical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi

Symptoms: White smoke from exhaust on cold start, Coolant loss with no visible external leaks, Oil cap shows milky sludge (coolant mixing with oil), Rough idle and misfires on specific cylinders

Fix: Aluminum heads on iron block expand differently; gaskets fail if engine overheated even once. Heads must be removed, decked, and pressure-tested. 18-24 hours labor. If block needs resurfacing or studs, add 8-12 hours. Often discover worn piston rings or valve guides during teardown, leading to full rebuild decision.

Estimated cost: $5,500-9,000 (gaskets only), $12,000-18,000 (full engine rebuild)

Typical onset: any mileage, age-related

Symptoms: Top stops halfway up or down, Hydraulic fluid leaking from cylinders at rear deck, Motor runs but top doesn't move, Manual override required to secure top

Fix: Hydraulic cylinders for convertible top mechanism leak from dried seals. Pump motor also fails. Cylinders can be rebuilt or replaced (4-6 hours labor). Pump replacement adds 2 hours. Adjustment and synchronization critical to prevent binding.

Estimated cost: $1,800-3,200