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  1. John Packham

    How many miles on your 120?

    277,000km and no problems ever. Here in France they're just going up in value. Depreciation in 12 years - practically nil.
  2. John Packham

    long time ownership

    I bought mine (2005) in Dec 2011 it had 130,000km on it - now 277,000 and faultless.
  3. John Packham

    Timing belt change

    This is definitely a diy job (done it twice) but unlike many engines the water pump is not driven by this belt. It only drives the camshaft. My 120 has the water pump it left the factory with 250,000 km ago and I see no reason to change it while doing a timing belt.
  4. John Packham

    So you want to live in Spain and bring your 80 with you.

    I've been in Mediterranean France permanently for 14 odd years. The pitfalls are different to Spain but it's all about avoiding the mindset that says "it'll be like Britain but they speak a different language". Virtually all administrative suff is now done online her and you can import/register...
  5. John Packham

    Annoying Vibration at 1500 RPM

    Just read this comprehensive fix; well done. I have what started as a slight vibration at low revs - mines a D4D and it is now (after some years) causing the rear half of the undertray to vibrate in sympathy (it is only there at the sort of revs described and when the engine is on low-mid...
  6. John Packham

    Wheel alignment on a 120

    I've never had any of these issues. Back to topic, I assume nobody has experience of toe-out?
  7. John Packham

    Wheel alignment on a 120

    What issues do you have with AT20s. I only drive on-road and a little bit in vineyards. I find them fine. From, previous wet road experience of General I wouldn't risk buying them.
  8. John Packham

    Wheel alignment on a 120

    No, I don't live near MK. I don't off-road and the AT20s have served me well except when tracked by a specialist - they're all muppets who blindly follow what the laser and computer says. The back end is a solid axle so nothing to adjust there. The rears last over 100,000km but the fronts only...
  9. John Packham

    Wheel alignment on a 120

    AT20s at std pressure. The turn-in could be sharper and the tyres wear on the outer shoulder.
  10. John Packham

    Wheel alignment on a 120

    Has anybody run toe-out (rather than toe-in) on a 120? I'm looking to dial out the understeer a bit. I just thought I'd ask before I try it.
  11. John Packham

    Comment by 'John Packham' in media 'SatNav'

    Nice looking installation. What model is it and how does the std. one come out?
  12. John Packham

    Tyres

    Thanks for the offer but I'm 25 miles from the Mediterranean!
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  15. John Packham

    Tyres

    I need to replace a full set of Dunlops soon and am looking around. I'm surprised at the negative comments on the Dunlops as I find them good. The rears last 100,000 km and the fronts about half that. I only drive on-road and I only buy top brand so am looking at Bridgestone and Goodyear. Any...
  16. John Packham

    120 Invincible.

    We don't have road tax here in France! My 2005 is bullet-proof: 225,000 kms with nothing more than oil, pads and tyres. The very best car I've owned in over 40 years.
  17. John Packham

    Diesel filter won't prime

    / Is yours a mechanical or HDi type fuel system?
  18. John Packham

    Diesel filter won't prime

    I've solved it. It was simply a matter of air and the priming pump not drawing the fuel initially. If anybody else has this issue, here's what to do: Get a small funnel and a length of fuel pipe and connect it to the inlet of the fuel filter housing, fill the funnel with diesel and then prime...
  19. John Packham

    Diesel filter won't prime

    About half a turn by hand and the seal was pre-lubricated. Just stripped it and re-checked, the seal's fine but the filter is bone dry.
  20. John Packham

    Diesel filter won't prime

    Hi guys I've changed the diesel filter on my 120 - the old one showed it was doing its job but wasn't too bad - with a new one from Bosch (no cheapo parts on my cruiser) and I can't get it to prime. I've tried for several minutes and nothing! The various videos on YouTube make it look like a...
  21. John Packham

    2011 LC - Diff Lock Indicator Flashing

    I've just had the diff light flashing problem and it was indicating battery failure. I had to jump-start the other day then the diff light started flashing - the following day both batteries were dead, showing only 10.68V. New batteries and the light has gone out.
  22. John Packham

    Welcome back

    I like the look and feel of the new forum and the functionality seems better. Out of interest, I tried accessing the site via Windows (8.1) phone and got an advert for a law firm in Los Angeles offering to handle my personal injury claims!
  23. John Packham

    To buy or not to buy? How many KM/MI are too many....

    I have a 2005 120 here in France with 190,000km on the clock and have had a trouble-free 4 years of driving. I do my own maintenance and it hasn't need a single part apart from the timing belt (you don't need to take the engine out!) - Yes compared to a Disco4 it's crude but no way would I swap...
  24. John Packham

    Is it ok to have 265/65/18 on front and 275/65/18 on back?

    Yes, they're identical tyres fitted at the same time 60,000km ago.
  25. John Packham

    Is it ok to have 265/65/18 on front and 275/65/18 on back?

    You've sort of answered a question I was about to ask. Yesterday I was told by a tyre supplier that I should replace all four at once - the fronts are worn but the backs only half-worn. As soon as I said "but there's a diff in the middle" he shut up. I can't see what a rolling difference caused...
  26. John Packham

    Air bag warning light staying on

    I'm amused by the "Where am I?" link - it is at least 500km out on mine.
  27. John Packham

    Air bag warning light staying on

    I've just had this very problem after folding the passenger seat flat for the first time. Flashing airbag light and an OBD2 reader that won't talk to the car. A coincidence that this should happen after folding the seat? but then I read dunk1's post "BO116 Open in Side Squib". I've just tweaked...
  28. John Packham

    120 Diff oil capacities.

    Cheers Rob, it never occurred to me to look there.
  29. John Packham

    120 Diff oil capacities.

    Sorry for posting what is such a simple question but the search facility hasn't reveled any threads that cover this for a 120 series. How much oil do the diffs an transfer box etc take. The oil spec., I know and I've an auto box so I don't need gearbox capacity. Any help is much appreciated.
  30. John Packham

    Timing Belt Light Reset 120 Model

    Try this: it worked on my 120. 1. T-BELT MODE DISPLAY a) With ignition turned ON, using the trip switch (select/reset button) change the display to ODO, and turn the ignition OFF b) While pressing the trip switch, turn the ignition switch ON and hold it for 5 seconds. c) Release the trip...
  31. John Packham

    Timing Belt Change

    Done... I can't believe how easy that was.
  32. John Packham

    Timing Belt Change

    I have a very long snap-on breaker bar which I used to undo the centre bolt. It'll do the job. Thanks for the help
  33. John Packham

    Timing Belt Change

    So the diagram shows the "tool" taking the tension off by loading it clockwise?
  34. John Packham

    Timing Belt Change

    I finally got around to doing the aux belt today and loosened the tensioner bolt expecting the belt tension to drop - but it didn't. A quick question therefore is am I on the right bolt? It's the one at the bottom to the left of the fan in the photo (3 or 4 turns loosened) and it corresponds to...
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  37. John Packham

    Heated seats

    At a guess, £300 parts + £250 labour + VAT. We don't have/need seat heaters in the south of France:icon-wink:
  38. John Packham

    Timing Belt Change

    Yes, a few grazes but that's par for the course. It took me a bit over two hours but a good hour was spent finding the lost washer from behind the idler wheel - I didn't know what sort of piece it might be because I didn't see it fall and then I lost it again putting it all back together. It's...
  39. John Packham

    Waterless Coolant

    And water's very cheap to replace when it leaks out.
  40. John Packham

    Timing Belt Change

    I replaced the idler wheel as well as the belt; that was where the 10mm allen socket was needed. I've taken photos if you think it's worth writing a how-to-do-it.
  41. John Packham

    Timing Belt Change

    There's also a huge allen bold holding the tensioner wheel assembly on... Also, strangest engine I've seen where the timing belt doesn't run from crank to cam!
  42. John Packham

    Timing Belt Change

    I'm 6'6":icon-cool:
  43. John Packham

    Timing Belt Change

    Thanks Crispin. I'd seen that thread but wanted to check there wasn't a "special tool" needed. It's a pretty simple job - good because I've ordered the bits.
  44. John Packham

    Timing Belt Change

    That's what I thought but the search hasn't shown me it yet.
  45. John Packham

    Timing Belt Change

    Well, I've searched the forums and come to the conclusion nobody has ever done one of these... or had to ask about it anyway. At exactly 150,000 km the light came on, answering the question: "Is it a clever bit of calculation by the ECU that decides how worn it might be or is it just the no of...
  46. John Packham

    OBD2 protocol & airbag light

    I just stumbled on this old post of mine... the airbag light went off about a couple of weeks later and is still off.
  47. John Packham

    OBD2 protocol & airbag light

    I had read that there was an EU directive requiring all diesels from 2004 on to be OBD2 compliant. But I've now read the relevant EU directive (yeah - get a life) and it seems to say (I'm no lawyer) that diesels from 2004 (existing models) must have an OBD system... but it doesn't state a...
  48. John Packham

    OBD2 protocol & airbag light

    I've searched the site but not spotted an answer to this question. I have a 2005 diesel (they're always diesels in France) with a flashing airbag warning light. It just started doing it - I haven't been dismantling anything... I plugged my OBD2 reader into the port under the dash but get a...
  49. John Packham

    New dutchman in town

    Welcome et bienvenue. Being in France does make north Africa easier to reach!
  50. John Packham

    Hi from the south of France

    I don't think it has air suspension but I haven't looked. 165bhp, or is it 166bhp I haven't managed to get a definitive answer. It's not got electric or leather seats but it does have dual climate control. There's a centre diff lock switch but no rear diff lock switch. It's a 5 speed auto - what...
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