What spare parts do I need on the trail (D90)?

[George M]

I'm a new (and proud) D90 owner. It's pretty much stock except for OME springs and shocks. For a ten day trip in Ontario, what spare parts do I need to be bringing along? I won't be going crazy on rocks or twisting off axles with lockers, but want to be ready. So do I only need some spare belts and fluids?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Connie]

It's a Rover, of course you need spare fluids :shakin:

How far between towns? The great thing about a Rover is that even if it breaks it will probably still get you down the road.

 

[Grim Reaper]

My buddy has pounded on his D90 pretty hard over the years. His failures always centered about broken axle shafts but he is not afraid to wheel it hard and its wheeled some pretty hard core trails. It goes to Tellico often (he is the past pres of www.sfwda.org

http://www.gbr4wd.com/trailruns/2004anniversaryrun/04annirun.html

That's his back yard.

Is the maintenance current like coolant change in the last 2 years, Hoses good, bearings repacked, fluids changed etc? Most on the road failures for any vehicle has to do with lack of maintenance. Go through it and more then likely you will find any potential issues that would cause you problems while traveling.

If you are just running FS roads and not rock crawling it I would say fluids a service manual once the maintenance is caught up and call it good.

 

[Alaska Mike]

I'd echo what others have said. Keep the maintenance up and you should be fine. You might want to replace the rear axle shafts if they are the originals, then keep the old ones as spares. Engine and gear oil (the capacity of for the largest component that uses it), transmission fluid, brake fluid, plus coolant should be all you need. Shouldn't take up more than a milk crate, and will probably remain unused if you do good pre-trip maintenance.

 

[MuddyMudskipper]

What year is it and how many miles does it have? Any idea of the maintenence (repairs and stuff replaced) before you got it?

 

[George M]

Details

It's a 94 with 114,000 miles. It had one owner before me and they really kept up with the maintenance (by a certified mechanic). I couldn't say when the last fuel pump was put on it or things like that. Since I got it, in November, I've changed the oil, diff/transfer case fluids and had no other mechanical issues.

 

[PCRover]

Congrats on the Defender! I have a '94 myself and love it.

Are you going on a solo trip or with another vehicle? Personally when solo I carry the usual fluids and stuff along with an ignition module and alternator. Those last two items can strand you for days as they are not available in the std auto store. Ask me how I know...

 

[astateofmike]

Deer Whistle.......

ask PC Rover about that too!

 

[PCRover]

Ouch! That hurt...

 

[d110pickup]

Congrats on the Defender! I have a '94 myself and love it.

Are you going on a solo trip or with another vehicle? Personally when solo I carry the usual fluids and stuff along with an ignition module and alternator. Those last two items can strand you for days as they are not available in the std auto store. Ask me how I know...

I'll second the ignition module & alternator. The alternator can cause some bizarre problems when they go bad.

If the oil cooler lines haven't been replaced absolutely do that before you leave. When the line fails (I said when not if) you'll be very lucky to save the truck. This is a very common failure; JUST DO IT!
Look on d90.com for all of the info you need on the oil cooler lines.
Good luck,
Mike

 

[RoverMack]

I'm a new (and proud) D90 owner. It's pretty much stock except for OME springs and shocks. For a ten day trip in Ontario, what spare parts do I need to be bringing along? I won't be going crazy on rocks or twisting off axles with lockers, but want to be ready. So do I only need some spare belts and fluids?

Thanks for your help.

Is it a GEMS engine. Read the workshop manual and it will explain what sensors are required for the engine to run or not as the case may be, being a LR after all. If it is not a GEMS engine the following does not apply..... crankshaft possition sensor and camshaft possition sensor- failure will cause the engine not to run at all ! MAFS is a good idea, but will usually get you home on default settings, i guess you have a manual gearbox, on an auto in certain model LRs if the brake light switch fails you cannot select drive. Throttle possition sensor is also worth having a spare for.
Hope this helps

 

[RoverMack]

Forgot the fuel pump
you only need the electric pump, not all the plastic stuff, again for a GEMS engine they seem to last about 100 to 130k, there are generic fuel pumps available from Auto Zone etc which are worth carring as a spare (cheap enough) also relay's and fuses.

 

[EricWS]

I owned a 90 for years. If you keep up the maintenance, you should be OK. I never really brought too many spares on even longer vacations out west.

You really don't need to bring sensors, GEMS or not. It'll limp home fine. With the proper maintenance it really isn't an issue. There is one autobox part for the park solenoid on 97 that will disable the truck, but yours is a 94, so you shouldn't worry about it.

Check your driveshaft U Joints. My truck had HD OEM springs and ate rear UJs till I upgraded to a more stout unit.

Redo your swivels with new grease, change the oils in the gearbox and transfer case and motor.

Check your coolant expansion tank. They go rather quickly but the new replacement is decent. Check all your hoses. it gets real hot under the hood and cheap hoses go quickly.

I'd throw a new rotor, cap, and plugs on it. You could keep the old ones as a spares. You can also get a nice trick unit from MSD for the engine.

Watch your heads. They tend to go around 125k miles. Take it to a local shop and you shoul dbe fine with the new gaskets and headbolts.

I'd worry more about breaking an axle than breaking down if it was well cared for.

Eric

 

[James86004]

Aside from what has already been mentioned here, there is a goofy plastic plug for the radiator that you may want a spare. I actually don't know if the D90 uses it, but the Range Rover of the same vintage does. This is not the cap for the expansion tank, this is actually in the brass of the radiator. It is easy to damage if you remove and replace it. Brass caps are available for the radiator, too.

I always carried one, thereby ensuring I would never need it.

 

[RoverMack]

You really don't need to bring sensors, GEMS or not. It'll limp home fine.

Eric

On a Gems engine if the Crankshaft sensor or the cam shaft sensor fail, there is no spark to the engine the engine will not run, you will be limping home on the end of a tow rope. The Gems system will go into default mode with the TPS,(limiting to around 2500rpm- unless it fails in the closed possition when the engine may not run at all) The MAFS will also "go into default mode" but with limited performance -spare is affordable and worth carrying. The factory workshop manual or RAVE gives a usefull overview/explanation of how the various sensors work/ default /limp home mode etc. Again info only applies to GEMS engine.