Hi all

First post here. I’ve had a D3 for 5 years. Cut my LR teeth on her and learned a lot. In my ti,e owning that car I’ve done electrics, painting, servicing and mods. I always liked the idea of a full fat but life didn’t allow it. I then got a good deal on a 2012 Westminster. I have to say it makes me smile when I drive it. The D3 was great but was a manual, low spec etc. I spent years putting leather in, getting rid of leaks, putting in CarPlay etc. now I find myself back to zero.

L322 mk 3 130k miles. Westminster in silver with black leather.

My problems so far, as in what I found on day two:

Leak in air con, as dye everywhere
No heated seats, I seem to have cold
Deployable steps are intermittent. Got them both out and it but they are struggling
Water in spare wheel well but only 3mm
Funny noise front passenger air vent in wing

So basically I’ve a few small jobs to sort. I’ve read a huge amount on here and elsewhere on all these issues but I need to tackle one at a time and get a win.

Has anyone a link for aftermarket step motors on the side steps that they found good?

I’m hoping the heated seats can be fixed like I’ve seen but because mine is a 2 seater the access isn’t great.

Anyways other than that I am loving the full fat ride. I’m glad I did. The disco first as it gave me a lot of familiarity with the LR madness of design.

Thanks for your help in advance.

Leaky a/c: get it fixed😂
Heated seats: could be pettier unit, fairly easy to fix, many threads on here to help you
Deployable steps: Bin ‘em in the nearest skip😂
Water in spare wheel: unusual for a 2012 but could be a split rubber
Vent noise: there’s a big rubber bung by the inner wing/ bonnet area, possibly the problem.

Not a great help I know, but the best I can do🤣 2012 Orkney Grey Westminster 4.4TDV8 with Ivory interior.........nice!
BMW R1200GS
Alfa Romeo Giulietta
Just one Montesa now, 349 White Wonder
Austin A40 Farina MK2
1975 Morris Marina 1.8TC

Water in boot:
Tailgate seal or upper tailgate hinges or side window rubbers usually. Loads of information on here. Can highly recommend using 1) The Wiki or 2) The "Search" function

Side steps = agree. Bin em  2011 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE Buckingham Blue with Ivory and clear glass = "Rory"
New Defender D300 90 on order so "Rory" will be going to a new home....!
1974 Series 3 Lightweight = "Millie"
My preferred specialist: www.glenrands.co.uk
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Hi thanks for the info. Ya I’ve been using the wiki a lot and have plenty of paths I can take with each issue. My D3 had a lot of small problems and it was a pleasure to fix them all one by one. I bought this one as there were only 3 4.4s in Ireland and I got a good deal on this.

Ac, as you say that’s an important one to fix. The seats I have seen so,e great info so will tackle them next weekend and as for the steps, I am like many men on here I have a short other half. She will need all the step she can get! I found motors in the uk but they want €80 in just customs so I have to figure that out.

Thanks again and it’s nice to be in the full fat club finally.

The advice to bin the steps maybe a little premature (I also have another half who can't manage without them). I got mine cleaned and lubricated by an Indy and all is well, others have lubricated the steps to good effect. Certainly worth a try, if you are able to remove them and find a skip then you are more than capable of trying a bit of lube first. Geoff

Hi Super

I actually got them both moving yesterday and was able to lock them out, then I drove down the road and they both retracted which is better than one out and one in. Though mine were not rusty the metal parts had bonded. I was quite regarding to see them move.

Are the genuine motors quite reliable? I mean both work but maybe there is just too much resistance. Maybe I should completely remove both sides including motors and soak them in oil before I look at replacing the motors?

Coming from a disco where I installed steps myself it is a novelty that they fold away. Im only on day 3 of ownership so in the honeymoon phase!

I'm a bit to old and creaky to do work on the car myself, neither am I ready for the skip. However I think the motors are OK but the pivot points need lubing. This thread may help
https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic67987.html Geoff

For the leaky boot - if you have a tow bar fitted check the water is not coming in through the bolt holes that join the bar to the body - the water can run down from the top of the car and end up finding its way in there - other than that the rear tailgate seal is a potential culprit.

I found mine quiet easily by stripping out the trim in the boot, most importantly around the bottom of the tailgate, and then getting a hose out and starting low down (around the tow bar area in my case) and seeing where / when it starts to find its way in.

Probably best on a nice warm, dry day

Jon

Thanks for that info. No Tow bar yet, that's a joyful job I have to do myself soon so will be looking in Wiki for advice!

I spent a bit of time at it last weekend. I re seated the rubbers on the top boot lid as they didnt feel right and I had a loose bracket on the bottom gate and its definitely closing better now. In my disco the water came in via a cracked tail light unit on top of the boot lid. I noticed on the L322 the light is bowed so that might be a culprit too. I also noticed last night when filling with diesel that the rubber collar around the fuel nozzle doesnt look good so another possibility.

As you say, a hose, the glasses on and stick a small friend in the boot to look for a trickle! Im parking her indoors for now as shes the new girl but that means the Subaru GT is in the rain!

By the way guys, this is an awesome forum. The Disco one is great too but I really appreciate the help here.

Thanks

With no tow bar currently fitted, per advice above my money is strongly on the tailgate seal - unfortunately not particularly cheap from LR, however order from Duckworth LR Market Rasen for a forum discount & free next day postage.

I needed one recently and was £120 delivered

No route from the rear lights into the boot, aside a rubber wiring grommet, but I’ve never seen that being the issue with leaks. Jonathan

2007 Defender 90 XS Hardtop

Fla wrote:

I’m hoping the heated seats can be fixed like I’ve seen but because mine is a 2 seater the access isn’t great.
.

Can you elaborate, are you saying it's a two door L322..!! or it has no rear seats... How does this effect access..?

That's a short list of issues for a 322, and all solvable...

I'd take the steps off, strip them down as much as you can and use motorcycle chain lube on all moving parts, it tends to hang around longer than a lot of other stuff...  Pete

__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

''2 seater''......

is this something to do with irish law that if you remove the rear seats then the vehicle is classified as a van and you pay less tax? ... - .- -.




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.

Thanks Haylands, thats a great TIP about the chain oil. Ya in fairness the guys previous had no idea about the car so they brought it to the garage to fix everything so the issues are all minor and repairable at home. I have a full set up to do most of it myself.

So regarding the "2 seater" In Ireland the road tax is around 2.5K per annum for a 5 seat RR but only €333 if it is converted to a 2 seat van. So I now have a posh van. The limitation on access is due to regulation. You have to remove the back seats and install a new floor. This impedes access to the back of the seat.

Thanks for clearing that up, if you move the seat all the way forward I guess you can reach the rear bolts, then the fronts, couple of connectors and you can remove the seat, 10min job... hopefully in yours....

Don't put the ignition on with the seat out or you will get a hard airbag fault and need diagnostics to clear it...  Pete

__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

haha ya airbag in the face is always bad even on the weekends! I have an Autel Maxicom808 so faults are ok to clear. I've had the seats out in the disco half a dozen times to used to the process but these seats look twice as heavy..