DIY How-to: Inspect and Replace Your Belts, Hoses, and Fluids on Your Land Rover Discovery

Belts, hoses, and fluids. They may seem small and simple contributions to your Land Rover Discovery, but they can cause serious problems when they aren't taken care of correctly. A hose or belt failure can result in the loss of power steering, an overheated engine, and electrical charging system loss. Using the wrong fluids, even in something as simple as the windscreen washer reservoir, can lead to a serious health concern. These issues can quickly spiral out of control, leaving you with damaged and inoperable Land Rover parts that cost thousands to repair or replace.

For this reason, it's important that you know how to inspect and replace any fluids, hoses, and belts when you purchase your first Land Rover. Doing so will keep you safe and keep your car running for as long as possible.

Coolant and Heater Hoses

The most vulnerable structural components of your cooling system are the hoses. These are mad with flexible rubber compounds that are designed to absorb vibrations between the radiator and the engine, or, in the case of the hoses attached to your heater, between the body's firewall and the engine. They are made to hold coolant under high pressure, and are subjected to extreme fluctuations of hot and cold, sludge and oil. They are also attacked frequently by atmospheric ozone.

When it comes to hose failure, the most common cause is ECD, or electrochemical degradation. It attacks coolant and heater hoses from the inside, which causes tiny cracks that make it easy for containments and acids in the coolant to weaken the hose. Eventually the yarn material reinforcing the hose becomes so weak that the hose ruptures under the constant flexing, pressure, or heat.

Inspecting and replacing these hoses when they first show signs of problems can help prevent damage to car parts like the radiator and engine. Some easy, basic maintenance tips can help:

• Check the coolant recovery tank often to ensure it's properly filled with fluid. You'll be able to tell if the fluid level is where it should be by the marks on the side of the tank. If you notice that the tank is continually low on fluid, even after repeated fillings, always suspect that there is a leak. Also be sure to look in the engine bay for residue left from coolant that has leaked out of a hose. You should be able to see pink, white, or light green tracks if the hoses are damaged and leaking coolant.

• With the engine cool, locate the coolant hoses and squeeze them between your forefinger and thumb at a spot near the clamps. This is where ECD occurs the most, and it is often indicated by mushy or soft spots. If the hoses are still intact, they will be pliant, yet firm.

• Replace the hose if you notice any nicks, cracks, bulges, or fraying at the connexion points. They should also be replaced if they have been contaminated by oil.

• Look for signs of heat damage (indicated by a hardened, glassy surface,) ozone damage (indicated by parallel cracks,) or signs that the hose is rubbing, (indicated by an abrasive surface.)

• Check your owner's manual to see how often you should flush and replace the coolant. Clean coolant will be much less likely to support the development of ECD.

• Replace all of the hoses every four years, regardless of their state. Also, if one hose fails, replace the rest at the same time you are replacing the failed one. This will not only help to prevent problems with ECD, but will help you better track when the hoses need to be replaced.

• According to experts, the hose that will fail first will most often be the upper radiator hose, followed closely by the outlet heater hose that extends from the heater core to the engine. Watch these two hoses closely for signs of failure.

Land Rover Parts: Accessory Belts

Belts are often subjected to the same elements that harm hoses- abrasion, oil, ozone, and heat. Your drive belt is responsible for driving the water pump, alternator, power-steering pump, and the compressor for the air conditioner, so it's important, and it should be changed on a regular basis according to your owner's manual. Most manufacturers recommend this belt be changed every four years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. If it's beginning to show signs of wear and tear, though, it should be replaced immediately. The problem is, many of these belts don't show any signs of problems until they fail completely.

That doesn't necessarily mean you shouldn't look for issues that could be occurring, though. Keep an eye out for these signs:

• Look for splits, fraying, or crack on the top of the belt.

• Be aware of what your belt looks like. If you see that it's becoming glazed over or slick-looking, this can be signs that it will soon crack, overheat, or slip.

• Twist the drive belt when you look at it, inspecting for cracks, separating layers, or missing chunks of the belt.

If you find that you need to replace the belt, make sure you choose the right one. A new drive belt should be identical to the previous one, especially when it comes to width, length, and the number of grooves it has.

Inspecting and Replacing Fluids

Did you know that filling your windscreen washer reservoir with water can turn it into a breeding ground for bacteria that can cause Legionnaires disease? According to the British Health Protection Agency, it can. While you might not think twice about the way you hand the fluids in your car normally, it's important to consider exactly what you're using and where.

• Oil- The brand of motor oil you use doesn't matter, but the viscosity does. Check your owner's manual to see what grade you should be using and the type of oil. Using the wrong kind can lead to a shorter engine life and reduced lubrication. If your manual says to use synthetic oil with a viscosity grade 10W-30, don't take it as a suggestion.
  

• Batteries- Some batteries need to be replenished with water to cover the lead plates. If yours does, make sure to invest in distilled water for this practise. Distilled water contains no minerals or salts, which can build up on the internal lead plates on the battery and reduce its life span and power.
  

• Fuel- If your car is made to run on petrol, don't attempt to run it on diesel. If it runs at all, the engine will knock and stumble in objection. The same goes for petrol in a diesel's tank. While this may not cause any harm, it could result in damage to the injectors, fuel pump, and other Land Rover parts. If a mistake is made, don't run the engine. Instead, contact a technician that will be able to drain the contaminated fuel and limit the amount of harm it causes.
  

• Windscreen Washer- The only thing that should ever go into your windscreen washer reservoir is screen wash. Water in the reservoir can not only be harmful to your health, as previously discussed, but it doesn't clean as well and will freeze in cooler temperatures. Household cleaners, like ammonia and glass cleaners shouldn't be used either. These will leave suds on the windscreen and damage the finish on the Land Rover. They can also enter the air-intake system and produce noxious gausses in the cabin.
  

Keeping your Land Rover running means knowing exactly how to take care of your car. Inspect and replace these key accessories before they damage car parts and put your health at risk.