Get Driving & operating -> Starting & driving Guide for Land Rover Defender 90 SUV First Generation (1990-2016)

Starting & driving

STARTING - DIESEL ENGINES

1. Check that the handbrake is applied and

that the gear lever is in neutral.

2. Switch off all unnecessary electrical

equipment.

3. Insert the starter key and turn the switch

to position ’II’. Wait until the glow plug

warning light extinguishes.

NOTE: When restarting a warm engine, it will

not be necessary to wait for the glow plug

warning light to extinguish.

4. Turn the key to position ’III’ to operate the

starter motor; DO NOT press the

accelerator pedal during starting, and

RELEASE THE KEY as soon as the engine

is running.

NOTE: In temperate climates, the battery

charging and oil pressure warning lights

should extinguish as soon as the engine is

running.

In cold weather, or when the battery is in a

low state of charge, depress the clutch pedal

while starting and hold it down until the

engine is running.

In temperate climates, DO NOT operate the

starter for longer than 10 seconds; if the

engine fails to start, switch off and wait 10

seconds before re-using the starter. Please

note that prolonged use of the starter will not

only discharge the battery but may also

damage the starter motor.

Starting & driving

Cold climates

In very cold climates, the battery charging and

oil pressure warning lights may take several

seconds to extinguish. Similarly, engine

cranking times will also increase; at -30° C the

starter motor may need to be operated

continuously for as long as 30 seconds before

the engine will start. For this reason, ensure

that all non-essential electrical equipment is

switched off.

Warming up

In the interests of fuel economy, it is advisable

to start driving straight away, remembering

that harsh acceleration or labouring the engine

before the normal operating temperature has

been reached can damage the engine.

WARNING

The engine must not be run above fast idle

speed until the oil pressure warning light

extinguishes to ensure that the engine and

turbo-charger bearings are properly

lubricated before being run at speed.

WARNING

Exhaust fumes contain poisonous

substances which can cause

unconsciousness and may even be fatal.

• DO NOT inhale exhaust gases.

• DO NOT start or leave the engine running

in an enclosed unventilated area, or

drive with the rear door open.

• DO NOT modify the exhaust system from

the original design.

• DO repair exhaust system or body leaks

immediately.

• If you think exhaust fumes are entering

the vehicle have the cause determined

and corrected immediately.

Switching off

To avoid the possibility of damaging the

turbo-charger bearings through inadequate

lubrication, ALWAYS allow the engine to idle

for 10 seconds before switching off. Turn the

engine off by returning the starter switch to

position ’I’ and then position ’0’ to remove

key.

Starting & driving

STARTING - PETROL ENGINES

1. Check that the handbrake is applied and

that the gear lever is in neutral.

2. Switch off all unnecessary electrical

equipment.

3. If the engine is cold, pull out the cold start

control (if fitted) and turn it clockwise to

lock (see illustration).

4. Insert the starter key and turn the switch

to position ’II’ and then on to position ’III’

to operate the starter motor. DO NOT

press the accelerator pedal during starting

and RELEASE THE KEY as soon as the

engine is running.

In temperate climates DO NOT operate the

starter for longer than 10 seconds. If the

engine fails to start, switch off and wait 10

seconds before re-using the starter. Please

note that prolonged use of the starter will not

only discharge the battery but may also

damage the starter motor.

In temperate climates, the battery charging

and oil pressure warning lights should

extinguish as soon as the engine is running.

In cold weather, or when the battery is in a

low state of charge, depress the clutch pedal

while starting and hold it down until the

engine is running.

Cold climates

In very cold climates, the battery charging and

oil pressure warning lights may take several

seconds to extinguish. Similarly, engine

cranking times will also increase; at -30° C the

starter motor may need to be operated

continuously for as long as 30 seconds before

the engine will start. For this reason, ensure

that all non-essential electrical equipment is

switched off.

Additionally, in very cold climates, use of a

cylinder block heater will improve the engine’s

starting characteristics. Your Land Rover

dealer can advise you about the supply and

use of a cylinder block heater.

Warming up

In the interests of fuel economy, it is advisable

to start driving straight away, remembering

that harsh acceleration or labouring the engine

before the normal operating temperature has

been reached can damage the engine.

NOTE: Remember to turn off the cold start

control once normal operating temperature is

reached.

Starting & driving

WARNING

Exhaust fumes contain poisonous

substances which can cause

unconsciousness and may even be fatal.

• DO NOT inhale exhaust gases.

• DO NOT start or leave the engine running

in an enclosed unventilated area, or

drive with the rear door open.

• DO NOT modify the exhaust system from

the original design.

• DO repair exhaust system or body leaks

immediately.

• If you think exhaust fumes are entering

the vehicle have the cause determined

and corrected immediately.

Parking

After bringing the vehicle to a stop, ALWAYS

apply the handbrake and select neutral in the

main gearbox before releasing the foot brake

and switching off the engine.

Switching off

Return the starter switch to position ’I’ and

then to position ’0’ to remove the key.

Starting & driving

EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM

Land Rover vehicles are fitted with emission

and evaporative control equipment necessary

to meet a number of territorial requirements.

In many countries, it is against the law for

vehicle owners to modify or tamper with

emission control equipment, or to sanction

the unauthorised replacement or modification

of this equipment by a repair shop. In such

cases, the vehicle owner and the repairer may

both be liable for legal penalties.

It is important to remember that all Land

Rover dealers are properly equipped to

perform repairs and to maintain the emission

control system on your vehicle.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Vehicle stability

Your vehicle has a higher ground

clearance and, hence, a higher centre of

gravity than ordinary passenger cars, to

enable the vehicle to perform in a wide

variety of different off-road applications.

An advantage of the higher ground

clearance is a better view of the road,

allowing the driver to more easily

anticipate problems. Inexperienced

drivers should take additional care,

remembering that the Defender is not

designed for cornering at the same speed

as conventional passenger cars, any more

than a low slung sports car is designed to

perform satisfactorily in off-road

conditions. As with other vehicles of this

type, failure to operate the Defender

correctly may result in loss of control or

even vehicle rollover.

Vehicle height

The overall height of your vehicle exceeds

that of ordinary passenger cars. Always

be aware of the height of your vehicle and

check available headroom before driving

through low entrances. This is particularly

important if the vehicle is fitted with a

roof rack or if a sunroof is open.

Starting & driving

RUNNING-IN (petrol & diesel models)

Proper running-in will have a direct bearing on

the reliability and smooth running of your

vehicle throughout its life.

In particular, the engine, gearbox, brakes and

tyres need time to bed-in and adjust to the

demands of everyday motoring. It is therefore

essential to drive with consideration for the

running-in process for at least the first 800

km (500 miles) and observe the following

advice:

• LIMIT maximum speed to 80 km/h (50

mph) for Td5, Tdi and 4-cylinder petrol

engines and 95 km/h (60 mph) for V8

engines. Initially, drive the vehicle on a

light throttle and only increase engine

speeds once the running-in distance has

been completed.

• DO NOT operate at full throttle or allow the

engine to labour in any gear.

• AVOID fast acceleration and heavy braking

except in emergencies.

FUEL ECONOMY

Fuel consumption is influenced by two major

factors:

• How your vehicle is maintained.

• How you drive your vehicle.

To obtain optimum fuel economy, it is

essential that your vehicle is maintained in

accordance with the manufacturer’s service

schedule.

Items such as ignition timing, the condition of

the air cleaner element, tyre pressures and

wheel alignment can have a significant effect

on fuel consumption. But above all, the way in

which you drive is most important. The

following hints may help you to obtain even

better value from your motoring:

• Avoid unnecessary, short, start-stop

journeys.

• Avoid fast starts by accelerating gently and

smoothly from rest.

• Do not drive in the lower gears longer than

necessary.

• Decelerate gently and avoid sudden and

heavy braking.

• Anticipate obstructions and adjust your

speed accordingly well in advance.

DRIVE GENTLY - SAVE FUEL!

Starting & driving

IMPORTANT DRIVING INFORMATION

Instruments & warning lights

Before driving, it is important to fully

understand the function of the instruments

and warning lights described in section 2.

NOTE: Red warning lights are of particular

importance, illumination indicates that a fault

exists. If a red light illuminates, always stop

the vehicle and seek qualified assistance

before continuing.

Vehicle stability

Your vehicle has a higher ground clearance

and, therefore, a higher centre of gravity than

ordinary passenger cars. This will result in

different handling characteristics.

Inexperienced drivers should take additional

care, particularly in off-road driving situations

and when performing abrupt manoeuvres at

inappropriate speeds or on unstable surfaces.

Vehicle height

The overall height of your vehicle exceeds that

of ordinary passenger cars. Always be aware

of the height of your vehicle and check the

available headroom before driving through

low entrances. This is particularly important if

the vehicle is fitted with a roof rack or if the

sunroof is open.

Power assisted steering

Power assistance is progressively applied the

more the steering wheel is turned. For

example; where manual steering effort would

normally be greatest (at slow speeds on

maximum lock), power assistance is greatest.

Similarly, where only minimal steering effort

would normally be required (at high speed

with the wheels straight ahead), then power

assistance is also minimal, thus enabling the

driver to benefit from apparently consistent

steering effort at all times.

WARNING

Under no circumstances must the steering

wheel be held on full lock for more than

thirty seconds in one minute, otherwise the

steering assembly may be damaged.

NOTE: Power assistance is dependent on the

engine running. If the engine is not running,

greater effort will be required to steer the

vehicle.

Auxiliary equipment

WARNING

DO NOT use auxiliary equipment, such as

roller generators, that are driven by one

wheel of the vehicle, as they could cause

failure of the gearbox differential. If the

gearbox differential lock is engaged in an

attempt to avoid damage, the vehicle will

drive itself forward.

Driving & operating -> Starting & driving for Your Land Rover Defender 90 SUV First Generation (1990-2016)

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