Land Rover Defender 02my Owners Handbook 2nd Edition Rover

							Power Steering
110
Power SteeringPOWER STEERING FLUID
WARNING
Power steering fluid is highly toxic - keep 
containers sealed and out of reach of 
children. If accidental consumption of fluid is 
suspected, seek medical attention 
immediately.
If power steering fluid should come into 
contact with the skin or eyes, rinse 
immediately with plenty of water.
Do not spill power steering fluid onto a hot 
engine - a fire may result.
Power steering fluid will damage painted 
surfaces: Soak up any spillage with an 
absorbent cloth immediately and wash the 
area with a mixture of car shampoo and 
water.
Emergency operation
Any large or sudden drop in the fluid level must 
be investigated by a qualified dealer.
If it can be established that fluid loss is slow, 
then the reservoir may be topped-up to the 
upper level mark to enable the vehicle to be 
driven to the nearest qualified dealer for 
examination. 
If the fluid level has dropped below the lower 
level mark, top-up the reservoir before starting 
the engine, or damage to the steering pump 
could result.Check and Top-up
Check and top-up the fluid level ONLY with the 
engine switched off and the system cold, and 
ensure that the steering wheel is not turned 
after stopping the engine.
Wipe the filler cap to prevent dirt from entering 
the reservoir.
Remove the filler cap, and using a lint-free 
cloth, wipe the dipstick clean. Refit the cap fully 
and remove it again to check the fluid level. 
Ensure the fluid level is between the UPPER 
mark and the bottom end of the dipstick 
(arrowed in illustration). If necessary, top up 
with a fluid meeting Dexron II D or Dexron II 
E/III specification, ensuring no dirt enters the 
reservoir.
DO NOT fill above the UPPER mark on the 
dipstick.
NOTE: The colour of the specified power 
steering fluid may differ from that used to fill 
the system during manufacture. This is not 
cause for concern.
H3583 
						

							Washers
111
W a sh er sWINDSCREEN WASHER TOP-UP
The windscreen washer reservoir supplies both 
front and rear screen washer jets.
Check the reservoir level at least every week 
and top-up with a mixture of water and Land 
Rover Parts STC 8249 Screenwash to 
approximately 1 inch (25 mm) below the 
bottom of the filler neck. Preferably mix the 
recommended quantities of water and 
screenwash in a separate container before 
topping-up, and always follow the instructions 
on the container. Note that an approved 
screenwash is necessary to prevent freezing in 
very cold weather.
Operate the washer switches periodically to 
check that the nozzles are clear and properly 
directed.
WARNING
DO NOT use an anti-freeze or vinegar/water 
solution in the washer reservoir - anti-freeze 
will damage painted surfaces, while vinegar 
can damage the windscreen washer pump.
Some screenwash products are inflammable, 
particularly if high or undiluted 
concentrations are exposed to sparking. DO 
NOT allow screenwash to come into contact 
with naked flames or sources of ignition. 
Body panels may suffer discolouration as a 
result of screenwash spillage. Take care to 
avoid spillage, particularly if an undiluted or 
high concentration is being used. If spillage 
occurs, wash the affected area immediately 
with water. 
H3703 
						

							Washers
112
WASHER JETS
Front washer jets
The windscreen washer jets are set during 
manufacture and should not need adjusting. 
However, if adjustment is ever necessary, insert 
a needle into the jet orifice and lever gently to 
position each jet so that the spray is directed 
towards the centre of the screen.
Should any jet become obstructed, insert a 
needle or thin strand of wire into the orifice to 
clear the blockage.
Rear washer jetH3623H3648 
						

							Wiper Blades
113
Wiper BladesWIPER BLADE REPLACEMENT
To renew a windscreen or rear wiper blade, lift 
the wiper arm away from the screen, press the 
retaining clip (arrowed in illustration), pull the 
blade down the arm away from the hooked end 
and then unhook the wiper blade.
Locate the new blade assembly on the arm, 
hook it to the swivel bracket and push into 
engagement until the blade is retained by the 
clip.
Only fit replacement wiper blades that are 
identical to the original specification.
Grease, silicone and petrol based products 
impair the blades wiping capability. Wash the 
wiper blades in warm soapy water and 
periodically check their condition.
If signs of hardness or cracking in the rubber 
are found, or if the wipers leave streaks or 
unwiped areas on the windscreen during use, 
then the wiper blades should be replaced.Clean the windscreen regularly with an 
approved glass cleaner and ensure the screen is 
thoroughly cleaned before fitting replacement 
wiper blades.
NOTE: On vehicles where the spare wheel is 
mounted on the tail door, the wheel must be 
removed before renewing the rear wiper blade.
H3718 
						

							Battery
114
B a tte r yBATTERY SAFETY
WARNING
Batteries contain acid, which is both 
corrosive and poisonous. If spillage occurs:
•On clothing or the skin - remove any 
contaminated clothing immediately, flush 
the skin with large amounts of water, and 
seek medical attention urgently.
•In the eyes - flush with clean water 
immediately for at least 15 minutes. Seek 
medical attention urgently.
Swallowing battery acid can be fatal unless 
IMMEDIATE action is taken - seek medical 
attention urgently.
During normal operation batteries emit 
explosive hydrogen gas - ensure sparks and 
naked lights are kept away from the engine 
compartment.
For your safety, remove all metal wrist bands 
and jewellery before working in the engine 
compartment and NEVER allow the battery 
terminals or vehicle leads to make contact 
with tools or metal parts of the vehicle.The battery is located underneath the left-hand 
front seat. Pull up the front of the seat base to 
release it from its retaining clips and pull it 
forward (see ‘Seat cushion removal’, page 21). 
Release the buckle on the front of the battery 
compartment (solid arrow in illustration) and 
slide off the lid in the direction shown.
When refitting the seat base, insert the rear of 
the base first and then push down firmly to 
re-engage the retaining clips - ENSURE the seat 
base is secure before driving.
H3614 
						

							Battery
115
BATTERY MAINTENANCE
The battery is designed to be maintenance free, 
so topping-up is unnecessary. On the top of the 
battery there is a battery condition indicator 
(arrowed in illustration). Examine the indicator 
periodically to check the batterys condition. 
When the indicator shows:
•GREEN - the battery is in a good state of 
charge.
•DARK (turning to black) - the battery needs 
charging.
•CLEAR (or light yellow) - the battery must 
be replaced. Do not charge the battery or 
jump start the car in this condition.
NOTE: When checking the battery condition 
indicator, if necessary, clean the battery top to 
ensure a clear view.
If the indicator shows clear or yellow, tap the 
indicator with the handle of a screwdriver to 
disperse any air bubbles. If the colour is 
unchanged, the battery must be replaced.Battery removal and replacement
WARNING
•Do not reverse the polarity of the battery - 
the electrical system may be damaged if 
the battery leads are connected to the 
wrong terminals.
•Keep the battery upright at all times - 
damage will be caused if the battery is 
tilted more than 45 degrees.
•DO NOT run the engine with the battery 
disconnected, or disconnect the battery 
while the engine is running.
Your vehicle may be fitted with a battery 
backed-up sounder, which operates as an 
anti-theft siren if the main battery is 
disconnected.
If it is necessary to remove the main vehicle 
battery, it is ESSENTIAL to adopt the following 
procedure before disconnecting the terminals, 
in order to prevent the siren from sounding:
1.Turn the starter switch ‘on’ and then ‘off’. 
Then remove the starter key.
2.Disconnect the vehicle battery WITHIN 15 
SECONDS (if it is not disconnected within 
15 seconds, the back-up siren will sound 
immediately the battery terminals are 
disconnected).
ALWAYS disconnect the negative (‘-’) terminal 
first. When replacing, connect the positive (‘+’) 
terminal first. Do not allow the battery terminals 
to make contact with metal parts of the vehicle.
If the siren sounds when the battery is 
reconnected, it CANNOT be turned off in the 
normal way (i.e. by operating the handset 
button). To deactivate the siren, disarm the 
alarm system with the handset and turn the 
starter switch to position ‘II’.
H3617 
						

							Battery
116
Replacement batteries
Only fit a replacement battery of the same type 
and specification as the original - other 
batteries may vary in size or have different 
terminal positions which could cause a fire 
hazard when connected to the cars electrical 
system.
Battery disposal
Used batteries should be recycled. 
However, batteries are hazardous - you 
should seek advice about disposal from a Land 
Rover dealer or your local authority.
Battery charging
Batteries generate explosive gases, contain 
corrosive acid and produce levels of electric 
current sufficient to cause serious injury. While 
charging always heed the following 
precautions:
•Before charging, disconnect and remove the 
battery from the vehicle - charging the 
battery with the cables connected may 
damage the vehicles electrical system. 
NOTE: On Tdi models, ensure that the 
battery is topped up to the correct level.
•Make sure the battery charger leads are 
securely clamped to the battery terminals 
BEFORE switching on the battery charger. 
Do not move the leads once the charger is 
switched on.
•While charging, shield your eyes or avoid 
leaning over the battery and keep the area 
around the top of the battery well ventilated.
•Do not allow naked lights near the battery 
(batteries generate inflammable hydrogen 
during and after charging).•On Td5 models, the battery will be charged 
sufficiently once the battery condition 
indicator shows GREEN. When charging is 
finished, switch off the battery charger 
BEFORE disconnecting the leads from the 
battery terminals. 
NOTE: Be aware that a battery will take 
longer to charge in a cold environment.
After charging, leave the battery for an hour 
BEFORE reconnection to the vehicle - this will 
allow time for explosive gases to disperse, 
thereby minimising the risk of fire or explosion.
WARNING
DO NOT charge the battery if it is connected to 
the car - this may seriously damage the 
electrical system.
On Td5 models, DO NOT attempt to charge the 
battery if the battery condition indicator is 
clear or light yellow.
DO NOT charge the battery if it is suspected of 
being frozen. 
						

							Tyres
117
Ty resCARING FOR YOUR TYRES
WARNING
DEFECTIVE TYRES ARE DANGEROUS! Do not 
drive if any tyre is damaged, is excessively 
worn, or is inflated to an incorrect pressure.
Always drive with consideration for the 
condition of the tyres, and regularly inspect the 
tread and side walls for any sign of distortion 
(bulges), cuts or wear.
NOTE: If possible, protect tyres from 
contamination by oil, grease, fuel and other 
automotive fluids.
Tyre pressures
Correctly inflated tyres will ensure that you 
enjoy the best combination of tyre life, fuel 
economy and road handling.
Under-inflated tyres wear more rapidly, can 
seriously affect the vehicles road handling 
characteristics and fuel consumption, as well 
as increasing the risk of tyre failure. 
Over-inflated tyres give a harsher ride, wear 
unevenly and are more prone to damage.
Tyre pressures should be checked at least once 
a week with normal road use, but should be 
checked DAILY if the vehicle is used off-road.Check the pressures (including the spare 
wheel) when the tyres are cold - be aware that 
it only takes a mile (1.6 km) of driving to warm 
up the tyres sufficiently to affect the tyre 
pressures.
Air pressure naturally increases in warm tyres; 
if it is necessary to check the tyres when they 
are warm (after the vehicle has been driven for 
a while), you should expect the pressures to 
have increased between 4 and 6 lbf/in
2. In this 
circumstance, NEVER let air out of the tyres in 
order to match the recommended pressures.
WARNING
If the vehicle has been parked in strong 
sunlight or used in high ambient 
temperatures, DO NOT reduce tyre pressures; 
instead, move the vehicle into the shade and 
allow the tyres to cool before checking.
The recommended pressures for cold tyres are 
shown in ‘WHEELS & TYRES’, page 156. 
						

							Tyres
118
Tyre wear 
Some tyres fitted as original equipment have 
wear indicators moulded into the tread pattern. 
When the tread has worn down to 1.6 mm (1/16 
inch) the indicators start appearing at the 
surface of the tread pattern, producing the 
effect of a continuous band of rubber across the 
width of the tyre.
A tyre MUST be replaced as soon as an 
indicator band becomes visible or the tread 
depth reaches the minimum permitted by 
legislation.Tread depth must be checked regularly (at 
every maintenance service, or more 
frequently). Always replace a tyre before the 
tread reaches a remaining depth of 1.6 mm. DO 
NOT drive with tyres worn to this limit, the 
safety of the vehicle and occupants will be 
adversely affected.
NOTE: After off-road use, check to make sure 
there are no lumps or bulges in the tyres or 
exposure of the ply or cord structure.
Valves
Keep the valve caps screwed down firmly - they 
prevent dirt from entering the valve. Check the 
valve for leaks (listen for a tell-tale hissing) 
when you check the tyre pressure.
Punctured tyres
Your vehicle is fitted with tubeless tyres, which 
may not leak if penetrated by a sharp object, 
provided the object remains in the tyre. If you 
are aware of this occurring, reduce speed 
immediately and drive with caution until the 
spare wheel can be fitted. 
A puncture of this kind will eventually cause the 
tyre to lose pressure, which is why regular (and 
frequent) checking of tyre pressures is 
important. Punctured or damaged tyres must 
be permanently repaired or replaced as soon as 
possible. DO NOT DRIVE WITH A PUNCTURED 
TYRE!
H3606 
						

							Tyres
119
Replacement tyres
Wheel rims and tyres are matched to suit the 
handling characteristics of the vehicle. For 
safety, ALWAYS check that replacement tyres 
comply with the original specification (see 
‘WHEELS & TYRES’, page 156) and that the 
load and speed ratings shown on the side wall 
are the same as that of the original equipment. 
Contact your Land Rover dealer for further 
information or assistance.
WARNING
ALWAYS use the same make and type of 
radial-ply tyres front and rear. DO NOT use 
cross-ply tyres, or interchange tyres from 
front to rear.
If the wheel is marked ‘TUBED’, an inner tube 
MUST be fitted, even with a tubeless tyre.
If the wheel is marked ‘TUBELESS’, an inner 
tube must NOT be fitted.
DO NOT replace wheels with any type other 
than genuine Land Rover parts. Wheels and 
tyres are designed for both off-road and 
on-road use and have a very important 
influence on vehicle handling. Alternative 
wheels which do not meet original equipment 
specifications should not be fitted.
Always have replacement wheels and tyres 
balanced before use.
SNOW CHAINS
Snow chains are designed for use on metalled 
roads in extreme conditions only, and are not 
recommended for off-road use. If it is 
necessary to fit snow chains to your vehicle, 
ALWAYS observe the following:
•Rear wheels: Snow chains can be fitted to 
the rear wheels of any vehicle, provided the 
wheels and tyres conform to one of the 
original equipment specifications listed in 
the handbook (see ‘WHEELS & TYRES’, 
page 156).
•If chains are to be fitted to the front wheels 
only, or to all four wheels, then ONLY Land 
Rover approved chains should be used - 
these are designed for your vehicle and will 
eliminate any risk of damage to other 
components.
•Non-approved chains can be fitted to the 
rear wheels ONLY.
•Ensure the gearbox differential is locked.
•Always adhere to the snow chain fitting and 
retensioning instructions and the speed 
limitations recommended for varying road 
conditions. NEVER exceed 30 mph 
(50 km/h).
•Avoid tyre damage by removing the chains 
as soon as the road is free from snow.
For further information about approved snow 
chains, consult your Land Rover dealer.
WARNING
DO NOT fit unapproved snow chains to the 
front wheels - this could damage brake 
components.