Land Rover Repair: 1999 Disco II (29K miles) ticking noise, mechanic friend, exhaust valves

Question
Hello John,
I just purchased a 1999 Discovery II with only 29K miles on it.  It already had the 30K service from LR. I hear a ticking noise from the engine area, and would like to know if there are common."small" things to look for before I assume it is exhaust valves, etc....  Thank you for your time in advance.

Lee

Answer
Hi Lee,

...oh boy...ticking noise and only 29K...my first thought was the sticking exhaust valves.  A mechanic friend of mine told me that the best Disco to date was and is the 1999 model. Strange that you should have this trouble...usually sticking exhaust shows up at about 50K.

This engine has very little 'tweaking' capability other than thru the LR testbook system.  It could be lifter adjustment, maybe a bad bearing on a pulley wheel...check the alternator first!  They are usually the first pulley component to fail.  I've changed quite a few on my '95 Disco.

Best of luck,

JohnMc