2002 disco 2 potential purchase (overheating)

[barryt]

hey guys! i am brand new to rovers.

i am looking at buying a 2002 disco with 126k

its idles very well. revs nicely no obvious egnine issues. oil looks good no cheese on the dipstick or filler cap.

has 2 codes. one for an o2 sensor and one for the traction control.
ther front windows dont roll down.
now for the real issue. the owner said he had a radiator leak and had a mechanic put in a new rad. it was a local guy not a land rover mechanic. after the rad was replaced the truck started getting hot. the owner said it never let it overheat. he took it back to the same mechanic who replaced the water pump. same symptoms persist.

my inspection:
after about 20m of idling is starts to get got. the top radiator houses get very hot and the overflow starts spurting water-steam out of the cap on the overflow tank. however the bottom hose is cold and cold water starts runnimg down the right hand side of the onto the ground. i couldnt see exactly where the cold water was coming from because the frame was in the way.

my thoughts:

thermostat
air in the system
fault new rad
bad head gasket
bock cracked

i am new to these rigs. what are your thoughts on the overhesting issue.

sorry for how this was written. i am on my mobile phone.

thanks,
barry

 

[joey]

Get the front of the rover up on ramps or at least an angle so the front is higher then the back, even an incline in driveway or park on a bank...

remove radiator cap, start engine with heater on high. Run engine till you can add fluid, continue to add fluid (antifreeze (50/50 mix)) until you cant add anymore probably take about 30-45 minutes....

 

[iconoclast]

if you are considering this vehicle i hope you are getting it heavily discounted for any current and or potential problems it has. this could be a costly gamble.