Thread: 6 years of Puma Ownership

Thanks Jason, you make some good points. Yes $200 is not much and if it means they actually road test the thing and have a good look around i'm happy with that.

And to be fair there is nothing that ive asked for that LR have balked at - they havent resolved everything first try but they keep taking it back and having another go (and cleaning it - ive never washed it meself!).

I have clunky second gear when cold too. It irritates me but then i think about the cost/hassle to replace a gearbox and imagine i'll just get laughed out the room. But then why should i accept this in a -3yr old car....?

Love the deefer, but want it properly sorted so i can keep it and use it long term with confidence

Sam

I found the RACQ master inspection to be pretty comprehensive. They check everything from individual cylinder compression through to marking my AC "defective" because the little plastic tab on the driver's adjustable vent had snapped off! (since super glued back on).....

It is peace of mind. My Mazda when it came out of warranty had been checked by a dealer and passed perfect...this same inspection by RACQ found a slight leak on the back of the gearbox which cost Mazda a bomb to fix.....so I wouldn't take the dealer's word for it myself.

I'm hesitant because i got an RACQ pre-purchase inspection done on the Defender (buying interstate) which was lousy

Originally Posted by Samblers

I'm hesitant because i got an RACQ pre-purchase inspection done on the Defender (buying interstate) which was lousy

I don't think that inspection is perhaps as comprehensive as the Master inspection. I had to take the Defy to them, they had it on a hoist, on diagnostics, on a road test - and they took 4 hours going over it. That said, I guess the inspection is only as good as the person conducting it.

So I took the 110 to LR to address some issues prior to end of warranty. Was expecting a full road test and report for $200, but they didn’t charge me but then also didn’t raise any new issues so doubt they actually performed an overall inspection. I think if they do this they may get in trouble with the insurers as they are actively seeking out issues.

Clutch pedal creak – (4 visits to LR for this) - They had my clutch assembly incl master cylinder in bits and sprayed lube around like holy water. No creak so far. I got the feeling that this was the last time they were willing to look into it! I’m sick of it too so hope it doesn’t come back.

My tight 2nd gear was not detected by the service guys – they said it seems normal, and a ‘characteristic of the car’. Cute. I’m either super-sensitive, or fussy, or both. I can live with it, but Its definitely stiff to engage, esp. when cold. I’m sure if there was something relatively obvious to find they would have done so.

Drivetrain backlash they took a bit more seriously but all three service guys (incl. service manager) drove it and deemed it normal and another ‘characteristic’. But then they put a warranty claim in for replacing some worn washers or something within the transfer case, plus some drive flange caps or something? I’m not familiar with the system. Sounds expensive and 3 days work. I was told in 6 months it’ll be making the same noises!

A new (to me) metallic scraping sound from engine at idle was not diagnosed. All the pulleys checked out OK but they put in a warranty claim for replacing the drive belt (a wear part) but this was rejected. Shame, as I would be up for this at 100,000km anyway, but I don’t see how this would have caused or solved a scraping sound, so not overly upset.

The rest of my list was all rattles, squeaks, windows that slide of their own accord, stereos that shake loose… apparently this sort of thing is not covered by the warranty and is further cute-ness (‘characteristic of the car’). A little bit lame, but then i know how difficult and frustrating these minor irritations can be to solve. My dashboard squeak they seemed to have inadvertently solved when they took the dash apart.

Finally they put a low pressure hose on it and failed to find any leaks at the front. The couple of times I’ve found puddles in the passenger footwell tell me otherwise… but hey ho…

Originally Posted by Samblers

Clutch pedal creak – (4 visits to LR for this) - They had my clutch assembly incl master cylinder in bits and sprayed lube around like holy water. No creak so far. I got the feeling that this was the last time they were willing to look into it! I’m sick of it too so hope it doesn’t come back.

I have had the same creak, I spray it every now and again and it is OK for a few K's then comes back.

There is a fix on Defender2.net for it, looks easy but I have not tried it yet, keep meaning to though.

Defender2 - View topic - Squeaky clutch?.....Easy mod!

Great post. When I looked previously I couldn’t even find the pedal box, let alone lube it

But then I am an IDIOT

Compared to the japanese 4wds my 90 has a gearbox and backlash like a grey fergie, but I'm assuming that's all part of the rustic charm..