Thread: A sad Day. Goodby Deefer.

Sad but similar story with my Puma, first time I'd ever had a new vehicle but all of the $1,500 Triumphs I had previously were more reliable than it. Half the time I couldn't get as far as the local shops in it. It was a standard joke that at least once a week I wouldn't make it to work, the stupid thing even broke down on a potential buyer during a test drive It does wear you down and eventually you get over the laughing stage.

Best thing I ever did was upgrade to the 300 Tdi model - talk about chalk and cheese

I think you have been more than forgiving of the car. Totally reasonable to look elsewhere and give up on it.

I had a good run with mine but I decided to get something more mainstream for the replacement vehicle, so I've gone for a Ford Ranger ute. Never had a Ford in my life, so no idea what to expect, but all the reports and the owners I've spoken to have been very positive.

The 3.2 5-cylinder is what the Defender should have had. Great little engine.

I believe the dealer is as fed up with these things as I am. The tech joked with me yesterday that they know my car very well.... Ive just about got my own parking spot in their garage. I know my way around their coffee machine.... The tow truck driver joked yesterday that when he gets a job in the mountains its generally me.

When the turbo hose has blown for the third time since the redesign and recall (which land rover australia tells me is perfectly acceptable) the tech told me off the record that there was an after market fix but they are forced to use the sub standard oem parts that are very obviously not up to the job.

To the guys that say "Its just a hose, replace it and move on".... its not so much just a hose. When the turbo hose blows, it means a trip on the flat bed to the nearest dealer which is generally more than 100kms from me, a day off work while they get me a hire car and then a week without it driving a car that I'm worried about the whole time because the excess in the event of someone dinging it in the car park is more than I can afford.... then I have to drive to the dealer (katoomba to Narellan) to pick it up when it is eventually ready.

The first time that the hose blew, I could see where it had come off the turbo, and I suggested to the lady on the phone that they just send a tech out to put it back on and reset the computer, but she said if they go into limp mode and the orange light comes on they always truck it back to the dealer.

Just got a call from the dealer and they think, though they arent sure, that the exhaust reflux valve might be split and dumped all the coolant into the exhaust.

My family used to joke about my first car, a 1969 beetle, being unreliable because it used to break down from time to time, but it had nothing on this Defender. You would think that in 2015 they would have a few of the bugs ironed out of a car they have been making for such a long time....

This whole episode has resulted in me being really despondent and depressed. I cant keep it, but to get rid of it will mean that I will still be paying it off for years to come...

Originally Posted by PAT303

If I bought a brand new vehicle and had the same problem happen over and over I would seriously make a scene at the dealership,lets just get this straight,it's just a hose,it's not rocket science.I would send a very nasty letter to LR head office and I would get a solicitor to send a strongly worded letter to both the dealership and again to head office,written on a letter head saying words to the effect that you will be seeking compensation from them because of loss of income because of their **** poor mechanical skills.I've always advised people to not put up with poor quality work from dealerships,I would not put up with this crap,I've had four new LR's and all four have carried me all over Oz and only twice have they left me stranded,both times because of poor quality work.James,give them ****. Pat

I have to say I agree with you, dealers are lacking technical competency and I experienced it myself. It took them 5 attempts to adjust the centre diff lock switch as it was always switching off while in lock mode. They also attempted 4 times to fix a squeaky clutch pedal and still ongoing.
It took me 4 attempts to convince them I had worn axles/flanges and eventually replaced them( will install Ashcroft HD after warranty).
My warranty expires next May and will be looking forward in servicing it at a reputable LR mechanic here in Melbourne as I don't have any confidence with dealer service technical competency.

This turbo hose thing is nut's. Why is it that most other Defenders have no problem (with turbo hoses) and you do?
Is it the same people "fixing" it?
Did they put the recall bracket on wrong and it's pulling the hoses?
Are they using the wrong parts?

I would take it to a reputable independent and get them to fix it properly.
There are no reason why it should come off after it's been fixed properly the first time.

I understand that you have had enough but would you feel different about your car if the turbo hose came off once and then it was fixed properly?

The other few problems are bad luck or could be due to bad servicing.

Selling a car and having to still pay it off is hard.

All the best!

Other than the turbo hose, its also had a split intercooler, half the driveline replaced because of backlash, a new clutch pedal box, a new air filter box box because in assembly they routed the belt the wrong way around a pulley and it wore a hole in it, the bar that protects the front of the underside of the motor replaced because it was smashed in and rusty on the showroom floor before I had even driven it, and was once towed hundreds of kms from outback nsw when it blew the top off the fuel seperator....

Its not just one hose...

Originally Posted by JamesB71

Other than the turbo hose, its also had a split intercooler, half the driveline replaced because of backlash, a new clutch pedal box, a new air filter box box because in assembly they routed the belt the wrong way around a pulley and it wore a hole in it, the bar that protects the front of the underside of the motor replaced because it was smashed in and rusty on the showroom floor before I had even driven it, and was once towed hundreds of kms from outback nsw when it blew the top off the fuel seperator....

Its not just one hose...

All these indicate a front end collision.I don't think it'd be possible to incorrectly route the belt.Split intercooler.Smashed bar. Get the vehicle assessed by an independent Land Rover specialist immediately .

Sorry to hear this - I reckon I'd give up too. I can't help but suspect that they're just fixing the symptoms and haven't diagnosed the problem(s).