Total loss of drive....bugger!

Ok, today I called the dealer, and actually got the same service assistant that I dealt with all the way back in January.

I explained the situation, and was infomed that they are flat out and can't look at it until the 24th of this month. I explained how I now have a vibration from the clutch area, that wasn't there prior to the work done by them. The transfer case is now leaking and they neglected to refit a support bracket on the gearbox. He said in regards to the bracket that "mistakes happen, but I find it highly unlikely that the clutch has been damaged during fitment or fitted incorrectly, as there's really not much involved in fitting one." I didn't realise that service assistants are also fully fledged mechanics now. As for the transfer case, well they'll have to investigate before jumping to conclusions. He also enquired as to the front diff, which I told him was fine, and had been professionally set up by another workshop. The same workshop that on test driving my Defender this week, discovered the oil leak/ vibration, and missing part. I also read out the report that Pickards made.

Now I have two options as far as I see it. Firstly I wait until the 24th, then hope that MCLR do the right thing and rectify the issues with no addtional cost to me. I've heard from others that they are pretty good at honouring warranty issues. But, from the workmanship I've seen will they just try to dodge the issue with the clutch, and just use the age old excuse that it's a "Defender thing!". The transfer case is definatley down to them as the vehicle has only done 20 or so km's since refitment. They might drop the gearbox, say there's no issue, then bill me for the hours spent on it. It's certainly not in their own interest to find issues with their own poor workmanship.

The second option is to let Pickards do the work, their attention to detail, and customer skills are excellent. Let them fix the leaking transfer case, and if they find the clutch damaged due to poor fitment, then ask Melbourne City Landrover to honour their own warranty and provide a replacement clutch at no cost. The only problem is, that it's been hinted that if any one else works on it then the clutch warranty is void.

One part of me wants to wash my hands of the dealer, and just walk away. But they should be held responsible if it's found that they caused these issues. Maybe I should try Consumer Affairs, see what they have to say.

Reliability is probably the most important thing. Go with who you have confidence with.

ozy013, you're in a bit of a quandary aren't you?!
I reckon that as MCLR have had a pretty good record with guys on here prior to your episode, that you let them have a look at the clutch/vibration issue, because if it is the clutch that is the problem, then surely they would not be able to deny you a cost free fix? And in addition, because of the stand you took last time, I believe that they'd be making very sure that you drive away a happy man.
Pickles.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ozy013

Well this arvo, I finally drove it home from Pickards. The backlash in the driveline is totally gone, and except for the vibration, which is also there at idle, it's great to drive.

Pickards put it back on the hoist on Friday, after my drive with the mechanic, to try to isolate the vibration. It was then they discovered that my transfer case is now leaking, not only that but the dealer forgot to plug in my park brake light loom, and they left this little part sitting in the footwell on the passenger side.:wallbash:

Attachment 120171

I was going to ask here if anyone knew where it was supposed to be fitted, but i think I've found the answer here;
http://cat.lrparts.ru/1235_037765296.jpeg
Looks like it's a support bracket for the high/low range lever.(Number 2)
Would the lack of this support bracket be causing the vibration?

After inspecting the leaking transfer case on arriving home, the leak is pretty bad, it's dripping on the driveway. ( I'll take some photo's tomorrow when the light's better). I've decided to call the Dealer on Monday and book it in to try to get them to rectify the issues they've caused. The transfer case wasn't leaking before it went into Landrover, and neither was the vibration there. So lets hope they come to the party and sort it without trying to charge me.

I'll be so happy when this whole saga is behind me, and I can venture of road again. Ah well one step at a time

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Its not a support bracket, its a plastic cover that clips over the top lever assembly as depicted above.

Regards
Daz

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ozy013

Attachment 120223

This is the leak I now have. I didn't get a chance to take a photo until this evening, the kids had Kendo grading all afternoon.
I spoke to a couple of people today, and it looks like the bracket is more of a cover for the wiring on the gearbox, rather than a support. But it still needs refitting.

I guess I'm just taking it one step at a time Chris, If I start thinking about it too much It does my head in. Especially a couple of times where my wife has argued that we should sell it. It's hard to argue the point for keeping it at times after all this has happened.

At least I have the kids on my side in regards to keeping the Defender.[thumbsupbig]

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The leak is caused by poor assembly..... (DOH)...... In the centre of that wet leaky spot you can clearly see a bolt head (its one of the transfer case mounting bolts).... that bolt needs to have sealant applied to it before installation as the threaded hole in the transfer case is below the fluid level, there is also a bolt above it at the top of the transfer case, I normally apply sealant to that bolt as well.

Regards
Daz

Thanks Daz, yeah when I looked up that plastic part in Microcat it said support bracket, so it's just a cover to stop the crap getting in.

Just another short update.
Yesterday I called Land Rover Australia, I was just trying to get some clarification on a couple of thing before I made a decision in regards to which way to proceed. They thought it may be possible to have another dealer rectify the problems, but because the claim has been made against Melbourne City Land Rover, then it has to go back to them. I just can't wait 3 weeks for them to look at it. They called the dealer trying to get them to book it in earlier, but no luck yet. I now even have a Land Rover Australia Victorian case manager, but they don't seem to have much influence over the dealer.

So this afternoon I spoke with the Victorian Ombudsman, and after that conversation I have booked it in next Friday with Pickards to have the issues sorted. The Ombudsman said that as long as the Independant workshop documents the strip down and takes photos of any poor workmanship, then I will be able to make a claim through them.

My wife is really pressing the point that I should sell the vehicle, It's hard trying to convince her to keep it when all this is going down, especially as I've had to borrow money from a friend to get Pickards to rectify Landrover's stuff ups. I'm out of funds, so after this episode there won't be any other modifications for a long while. That's if I don't have to sell it.

Not in a happy place at the moment.

Bloody hell mate.

Regarding MCLR (where I bought my 110), I wonder if things might have changed since the ownership/management change of hands last year.

Finally my car is back on the road, but unfotunatley thats not the end of the saga.

Pickards sorted it last week, and they were shocked by Melbourne City Landrovers lack of care and poor workmanship.

This is part of their report "Removed clutch and flywheel. Cause for vibration; FLYWHEEL NOT MACHINED, flywheel not cleaned, debri found in bell housing, found dirt under clutch and flywheel mating surfaces, bell housing bolts not tight. Also noted exhaust to turbo studs damaged/stipped." They also noted that the transfer case input seal had been damaged, and they discovered silastic around the seal.

So I've had to borrow money to get all this fixed, and now I'm trying to get the money I spent at Melbourne City Landrover back. Pickards have taken photos of Melbourne City Landrovers effort. I'm just waiting for them to be sent via email on Monday.

I called Melbourne City Landrover this week, and yet again got to speak to the same service assistant I've dealt with during this whole saga. I told him the situation, his reply was I should've brought it back to them if it was so severe, and they would've fixed it. I reminded him of our conversation over 3 weeks ago, and that back then I was told it was not possible for my vehicle to be looked at until the Friday just gone, the 24th, they were just too busy. He denied saying that. It was at this stage that I asked to speak to someone higher up, I also enquired if these phone calls are recorded for quality purposes, as that would be very helpful. Apparantley they get deleted regularly.
He kept saying that it was up to them to rectify the issue, and not another workshop, and that he couldn't understand why I would take my vehicle elsewhere. I explained that he should put himself in my shoes, I'd just spent over $2000 at Melbourne City Landrover to get a clutch fitted properly, and they'd botched it, whats to say that they wouldn't do it again, especially since they'd stuffed it so much the first time round.
Several of the bellhousing bolts were just finger tight.:wallbash:

He also accused me of driving my vehicle whilst it was in this condition, further damaging it. Now the Km's on it when it went to Melbourne City Landrover was 97583, when I took it to Pickards to get the vibration fixed it had 97694, as I only drove it home and then back to the workshop. I've been using a hire car and mates to get me to and from work. The transfer case was leaking too much, even when cold, for me to take it anywhere.
So my Defender had done 111km's on the new clutch that Melbourne City Landrover had fitted.

Consumer Affairs have told me to raise the issue with Melbourne City Landrover first, before taking it up with them. So once I get all the photo's together, then I'll head in there sometime next week, apparently I have to speak to Freddy, as he's the head of service and wasn't in when I called this week.

I'd also like to thank everyone for their support and best wishes, I've had quite alot of uplifting PM's, so thank you.

I've also had a couple of messages warning me that one of the service managers of Melbourne City Landrover is active on this forum, and that I should be careful about what I say. I think I've been fair, and quite restrained so far.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ozy013

Finally my car is back on the road, but unfotunatley thats not the end of the saga.

Pickards sorted it last week, and they were shocked by Melbourne City Landrovers lack of care and poor workmanship.

This is part of their report "Removed clutch and flywheel. Cause for vibration; FLYWHEEL NOT MACHINED, flywheel not cleaned, debri found in bell housing, found dirt under clutch and flywheel mating surfaces, bell housing bolts not tight. Also noted exhaust to turbo studs damaged/stipped." They also noted that the transfer case input seal had been damaged, and they discovered silastic around the seal.

So I've had to borrow money to get all this fixed, and now I'm trying to get the money I spent at Melbourne City Landrover back. Pickards have taken photos of Melbourne City Landrovers effort. I'm just waiting for them to be sent via email on Monday.

I called Melbourne City Landrover this week, and yet again got to speak to the same service assistant I've dealt with during this whole saga. I told him the situation, his reply was I should've brought it back to them if it was so severe, and they would've fixed it. I reminded him of our conversation over 3 weeks ago, and that back then I was told it was not possible for my vehicle to be looked at until the Friday just gone, the 24th, they were just too busy. He denied saying that. It was at this stage that I asked to speak to someone higher up, I also enquired if these phone calls are recorded for quality purposes, as that would be very helpful. Apparantley they get deleted regularly.
He kept saying that it was up to them to rectify the issue, and not another workshop, and that he couldn't understand why I would take my vehicle elsewhere. I explained that he should put himself in my shoes, I'd just spent over $2000 at Melbourne City Landrover to get a clutch fitted properly, and they'd botched it, whats to say that they wouldn't do it again, especially since they'd stuffed it so much the first time round.
Several of the bellhousing bolts were just finger tight.:wallbash:

He also accused me of driving my vehicle whilst it was in this condition, further damaging it. Now the Km's on it when it went to Melbourne City Landrover was 97583, when I took it to Pickards to get the vibration fixed it had 97694, as I only drove it home and then back to the workshop. I've been using a hire car and mates to get me to and from work. The transfer case was leaking too much, even when cold, for me to take it anywhere.
So my Defender had done 111km's on the new clutch that Melbourne City Landrover had fitted.

Consumer Affairs have told me to raise the issue with Melbourne City Landrover first, before taking it up with them. So once I get all the photo's together, then I'll head in there sometime next week, apparently I have to speak to Freddy, as he's the head of service and wasn't in when I called this week.

I'd also like to thank everyone for their support and best wishes, I've had quite alot of uplifting PM's, so thank you.

I've also had a couple of messages warning me that one of the service managers of Melbourne City Landrover is active on this forum, and that I should be careful about what I say. I think I've been fair, and quite restrained so far.

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Good news mate :BigThumb:
If said person is active on the forum so be it you have been in my opinion very tolerate over this .
I hope they come to the party with a reasonable settlement that is to your liking [wink11].