Is it a lemon? Or the "character" of a defender?

**alittlebitconcerned** · 4th February 2010, 05:35 PM

Hi all.
I wish my first post could be a happier one but I'm a little disgruntled to say the least. I bought an 08 puma with 30k on the clock and have had it now for two weeks.

In this time it has been in the shop twice and is about to go in for the the third time in one week.
Initially it was for a major service but in addition I wanted it looked at as the engine light was coming on. The engine light was apparently a mis-calibration(?) with the computer. Well, it has been reset twice now and no sooner do I drive it away than the light comes back on. The service record from the previous owner shows the same problem was investigated and apparently fixed. Same diagnosis.
As to the service, they left all their crap in my car, charged me $20 for a $3 remote battery and left it in my centre console for me to fit.
Part of the work done was a recall issue to do with the handbreak which they said they fixed; I now cannot use the handbreak as it simply does not work.
I had to waited 1.5 hours to receive my car after being told it was ready to go. The entire time it was parked 5mtrs from me but they for god knows what reason they were unable to give me the papers from the service and the work done. I left ****ed off and have only received them in the mail today a week later.
On the highway on the weekend I suddenly lost all power until I change down a gear. Mentioned it to LR. Got a shrug.
Third gear is a struggle at times to get into. Seems to resist and catch on the flywheel.
Yesterday I switched on my aircon (has worked fine for all other days I have owned it) and by the end of my half hour trip the passenger side floor had flooded with water.
Today I went to open my drivers side door and the handle came off!!!
This is absolutely unbelievable to me. I keep looking for the film crew to jump out from behind some bushes.
I have never come across such poor build quality in a new car. Is this car a lemon?

**Drover** · 4th February 2010, 05:55 PM

Wow, that is a bad run.

What dealer are you taking it to ? I have got a '08, it has just 10,000k's and I am about to book it in for a service. I think I need to avoid your dealer.

In the past I have used Alto's at Artarmon, when I had my Disco 3. Never had a problem with them.

I have got a couple of warranty issues for them but they are limited to the sub woofer not working and the rear seat release being stiff.

Defender’s are normally very reliable in my experience, that why I got rid of the Disco 3 and I haven’t been disappointed yet.

Stick with it, once you get it sorted you will enjoy it to no end

Cheers

**Pedro_depacas** · 4th February 2010, 06:11 PM

Doesn't sound too good, thats for sure. definately need a new service centre.
Drover if you dont mind me asking what about the D3 made you get rid of it? (you can PM me mate. dont wanna hijak the thread)

**crump** · 4th February 2010, 06:42 PM

A lemon? No way, sounds like you got a good one!

Seems more of a dealer/workshop problem than the vehicle itself.

**dmdigital** · 4th February 2010, 06:48 PM

No it is not normal! I have over 41,000km on a 2008 Defender and nothing resembling anything like your problems. Any issues I have had have been resolved in a satisfactory manner.

**Sleepy** · 4th February 2010, 07:08 PM

I would:

contact Land Rover Australia with a list of your issues. (Don't moan, groan or threaten, just dot point your issues and ask their opinion.)
write a letter to the manager of the Land Rover dealer you are dealing with.
keep a record of everything.
demand a loan car whilst yours is off the road.

I am in Melbourne and I have had Land Rover fix even the most minor of issues - they may grumble but they'll do it if you persist.
Your items can and should be fixed
All my Land Rovers have given me some grief but everything is fixable. One member here had a new motor fitted.
Once you get your items sorted you'll love it.

**Discovery300Tdi** · 4th February 2010, 07:17 PM

G'day mate,

Sorry to hear about your troubles with your defer. I myself dont own one (Wish i did) but i have a D1 300Tdi and i too know what your going through TRUST ME!!!!!!!!!!

Not sure if sleepy was reffering to myself but i had to get a full engine rebuild and replace the injector pump and alot of other good and expensive stuff BUT in the end while she not running how i want it (Soon will be) i am one happy camper with it. Guess you just have to persist with it and get her fixed and once it's done you'll love it to bits. Follow what sleepy has said and in one way or another they HAVE TO fix the problems. Wish ya luck mate and dont give her up cause from what i have heared they are a bloody great rig.

**Sleepy** · 4th February 2010, 07:31 PM

Originally Posted by **Joker**

Not sure if sleepy was reffering to myself

Actually I was thinking of dullbird. Your wouldn't have been a warranty issue, would it?

I forgot to say:

Welcome to the forum alittlebitconcerned, let's hope you can change your name to contentedlandyowner soon.

**Discovery300Tdi** · 4th February 2010, 07:34 PM

Originally Posted by Sleepy

Actually I was thinking of dullbird. Your wouldn't have been a warranty issue, would it?

I forgot to say:

Welcome to the forum alittlebitconcerned, let's hope you can change your name to contentedlandyowner soon.

No it wasnt a warrantly issue, thats coOL noooo prob's.

JUST DONT GIVE UP MATE!!!!

**Mick_Marsh** · 4th February 2010, 07:47 PM

alittlebitconcerned,
Funny thing, I've just heard the same story today from a work colleague. Different problems and different car though. His car is a Mercedes ML class and the dealer was Mercedes of course. His solution, go to a different dealer/mechanic.
Late last year I had problems with a Mercedes specialist who did a substandard job on my old classic Mercedes and made the car very unreliable. I switched mechanics for that vehicle and, hey presto, it's a good goer.
I can go on and on with similar stories on holdens and landrovers as well but I think you get the picture.
With cars, they are mechanical, they don't have moods or feelings. There is no such thing as a lemon, it's just a poorly treated or poorly maintained car. If a part is faulty, you replace it or live with the fault. If to you mechanical things are a dark art, and the problems aren't getting fixed, change mechanics.
Also, think of it from the mechanics point of view, sometimes a fault may appear to be fixed but isn't. Give him a chance to work it through. Let him know you're not happy.
In your case though, you were treated poorly. Move on. Get another mechanic. I'm sure you will get many recommendations from this website (if you use the right title for your post.)

I hope this helps
regards
Mick

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