Puma dead again! no road this time...

[JamesB71]

My 2013 defender "failed to proceed" again on the weekend, stranding me in the scrub. This is the second time in two weeks....

This time two plastic fuel line fittings on the top of the water separator both broke and stopped the car dead in its tracks, spewing diesel all over my farmer friends paddock. There was no reattaching them. The plastic spigot on the top of the water separator was clearly broken off and stuck in the other plastic end on the fuel lines. It hadn't been hit by anything and I was idling it slowly across a flat, grassed paddock while a farmer friend of mine and I were fencing. Hardly the extreme terrain that you would think would pull up a defender!

LRA sent a flat bed and took it away (again). I was stuck in the bush for a few days and was rapidly running out of food and supplies so I scabbed a lift back to civilisation leaving all my equipment in the scrub. Apparently when the parts arrive and its repaired they will deliver it back to me.

Given that this is the second time it has left me stranded in as many weeks I am seriously starting to consider whether this is the right vehicle for my trip across the country next year. I purchased the defender specifically for that trip and I am beginning to regret it....

Question:- Is there an aftermarket version of this fuel separator unit available made out of something more robust than plastic? Are there other LR parts that were made to a budget like this that I should be replacing before I take it into the wilderness?

Im ****ed off because I am going to miss the LR day next weekend due to having to drive out into the scrub again and collect my gear.

I wonder if someone will lend me a land cruiser for the trip....I want to make it home again.

[Scallops]

Sorry to hear of you drama with your Defender, and in the absence of any other replies, I thought I could just say I have an 07 Defender - the first one sold in Qld, and it has never - not once - let me down.

All I can say is that sometimes - **** happens. Without knowing anything of your particular car, it's hard to really offer any advice regarding your trip, but I drove mine all over the country a few years back. I crossed the Savannah, the top end, the Kimberleys, the Gibson desert (Gunbarrel), the Simpson etc....and the truck made the trip even more fun.

I can't specifically answer your fuel seperator question - but I reckon once its fixed, you'll be right.....doesn't appear to be a common problem. Good luck and I hope your Defender proves itself to you.

[bemm52]

James is this the filter located under wheel arch?

[JamesB71]

Yup, thats the one. It blew apart both of the fittings on the engine side of the filter.

[BilboBoggles]

I wonder if you might have snagged it when your 90 went rock hopping? Those filters whilst appearing fragile have been in use for 15 years and seem to be usually trouble free. Its pretty hard to smack then offroad. And id guess its some sort of mechanical impact that would have broken the fitting.

[JamesB71]

Where it was broken was well and truly protected by the large armoured shroud around it. I think its more likely a manufacturing defect in the plastic fitting.

[scarry]

I am with Scallops here,my sons Puma has done thousands of k's all around the country and never missed a beat.
In fact it has been fantastic.Has done heaps of off road stuff as well.

Did stop once though,loose battery terminals a few weeks after the dealer had changed the battery:(

Once you get this sorted,all will be OK:)

[Pickles2]

Not good at all James.
I'm not familiar with this item,.......It couldn't have been "disturbed" by the dealer when doing your turbo hose?
Pickles.

[djam1]

James I hope your day improves and you get it all sorted

Criticizing Pumas is a bit like criticizing the Pope you get into trouble with much finger pointing and justification as to how it isn't so.

I know nothing of Pumas maybe it was just bad luck.

[JamesB71]

Thanks guys. I know there are a lot of one eyed observers, and I cant help but love the Landies myself, but its been a long time since a vehicle left me stranded in the bush, and this one has done it twice.

Criticism should be acceptable when its justified and lead to continual improvement.

[JamesB71]

Not good at all James. I'm not familiar with this item,.......It couldn't have been "disturbed" by the dealer when doing your turbo hose? Pickles.

I doubt it mate, the turbo hose they screwed up two weeks ago is under the bonnet, the water separator is in the rear wheel arch.

[PAT303]

I don't think they simply broke off,that type of thing happens every day on farm vehicles,I'd say a stick or rock followed the tyre around and hit it or a stick ripped on the lines and snapped the fittings off.I culled roo's as a kid in my series three and I've lost count how many times sticks caused this type of damage,I had one come up under the bulkhead and stab me in the calf,another come through the rad and mangles the fan,with the Tdi a stick came from the back wheels and smashed the drivers side mirror off,these things happen. Pat

[Psimpson7]

I agree with Pat. I have smashed the lines of my TD5 twice with the help of large sticks. The setup on my Puma looks identical

[JamesB71]

The puma returned today. Only took 4 days to replace the fuel line connectors and get it back....

[Pickles2]

James, glad all iis now hopefully back to normal,....any comment from LRA as to why your situation occurred?
Pickles.

[JamesB71]

Nope. They just fixed it and sent it back on a truck. LRA was pretty good and did just what they said they would. Im not sure but I think they might have adjusted the brakes while they had it. It seemed to pull up pretty well today.

I still love the damn thing....

[muddy]

Ready for expo ?

[JamesB71]

Yeah..... the gear can sit out bush for another week.

[voltron]

Please excuse my ignorance but when and where is expo????

[FeatherWeightDriver]

Please excuse my ignorance but when and where is expo????

This Sunday in Sydney, see: http://www.aulro.com/afvb/showthread.php?p=2227428