Thread: D4 Dies after first service....VERY unhappy camper!

G'day Ladies And Gents,
well, I'm the "unhappy camper" – amazed at some of the comments and agree with John and the few other helpful, constructive, rational and calming voices – and I really appreciate some of the witty and clever banter (e.g. Discowhite - I am clearly not worthy and the D4 has judged me - Python-esque! And Celtoid – “He's a Prado owner....I don't believe a word he says.....” very wise! I obviously couldn’t afford a Cruiser at the time!).
My original words were written in an email (on my phone on the train) to some friends who communicate regularly in a dry, perhaps unusual, humorous banter and wasn't intended to be a precise technical debrief on the issue (I'm an aviation senior design engineer and could bore you to tears with pages of analysis! I’ve also raced bikes and cars, on and off road, since I was a teenager so, mechanically, I’m not a “dipstick”.). John posted it for me because I was travelling and hadn’t been online (travel home was delayed by some yet unexplained vehicular problem!). I’m not active with posts, but read a lot – perhaps because of the responses that some people post.

Some Info: as soon as I got onto the roadside assist, in business hours, they were brilliant. And the LR Squealer was also very responsive – loaner Freelander with no questions and offer to truck my car back to my home (200km away). As soon as I get the outcome of the repair/rectification, I’ll post it (so long as you promise not to shoot the messenger…… Or RockyLizard!)

So to answer a few questions (the ones that John hasn’t already):
· No petrol was put in the tank , it has done 22,000km, is 13 months old, and has been serviced at 1 and 6 months health checks, plus been back a few times to rectify “accessory issues”
· I don’t know the nature of the failure/Replacement Oil Level Sensor– they didn’t give me the fault code or the “defect to Board level”. it was picked up in the LR diagnostic and they didn’t have a replacement in stock.
· No Cautions or illuminations prior to the service, nor after (except the “Reduced Performance temporarily) – even when the dieseling/overrun occurred, no lights came on until the engine shut down – and then it was just the (expected) full set that comes up during the start-up – eg everything including hi beam and icing caution
· This isn’t a troll, this happened at 19:17 on 15/8 on high st rd on the downhill outbound after Warrigal Rd. And if it didn’t happen, why would LR be pulling my car down and loan me a Freelander for the week? (are some guys that desperately in denial?!)
· “I'd bet the service did something wrong causing run on....” – No ****, Sherlock?!?!
· this “Clown” must have a big nose and could smell Sulphur. That’s a fact and observation. It happened. Accept it and get over it. Maybe it came from the local rubbish tip or a nearby Crack Lab, but the smell wasn't there before but was immeiadtely after. It was intense inside the car, so it likely came from the event that had just occurred.

I am hesitant to even provide much of this info after seeing some of the comments – I’m expecting to get “he didn’t say how many seconds past 19:17!”. I am active on similar forums for KTM and Ducati – we use the approach of “only post what you would say to the person face to face, with a view to not being punched in the face” Again, some of the comments on this thread are helpful and humourous - I’m sure the Administrator/Master would say “ Boys and Girls. Play nice, don’t throw sand and be Roverlike” (a good term)

If this was first problem, I wouldn’t be so concerned nor made such cynical comments (and I’m not an arsonist) – the vehicle, and particularly the motor, is (was?) excellent (although a little quirky in the controls and displays, but nowhere near as “unusual” as my ducati!) but the service, in sales, accessories and service is atrocious. 3 month delivery turns to 6 (too popular!), accessories that were ordered with the car weren’t available at delivery, and one of them, ordered by part number from LR Oz brochures and website, wasn’t available in Oz, accessories falling off due to poor manufacture and fitment and then a 6 week wait for the replacement, features that were briefed during the sales pitch that aren’t actually fitted on this model, probably the worst Users’ Manual I have ever seen, etc.

Expect things like this to happen with all brands? We all know they do, but to what extent and how often? Well I’ve never had a car that had to be towed before, and rarely had any parts replaced other than consumables like tyres, windscreens, etc (and I push some of them pretty hard) and the list for the last 15 years or so reads something like Subaru, Nissan, Datsun, Ford, Holden, HSV, Toyota, Mazda, BMW, Daewoo (!), KTM, Ducati, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Honda, Gas Gas (multiples on some of these brands) – I like to experience different types and makes and tend not to be one eyed towards a particular brand loyalty – Yep I drove a new Prado and a key factor in the D4 decision was to try something different! Guess I shoulda paid more attention to the JD Power ratings.

Thanks for the constructive bits, keep up the mischievous banter and for those who want to rant – driving a Brit Car will give you plenty of reason to be bitter! Although, it is really an Indian brand now…….(Hey, those last two points’ll get the forum buzzin’ again!!)
Rob

So the original post is some banter between you and some friends, with no ask for help or what could cause this to happen, or , why do you think it happened, and then you and some others are surprised by the fact that it isnt taken seriously and filled with responses of helpful answers..


MMMM Interesting..

Cheers Ean

Multistrada,I know where you are coming from.Almost 14 years ago I bought my first brand new Land Rover,mate I was beaming,until I took it back for servicing.I still have that same Land Rover today and love the thing but only because I stopped useing LR dealers from looking after it,the only trouble I ever had with it was AFTER a ''factory trained techni/mechanic----monkey played with it.Don't let poor dealer service put you off,find through here a real mechanic to look after your D4 and you'll be smiling. Pat

Originally Posted by Rockylizard

Gday...

I provide the following copied from an email from a friend who has recently bought a new D4 - has always been Toyota Prado owner previously ....

QUOTE:
The first annual service located an oil level sensor that has to be replaced next week (thereby already surpassing the number of parts replaced on the Prado in 8 years!.....). And when I picked up disco, the reduced performance warning was on. So I pulled over, shut down and restarted. Caution gone.
15 km later - death rattles from engine, full acceleration (under closed throttle), masses of smoke and Christmas tree lights on panel (self soiling itself!) . Stand on brakes to slow engine, then it shut down so I rolled to a stop on a side road. In Ashwood - otherwise known as Axemurdererville.
Won't restart on a few attempts - one-press starter just keeps winding!
Landrover 24 hr assist put me on hold for 15 mins so I then try another start, which works so I limp 2 km to brother's place - during which it self oiled twice. I was prepared to put it in N and happily watch as it beat itself to death!
So it's gone on the truck (smokin' and stinking of oil and sulphur) and I'm on the train to get a loan car (anything that isn't British please!) and head to Sale, having missed two meetings this morn.
I hope that when it gets to LR it self combusts and burns down the dealership and all stock, so partially removing this scourge from the earth and saving many other owners from 'enjoying' LR ownership and 'service'!
UNQUOTE.

Any assisting comment please
Cheers
John

Gday...

I now realise how silly of me ....................... I thought the bit I have now highlighted in red (with a sad face) would have solicited some responses of "assistance" - not a long tirade of BS, abuse and comments questioning my integrety.

Of course, hindsight (such a great thing that) tells me that I will never again dare to have anything in my requests that even suggest the slightest discontent with the LR range.

I sure hope I don't get anything wrong with my D3 and want answers from some on this forum.

Cheers
John

Time to eat Humble pie..

My appologies Rockylizard and Multistrada, I never read past the Burn the thing part


Please forgive me


Cheers Ean

I have had my D4 for a little while now and it has had its fair share of issues.

I think some people get a bit bent when they have an issue and that's understandable. But I can forgive my D4 for its sins because it is simply a bloody awesome thing to drive. I tow a 3200kg van with it and it is awesome at that as well.

If you can see your D4 looking like this and still love the thing for what it can do then it must be an impressive vehicle.

Originally Posted by multistrada

G'day Ladies And Gents,
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]SNIP

Expect things like this to happen with all brands? We all know they do, but to what extent and how often? Well I’ve never had a car that had to be towed before, and rarely had any parts replaced other than consumables like tyres, windscreens, etc (and I push some of them pretty hard) and the list for the last 15 years or so reads something like Subaru, Nissan, Datsun, Ford, Holden, HSV, Toyota, Mazda, BMW, Daewoo (!), KTM, Ducati, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Honda, Gas Gas (multiples on some of these brands) – I like to experience different types and makes and tend not to be one eyed towards a particular brand loyalty – Yep I drove a new Prado and a key factor in the D4 decision was to try something different! Guess I shoulda paid more attention to the JD Power ratings.

Thanks for the constructive bits, keep up the mischievous banter and for those who want to rant – driving a Brit Car will give you plenty of reason to be bitter! Although, it is really an Indian brand now…….(Hey, those last two points’ll get the forum buzzin’ again!!)
Rob

Its clear to me that since you own a ducati you are a perfect cantidate to own a Land Rover My wife Just bought a Jeep and I've come to the conclusion that Jeep owners are just as odd as LR owners.

I hope the dealer gets it sorted and you don't have too much inconvenience. My D3 was off the road for 12 weeks early in its life because someone screwed a bracket on and pierced the Canbus when they built it.
Regardless of the problems I'd had I'd still rather drive my Rover than a whitegood.

Regards,
PS I had an ST2 as well so that adds to my oddness
tote

Wow, what a great idea for the DIY person..... find a tree with a strong high branch, apply lifting harness, whip off the body, sort out the chassis/running gear problems, then put the body back... you can even leave the spare in place! ...

I do miss the days of (relatively) simple vehicles which were designed for the owner/mechanic in mind. Had I forked out the best part of two years' average wages for a new vehicle I'd be spitting chips and looking at legal action against the servicing agent

As for smelling sulphur, the threshold values for the human nose to detect sulphur dioxide and hydrogen sulphide is very low (parts per million) I have no doubt he smelt what he says he did and it could indicate release of sulphur products which did not go through the cats... which raises other worrying possibilities....