Thread: Coolant has destroyed pipes

Originally Posted by stuartshaw

Hi all

Well I got back to the non dealership mechanics and they said that they checked the coolant level which was fine but nothing else, they even sent me the 60 point check they do and this quantified that nothing has been changed. Spoke to a guy at MR Automotive who mentioned that there should be no need to change coolant for the first 10 years.

Just spoke to Land Rover, because the mechanic (South Side Landrover, Brisbane) has claimed that incorrect coolant has been added at some point then the warranty is now null and void and I am liable for the cost, basically his word against mine and I don't have a leg to stand on....

Dissapointed? Yes, very.....the door handles fall off of three doors on a new car, I fix them myself, the door seals constantly fall off, I glue them back on, it's a landrover, I get that.......

First requirement where I need them to genuinely honour a fault and they run a mile

I think after 15 years it's going to have be time for me and Land Rover to part company.

I would suggest you need to contact the small claims tribunal...

The thought had crossed my mind but I don't have the time, I'm off to Antarctica in 10 days for 15 months so am trying to get everything right before I go, my wife will have the car in my absence so it kind of gripes me to know that the warranty isn't really up to much worth...

I know, moan, moan, moan....

And some people earlier in the thread mentioned "You didn't take it to a dealer!!" - Well no, I don't want to pay their extortionate prices for crap service, the only time I did take one in they left two pressure caps off the hoses and a screwdriver in the engine bay....MR Automotive for me please, I just wish they'd open up a branch South West of Brissy

Originally Posted by loanrangie

Not since the tdi have landrovers been able to run on kero or poor fuel, those days have well sailed by.

The TD5 will run quite nicely on Kero actually....

That was the design credo..

Originally Posted by stuartshaw

The thought had crossed my mind but I don't have the time, I'm off to Antarctica in 10 days for 15 months so am trying to get everything right before I go, my wife will have the car in my absence so it kind of gripes me to know that the warranty isn't really up to much worth...

I know, moan, moan, moan....

And some people earlier in the thread mentioned "You didn't take it to a dealer!!" - Well no, I don't want to pay their extortionate prices for crap service, the only time I did take one in they left two pressure caps off the hoses and a screwdriver in the engine bay....MR Automotive for me please, I just wish they'd open up a branch South West of Brissy

It is probably still worth getting a stat dec from your mechanic that he didn't change the coolant, and another stating that you haven't, then sending copies off to LR head office with an appropriate letter.

If they don't come to the party you can still pursue it through the legal options when you get back.

Have fun down south! What is your role there? I have a mate (scientist) who wants to spend a season down there (has been for a short trip already), but he hasn't told his wife that yet.

Originally Posted by Tombie

The TD5 will run quite nicely on Kero actually....

That was the design credo..

I think that has been misinterpreted. Kero is used as a minimum lubricity test. Sure it will run on kero, but with heavily accelerated injector wear.

Kero is still used to test commonrail injectors/engines.

The scenario still seems strange to me. Why do I get the feeling there is more to this? Was it MR who did your service? There is no legal binding reason to have services done by the official service agent provided the servicing agent is licensed appropriately and follows the service guide for the vehicle. If the service center can provide proof that it was serviced accordingly warranty still holds regardless.
Cheers Scott

All I can say is that the mechanic has looked at the truck, said that the filler bottle was full of 'black/brown' residue which 'suggests to him that incorrect coolant has been used' by a prior service agent at some time. I did explain to him that ALL the coolant had leaked out and needed replacing by water when I'd broken down which he didn't seem to think was the problem.

In talking to the guys who serviced it recently (No, not MR but a local guy who does own and regularly service Landies) they had trouble getting the right oil for the change so it was in overnight whilst the correct oil was delivered, I'm pretty sure hey'd have done the same HAD they changed the coolant but as they said, there was no top required and shouldn't be anyway.

I would love to fight them on this but I know where it'll end up, hours / days in courts which are days of lost revenue that you never get reimbursed for fully plus the associated stress, life is too short for that so I'll not bother, I just wanted to let others know on here in case other people come across a similar situation with the coolant.

Oh and I'll be the Senior Comms / Technical Officer for Davies Base for the 2013 / 14 season.....Which I can't wait for which is why I've also lost interest in chasing this Landy dealer

Thanks all for the interest, hopefully nobody else gets the same problem

"filler bottle was full of 'black/brown' residue which 'suggests to him that incorrect coolant has been used' " That is a crock full if I ever heard 1! Black/Brown residue strongly suggests to me that it is possibly oil contamination. Which would go some way towards explaining hose failure. Ain't no way in Hades would I let that go!
Your choice though (and cost) Looking at it this way, Its not like you will be able to blow your paycheck at the corner bar while you working in the chilly zone!!!
Cheers Scott

Haha, yep well having just been given the quote to carry out the work which is:

$4500....

I will never set foot in a Land Rover dealership again in my life...

Trouble is I don't now have the time to get this booked into MR Automotive and get it fixed before I leave......If anyone knows anybody wanting a 2012 110 with 60,000kms on the clock with some allegedly dodgy pipes it's yours for $40k, I'm over it....