Thread: Authorised LR Dealers!!

I can really sympathise. The problem seems to be, apart from the inadequacies of the dealer you dealt with, that when they make the vehicle more dependent on technology they have a responsibility to ensure the technology is available wherever it may be needed.

Now that is not going to happen with the dealership arrangements they have. And of course that means that less people will be inclined to use LR for serious work so there is then less support and so it goes until the whole system collapses.

It seems to me that if they are not going to have good support facilities in place, the least they can do is to release the test book software into the public domain. Forget the bulldust that will come out about warranty compromise, misuse, etc and just let people use it or not at their own risk.

At least then simple issues such as this can be resolved and more complex problems can be identified so that corrective/repair action can be taken.

Maybe it is time to start putting pressure on about this. Surely the ACCC would have a view on a vehicle that is dependent upon a testbook system, that is designed for off road use, that is promoted for outback ventures and for which testbook facilities are virtually non-existent?

It is funny that should mention Sutton motor's in Alice. I had a problem with the ABS lights coming on on out last trip in June. I knew it was caused by me having to change a rear airbag on the way and that it only needed a testbook reset to fix it but I had no ABS or TC in the mean time.
I went to Sutton motors in Alice and they "said" (unfortunately not quoted) 1 hour - $85. It was a lot but worth it to get it going and get rid of the annoying lights. They asked if I could leave it with them for the day which was not a problem. Went back to pick it up.......$170!!! 8O

I argued that they had said $85 but was told this was just an estimate. Unfortunatley when you need to pack to leave first thing in the morning there is not a lot you can do so I paid and would never go back again.

When I had my DiscoII I needed to get Testbook to switch on the electric windscreen heater gear. (I installed a relay and switch to the already installed heated screen.)
I went to the Toowoomba LR Dealer, the Service Manager took me with him, hooked up testbook, spent 5 mins searching for the correct page or whatever, pushed a button and presto. No charge, windscreen heater manual button etc working.
Why the heck do they need a day or even 1 hour to do this reset busuiness.
It is a rip off and should not be tolerated. The guy that did my chip install had a handheld something and communicated with the Defender ECU to enter the engine number and injector codes.
The gear is out there.
I'll bet the Auto Tune Centres have something that can converse with the car.

Trev.

Adam,

Sorry to hear of Sutton's also engaging in dodgy practice. We spent about 12 months in Alice and I had a good run with them.

Never took to Terry Sutton, the manager (but then he is also the salesman and they do sell used cars - 'nuf said), but Ivan, the part-time parts man at that time was very helpful. For example, he bought out their viscous fan spanner and removed my fan so I could replace the "P" gasket - and then put it back on again a few days later, no charge.

Terry's brother, the service manager (whose name escapes me just now), also seemed to be a pretty straight operator. I have no complaints about the major job he did for me: rear main seal, new clutch kit and fixed numerous gearbox and t'case weeps. I now have an oil tight transmission for the first time since owning it. Mind you, it wasn't cheap but I did get what I paid for from them.

Dealers ,,,,,,,,,,,AARRRGGGGHHH 8O ops: :?:

Excuse th structure of the rave to follow,,,, cant be bothered with diction, sorry ops:

My SEP01 disco has been off the road for warranty, all up when combined, for over 9 months! not because it is a bucket(I actually love my bomb)..... But directly down to dealer stuff ups.
I have dealt with Nine differant dealers and have only found one, at Mooloolaba, that was at least honest and a little interested in Landrovers.

DARWIN , earlier this year having just done Weipa to Adelaide to Alice to Tanami to Gibb river Road to Darwin, and towing my van,,, I asked Darwin LR to have a real good look at my LR because it had just worked pretty hard and was about to stick to the dirt Darwin to Weipa,,,,I acknowledged that I will pay extra to have them pay particular attention.

Full day later I pay my money, while paying I ask to have another air filter for the dusty trip home,,The office girl rings spare parts,, "OOPS two types! what do you want",

I say check the parts list on the bill you just serviced my vehicle. She say "good idea,OOPS not listed"

I say my VIN number is .......... the LR computor will tell you my requirement. She say good idea, spare parts say all to hard.

I say lets go get it off the new one in my car. She say good idea. I pull air box lid and remove filter. She standing down wind gets covered in dust and says OOPS. I say #@*&#$@(^%##^$# , She say OOPS.

I look over the car and say ^%$#%$@^ :roll: lets go talk to boss. she say OOPS. I say your not *&^$$%# kidding.

The car had had grease dolloped on the latches and that was about it, not even the oil changed, no diff plugs removed , no gearbox plugs removed, the wheels had not been removed to check brakes etc.

All the paperwork was sined just none of the work done. I can only guess they banked on me just jumping in and getting on with my trip, ignorant to the rip off. Perhps they thought a Thousand kms of dust later and it would have been hard for me to notice.

The most angering thing was that there was no surprise or shame from the boss, just indifferance.

I think we should all ring customer care every single time a LR dealer stuffs us around........they are getting away with murder and a good vehicle is struggling to sell because of it. 8O

As for dealer coverage, You would think that now Ford owns the company, that they would piggy back all the ford dealers around the country and make the owners, if nothing else, feel secure. The test book retail cost is up there, 8O but it would not cost the company very much at all to fund one test book in each major Ford frasnchise, at least one in each major regional area.