[NickHowe]

Just before Christmas the 'Service Engine Soon' light came on on the dashboard, only 3000 miles since the last service. Also the A/C wasn't blowing quite as cold as it should. I took it into Land Rover of Fort Lauderdale and was given the following wonderful news (not all of which I'm sure I believe):

1. Need a new A/C line from the condensor to the compressor - $585
2. Need new breather hoses and a throttle body service - $525
3. The transmission fluid radiator is 'plugged' and is causing a transmission fluid overtemp and a failsafe code on the transmission. Replace radiator, upper and lower hoses and thermostat - $1650

They also said they'd spotted a small leak from the cylinder head gasket that was OK at the moment but would need doing sometime soon - $1400.

Is this typical for an '03 HSE? Any other problems that might be coming down the line? Should I spend the money or get rid of it now for something else? I love the car, but I don't want to throw good money after bad.

Thx in advance, and Happy New Year to everyone.

 

[robad]

You don't say what mileage your car has nor what its service history is, so it's difficult to say.

The numbers you mention sound on the high side. Get a second opinion from a knowledgeable RR mechanic, both regarding what has to be done and regarding the price .

Good luck !

 

[NickHowe]

Mileage is 78,000. Full service history through Landrover main dealers since 45k miles when I bought it four years ago

 

[Dan_UK_1984]

First of all your LR garage is out to shaft you. They are always being caught out with lies, so take everything they say with a pinch of salt.

1. Need a new A/C line from the condensor to the compressor - $585

Take it to an A/C specialist and verify that this is indeed the cause, and then get it replaced by them as i'm sure they will be able to do it cheaper

2. Need new breather hoses and a throttle body service - $525

I've never heard of a "throttle body service" on a Range Rover, it's certainly not listed on any of the LR tech info I have! Why exactly do they think this is needed?

3. The transmission fluid radiator is 'plugged' and is causing a transmission fluid overtemp and a failsafe code on the transmission. Replace radiator, upper and lower hoses and thermostat - $1650

How about a fluid change, a flush, a cleaning additive followed by another flush etc?? It wont have all of a sudden built up the sludge. Also ask them if they changed the coolant last time it was in if it has a full LR service history then they obviously haven't done it.

 

[NickHowe]

Thanks Dan. I nearly fell off my chair when the Service Rep gave me the news over the phone. LR of FL have been getting worse and worse - little attention to detail. At a previous service they lost one of the screws from the engine cowl and wanted to charge me for a full set of screws. At the last service they didn't bother resetting the service counter, necessitating another trip to them. If they can't even do that I wonder how good their work is.

Definitely time to take it to an independent. I've put an email out to one of the places recommended on the RangeRovers.net site, but I think they are out for Christmas. Will try calling them tomorrow.

 

[Ace 95]

Yea LR of Tampa sux too, this makes me wonder. My dealer always quotes outrageous prices, my left front air bag went bad, so they say and it was $1700 when all said and done. The truck only has 60k miles and the previous owner had the air ride replaced so it makes me wonder but its too late now, is the air strut something that can be fixed if its leaking??

 

[03rangiemark]

Yea LR of Tampa sux too, this makes me wonder. My dealer always quotes outrageous prices, my left front air bag went bad, so they say and it was $1700 when all said and done. The truck only has 60k miles and the previous owner had the air ride replaced so it makes me wonder but its too late now, is the air strut something that can be fixed if its leaking??

Search the forum.
Much info on the suspension, whatever questions you have are likely already addressed.
If your right front air strut had been replaced by the previous owner, it's reasonable that the front right wasn't far behind. And the $1700 price is in line with having it done at the dealership.
The Range Rover is not to be owned by the weak of mechanical skills OR weak of vehicle maintenance capital. It ain't no Chevy. That's why most knowledgable Rover custodians would never recommend one to a prospective purchaser that is not very mechanically able or financially solid. It should not be considered cheap, reliable transportation by any means.

 

[03rangiemark]

Mine went bad at 60,000 also. The rubber dry rots & developes leaks. Normal wear.

 

[Doctor Leo]

May I suggest?

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1260 ... e=View+All

A pair of these
http://www.mechanix.com/the-original-glove

And go google Rave manual and download it.


This isn't rocket science, you can do everything listed including head gaskets in three days. With those tools plus a aircompressor to blow out the trans cooler line.

 

[Doctor Leo]

Carb cleaner is $5 a can the hose you need is $50 so $55 total. Thats what your $525 service really cost

 

[03rangiemark]

Carb cleaner is $5 a can the hose you need is $50 so $55 total. Thats what your $525 service really cost

Careful using carb cleaner in the throttle body. Many maintenance instructions I've read warn against using carb cleaner in throttle body. Apparently it can affect the anticorrosive properties of the finish of the throttle body, & leave it vulnerable to corrosion.
I don't have the exact info available right now, but just something to check before spraying carb cleaner into your throttle body.

 

[Ace 95]

Yea LR of Tampa sux too, this makes me wonder. My dealer always quotes outrageous prices, my left front air bag went bad, so they say and it was $1700 when all said and done. The truck only has 60k miles and the previous owner had the air ride replaced so it makes me wonder but its too late now, is the air strut something that can be fixed if its leaking??

Search the forum.
Much info on the suspension, whatever questions you have are likely already addressed.
If your right front air strut had been replaced by the previous owner, it's reasonable that the front right wasn't far behind. And the $1700 price is in line with having it done at the dealership.
The Range Rover is not to be owned by the weak of mechanical skills OR weak of vehicle maintenance capital. It ain't no Chevy. That's why most knowledgable Rover custodians would never recommend one to a prospective purchaser that is not very mechanically able or financially solid. It should not be considered cheap, reliable transportation by any means.

I think you meant to say left front strut, either way im pretty sure the previous owner had both front struts replaced. Also im not sure what your trying to imply by your comments but im pretty aware "it aint no chevy" -- How mechanically inclined are you? ive seen some of your posts so id bet you didnt consult with a range rover custodian before making your purchase.

 

[03rangiemark]

I think you meant to say left front strut, either way im pretty sure the previous owner had both front struts replaced. Also im not sure what your trying to imply by your comments but im pretty aware "it aint no chevy" -- How mechanically inclined are you? ive seen some of your posts so id bet you didnt consult with a range rover custodian before making your purchase.

You must be kidding me...

"...this makes me wonder. My dealer always quotes outrageous prices, my left front air bag went bad, so they say and it was $1700 when all said and done. The truck only has 60k miles and the previous owner had the air ride replaced so it makes me wonder but its too late now, is the air strut something that can be fixed if its leaking??"

And you're criticizing MY mechanical experience and RR knowledge? :lol: :lol: :lol:
Thanks for the laugh.

 

[03rangiemark]

And if you really WERE familiar with my postings, you'd know that I replaced a failed front air strut long ago. Let me know if you need some pointers, if you ever want to try to tackle that on your own.

 

[Ace 95]

I think you meant to say left front strut, either way im pretty sure the previous owner had both front struts replaced. Also im not sure what your trying to imply by your comments but im pretty aware "it aint no chevy" -- How mechanically inclined are you? ive seen some of your posts so id bet you didnt consult with a range rover custodian before making your purchase.

You must be kidding me...

"...this makes me wonder. My dealer always quotes outrageous prices, my left front air bag went bad, so they say and it was $1700 when all said and done. The truck only has 60k miles and the previous owner had the air ride replaced so it makes me wonder but its too late now, is the air strut something that can be fixed if its leaking??"

And you're criticizing MY mechanical experience and RR knowledge? :lol: :lol: :lol:
Thanks for the laugh.

if you would have READ my post i said he had them replaced so there would have been less than 60k miles on the struts. how many hours did it take you to replace your bad strut?

 

[gw2doc]

come on you guys, geez, who has the bigger monkey wrench here? ITS ME!!! now shut up!

in all seriousness, definetly check out the tranny coolant lines and if you need a new radiator (im sure some would disagree here) but replace it...

after talking with RRphill a bit about the transmissions on the BMW 4.4 RR that was a design flaw/ trouble spot... the sludge, whether you have a lot or not backs those cooler pipes up first and your trans begins to wear prematurely, whether you do it yourself or not, of all your maladies id say that was the biggest red flag if your rig was infact throwing a transfailsafe code.

 

[agoltz]

Private Mechanic I use in the Miami area

I had a 1997 range rove HSE and now a 2008 HSE and I take it to Eurocars USA - the mechanic there was the head mechanic for Land Rover Uruguay and knows these cars inside out.

Rafael Pons is his name and I would highly recommend him.

Eurocars USA
[email protected]
3200 "B" N. Miami Ave
Miami FL 33127

Im also tired of the dealer (North Dade in my case) as they cant even get squeaky brakes fixed. Its a shame.

All of the above being said Ive also noticed that after the Tata purchase LR has started to raise prices for parts much more aggressively than before.

 

[03rangiemark]

if you would have READ my post i said he had them replaced so there would have been less than 60k miles on the struts. how many hours did it take you to replace your bad strut?

From your original post, it's hard to make out exactly what was replaced & when.

It doesn't take long; if I remember correctly it was only maybe 2.5 hrs, and that was taking my time. I just opened the RAVE repair manual, and it gave great directions. There are some well-detailed narratives in the forum that go step-by-step too.

But considering the mileage of your Rover & that each strut has been replaced at least once by 60,000 miles, you shouldn't have to worry about them for a while.
What MAY increase the service life of the struts is to have some compressor oil added into the compressor and/or spray the airbag part of the strut with silicone lubricant once in a while. These should help the air bag from dry rotting, which when I disected my wasted strut, that's what appears to have done it in.
I do the latter, whether or not it helps, I can't say yet.

 

[03rangiemark]

come on you guys, geez, who has the bigger monkey wrench here? ITS ME!!! now shut up!

You are so right. My humble apologies for reverting to grade school arguments. Thank you for bringing me back to adulthood.

 

[Doctor Leo]

Stop calling it a ****ing strut. Its a airspring.

God I swear that pisses me off beyond belief. Struts are for Chevys not Range Rover. Call it a **** airspring