Hi

Thought Heated Windscreen not working, never mind car still under Manufactures Warranty. Spoke to local main dealer, yes bring it in we will have a look at it while you wait.

Yes Sir have checked it out electrical circuit all ok, I'm afraid It need a new windscreen as the element has broken circuit, however we can't do it under Warranty as there is a stone chip in screen and this has caused the problem.

OK never mind I'll get it done under insurance as have windscreen cover. Sat at home thinking not convinced about this as there are Left and Right elements on separate circuits and the chip is on the l/h side of the screen. So out comes the trusty multi meter and did a continuity check on the fuses. Wow would you believe it both fuse blown, replaced fuses and lo and behold both side of the screen now working. If they can't diagnose blown fuses after the told me they had checked out the feed to the screen and that it was fine, what chance have you got if you have something more complicated, would have though first port of call would have been to check the fuses.

Cheers
Col

hence the reason why I have never gone to a main dealer ! Luckily I have an indy near me who is brilliant! You've just proven a point also that many things can be solved at home, rather than a costly trip to this mob. Recently bought a 2007 RRS HSE TDV6 for a Pimp-My-Ride-Project.
DONE: Meduza front bumper, AB rear bumper, AB tailpipes, calipers repainted, rear upper tailgate upgrade, side steps, AB front grille, AB side vents, rear LED lights, clear side repeaters, integrated daytime running lights, LED headlights.
TO DO: color code sills and pillars.

Last edited by tanloverluke on Wed Feb 25 2015 7:15pm. Edited 1 time in total

I hope JLR take note - the lack of know-how (common sense for a mechanic) is unbelievable - Unless of course this was a straight-forward attempt at a rip-off!

Its quite depressing when there's seems to be very little enthusiasm in their dealerships for doing a good job.

There is no connection with the JLR's Marketing and PR hype about customer service and ensuring the job is done right - you'd have thought a first time fix was the cheapest solution for everyone!

JLR has adopted the arrogance from the success in emerging markets _ I recall Ford becoming arrogant in the 1970's and just prior to a period when they lost millions when they thought they knew better than their customers.

I guess we easily can work out who your 'local' dealer is.

Hmmmm, think I'd be having a bit more than a quiet word with the service manager

Why not put the blown fuses back in, take it back and ask them to check it again. If they confirm the same diagnosis show the service manager what happens when you change the fuses & ask him if he fancies being a TV star on Rogue Traders

Not a good story but some dealers are better than others ................

Can you tell me where to find one  Wanted a Series 2 LR since childhood but previously owned MY16 Disco Sport HSE TD4 Auto, MY13 RR Sport Black Edition TDV6 Auto, MY10 RR Sport HSE TDV6 Auto, 2007 Freelander 1 Freestyle TD4 Soft Top, 2009 Freelander 2 GS TD4 Auto, 2007 Freelander 2 GS TD4, 2004 Disco 2 Metropolis Auto, 2002 Disco 2 GS, 2000 Freelander 1 SE TD4 SW

Still hoping for a S2 one day!

I can tell you Muddy but then I'll have to kill you !

Paulcp wrote:

Hmmmm, think I'd be having a bit more than a quiet word with the service manager

Why not put the blown fuses back in, take it back and ask them to check it again. If they confirm the same diagnosis show the service manager what happens when you change the fuses & ask him if he fancies being a TV star on Rogue Traders

362bkr wrote:

Not a good story but some dealers are better than others ................

Col, is this at Ridgeway Oxford? If so, I'm not surprised at all. They did something similar to me three years ago with my rear heated screen. Told me they had checked it thoroughly and it was the screen causing the issue. Glass not covered by warranty so you owe us an hour's money for diagnosis. I later discovered that the connector to the screen was corroded. Had never been opened since it was built, I'm sure, so how did they check it? I cleaned it up and it's still working three years later...

The service desk guys are pleasant people but the workshop is staffed by mostly inexperienced "technicians" as I understand it. The ones who've worked on mine the last couple of times it's been in for warranty work have been atrocious - usually leaving things unclipped, incorrectly located etc. 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

Following years of problems with 9 LR dealers in my area I was going to try Oxford next time as I spend a lot of time there now  Wanted a Series 2 LR since childhood but previously owned MY16 Disco Sport HSE TD4 Auto, MY13 RR Sport Black Edition TDV6 Auto, MY10 RR Sport HSE TDV6 Auto, 2007 Freelander 1 Freestyle TD4 Soft Top, 2009 Freelander 2 GS TD4 Auto, 2007 Freelander 2 GS TD4, 2004 Disco 2 Metropolis Auto, 2002 Disco 2 GS, 2000 Freelander 1 SE TD4 SW

Still hoping for a S2 one day!

I cannot agree more with the comments on this thread - I have endured all these frustrations with multiple dealerships in my area. They seem content to take no care and the path of least effort and then charge exorbitant labour rates whilst warning about independants. It is frankly a disgrace for a premium marque to allow their dealerships to consistently behave in this manner - but as has been pointed out so long as they sell cars they don't care.

There are a large number of Discos, Sport and FF owners around us and many of my friends own one variant or another. They to a very large extent also share these views and I am seeing a big shift as existing LR owners move to other marques as a result of the painful dealership experiences - although they do forgive the endless faults more readily than I was prepared to. They are being replaced by a swathe of new first time LR customers who I presume will end up at the same conclusion in a few years unless things radically and quickly change. The number of new Sports on the school run disappearing into the garage within the first year of ownership is appalling.

This trend has also been evidenced by a local dealership running a "VIP event" offering "big discounts" for previous customers. The number of texts, emails and calls I have had asking if I would attend has been extraordinary. The event was the extended "by customer request". Right!

I only use independents for servicing - an excellent ex LR tech who left as the big companies took over the dealerships, paying huge sums for them and driving costs into the ground - with the results we now all see. I guess only sales performance over the coming years will tell if this strategy can work - but if it doesn't it will be too late for LR.

muddywheels wrote:

Following years of problems with 9 LR dealers in my area I was going to try Oxford next time as I spend a lot of time there now

I'm always reading on here about bad experiences at main dealers, ( really have to search for any positive comments ), personally I've been bitten once and am finding it hard to get back into ownership again, ( although I simply love the looks of the sport ).
Why is it that people keep going back to main dealers for any work or servicing required, after all, you don't have to, your warranty is still valid if you go to a specialist garage. 2005 Vesuvius 1st edition ( now sadly gone ).

I agree and when I canvas people I usually get the same response - to protect my warranty. I know this is not required and when I point this out I get one of two replies:

1. I booked it in for a service and XYZ wasn't working and I wanted them to look at it under LR warranty. Indys can't? do warranty work.

2. Because I know if I send it to an Indy for the service and something goes wrong LR will blame the work or parts the Indy has done and refuse the warranty claim.

So I think the answer is convenience and fear.

I should point out I use an Indy and still have 9m of manfacturers warranty left.