Member Since: 02 Sep 2006
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 262
Everyone here is a fervent Land Rover supporter. I think what most people would like, is a turn in kind, and have just a little fervent customer support out of LR. They are not alone these days, as we all know, customer service is always a struggle, but sales is always a direct call.
It is the unfortunate way of things these days. All anyone can do, is voice the displeasure and hope that it is answered. Everyone here would like to think that LR is a cut above everyone else, and in most cases is, which is why most folks are fervent Land Rover supporters.
We all know that everyone can not possibly be happy all of the time, and the essential elements that seem commonly desired might be;
More easily replaceable parts, at reasonable prices rather than replacing a fuel tank to fix a dime sized hole for example. (less major components as a unit)
More honesty in owning up to engineering shortfalls such as lower A bar, undersized ball joints, and such.
Better wiring design, integrity and engineering (let's face it, LR is commonly known for it's wiring and oil leaks.
Generally more cooperation and give in addressing customer concerns after warranty. I got a survey every time I went in for service under warranty. After the fact, I might as well not exist, which is ironic, considering most (any brand) dealers make their money on out of warranty service and maintenance rather than under warranty. It does appear at the surface our priorities might be a bit out of sorts.
LR is a great vehicle, nobody is denying that, but one has to ask themselves after reading pages of the exact same part at the exact same spot being eaten by rodents, among the other wires eaten and so on that someone where might ask themselves... gee I wonder if we should find a solution and reach out and apologize and offer a real solution.
Generally it is not the fact a mistake is made, but the response to the mistake that the customer cares about, regardless if the customer pays for the fix or not. In my case, not only did I pay for the fix, I paid for the tow after the fix, to have it fixed again because it was not fixed.
15th Mar 2012 12:21 am
Yogey
Member Since: 07 Mar 2012
Location: West Country
Posts: 3
Thanks for that Dunkinder.Any views on a solution of any kind are appreciated and might help others who look on here.We unfortunately came to the site 'after the event'.
It occurs to me that I owe Fosswayer an apology as he directed a question at me - my last post was a kind of update but I should I think have referred to his question as a courtesy.This is my first time posting on any forum so you'll have to forgive any 'faux pas's (thought I'd go posh there to maintain the high standard i'm sure the site expects).
To Character's post - that's a nice bit of lateral thinking.
To DG , I note what you say about hitting a fox etc but I too would not reasonably expect a Designer to account for that.After all the car is moving,it's under control (?) of the driver etc.
Interestingly the guy (at LR HQ) I spoke to (in response to fit for purpose) told me that my point was analogous to saying that if a drunk kicked the wing mirrors off the car at 2 a.m. , then they were not fit for purpose.I disagreed in that that is a criminal act and I would not expect a designer to account for that either.I thought rodent damage in this style of car was a bit more of a grey area.
Anyhow I await hearing on the possible changes to the replacement tank.I am wondering about why it's taking so long to answer a simple question?
Oh and on the off chance that LR HQ are reading this , come on guys cough up (I promise I won't tell a soul...ha ha...)
All the best to all.
15th Mar 2012 10:04 am
SteveNorman
Member Since: 14 Oct 2005
Location: Somerset
Posts: 1144
I have just completed one of these rodent nibbled tank jobs. The new tank is different to the old tank, The old tank is classed as a three vent tank (one of the vents is the nibbled elbow), The new tank is the 2010 model year tank which is classed as a two vent tank. There is modified pipework to make the new tank fit the old fuel lines & a link lead to make the old electric harness fit the new tank pump & sender. It doesn't have the same nibbled elbow in the top, & you modify the vent lines accordingly, & fit a new vented filler cap.
I think the new tank came about because of an availability problem with the old tanks, so they made the current production fit by using a fitting kit.
As for Landrover being to blame for making tasty tank elbows, this one also had the rubber hoses eaten for the fuel burning heater supply, are they to blame for that too?
Perhaps the elbow just sat in a comfy place for the mice to sit & chew?
Regards
Steve
15th Mar 2012 4:29 pm
Martin Site Admin and Owner
Member Since: 06 Nov 2004
Location: Hook Norton
Posts: 18456
As Steve says, the new part came in because the supplier of D3 tanks went bust and the D4 tank was adapted (with the kit) to fit.
LR are not the only ones to have issues with tasty hoses - there are reports all over the web about similar problems with all manufacturers. I know of a Bentley on which Italian mice nibbled through the engine vacuum hose.... Mice will eat just about anything!06 D3 SE / 15 LR D90 XS SW / 88 LR 90 Td5 / 68 BMW 2000 ti
Any issues with the site let me know!
15th Mar 2012 4:47 pm
ashields
Member Since: 17 Feb 2013
Location: nottinghamshire
Posts: 29
Mice? Really?
I just had this problem fixed by my local Mechanic.
I showed him a photo from this thread so that he'd know what to look for.
He found mine exactly the same, however he doesn't think it's mice - apparently the bolt holes that are used to secure the tank to the vehicle are elongated and the pipe that was damaged is very close to part of the chassis...
Cost me £50 for labour plus about £6 for a tube of Tiger Seal (ebay)
Alan
26th Feb 2013 2:38 pm
Dave T
Member Since: 03 Jul 2009
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 6902
Robbie wrote:
Don't think you will find a D3 tank anywhere.
I have a D3 tank going spare, it has one defective level sensor but it is not nibbled in any way. Joined the BMWX5 45e group
1994 Defender 90
2015 RRS Corris Grey/Black roof
2016 D4 Graphite Santorini Black
2012 D4 XS Orkney Grey
2005 D3 S Maya Gold
Convoy for Heroes 2011
26th Feb 2013 4:18 pm
deansminis
Member Since: 24 Sep 2013
Location: Soham
Posts: 4
Hi Everyone, I see this subject has been well covered but since I am new to the forum and have just purchased my first D3 only 5 days ago though I would comment.
Wednesday this week I bought a high mileage 2005 TDV6 S Auto from a private seller. I fully checked the car over and did two test drives so all worked fine. I new it needed discs/pads all round and a valet but otherwise everything on it worked as it should. Obviously as with all other test drives I have done over the last 34 years I did not go and fill up at a fuel station!
I had no knowledge of the rodent problem so ordered discs/pads and fitted them, sorted out a stiff gear lever by reading Disco_Mikey's thread - Thank you
Vehicle drives lovely and everything as I needed so off to fill up with diesel. GO to £100 and then could see a large puddle under the car and pouring with diesel -stopped filling and used all the buckets of sand, paid, apologised and left leaving a very nice young sales assistant coning off the area and insisting I do not need to help clear it up.
Straight onto this helpful forum and found the many comments on rodents eating the pipe - I thought it must be true but sounds so unlikely, having worked on minis for over 30 years I have seen rodent damaged but never to pipes only to soft sponge and seating so it can be used for nests.
Lowered my tank this morning and yep there it was a angled pipe chewed through at the corner and diesel everywhere - well I'll be bu**ered !!
So I am going to try and seal it with some sort of diesel resistant sealer - Can anyone recommend a good one for the job?I have run my own Classic Mini Specialist garage for 22 years and always loved Range Rovers & Discovery's - Yep strange combination of little & large! Have owned 3 Classic RR's, 4 Disco1's, 3 Disco2's and 1 P38. Just got my 1st D3 2005 auto S TDV6.
29th Sep 2013 9:18 pm
chrisbowler
Member Since: 30 Jan 2009
Location: UK WALES
Posts: 176
Hi, I used Tigerseal on mine three years ago, never leaked yet
Chris BowlerChris Bowler
D3 2005 EXPEDITION
D2 Challenge Vehicle
300 TDi Spare car
107" TD5 Comp Safari Motor
29th Sep 2013 10:24 pm
Dave T
Member Since: 03 Jul 2009
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 6902
I may have a spare bit like that, I'll let you know later this morningJoined the BMWX5 45e group
1994 Defender 90
2015 RRS Corris Grey/Black roof
2016 D4 Graphite Santorini Black
2012 D4 XS Orkney Grey
2005 D3 S Maya Gold
Convoy for Heroes 2011
30th Sep 2013 6:43 am
Disco_Mikey
Member Since: 29 May 2007
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Posts: 20732
That is part of the tank Dave, hence why people use Tigerseal etc My D3 Build Thread
Member Since: 03 Jul 2009
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 6902
Dave T wrote:
Robbie wrote:
Don't think you will find a D3 tank anywhere.
I have a D3 tank going spare, it has one defective level sensor but it is not nibbled in any way.
Joined the BMWX5 45e group
1994 Defender 90
2015 RRS Corris Grey/Black roof
2016 D4 Graphite Santorini Black
2012 D4 XS Orkney Grey
2005 D3 S Maya Gold
Convoy for Heroes 2011
30th Sep 2013 7:17 am
deansminis
Member Since: 24 Sep 2013
Location: Soham
Posts: 4
Repairing rodent chewed pipe on fuel tank
Since I have lower the tank (well technically I raised the car and tank stayed where it was!) but not removed any pipes so I am going to repair it today with araldite first and then lots of tiger seal and see how it holds.
Thanks everyone
All done tank back in and test driven - no leak so far!
Have just ordered a VPLFE0002 from TLO so soon iPod will be up and runningI have run my own Classic Mini Specialist garage for 22 years and always loved Range Rovers & Discovery's - Yep strange combination of little & large! Have owned 3 Classic RR's, 4 Disco1's, 3 Disco2's and 1 P38. Just got my 1st D3 2005 auto S TDV6.
30th Sep 2013 8:07 am
Archeci
Member Since: 17 Jul 2009
Location: East Yorkshire
Posts: 558
Seems I may well be the latest victim of a rodent.
I last filled up my Discovery in August and not used it much since then, filled up again today brimming the tank ready for a trip south on Sunday. Later to find fuel dropping onto the road outside my mothers, look underneath and the tank protector is wet and dripping diesel.
Trip home and I'm still dripping diesel, the Disco is now sat in my workshop / barn no doubt where it was when mice have set about it!
Following advice from Robbie and finding this thread I'm thinking I'd be better off using the Disco on Sunday to head south and back which should empty most of the fuel then next week drop the tank and have a look. That should give me chance to buy something to seal it with.
I'd appreciate any advice that can be offered.
Cheers
LeeTonga Green TDV6 S
Remember laughing or smiling confuses the management.
3rd Oct 2014 7:47 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
Get as much fuel out of the tank as possible. There are probably a few ways of doing this and no doubt better than mine, but I stick a pipe on the schrader (valve removed) and jump power to fuse 1 socket and let the LP pump do the work.Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 03 Jul 2009
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 6902
I have a fuel tank going spare for a few beer tokens, it was replaced because one of the level sensors is duff, but you could put yours in. We are even coming down to the lakes Monday and Tuesday next week if that's any good. Joined the BMWX5 45e group
1994 Defender 90
2015 RRS Corris Grey/Black roof
2016 D4 Graphite Santorini Black
2012 D4 XS Orkney Grey
2005 D3 S Maya Gold
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