Oil pump failure saga....

[white disco]

Ok, first off my truck is an '03 DII with 60,720 miles and I just got all the oil pump failure issues. It all began with the oil light coming on, oil level was fine. Start heading home and now you hear the valve train begin to have a little rattle to it. I'm very close to home at this point, so I limp it home and just as I get it home the SES light comes on with code P0306(misfire in #6 cylinder). Now I'm thinking the engine is garbage. Everything I have read and researched says this problem usually hits around 30k not 60k. Although, the Service Bulliten TA 03 1201 does not have any mileage limitations or warranty ties.
Has anyone had a similar issue?
Did LRNA assist you during this?
Does anyone have a copy of the TSB scanned that I could get in email?
I would GREATLY appreciate if someone could e-mail a copy of TSB TA 03 1201 for the oil pump failure.
To make matters worse, I currently live in Sicily (Navy) and the local shop here in Catania has never seen a 4.6 V8 let alone rebuilt one.
On the plus side LRNA has been very helpful however, now I have to deal with Land Rover UK. I wonder what they're like?
Thanks in advance for any and all assistance. I keep everybody up to speed for future reference.
Thanks, Steve

 

[scottjal]

Well I wouldn't tell them you drove home after the oil light came on and checked that you had oil... Play dumb, selective truth whatever but if you tell them that story you will probablly be buying yourself an engine as you clearly knew there was something serious wrong and drove home anyway.

 

[scottjal]

http://www.discoweb.org/forums/showthread.php?t=17050&highlight=TSB+1201

 

[StevieLBCA]

I agree with Scott's advise. There were times where I helped my service writer "coach" a customer in dealing with LRNA. Don't offer any more information than what is necessary. Good luck.....

 

[cboy903]

I just had the same problem on my '04 at 37,000 miles. It took a month to get the truck back. My main problem was that I've always done my own service. The truck had no service records. I made a call to LRNA and opened a case and the rep said she will need to bring this to upper management. After that, I was told by the dealership that LRNA has requested that they disassemble the engine and send them pictures. After two long weeks, the dealer finally called to say LRNA approved the repairs and it will be fully covered.

Not that any of this really help, but I feel your pain.

 

[white disco]

Well I wouldn't tell them you drove home after the oil light came on and checked that you had oil... Play dumb, selective truth whatever but if you tell them that story you will probablly be buying yourself an engine as you clearly knew there was something serious wrong and drove home anyway.

You're absolutely right, however, if you leave a car on the side of the road here in Sicily it will be on blocks and completely stripped out in record time. I didn't exactly offer up the fact that I drove with the oil light on. I placed most emphasis on the fact that a Land Rover with 60k had a oil pump failure when my 1969 BMW has had the odometer rolled over twice and it still runs fine.
I hope I was right with this. I've never actually had to deal with a manufacturer before.
I'm going to need all the help I can get so, please keep the good advice coming.
ciao guys, Steve

 

[robertofollia]

White Disco.
A shame what happened to your disco.
Don't worry if the workshop in Catania have never seen a 4,6 v8 disco before (the reps in Spain had never seen a V8 manual D2 w/coil springs before, they told me it never existed until they saw mine).

The engine/motor is the same as post '99 Range Rover 4,6 HSE (from VIN XA), and many of them are around in Italy, converted to run on LPG. So this should not be an issue or problem, it's quite a common engine.

The answer I read in another post is simply unacceptable. If a TSB is released they hav to adhere to it. But dealers (and regional reps) are reluctant to replace or repair free of charge such an expensive component as a complete engine (and Ford isn't in good financial health, by the way). So you get the usual answers for the case ("all do that", "a repair will be enough", "you drive without oil"...).

I've shown my dealer many of the TSBs published here, and after the typical "where did you ge it from?" question, I got the usual "it's not for Europe" answer.

I don't know LR UK personally, but from letters published in LRO and LR Enthusiast I think LRNA listens to users a lot more than LR UK or Europe (but that's my humble opinion...)

I agree with you opinion. You can't leave a car/suv/truck near the road. The day after something (or everything) will be missing. It's southern Europe, you know. I park sometimeon the street. Ad Some day you notice a cross done with car keys on the shiny new paintwork (scraping somebody else's car is a national sport here in Spain).

Good luck. Please keep us informed

 

[RBBailey]

I just had the same problem on my '04 at 37,000 miles. It took a month to get the truck back. My main problem was that I've always done my own service. The truck had no service records. I made a call to LRNA and opened a case and the rep said she will need to bring this to upper management. After that, I was told by the dealership that LRNA has requested that they disassemble the engine and send them pictures. After two long weeks, the dealer finally called to say LRNA approved the repairs and it will be fully covered.

Not that any of this really help, but I feel your pain.

OK, wait, did you get a new engine? Because the TSA clearly states that the only repair for this is a new engine. I've been through this. To the point where I called a lawyer -- no dice, they wouldn't do it.

 

[RBBailey]

You're absolutely right, however, if you leave a car on the side of the road here in Sicily it will be on blocks and completely stripped out in record time. I didn't exactly offer up the fact that I drove with the oil light on...

Your warranty allows you to drive home if you think it is unsafe not to. When you call for road side assistance the first thing they ask is, "Are you in a safe place?" If not, you keep driving, dummy light or no dummy light.

 

[cboy903]

OK, wait, did you get a new engine?

Yes. It took a month from the day I had it towed in, but yes, they did install a new engine.

 

[RBBailey]

Yes. It took a month from the day I had it towed in, but yes, they did install a new engine.

Could you do me a big favor? Could you scan the service records of that work for me? I would LOVE to walk those across the desk of my service tech.

Honestly, we have found enough evidence, and talked to enough experts to believe that our engine will fail again since all they did was replace the pump and the cover -- which is why it failed in the first place.

 

[RBBailey]

If you read my previous posts you also know that not only did they not give me a new engine, like LRNA publications say to do, but they did not give me a loaner, they actually lost our car for 48 hours, and after they did "fix" it, we had to take it back to the dealer and I had to clean up almost 2 quarts of oil that spilled onto my driveway the day after we got it back from the dealer.

 

[RBBailey]

Actually, could any of you who have had this problem fixed in the appropriate way send me copies of your service records to show that you got a new engine? I would appreciate it greatly!

 

[ptschram]

Your warranty allows you to drive home if you think it is unsafe not to. When you call for road side assistance the first thing they ask is, "Are you in a safe place?" If not, you keep driving, dummy light or no dummy light.

First off, Ben, keep in mind who you were dealing with, they don't exactly retain the most talented employees.

Secondly, if an owner is told to shut down the vehicle and wait for a tow truck and they don't,LRNA will refuse to honor the warranty. I watched this happen in a particularly splendid manner when a woman absolutely refused to listen to my warning to stop the truck and shut it down-as soon as she was off the highway.

It was an LR3 that had not even been in for its first service and the owner got to buy a new engine.

 

[RBBailey]

First off, Ben, keep in mind who you were dealing with, they don't exactly retain the most talented employees.

Ya, I've noticed that...

Secondly, if an owner is told to shut down the vehicle and wait for a tow truck and they don't,LRNA will refuse to honor the warranty. I watched this happen in a particularly splendid manner when a woman absolutely refused to listen to my warning to stop the truck and shut it down-as soon as she was off the highway.

It was an LR3 that had not even been in for its first service and the owner got to buy a new engine.

Well, I'm not saying to ignore the tech on the phone, or to not stop driving once you get to a safe spot to stop. I'm just saying that if you notice something happening with your truck, you have the right to get to a safe spot, then call for service. If she didn't stop once getting off the highway, that's just stupid. But if LR was wanting people to stop driving as soon as the oil pressure light comes on... they would be asking them to break the law in most states. And that light doesn't exaclty come on with a nice voice to tell the average soccer mom exactly what to do.

If I was in a bad neighborhood I would probably keep driving, then call once getting to a good spot.

 

[BarryO]

(scraping somebody else's car is a national sport here in Spain).

Really?

When I used to live in California, even touching someone's car would be regarded as a felony. Keying? That would have been a Capital Offense (adminsitered by the owner).

 

[BarryO]

But if LR was wanting people to stop driving as soon as the oil pressure light comes on... they would be asking them to break the law in most states.

What law is that?

My 15 year old is learning to drive. One of the first things I told her is that, if the oil light comes on, pull over to the side, stop, and turn off the engine ASAP; then call AAA. Do not try to "limp home". Do not try to make it to the next off ramp.

She wouldn't be driving in any "bad neighborhoods" or after dark, so that's not an issue.

 

[RBBailey]

The law is usually that you can't simply pull over unless there is an established shoulder. And even then, you have to have had to pull over right at that moment. Not that it is really enforced or anything. And, if the vehicle wasn't less than two years old with only 35k miles on it I certainly wouldn't try the limp home option either.

When my oil pump failed I pulled over almost immediately -- in a safe spot. I couldn't tell that anything was wrong. So a carefully drove another 1.5 miles before I started hearing noises. At that point I pulled over again, then limped another 3/4 mile to my in-law's house that happened to be right there. But if I was on the freeway I would have certainly driven to the next exit!

 

[BarryO]

The law is usually that you can't simply pull over unless there is an established shoulder.

Given that cars break down unpredictably, this supposed law would essentially be uninforcable.

If you happen to find the ORS section that specifies this, I'd be interested in knowing which one it is.

And even then, you have to have had to pull over right at that moment.

Given the fact that driving with no oil pressure leads to immediate, irreversible, and catastrophic engine damage, I'd say it more than qualifies as having to pull over at that moment. And I doubt there's no a single judge in his right mind that wouldn't see it the same way.

 

[cboy903]

Could you do me a big favor? Could you scan the service records of that work for me? I would LOVE to walk those across the desk of my service tech.

Sure. PM me your email address.

.eric