When it rains...it pours...literally

[orbaya]

Aw, hell NO. Don't take your dealership's "no" for an answer so quickly. Of course they don't want to pay for it. If you're not getting what you want from the dealer, then you need to go above them to corporate. Go in and have them show you in black and white in your warranty where it specifically states it does not cover rubber and plastic. Don't resign yourself to pay for it yet...that's exactly what the dealer wants you to do.

Good luck, and put up a fight!

I also think the someone's suggestion of calling LR directly (not your dealer) would be a wise move. Don't take what a service manager at the dealership says as the final word on the warranty.

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Thank you everyone who replied. I''ve spent the day reading up on the forums about this problem with LR3 and Mark has spent some time looking at the car to see if there is anything he could do to fix it in the mean time so I can actually drive it again.

What I''ve found is this is a pretty "typical" problem with this car because sunroofs aren''t meant to be waterproof and the entire top of the car is essentially a sun roof. It sucks. These hoses handle all the water, dirt, debris that needs to be filtered off the roof, ergo they clog easily.

Mark actually took off the air intake grate on the side of the car, and "plunged" the hose. He reported that there was a "disgusting" amount of dirty water in there, and that it "splashed" him intially letting him know that yes, there was water back up. We''re now thinking this is strictly a clogged hose (thank you, God) and not a punctured line. The junk that filtered out was a mix of muddy water and grit, I''ll include a picture him wrist deep in the mix--we took this for proof, should we need it later on because you never know and because if it works, I''ll post it as a "how to" on the LR3 forum so others can avoid repair bills for this issue.

As of right now, it''s not leaking anymore. We dried out the inside using a portable fan, and I''ll get it detailed over the weekend if the problem has been resolved. I am hopeful.

Thanks again everyone!!

 

[Elegant]

Italianhaircolor...

I am sorry to hear this. I have a 2008 LR2 that I bought on 7/7/07.

Just an FYI, I am in California. One morning I was driving along the freeway with my sunroof cracked open a bit. The rubber hose lining for the sunroof all of a sudden separated itself from the car and got loose. I closed the sunroof, turned around on the freeway, and immediately headed for my dealership.

They replaced it for me. Actually, they had a hard time realigning the actual sunroof window with the new tubing so they replaced the window of it as well, free of charge.

I am really not sure why they would say it isn''t covered. Did you try another dealership? I would.

Get a second opinion...but don''t say you went to another dealership.

Elegant

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Italia, so sorry to hear of your problems. That sounds like an issue of a manufacturing defect and shouldn''t go under your warranty anyway. They may argue that you had the sunroof open in the storm or something like that, but they really should pay for it. I would start with your dealership and if you don''t get anywhere with them I''d call corporate. Call them, email them, send them certified letters. The squeaky wheel gets the oil after all. Also take the car to an independent mechanic to check out the issue. Get their diagnosis in writing.

Given the cost to repair this issue I would also start taking notes every time you speak with someone about it. Get their name, and phone number and record the date and time of each call.

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Date: 8/27/2009 7:06:43 PM
Author: Elegant
Italianhaircolor...

I am sorry to hear this. I have a 2008 LR2 that I bought on 7/7/07.

Just an FYI, I am in California. One morning I was driving along the freeway with my sunroof cracked open a bit. The rubber hose lining for the sunroof all of a sudden separated itself from the car and got loose. I closed the sunroof, turned around on the freeway, and immediately headed for my dealership.

They replaced it for me. Actually, they had a hard time realigning the actual sunroof window with the new tubing so they replaced the window of it as well, free of charge.

I am really not sure why they would say it isn''t covered. Did you try another dealership? I would.

Get a second opinion...but don''t say you went to another dealership.

Elegant

I''m wondering if it was different because yours came loose and mine is "blocked"? Maybe yours is a freak of nature thing, and mine could be--in some way--considered my fault? I don''t know. Weird.

Right now I have no leaking after Mark forced the junk out of the tube...but if it leaks again, I am going to try the only other dealer in our area.

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Date: 8/27/2009 7:20:03 PM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
Italia, so sorry to hear of your problems. That sounds like an issue of a manufacturing defect and shouldn''t go under your warranty anyway. They may argue that you had the sunroof open in the storm or something like that, but they really should pay for it. I would start with your dealership and if you don''t get anywhere with them I''d call corporate. Call them, email them, send them certified letters. The squeaky wheel gets the oil after all. Also take the car to an independent mechanic to check out the issue. Get their diagnosis in writing.

Given the cost to repair this issue I would also start taking notes every time you speak with someone about it. Get their name, and phone number and record the date and time of each call.

Thanks for the suggestions. I am taking everything in, and if it comes to more problems with no cooperation/solution, I am going start implimenting all the advice. I have to say, I am really really praying that the hose was just clogged and Mark fixed it--that would be wonderful.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

I''m happy to hear Mark got his hands dirty

and you guys fixed the clog. It''s still a B-S situation though. One suggestion for drying the interior of your car. Pick up a few containers of DampRid at Home Depot. DH left his sunroof open overnight a few weeks ago and it poured. We just couldn''t get it dried out and it was starting to smell bad. We closed up the Jeep with a few containers of this DampRid stuff and it worked wonders.

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Date: 8/27/2009 7:43:31 PM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
I''m happy to hear Mark got his hands dirty

and you guys fixed the clog. It''s still a B-S situation though. One suggestion for drying the interior of your car. Pick up a few containers of DampRid at Home Depot. DH left his sunroof open overnight a few weeks ago and it poured. We just couldn''t get it dried out and it was starting to smell bad. We closed up the Jeep with a few containers of this DampRid stuff and it worked wonders.

Damprid...got it! Thank you.

 

[rainwood]

Italia -

Have you checked the actual language of the warranty? I know several people have mentioned doing this, but you didn''t say whether you''d read the warranty and whether it really does exclude the sunroof parts and pieces. You need to start there. If it''s not excluded, it''s covered under the warranty. Period. If you''re within the warranty period, the problem is not specifically not excluded, and the problem is not a function of normal wear and tear or lack of maintenance, it''s a warranty issue. So check the warranty language, and also any discussion about maintenance/clean out.

Even if it''s excluded in the warranty, there are some things you can do. One is to check and see if there are any service bulletins on this issue because sometimes that can work in your favor. Another is to write to any consumer advocates at your local TV station or newspapers. Be sure to emphasize that this is a common problem so there''s a public interest angle. Another possibility is to contact the Consumer Affairs Dep''t of your state Attorney General''s office because sometimes they can provide assistance.

I''m not familiar with this LR model, but as Deco mentioned, LR has a rotten reliability and customer service rating as does Range Rover. There is no way that they should be able to say that their sunroof isn''t designed to keep out rainwater on a new car, that leaks are a common problem and the customer''s to fix. That''s just total BS. I''ve had two Subaru Foresters that have big sunroofs, and they''ve never let in even a drop of rain. I would be stomping mad if I had a new car that leaked and the dealer told me some just do that and it was my cost to repair. And the remedy I''d be asking for is not a repair, but a return of the car and a refund of the purchase price so I could buy some other brand of car. This just sounds like an ongoing maintenance nightmare, particularly if the car isn''t garaged.

 

[VRBeauty]

Date: 8/29/2009 6:10:13 AM
Author: rainwood

There is no way that they should be able to say that their sunroof isn't designed to keep out rainwater on a new car, that leaks are a common problem and the customer's to fix. That's just total BS. I've had two Subaru Foresters that have big sunroofs, and they've never let in even a drop of rain. I would be stomping mad if I had a new car that leaked and the dealer told me some just do that and it was my cost to repair. And the remedy I'd be asking for is not a repair, but a return of the car and a refund of the purchase price so I could buy some other brand of car. This just sounds like an ongoing maintenance nightmare, particularly if the car isn't garaged.

BIG ditto here.

If leaks or blocked drain tubes are a common problem (can we say "design flaw"?) then the dealership should have 1) checked for blockages as part of their normal new vehicle prep before handing the car over to you, and 2) warned you about this, and about how to prevent it, when they did the "walk through" with you before handing the keys over to you.

Italia, there is no way you or your hubby are at fault here. No way.

Don't know how current this is, but here's a link to Car Talk's contact list for car company bigwigs:

http://www.cartalk.com/content/features/To-The-Top/

 

[beechezz]

I have a suggestion....if you have a lawyer friend, ask them to write a letter to LR on your behalf demanding repairs at no charge to you! Sometimes, corporations need a little nudge to take responsibility for their product. Seriously, I cannot believe this is the product they find acceptable for sale. What happened to accountability? I''m so sorry this is happening to you! I would be going nuts right now!