2003 Disco ECM factory problem!

[bombardier]

i posted several months back about error codes on my front 02s...dealer originally said they found a mouse nest and wires were probably chewed and would cost me $1500. i took it to a nearby independent LR tech who looked at it an said i'm getting low/no volotage to the heating element of both front 02s but that it look like there was any wire damage..his bill was $400 and suggested i take it back to the dealer to try and get warranty work. well he was right and thank God i have a LR tech nearby...the dealer started the work and didn't find any wire damage (after i told him i got a second opinion).

they've replaced 02s and insepcted wiring...its now been two weeks since i dropped my diso off at the dealer. they ordered a new ECM.

they drop in new ECM, type in VIN and the ECM ask for secondary air injection info...obvioulsy this rover does not have that system. the dealer calls LR to find out that they f'ed up a bunch of 2003 VINs in the ECMs. they have to find a programing patch to get around the problem.

Sooo, if you have a 2003 discovery and you have an ECM problem you might want to alerty your dealer/tech of the problem so that they don't spend 2 weeks trying to figure out what the problem is.

is still don't know if the ECM will fix my 02 problem, but we'll see. sux to be the dealer on this rover...they must have racked up $5k worth of warranty work so far. i'll keep you posted.

 

[joey]

The question is did they give you a free driver vehicle while in for service?

 

[bombardier]

hell no...or coarse i didnt' buy the vehicle at this shop. sure i'd love LR to stand behind their vehicles better, but right now i'm just happy NOT paying for work.

This LR is sure frustrating. i mean the truck is so addicting to drive and i think it really is one of the best SUVs on the road. But LR just can produce this truck correctly. I hate to say it but i might have to get ride of this thing before the warranty elapses. (i have 26k miles on this truck)

truck runs beautifully and the current problem is BS, its a faulty wire to the 02 heating element, which we don't need anyway as the 02s are at running temp after a minute or two. but i can't get an inspection sticker with the engine light.

just makes me think i'll have other issues down the road. and the price tag of these fixes scares me. especially since more LR techs don't even know what the hell is going on because of the lack of communication between LR and its dealers.

but what other truck to buy? i wanted an 03-04 disco because i hate the squishy LR3s with their IFS. I'm a long time jeep guy, so i figure I'll just pick up a wrangler rubicon. I'll miss the SE7, but its not worth the trouble. maybe if it was my 3rd car, but its not, i need a daily driver.

it says a lot when 90% of all LR discovery forums deal with issues and problems, where they should be talking about upgrades and performance improvements. too bad, i just love this truck, but don't want a money pit either. man i wish they could build a truck correctly.

ARe there really any real truck SUVs out there? seems everything has gone IFS and ultra luxury. sure a D90 would be sweet, but i'm not sure if i can go back to rover and the prices of old D90s is insane...(you now the US version of the defender that will eventually hit the US will have issues as well).

are there any trucks left? or do we have to buy old D90s, FJs and jeeps to rebuild? I guess jeep wrangler and GC are the only things left that are relatively new and still offer live axles, reliability and performance? any suggestions?

 

[john65b]

Too bad. I have had a few minor issues with my Used 02 Disco II, and have managed to fix all the issues myself instead of going to the Dealershaft. But then again, I have always avoided, (and continue to avoid) dealershafts for my wife's Volvo, her old Subaru, my old Jeep, Mustang, etc. Only once I HAD to go to the Ford dealership when I couldn't fix an electrical problem with my Mustang...

My drift is no matter what you drive, you may just have to go to the dealershaft someday. And I really don't know if LR parts are so much more than any other higher end company like BMW, Acura (face it, your not driving a Nova)

Your current problem is a real pain - I understand - but wouldn't it suck to fix it, get rid of it and have some lucky sap have absolutely no problems with it for the next 10 years?