Looking for Advice

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rbelz

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Recently purchased a 2006 LR3 SE. It was a dealer service loaner, but I got a great deal on it with only 11K miles. I had done my homework and understood this vehicle was likely to be in the in shop a lot more often than average (one review said you will definitely get to know your service advisor on a first name basis). I blame only myself for this, but really love the way the LR3 looks, performs, and all the Land Rover name brings to mind. That said, after about 7K miles and 4 trips to the dealer, I am really regretting my purchase.

I've only reported 2 significant issues. LR has taken care of one, but the other appears to be a real challenge to fix and then they created another.

1. Rapid wear of the inside front tires. When I mentioned this, they said they had a bad alignment setting and agreed to pay for 3 new tires if I bought the 4th and paid for an alighment. This still cost me $300, but it was fair.

2. Major rattle in the sunroof area. It's intermittent, but it's quite loud and consistent when it rattles, and it rattles maybe 20% of the time I'm in the car. You can usually stop it by just pressing a finger to the glass. Aftrer 3 trips to fix it, they finally just replaced the entire sunroof. It still rattles just the same as before, and during the last service the dealership ended up putting a big scratch down my passenger door.

They did not dispute this, and repainted the side of the car for me (a 90 minute parking lot paint job by a band of traveling painters that make the rounds of the local dealers). Unfortunately the paint is not a perfect match and LR does not seem to know what to do about the rattle. That was 3 weeks ago, and they say they are still working with the factory on a "solution".

I've also experienced the transmission surge others have mentioned and now after reading about all the other problems in this forum, I'm on pins and needles for something else to fail.

To say I'm frustrated is an understatement. I have an almost new 50K vehical that rattles like a Yugo and has already had a paint job I'm sure will only get worse over time.

Does anyone know of a possible solution on the sunroof? I don't see any other complaints from others, but it drives me nuts when by myself and embarrasses me when I have others in the car.
 

nwoods

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I think it's the little pop up air dam. Try holding that down with your finger and see if the rattle goes away. Also, try looking down at the tracks from above the car, with the sun roof open. There have been reports of the tracks getting "brittle" and cracking.
 

rbelz

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I had tried the pop up air dam, deflector, but that's not it. The sunroof will still rattle, even if it's about 50% of the way open. The original sunroon did have cracks in the plastic tracks. I had noticed that too and hoped the new one would fix it, but no luck.
 

kwlr3

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That's unfortunate about the scratch on your door. Things like that drive me nut's, door dings are the worst. Here is the best advice you'll ever find on how to overcome the angst of that paint job. Go offroad! Find a trail that is just a little too overgrown. Head right down the middle, you're not looking to dent the doors or scratch them down to the bare mettle, just a liitle "texturing". Follow that with a mud bath. Let the mud bake on for at least two weeks. During this time, park your bad ass LR3 next to the lame rides of the people who might comment on your rattling sunroof. After two weeks, wash and wax. You will be amazed at how this process has soothed the finish. Now, if anyone asks why your sunroof rattles, tell them to follow you in their Lexus down that same trial and they can answer the question themselves.
 
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dropper

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I had a little rattle / click from my roof which would stop when I put pressure on it. Dealer replaced a bracket but that didn't help.

I WD-40d all the rubber seals and cleaned connectors, seems to have solved the problem.
 

rbelz

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Yesterday, we drove around and tried to really isolate it. It would rattle even with the sunroof almost all the way open, and I'm almost 100% sure now that it's the sunroof and not the headliner. I must admit, it's a tough problem. Just like yours, when it rattles I can pretty much just press a finger on it and it will stop, but examining the mechanism, it really does appear to be very solidly mounted. I"m an engineer, and I just don't know what to do short of weld it closed.
 

sandman

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might need a spacer or two made of plastic or felt in the right place.
 

PaulLR3

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Every car I have owned with a sunroof has had a squeak or rattle from the rubber gasket. I coat the rubber gasket all around with a teflon based bike lube. Lasts for about 4 months then I need to reapply.
 

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