askewed said:
Can you post the entire message please...
Sure - This will be long as we sent several emails to eachother:
KL:
Hi,
Could you please reply with that specific name and contact info for the person at: West Chester Land Rover, Pennsylvania
I am getting under 12mpg all the time. Very frustrated.
I appreciate your assistance.
Thanks
Conact:
Kevin,
Call West Chester Land Rover and ask for *** xxxxxxx in Service (***) ***-xxxx. He works for xxxxxxxx, the Service Manager, both are aware of the gas mileage issue and know the fix. But *** is the one more available, mention my name when you call. Recommend that you have the name and phone number of your service manager when you call. They usually prefer calling your service manager directly and communicate what needs to be done to improve the gas mileage. They have figured out a certain sequence of reloading the settings for the engine management and transmission shift points that improve the gas mileage. I could not, no matter how delicately I drove, get it above 13mpg. Now I get over 16 around town and over 18 highway, but again I drive fairly light on the gas.
Have you tried driving as a manual? If yes, do you get better gas mileage? I did and got about the same mileage I am getting now, this is what led me to push them that something was not right and the vehicle was capable of getting better gas mileage.
Good luck. Let me know how it goes.
KL:
Thanks so much for the info. My dealer is working with West Chester Landrover as I type.
Question for you though: Did your LR3 driving experience change as a result of the transmission shift point changes? I mean does the truck feel different at all to you? Or does it feel like you are driving the same exact way?
My concern is that if most LR3’s are getting descent mileage and some of us, you and me, were experiencing terrible mileage, is there a problem with our truck? I mean, if every other LR3 has a certain transmission synch and ours have this “adjusted” one, is there an underlying problem we should be aware of? What do you think?
On the forum, I read about guys getting over 20mpg hwy right out of the dealership….
I appreciate your help.
Thanks
KL
CONTACT:
Kevin,
I was one of the first to take delivery of an LR3, bought it in Dec 04. I immediately complained about the gas mileage, and the West Chester group, to their credit, kept working at the problem. Once they figured it out, it was explained to me as follows. At the factory, the vehicle is put in Transportation Mode for shipping. When the dealer takes deliivery of the vehicle they reprogram as part of the prep process. West Chester discovered that unless a specific sequence is followed (which was not outlined in enough specificity by LR) the reprogramming may deliver varying results which impacts the vehicle's engine management and transmission programming and thus certain aspects of the vehicle's performance. I posted my experience on a forum back in March. Since then many people, after having their dealer do the "west chester" prep process, have contacted me saying that their vehicle was getting much better gas mileage and was more pleasurable to drive. So I don't think it is a manufacturing defect but rather a variation in the control management programming. It is amazing how much of the vehicle is totally under computer control.
For your reference, things that I have noticed with the vehicle, since the reprogramming:
- it no longer downshifts, as a means of engine braking, when going down the slightest of hills.
- it no longer downshifts when going up the slightest of hills
- when accelerating the shift points seem to be more in tuned with how far I have depressed the gas pedal.
- the engine seems to more responsive.
BTW, I have only gotten around 20mpg on level highway driving at 65 mph. I think some of the postings from Canada use an Imperial Gallon.
Hope this helps.
KL:
My dealer ended up taking another path. They told me I had a bad Oxygen sensor and that my mileage problems are fixed. I will see how it goes with the next 2 tanks of gas. I doubt this is fixed.
I also wonder if mileage is a possible Lemon Law case? I also think that if so many LR3’s are getting such varying mileage if a class action suit could be brought against LandRover for LR3 poor mileage?
But who knows. I just want my truck fixed. I will let you know if the sensor does trick.
Thanks for your help.
By the way – what city mileage do you get now? You mentioned around 20 on level highway.
CONTACT:
How's your gas mileage been? Has the performance improved? I am interested to know what was improved by a new oxygen sensor.
I get about 15.7mpg with average around town driving.
KL:
The oxygen sensor did nothing for me. I am getting 12.2 mpg at best. I just dropped off today and told them to try the West Chester method. I expressed my frustration as this is my 3rd visit for the same problem. I mentioned I would want a new LR3 if they cannot fix the problem.
Did you ever get to the point of asking for a new truck or did this dealership fix your problem right away?
What mpg are you getting on the highway?
Thanks for your help by the way.
CONTACT:
Kevin,
Hopefully the West Chester method will do the trick.
Since I bought mine soon after it was released, I understood that the dealer was not as yet totally up to speed on understanding the new vehicle. Thus I was patient. Also, West Chester took my complaints very seriously. I had taken it back once before for fuel economy issues. The first time I took it back the loaner they gave me got much better gas mileage. When I pointed this out they got very focused on fixing the problem and asked if they could keep my vehicle for however long it took to get to the bottom of this. I had an LR3 loaner so it was ok with me. They had it about 7-10 days. They kept me updated on their progress and some of their conversations with LR. They were almost at their wits end when they decided to closely inspect the process used for taking the vehicle out of transportation mode. They called very excited about having a solution. When I got the vehicle back it not only delivered better gas mileage, it was better to drive and seemed more responsive.
Gas mileage on highway seems to average between 18 and 20 mpg, depending on how fast I drive and the amount of traffic. It gets the best gas mileage when it can stay in 6th gear.
No it never got to the level of threats. I was very pleased with the vehicle and now that they fixed the gas mileaage issue, I am a very satisfied LR3 owner. I have done some serious off roading with it and it is just phenomenal (and a lot of fun). I live in Pennsylvania, and it is by far the best vehicle I have ever driven in the snow.
I hope you can get to the point that you enjoy your ownership.
Best regards,
KL:
The dealership just called me and said though I am all hopped up on the West Chester solution, they found now that my rear locking differential (Heavy Duty Package option) has been engaged all the time and this is why I am getting poor mileage. They are replacing the rear diff tomorrow.
What do you think??
Sound feasible?
This is my 3rd visit for the same issue......
CONTACT:
Kevin,
That would reduce mpg, but I don't have a clue as to the degree.
When did ou buy your vehicle? If it was recently, I would hope that West Chester's approach to making sure the vehicle is properly taken out of Transportation Mode would have made it up to LR and throughout their dealer system. Therefore, maybe your dealer has already properly taken it out of Transportation Mode and that is not the issue.
I would tell your dealer that they should take your vehicle for a long drive after replacing the rear dif, but before you pick it up, to confirm that the mpg is up to where it should be and document the distance traveled and the mpg for your records. Also they should give the vehicle back to you with a full tank of gas.
good luck and please let me know the results.
They are basically re-prepping the vehicle.
