2003 Freelander Problems

Hello
I have just bought my first Freelander 3 weeks ago from a local car dealer (not a Landrover specialist)
Already I have 2 problems with it: Firstly the rear diff pinion oil seal is leaking although I think that this is because the pinion bearing is worn or failing (lots of lateral play on pinion shaft)
Secondly the amber hill descent warning light comes on shortly after start up and stays on.
I have been told that to sort the first problem it is just a matter of replacing the bearing, the seal, the collapsable washer & the dirt shield.
To cure the second problem I have been told that the fault code can just be reset, failing this a new switch would be require on the gear stick.
As I am not up on Landrovers does these 2 cures sound feasable?
Ref the diff I am concerned that it should not be replaced completely.
Any help or comments would be most appreciated.

What ya complaining about?? sounds to me you've got a good Hippo if that's all that's wrong with it.

hill descent warning light maybe connectors on the switch, try switching it on and see what happens, or equally as common, brake pedal switch, or abs fault

Not complaining just trying to get some advice from you Landy experts!

if you got it from a trader then take it back to get it sorted, don't mess with it yourself of they will claim you have been messing. if they try to fob you off then start quoting the sale of goods act. if they say it was bought as seen or without a warrenty then call em liars, theres no such thing with a trader

Can anyone help with this, Orange hill decent light comes on and stays on until you next turn ignition off. Then on restart after abot 1/4 of mile comes back on agian.
I have changed the brake light switch, I have change the hill decent switch (second hand one) & i know the ABS is working ok.
Any suggestions as to what else it could be?
Someone has mentioned that the fault code just needs resetting? is this true?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

any particular reason the dealers not not sorting it m8?

Dealer has no idea what he's doing, not a Landrover specialist, need to get it sorted so best trying to sort it myself.

To be honest it doesn't matter if the dealer doesn't know what he is doing. Fundamentally it's his problem. If he cant sort it will he pay the bill for it to be fixed?

Your right with what you have said but dealer is dragging his heals and I want it sorting now, given him enough time, plus the problem has to be something or nothing otherwise I would be experiencing other problems becuase of it!

cravenfreelander said:

the problem has to be something or nothing otherwise I would be experiencing other problems becuase of it!

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I wouldn't count on it m8. could be anything from a sensor to an abs sender on the wheel to the ecu. contact the dealer, tell him that unless it fixed within 7 days you will take it to a maindealer to get it sorted and he will get the bill.car dealers are laughing when folks just walk away and sort it themselves. he's saved himself the best part of £4-500 so far. contact cab for proper advice or read the "so you have bought a crock of ****" sticky at the top of the page.
not takin the **** m8 but if he's fobbed you off the how many more has he fobbed off.

Sometimes a chat to your local trading standards office is very useful. They should be able to advise what words to use to assist. But if I remember correctly the law is poor on this. I believe you have to give the garage opportunity to repair the problems. Here starts the problem, according to the TS bloke I spoke to there is nothing in law that states how long the garage can take to rectify the problem!!!! Long story, I had a Mitsubishi RVR (import) 4x4 and the transfer box blew up after a month. The garage took 2 months to fix (I did have a loan car). I then drove 200 miles and bang it blew again. Another 3 months (loan car again) and I went to collect it and it wouldn't move under its own steam!!!!! They changed the gearbox which had the diff in and it was a different ratio to the rear diff!!!!! So after about 6 months it was still broken! I eventually swapped it for a Volvo T5 estate which was great. At the time I spoke to TS and they said that while they agreed that the time it took garage to fix was unreasonable there was nothing I could do as the garage had not refused to fix it!!!!!

So while I would agree the garage should put it right sometimes its not worth the effort.

May be best to have a nice polite chat with garage and say you have found an independent Freelander specialist who charges £xx an hour and will they pay for the repair?

If they will you are fine. If not you can choose to use small claims court. You will have to prove they wont fix it etc...... But you shoudl be able to get a repair paid for if you want the hassle. That is providing the garage is still trading after all the legal stuff!