Bewares - Supercharged - Buying Advice

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pld118 said:
There's nowhere near 10 stamps...

Last detailed service report of 3 mts ago said to investigate coolant loss and top up anti freeze.. owner says it was coolant warning light that prompted that.. invoice shows customer was supplied with a bottle of rad leak and 'warning wire' and 'fitting kit'... any thoughts please???

The car's history does seem light to what I would expect of such a beast... but I really did trust the owner.

Anyway, my quest questions resulted in the owner firing me off by txt mssg.. due to huge distance to travel and view the car I pretty much sent him the check list of things I would want reassurance on to save time and ensure neither of us had wasted time.. His response was to say had loads of interest and byeee... disappointed (again)!
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Coolant loss and being issued rad leak highlights a scary past. Walk away fast.

The "had lots of interest" is just a ****e salesman technique. They assume you're keen for asking questions and hope you'll do something rash to get the car. You're better without this vehicle. I suspect a large repair bill is due. Hence the owner selling a 06 for chump change. He wants shot quickly.
 
Bix said:
Coolant loss and being issued rad leak highlights a scary past. Walk away fast.

The "had lots of interest" is just a ****e salesman technique. They assume you're keen for asking questions and hope you'll do something rash to get the car. You're better without this vehicle. I suspect a large repair bill is due. Hence the owner selling a 06 for chump change. He wants shot quickly.
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+1:eek:
 
Bix said:
Coolant loss and being issued rad leak highlights a scary past. Walk away fast.

The "had lots of interest" is just a ****e salesman technique. They assume you're keen for asking questions and hope you'll do something rash to get the car. You're better without this vehicle. I suspect a large repair bill is due. Hence the owner selling a 06 for chump change. He wants shot quickly.
Click to expand...

Seller unexpectedly emailed me today and tried to answer all of my questions whilst clearly very irritated by my having asked them...

Says he hasn't a clue if front diff was replaced under warranty, reiterated that coolant warning has been checked by his mechanic, no fault found and as mechanic doesn't have reset tool he disconnected battery to 'clear' the fault, which seller has also done a few times (no explanation for where the rad weld fluid comes in/ I was frightened to ask in case he blew a gasket of his own!)..

And he now very briefly mentions engine management light intermittently comes on and goes off but mechanic checked it and no fault found... I suppose if mechanic doesn't have correct diagnostic kit any fault won't be found!

Nice enough car, I'm sure a decent chap but too many ifs, buts and maybes for me... Shame as somebody will probably end up with what is actually not a bad RR
 
pld118 said:
Seller unexpectedly emailed me today and tried to answer all of my questions whilst clearly very irritated by my having asked them...

Says he hasn't a clue if front diff was replaced under warranty, reiterated that coolant warning has been checked by his mechanic, no fault found and as mechanic doesn't have reset tool he disconnected battery to 'clear' the fault, which seller has also done a few times (no explanation for where the rad weld fluid comes in/ I was frightened to ask in case he blew a gasket of his own!)..

And he now very briefly mentions engine management light intermittently comes on and goes off but mechanic checked it and no fault found... I suppose if mechanic doesn't have correct diagnostic kit any fault won't be found!

Nice enough car, I'm sure a decent chap but too many ifs, buts and maybes for me... Shame as somebody will probably end up with what is actually not a bad RR
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Coolant warning is self cancelling, no need for diagnostics or a battery reset....if the warning comes back, there is an issue!

you have done the right thing to walk away - never ever buy a Range Rover with faults no matter what the seller says, unless you are fully aware of the eye watering costs involved in repairing such things...

If the Engine Light is on, the ECU will always log a fault, even if the light goes off again, there will still be a fault code listed.....

Whilst the Engine ECU should be OBD complient, it is best to get the diagnostic device specific to the model as they can throw odd codes or even not read others....but a LR Diagnostics will pull a code if the EML light has been on!
 
Coolant light could be a hooky coolant sensor or simply just too lean or too weak of coolant mixture as it senses the viscosity of the mixture
 
2.0_hippo said:
Coolant light could be a hooky coolant sensor or simply just too lean or too weak of coolant mixture as it senses the viscosity of the mixture
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I have heard this coolant check, but I have in the past filled the Tank with plain water when I couldn't get hold of AF, and the coolant lamp never murmoured about the mixture being the wrong ratio....

Similarly, when I have filled with straight AF (to dilute the plain water as above) a few days later, again the sensor never warned of a different coolant ratio!

Will have to do more research I think!
 
Saint.V8 said:
I have heard this coolant check, but I have in the past filled the Tank with plain water when I couldn't get hold of AF, and the coolant lamp never murmoured about the mixture being the wrong ratio....

Similarly, when I have filled with straight AF (to dilute the plain water as above) a few days later, again the sensor never warned of a different coolant ratio!

Will have to do more research I think!
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Sounds like your sensor could be naff
 
2.0_hippo said:
Sounds like your sensor could be naff
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Been looking at the RAVE schematics and read the Operation and Service manuals....

There is no mention of Coolant Quality/Ratio/Viscosity checking....all the schematic shows is a level switch.

All the Servie manual states is the Level Switch assembly....

Unless someone can find definitive proof with evidence that is measures the coolant quality/ratio/viscosity/electrical resistance etc...I will remain resolute that it is just a level sensor and nothing more!
 
Saint.V8 said:
Been looking at the RAVE schematics and read the Operation and Service manuals....

There is no mention of Coolant Quality/Ratio/Viscosity checking....all the schematic shows is a level switch.

All the Servie manual states is the Level Switch assembly....

Unless someone can find definitive proof with evidence that is measures the coolant quality/ratio/viscosity/electrical resistance etc...I will remain resolute that it is just a level sensor and nothing more!
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All it would need is a float that was sensitive to specific gravity rather like the old battery acid testers.
 
Datatek said:
All it would need is a float that was sensitive to specific gravity rather like the old battery acid testers.
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Very true, but the Specific Gravity Bulbs can be quite fragile, and would require a sturdy housing to be mounted in...

All the level assembly is from what I have seen is a plastic float (like you used to find in float chambers in carbs....and a stick attached to the topwith electrical contacts in the bottom thereof....willkeep researching as it has been mentioned more than a fe wtimes previously, so I am keen to figure this one out!
 
Saint.V8 said:
Very true, but the Specific Gravity Bulbs can be quite fragile, and would require a sturdy housing to be mounted in...

All the level assembly is from what I have seen is a plastic float (like you used to find in float chambers in carbs....and a stick attached to the topwith electrical contacts in the bottom thereof....willkeep researching as it has been mentioned more than a fe wtimes previously, so I am keen to figure this one out!
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If it has been done, I think it's just another over complication removing responsibility from the owner:)
 
Datatek said:
If it has been done, I think it's just another over complication removing responsibility from the owner:)
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You know I may have to eat my words...I am never to proud to admit I may be wrong...

Looking at this picture of the Coolant Level Sensor...there is a curious 'bulb' in the centre, which could either be SG bulb that makes/breaks a internal metal contact or it may even measure the electrical resistance of the liquid and a difference would indicate a different ratio mix...

F1.jpg


Still gonna keep digging!
 
Saint.V8 said:
You know I may have to eat my words...I am never to proud to admit I may be wrong...

Looking at this picture of the Coolant Level Sensor...there is a curious 'bulb' in the centre, which could either be SG bulb that makes/breaks a internal metal contact or it may even measure the electrical resistance of the liquid and a difference would indicate a different ratio mix...

F1.jpg


Still gonna keep digging!
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That looks like a reed relay, can you see contacts inside?
 
Datatek said:
That looks like a reed relay, can you see contacts inside?
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Oh Yeah....I wonder....I know there is a float in there cos I can see it, this float is attached to the level stick.... if the float has a magnet on it and as the float moves past the reed switch this makes/breaks the contacts....

So maybe the flaot is some form of SG bulb, but it is just a white plastic or Cork type float....gonna go out with a torch and have look!!

All I do know is that the float has sat on top of plain water, Neat AF and also a 50/50 mix....so I am doubting it is an SG bulb
 
Saint.V8 said:
Oh Yeah....I wonder....I know there is a float in there cos I can see it, this float is attached to the level stick.... if the float has a magnet on it and as the float moves past the reed switch this makes/breaks the contacts....

So maybe the flaot is some form of SG bulb, but it is just a white plastic or Cork type float....gonna go out with a torch and have look!!

All I do know is that the float has sat on top of plain water, Neat AF and also a 50/50 mix....so I am doubting it is an SG bulb
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Anything is possible as regards the float, but I'd bet that little glass tube is a reed switch, easy to tell with a magnet.
 
Datatek said:
Anything is possible as regards the float, but I'd bet that little glass tube is a reed switch, easy to tell with a magnet.
Click to expand...

I am with you on the Reed Switch....so I am assuming the float is infact a SG Bulb....

There was a Tech Bulletin issued LM303-003v3 about the Coolant Warning Message and apparently it refers to the sensor and that an incorrect SG will trigger it....

Going to see if I can get hold of that TB, it is available on TOPiX but at a cost obviously!

EDIT: Also on Service Bulletin Number: 146485
 
Last edited:
Definatly a Reed Switch....

This item fits into a sealed housing column in the tank and is fitted from underneath.

The Float is a white plastic hollow cube with the level indicator stick ontop.

On the float is a magnet that activates the Reed Switch.

I cannot tell if the Plastic float is designed to act as a SG float, but I do doubt it....as I have had it float on neat water and also neat AF...I will still try and seek down this TB and report firther.

L322_CS_INT.jpg
 
I used to have a coolant mix tester that relied on little plastic balls floating or not. It was designed to give you a rough idea as to how cold your coolant can go before it freezes. Very low tech item, but this could easily do the same job. If your coolant is likely to go solid at a specific temp it'll trigger a warning. Possible yours is just naff. ;p Have you tried forcing it down with engine running to see if it triggers a fault?
 
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