Puma Lemon?

I sent our 110 Puma with 26k Kms (16k mls ) for some small warranty snag work, but the dealership wants to change the ECM ( I did have some immobiliser problems) and the clutch. I've notice no problem with the clutch but do pull a horse box about 2 weekends per month. I noticed once when trying to go off road into a field we had a lot of clutch action trying to get through a tight gateway, with the two horses in the back the smell of clutch was awful. Would one event like this cause clutch burn-out or is this a sign of a the new defenders design being a bit of a lemon? I am an ex-disco 300tdi which was great for towing but worry that when the warranty runs out on the defender I'll be left with a money pit.

Depends how badly and for how long you slipped the clutch or if you drive with your foot resting on the clutch pedal. If you could smel the clutch burning then it could quite easily have been the last straw. Do you wait on inclines using the clutch or the handbrake? This can cause massive clutch wear and premature failure.
If they are changing it under warranty then get it done. Otherwise its your call. If you regularly tow can you risk the clutch failing at the most awkward time?

My 2.25 petrol SIIa SWB had its original clutch when I sold it and it had done more than 150k miles a lot of it towing a double horse box and a car transporter trailer. Vehicle sympathy is the clue here. Understand how a clutch works and look after it where you can.

Maybe selecting low range to get yourself moving (this will save a lot of stress on the clutch), then shift up into high range once the vehicle (And horsebox) is doing a respectable speed.

the transits suffer from clutch problems especially when towing. When they first cam out you were lucky to get 600 miles to a clutch. Things have improved now but they are still far from perfect. Since the transit engine powers the new defenders I would expect them to have the transit clutch too (or very similar). Gearboxes are ****e on the puma defenders too.

phoenix said:

I sent our 110 Puma with 26k Kms (16k mls ) for some small warranty snag work, but the dealership wants to change the ECM ( I did have some immobiliser problems) and the clutch. I've notice no problem with the clutch but do pull a horse box about 2 weekends per month. I noticed once when trying to go off road into a field we had a lot of clutch action trying to get through a tight gateway, with the two horses in the back the smell of clutch was awful. Would one event like this cause clutch burn-out or is this a sign of a the new defenders design being a bit of a lemon? I am an ex-disco 300tdi which was great for towing but worry that when the warranty runs out on the defender I'll be left with a money pit.

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Get it into low range man - if you are burning up the clutch trying to move a horse box about that is not good.

I take it you were trying to manoeuvre the horse box about through a tight space? 1 and reverse low range and so slow you don't need any clutch slip - pop the clutch and use the transmission that’s what its there for.

As shifty says do you slip the clutch a lot, when towing ? do you rev like mad then take off, when I am towing I let the clutch up smoothly and quickly, let the LR start to move then give it some revs while letting go of the clutch. They WILL take off with NO revs with smooth clutch control, on inclines you can use a little more. This is very good practise for ANY driving but especially when you’re towing as your are then NOT trying to slip a clutch on a gross weight of 3tons plus!

Thanks for feed back and driving tips lads, but just to clarify, the gate I was going through was at an event and every sort of 4x4 was going through it, many with the same clutch/ manouver ( even a SIII went through). The Puma was the only one that smelt like it had **** its pants! I talked to the independent dealer who bought her for me, he deals mainly in Jap 4x4 to the farming community where I live. He says he's seen this happen to all types of 4x4's and not to get paranoid about her being a LR. I drive a transit for work and have put up 150k mls on a 2001 model without any serious maintenance issues,( granted it hasn't towed). So you can see why I'm worried about a vehicle that needs to have a clutch replacement after 16k mls.

With the eletronic throttle ****in it all up too id go for the sale TBH.nice bit of kit but the engine and box are wrong.Get a **** box tdi and rebuild it with the money.That way you will know where you are at..

16k for a clutch is crap, my V8csw is only on its 2nd at 190K , and that includes pulling 54 ton on occasion . The puma engine and box was a bodge from the start cost being the whole focus by Ford . JMHO

Upgrade, get a TD5 or even better 300tdi Defender.

I don't think burning the clutch once will wreck it. I had a new Renault van, and the clutch would judder in first gear. One day I got so fed up with it that I put it in fifth gear going up a hill and just floored it with the clutch pedal half way down. Clouds of smoke and a smell of burning friction material enveloped the van. After about 10 seconds the engine was doing 5,000 rpm and I took my foot off the clutch pedal, there was no drive it was just slipping.
I know this was stupid but my point is that it recovered after a few minutes and I was able to drive off (although it felt odd for a week or two, not surprising really) I did another 100,000 miles with that clutch and it never juddered again either. I sold the van last year to a friend, he's done another 10,000 miles and it's still OK.

lightning said:

I don't think burning the clutch once will wreck it. I had a new Renault van, and the clutch would judder in first gear. One day I got so fed up with it that I put it in fifth gear going up a hill and just floored it with the clutch pedal half way down. Clouds of smoke and a smell of burning friction material enveloped the van. After about 10 seconds the engine was doing 5,000 rpm and I took my foot off the clutch pedal, there was no drive it was just slipping.
I know this was stupid but my point is that it recovered after a few minutes and I was able to drive off (although it felt odd for a week or two, not surprising really) I did another 100,000 miles with that clutch and it never juddered again either. I sold the van last year to a friend, he's done another 10,000 miles and it's still OK.

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sav - age

tacr2man said:

16k for a clutch is crap, my V8csw is only on its 2nd at 190K , and that includes pulling 54 ton on occasion . The puma engine and box was a bodge from the start cost being the whole focus by Ford . JMHO

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54 ton , nahhh not havin that