Tdv8 engine failure

hi guys, this is my first post on this forum and I'm hoping you could shed some light on an issue I have and where you think I stand.

I'm march of this year I put my car up for sale in my friends (local independent dealer) forecourt.

A guy then wished to PX a 2009 3.6 tdv8 with 95k against it too which I didn't mind and my friend would also sell it as I had no intention of driving it.

On inspecting the vehicle for PX a warning light came on and the jeep went into limp mode. So the guy who owned it returned it too the guy he purchased it from as he still had warranty with it.

They had the vehicle for 5 weeks and told him via email and text convo that both turbos had been replaced with reconned units and a pipe had been replaced on an injector.

The vehicle then came back to us and we test drive again, all was ok and the vehicle was taken as a trade in.

Now the Range Rover had been out for afew test drives etc in the last few months and I eventually sold it on Saturday past only for the guy who bought it too break down 6 miles into the journey home.

So after recovering the vehicle my mechanic has told me it seems like it will need a new engine as either the crank is buggered or the big bearing or both.

Now his vehicle has covered less than 50miles since it supposedly had over 2k off parts and labour spent on it, and after reading through various forums etc it seems to me that the last diagnosis was wrong and an oil pump should have been replaced as well as the turbos?

I'm at my wits end as I've been quoted cricket scores to fix it.

Anyone have any idea where I stand?

Previous dealer who sold vehicle and carried out work has washed his hands of it and said he isnt responsible.

What do I do?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Is any warranty still left and if so, was it transferable.

Col

The guy who owned the RR initially bought it in January with six months warranty, tried trading it in against mine on 16th march but first fault arose and it was returned for turbos too be replaced under warranty, they had it five weeks then he got it back, then the trade was done and it's done about 30miles or so between test drives and what not else up until last Saturday when I sold it. I really just want too know if the garage that completes the fitting of the reconned turbos are at fault because other work wasn't carried out to acess why the turbos failed in the first place?

There was a post about this same issue two/ three months ago, it's not the same vehicle is it?

No, this is my first post in this forum, I think I read the same post you were talking about. His was low miles and garage contacted him too say engine seized on fire up after turbos being replaced. Unfortunately mine managed about 40miles then calved! Sat for 3 months for sale.

I don't think you have got much of a case against anyone I'm afraid. I reckon the guy who part exchanged it knew it was a duff one if he was trying to offload it after only about 2 months of ownership. The garage that repaired it would of had some sort of contract for services rendered with the original owner, not you. I think the best bet now would be to go to citizens advice beauro and see what they say.

Col

I've been in contact with the chap who traded the jeep in, he's forwarded me emails and messages of his contact with them. They will not provide invoices for the work that was done etc and service book wasn't touched either.

I suppose if the work was done under warranty and no money changed hands, there will not be a need to provide an invoice. It will be hard to prove the repairing garage did not fix it properly or that the oil pump was faulty when they looked at it. It would have been interesting to see what the fault codes said when it went into limp mode.

Col

They said it went too a Land Rover specialist for diagnostics but all work carried out was by there own mechanic. Would the oil pump not need replaced if both the turbos went any the same time?

It is logical to conclude that the failure of the turbos was due to lack of lubrication and therefore the oil pump should have been considered but garages hate doing warranty work and if they have to, they will do the minimum necessary to get the car off their premises. There's not much integrity in the motor trade I afraid, yes, there is the odd good garage but those that sell cars don't seem to believe customer loyalty is worth preserving.

Col

Indeed you are right, my only calm is the fact that the sport has done literally about 50miles since the turbo problem was apparently rectified, the problem would have came back too them if he didn't trade the bloody thing into me. I've contacted him directly looking for contact info for the garage that carried out the work and he won't give me there details, he basically said it's nothing too do with them and hung up the phone. Just got word today from my mechanic that it's the big end bearing on the crank.

Also any suggestions if it would be cheaper too rebuilt the engine rather than replace it? As I am having zero luck trying too source an engine here in Northern Ireland.

I also forgot too mention that the engine still starts and turns over ok but has a loud rattle and seems ok tighten up the longer it turns over. Anyone shed any light on this. Heard story's of sometimes valve springs going and sounding like this.

If it's the big end bearings that would account for a rattle or knocking also the tightening of the engine when warm, eventually it will seize. If it was mine I would get the sump off and replace all the big end shells and inspect the crank for scoring. If the shells have worn through, there may be crank damage. As always it's the labour cost of a strip and rebuild that is the deciding factor. A well equipped and knowledgable garage should be able to do the big ends in a day, so theoretically, about £400-600 for the labour. In reality, they will have all sorts of difficulties that will push the cost up. As you say, finding a good engine at a reasonable cost is not going to be easy.

Col

It's just a total nightmare, cheapest quote I've got this far is £7500 for parts and labour. And the jeeps only worth 15k