Chris B wrote:

That sounds like you have a malfunction in the brake servo assist. Could be the vacuum pump or a leaking pipe/fitting. Confirmation test: After being parked for a while put your foot on the brake before you crank the engine, the pedal should go down a little as the assist comes in from the engine starting.

No Servo wont make the brakes any worse they give the same performance you just need more pedal pressure under foot, it might seems like they have failed, but with modern cars everything is finger tip no effort involved, same as power steering, if you lose the assistance the steering is stiil as good as it was you just need more effort to operate it.
Its what it says, its an assistance to make it easier to work, if you see what I mean?

With out steering assist and servo the thing really is a beast to manoeuvre.
Find a situation where you can try it, I think you will be amazed.

For the steering you can see how much harder it is to turn when you push it with the engine off and try to steer like I do sometimes if Im shifting it around the garage and cant be bothered to start it up.
Very heavy indeed but it still works ok.

That's what I meant really ... A lot more effort to do anything. The steering is a killer!

Finally have car back and working.
It just needed an update, what ever that means? It's worked for six years heavens sake.
Dealership invoice states, reprogramed Ipack. £ 211.20 please. Plus ( Our aim is to give you an OUTSTANDING service ). I think that may be a euphuism for ( We will do our best to empty your wallet ) sir.
Also they spotted the high level stop light bulb out. To replace it £ 107.52 please.
I changed it myself in three minutes, one new bulb £2.40.

It broke down again with the same problem, after 500mls.
Great service from the RAC. Recovered at two o-clock in the morning in the poring rain to the dealership.
They have replaced what they now say was a faulty steering lock and requested a wheel barrow full money for their troubles.
Apparently it was on their diagnostic contraption for a whole day.

At least they will give you the previous £211 back as they were wrong, ha like heck they will.
This is where today the just replace and see if it works routine costs a fortune, they never remove the previous wrong parts and give you a refund do they.
It should be made so that if new parts or work is done unnecessarily you get refunded, that will give them an incentive to get it right first time.

I was given the impression they had not got a clue what was wrong with it. They said they phoned Land Rover Support to help them out.
These things are just to complicated. Over £600 plus loosing the thing for weeks.
This is now the 11th time it has had to be repaired. Just coming up to 39.000mls.

IMO mechanics today if computer says dnot know, there fu,ked
I was on the spaners for 16 years
They need to think more and do a little of detective work 😂😂😂 2008 xs
Snorkel
raised axle/gearbox breathers
Mantec tank guard
Cb radio
Blanked EGR
Sump guard
Scratches
Snolkle

I agree, I don't blame the lads that work on them. That's the system they have to work in.
These vehicles are stuffed full, with non repairable electronics' and in my case very unreliable.
Honest John stated most vehicles are made to last seven years and I tend to agree with that.
When repair bills start to exceed the value of the vehicle what do you do?

My son has just had his Insignia into Vauxhall under warranty to check loss of coolant and a stored code showing an issue with the thermostat sensor

The garage where he had it diagnosed deliberately moved the code to the message store so that Vx would be able to see it and action it accordingly


Vauxhall pressure tested the coolant system (when cold) and found no leaks and said because the thermostat sensor failure code was in the stored area there was nothing they could do. they needed an active code to fix it.

No mechanical investigation, no running the engine up to temp and physically checking pipes etc for cracks when warm. Nothing.

If it aint on the diagnostics screen they are screwed. They are not mechanics these days (in Vauxhall or LR or where ever) they are just cable monkeys who can read a laptop screen.

I suppose the computer was meant to speed up the finding of the problems. It certainly has not reduced the bills. £107 to change a light bulb.
But as you lads say, it has removed the skill of the fitter. It makes me wonder just how skilled they are at replacing the parts.

i got this steering column locked warning a lot. build myself a start button directly from battery through a push button to the starter solenoid signal. got the engine running, and wiggled the steering a bit. all came right.
this works every time. land rover could not fix the problem, as it was intermittent. and once on a drive to Botswana i had to make a plan. it works. my life starts where tar roads ends