Most Common Land Rover Services

Land Rovers (as well as Range Rovers) are luxury SUVs with a reputation for difficult upkeep. Many drivers consider them worth it anyway, finding that the luxury look and feel is exactly what they want. If you’re considering buying a Land Rover or Range Rover, it’s important to know what you’re getting into. That’s why, in this blog post, we’ll go over some of the most common Land Rover services — and warning signs you can keep an eye out for. With these tips, you could save yourself lots of time and money on potentially costly repairs by catching problems before they grow out of control.

Oil and Coolant Leaks

Many Land Rover owners may encounter coolant or oil leaks during their vehicle’s lifetime. Coolant leaks can happen because of faulty coolant hoses, gaskets, or pumps. An oil leak could be caused by something as simple as a failing valve cover gasket or something as expensive as bad oil pan gaskets. Regardless, leaking fluids can get expensive — not to mention messy — very quickly. It always pays to put in a service request when you suspect something could be wrong with your oil or coolant systems.

Warning Signs

The most obvious sign that you’re leaking oil or coolant is that your car needs those fluids topped up more often than usual. You will probably also notice fluid stains underneath your car when you leave it parked — dark-colored for oil leaks, and various lighter colors for coolant leaks. Your car’s indicator lights should also prompt you when you have low coolant or oil. You may also smell burning oil or coolant if either fluid is leaking onto the engine and burning from engine heat.

If you see smoke coming from any part of your car while driving, pull over immediately and call for help. Burning oil or other fluids can easily lead to a fire.

Timing Chain Issues

Your timing chain (or timing belt) is a very important part of your car. It makes sure that your engine fires properly. It does this by keeping your engine’s camshafts and crankshaft in sync with each other, ensuring that oxygen and fuel enter the combustion chamber at the right time and in the right amounts. The timing needs to be precise, or else your engine could backfire or run inefficiently or at worse, detonate. If your timing chain breaks, it can severely damage your engine — to the point that you may need to replace your complete engine! It’s very important to keep an eye (or, more accurately, an ear) out for timing chain issues and/or check engine light faults pertaining to timing faults.

Warning Signs

Timing chain or timing belt issues may be more subtle than you’d think. The most obvious sign to look out for is a rough running or misfiring engine, but a faulty timing component isn’t the only potential cause. It can also happen because of faulty spark plugs or a faulty fuel injection system. Regardless, a misfiring engine is cause for prompt maintenance services from a skilled Land Rover service center.

You may also notice metal shavings in your car’s oil if your timing chains or sprockets are wearing out. This happens when pieces of metal are scraping against things they shouldn’t be, and is always a bad sign that needs attention promptly. Since oil lubricates many vital engine parts, it’s easy to see how foreign particles like metal shavings and chain guide fibers can cause big problems quickly.

Electronics Issues

Land Rovers and Range Rovers are somewhat notorious for electrical problems, including flickering lights, sporadic alarms, door lock failures, blown fuses, and issues with the infotainment system. A faulty electrical system can even make your car harder to start. Your electrical systems power all communication systems on your vehicle’s internal network, and it’s important to keep them all in good shape to avoid costly repairs.

Even if your electrical problems aren’t hazardous, they certainly take away from the luxury feel of a Land Rover — and they can get very expensive, depending on the extent. A malfunction in any part of your Land Rover or Range Rover’s electrical system is best addressed quickly.

Warning Signs

Issues with your car’s electronics may be the most obvious, depending on the cause. If your car’s internal or external lights flicker unexpectedly, this is the most likely cause, for example. Less obvious symptoms include a battery that drains even while the car is turned off, issues with the radio and touch screen, intermittent no-start, and more.

How Can I Avoid These Problems?

As with any vehicle, the best way to mitigate Land Rover and Range Rover issues is to keep a routine maintenance schedule. Preventative maintenance goes a long way toward keeping costly repairs at bay. It’s a good idea to have your car inspected and serviced at least twice a year, even if you don’t think anything is wrong. This could save you a lot of time and money in the long run.

If you notice your Land Rover making a new and unusual noise, don’t wait to schedule a service appointment. Car problems rarely solve themselves, and in the case of a Land Rover or Range Rover, these repairs can get expensive fast. Look for a specialized Land Rover repair shop near you, make a call, and get right back on the road with peace of mind.

Count on Steve’s Imports for Land Rover Service!

The Steve’s Imports team is always ready to provide you and your car with the personalized service you need. We’ve been around for a while and we have decades worth of satisfied customers to vouch for us. Our commitment to excellence has made us the go-to service shop for drivers of all stripes in and around Portland. 

So if you’re the lucky driver of a Land Rover or Range Rover, we’re the auto repair shop for you. We have decades of experience working with these fantastic cars and the same factory equipment as the dealerships, and we’re eager to put that experience to work for you. You can also prepare to have your customer service expectations exceeded; we know how important it is to take care of our clients as well as their cars. Give us a call and let our friendly service speak for itself.