Hey all,

My 2022 110 SE P400 was dropped off at the dealer last Friday and the update I got today is that they are working with Land Rover engineering. I've taken it into the dealer previously for a check engine light which each time they said was related to vapor from the gas cap, and told me to make sure it clicks twice when I put the cap back on. They flash it and send me on my way. It was in for its 18k service about 4 months ago (it only has 15k on the clock since I purchased it new in Nov 2021, thanks COVID). Anyway, a few weeks after I got it back from service it flashed with warning to check engine coolant levels. I pulled over at an autozone prepared to by some coolant, but upon visual inspection, the coolant level was right at the appropriate fill line. I turned the car back on and the message went again. All well enough.

Fast forward to last week, the coolant light comes back on and I visually check it again, and once again its okay. So I don't think much of it. I get home from running errands and I get an email notification that my coolant level is low and now the check engine light is on solid, not flashing. So I call the dealer, who proceeds to tell me to just bring it by because they top off coolant for free. I tell them its come and gone and it could be a sensor, so I'd prefer to set an appointment and get it checked.

On the way over to dealer I notice it feels a little sluggish, which it hasn't before. I drop it off first thing Friday morning and don't hear anything from them until late Saturday. They said that when they tried to bring it into the bay it wouldn't start. Thats strange, as its never not started on me before. They are closed Sunday, and so Tuesday I get a text from the service advisor telling me the car won't start, and they think its related to the check engine light, and they are working with Land Rover engineering and want to figure out the CEL before they move onto the coolant.

I'm a bit baffled by this, and I've been looking around online and I've heard people say about Land Rovers generally, not specifically new Defenders, that coolant warnings are basically a death knell for Land Rover engines. I have no idea if thats true or not, but has anyone experienced this with a new Defender? I genuinely love the car, so I hope its a simple sensor they are having issues with but I guess I'll have to wait and see.

 

I'm not sure which exact models/years are affected but the driver side auxiliary radiator leaking seems like a common issue on earlier year p300s. Pull the wheel arch liner and have a look. My low coolant warning would come on after about 90 minutes or so of driving and go off a few minutes later. I think it has something to do with the electric water pumps circulating coolant through the aux radiators and refilling what was lost from the leaky radiator. Sounds like you are still under warranty. Let LR deal with it and plan to trade in before the warranty expires.

 

More accurately, this is actually the death knell for Land Rover engines.

 

I don't know if I should laugh or cry, lol.

 

Have them check the water pump as well. They have had issues with tiny leaks coming from faulty water pumps.

 

Hopefully you have 2 separate issues...coolant system and some electronic module.

Many of us have had really slow coolant leaks, no dripping but the coolant level keeps dropping. I had 2 coolant leaks, one where the lower radiator hose meets the engine block and the other one where a coolant line goes into the intercooler. If your coolant level is full, it could be the styrofoam sensor that floats in the expansion tank went bad. This was a very common LR4 issue.

Electronic module issues are really hard to solve. We had the infotainment system on our 2023 fail. Dealer had no idea what happened and how to fix it. They had to get JLR engineers involved to sort it out. They finally determined that some $4000 electronic module under the driver seat failed. Had to have a new one made in the Slovakia plant since this part is VIN-specific. I think I'm the only one here that had this odd issue.

Hopefully the coolant warning and engine warning and not starting are not related. Thinking that would be when something inside the engine fails and you probably get a new engine for free. Just be sure to get the nicest loaner car they have available since you may be driving it for a couple of weeks.

 

Well, this turned out to be prophetic. The dealer just told me they got approval from the UK to replace the engine. They are ordering a new long block for it, ETA November. Still no details about what actually happened, but I'm going to go by the dealer tomorrow and hopefully find out more.

 

Wow! An engine replacement. Please let us know what you find out from the dealer.

 

Wishing you the best of luck and please do keep us informed. The Ingenium engines have been pretty solid - this is one of those rare cases where they're replacing an engine.

 

Thank you! Yeah, its a bit surprising as inline sixes are normally pretty solid (unless built by GM). I'm honestly surprised its not induction related because I think the long block is just the block and heads, but I guess it could be the intake manifold as well depending on how LR does it. Either way, I don't think it includes the super or turbo. I have to say the dealer has been really great as as soon as they got the news offered to put me in a Defender loaner rather than the Enterprise rental I'm in now. I'll let you guys know what I find out.