I will appreciate any help!! I just bought a 2000 discovery and was very happy for months...

Then the headlights seemed to be dimming so unfortunaetly I m not only ignorant mechanically, I am trusting.. So I went to a local Landrover mechanic and he said that it was the switch. I paid $334 and replaced it then.

BUT as I was leaving he told me "OH NO I must let you know that the sometime squeak when you are slowly turning or parking is a dangerous sign that you must replaced your Complete track ROD/Drag link asap OR you could suddenly run off the road with kids in car! OH No I said , please fix this! He said he'd order the part and I should return in 2 days with $425
After I got home I looked under the car with my husband to look at this rods to see if I could recognize any immediate danger. I was surprised to see alot of dripping liquid? I called him and asked him if he put any sort of liquid or oil to temp. help me and he said NO and he didnt know what I was talking about so I figureed it was normal. I returned in 2 days and had the rods changed. I left and parked the car in my garage. When I went to drive it later that week, I WAS SHOCKED.. it was shaking upon acceleration.. I called him and he said dont worry it is probably the wheels needed balanced and told me to bring it back.
So I did and he looked under and said it was the drive shaft that must be replaced and he did it then for $190. BUT I told him to look at the leak. It was also on my new garage floor for the last week. It mostly leaks after has been running. He said it was antifreeze and that I should not drive it and he'll fax me the estimate.

I got the fax today!!!$3500!!! $3500. I am so upset and furious because it never even leaked until I met him AND even if it was just a conscience why didnt he see it or mention it after I asked and while he was replacing the track rods??? This $3500 is for things like Gasket stuff, manifold stuff, $760 for cylinder head, $456 for hydralic lifter ect. ect. PLEASE ANY IDEAS???

 

Your story is an infuriating one, to be sure. Since you are not a mechanic (neither am I), about the only thing you can do is get a second opinion (it doesn't seem that the diagnosis of a machine should be opinion at all, does it?). Check your coolant levels before taking it in, and see if you can take it to a place based on referrals, not the Yellow Pages.

What mechanic lead you down the road of head lights to engine re-build?

Check your power steering fluid level as well. My Disco had cracked hoses which lead to a lot of leaking and, naturally, steering issues (vibration, sounds) as you describe.

If you find the mechanic to be a crook, PLEASE go through the process with the Better Business Bureu to forewarn someone down the road.

 

This sounds like a rip off, firstly dimmed lights and a squeak all point to alternator or drive belt failure, and with signs of coolant leak, what seems to have happened is your water pump went, which caused the serpentine belt to go slack, thus not giving the alternator the spin it needed to get it working. But with out seeing the vehicle can not be 100% sure.

Never heard of track rods been changed beacuse of a squeal, as they can't squeal, and Land Rovers don't just fail, you would get plenty of warning with the steering feeling more and more vague. (My 90 has now down over 155,000 miles on original track rods, the only change has been a couple of ball joints on the track rods, which is a cheap job to do.)

I would most def get a second opinion from someone you or a friend trusts, as he seems to be from what you have written been taking you for a ride and is still trying to milk you, not sure what redress you have in your location, here in the UK we have trading standards officers who can advise and help in situations like this.
If you are a member of any motoring breakdown service, they may help you as well with giving an unbais opinion to all the events and an inspection of your vehicle.

Just some notes made, The garage claimed that the track rods could go at any moment, and result in you losing control, but as soon as you agreed to have the work done he then let you drive it for a further TWO DAYS !!!!!!! This is why I am highly suspicous of this garages motives..... if it was as dangerous as he made out, you would think they would give you a loan car until it could be fixed....

 

So, has he seen the vehicle before giving the quote?? Just noticed this bit.. if not, how does he know it is not the coolant pump, as when that fails, it leaks out of a special hole on purpose to indicate it has failed, and guess what, it leaks from said hole when the engine is running and just after you switch off.....


alarm bells are a ringing... ring ring, ring ring......

 

Just got your e-mail. Looks like everybody has covered just about everything I would have to say.
What I would like to add is always ask to see the old parts; good mechanics dont mind, but crooks do.
Definitely seek a second opinion, even if it's the LR dealership.