help - is the dealer screwing me?

Last Friday I picked up my 2006 LR3 from the dealer after a front differential replacement (it was making a lot of noise).

Right when I picked it up - I noticed the AC does not blow cold air, but I was in a rush to get home so did not return it. Next morning my warning light came up saying "suspension fault, normal height only". It does it sometimes 1 min - sometime 10 min after I turn the engine on. This light was probably on while I was going home - just did not notice.

I took it back to the dealer on Tuesday (monday holiday). Now they are telling me:
- my compressor died, I need to have it replaced
- my AC needs charging, maybe leaking somewhere, they will have to charge it to discover the leak.

They want to bill me for an other $1500.

My dealer is refusing to admit that their work has anything to do with the new issues.


Did anybody have experience dealing with dealers in these situations?

Do you know what is involved replacing front diff? Does the engine cooling lines / AC lines touched? Does the air suspension pipe touched?

Please help!

i do know the front diffs are troublesome on the LR3's not sure what runs nearby, that is better answered by a tech on here or someone who owns one. i do know that there was a recall on the compressors as well, not sure what it covered but Sam here on the forum had his done.

Not sure what dealer you go to but there one in cherry hill n.j. screw me for a few hundred, I will not be going back there  

This was prestige land rover in paramus nj.

they had an other smaller screwup last year.
I had a dash error light about fuel tank cap loose or missing, it usually showed up after I started the engine, but went away after a while.
They claimed the entire tank cap assembly had to be replaced (few hundred). A week after the replacement I had an other error light, and even the fuel tank cap error came back.
I did some google-ing - and people suggested to check my battery, if it's too weak, it does not have the power to run all the diagnostics when you turn the car on, and some might fail because of that.

I took the car back to the dealer - and ask them to check the battery. Sure enough, it had low voltage (6 years old).
When I prompted them about the repair they did a week ago for nothing - they tried to explain the two event has nothing to do with each other. I knew they were full of shit, but my time is just an expensive, and did not feel like argue about $200.

I should have learnt my lesson then. This compressor/AC repair cost me an other $1000 what they caused. Oh - and the AC is still broken.

stay away from prestige land rover in paramus, they are incompetent and they are dishonest.

I have yet to see comments on rover sites about anyone being happy with dealer service, may have better luck at jiffy lube imo, you need to find a good indy shop, there is a guy in long branch n.j. I was referred to never used him though

I have yet to see comments on rover sites about anyone being happy with dealer service wrote:

+1 to that. Dealerships are about selling cars not fixing them, their repair facilities are only there to maintain leased vehicles under warranty. Independent shops that screw customers or upcharge parts/work tend to go out of business real quick. I would get the compressor and AC priced at an independent shop, if you don't know a good one Triple A is an ok place to start.

So I am not a mechanic, but I am filled with unsolicited opinions. The compressor retails for about $450

http://www.roverlandparts.com/LR3-air-suspension-compressors-2.aspx

and I am gonna say 2 hours to do that repair at $75 an hour (that seems to be a fair rate on the east coast). AC should be something like $25 a pound for R-134 (I guess that is what the LR3 uses). I can't see the LR3 having more then 5 pounds and 2 hours of labor at $75 an hour So that would put it at about $600 for the suspension and $275 for the AC. Figure a 10% extra for random shit that pops up (or an extra hour) and that is $960 . Seems like your stealership is high on their quote.

I gave up on dealerships back when I had my defender. The rear diff went out and Land Rover Manhattan quoted me $3500 to fix it. I went to a mechanic down the street from my house who had a machinist buddy from French Guyana. Machinist made me a new planetary gear for $500 and the shop installed it for $275. That was the last time I ever went to a dealership for repair.

I believe LR of ch was $125 per hour, there was a mooded d2 there but guess it does not mean the guy worked there

LR3 Air suspension faults and A/C issues have nothing to do with a failed differential, the replacement of, OR the repair of one.
Unfortunately your complaints are all common issues with the LR3, (along with many other issues)
You can research your complaints on other LAND ROVER forums and see for yourself.
http://landroverforums.com/forum/lr3-28/
The fact of the matter is YOU own a 7 year old Land Rover.
You are not immune to these issues. Just like I am not immune, or anyone else that happens to own one.

F/R diff on 05, 06, and some 07 LR3 will fail at some point in its life due to coating inside the diff housing. The replacement diff is better and highly suggest you chg the fluid periodically. Doubt ur AC related to F diff replacement. They are not near each other. Suspension fault. I suspected ur pump is "old and tired". LR air pump need to operate at certain speed or it will flag as failure. My truck is serviced by Princeton LR. I have very happy with their services