New RR Sport - battery breather pipe?

[Andy M]

My Dad collected his '64 plate' Range Rover Sport today and within a couple of miles noticed a strange sound coming from the drivers-side rear tyre.

He found this pipe, which the dealer informs us is a 'breather for the battery'. Is it normal to dangle down like this?



Regrettably, on closer inspection he also found the real cause of the strange sound; a screw embedded in the tyre:





Which looks suspiciously alike the Phillips-style screws which hold the wheel arch in place:




Two questions:

- is it normal for the breather pipe to dangle down like this?

- is it reasonable to expect the dealer to replace the tyre?

Edited by Andy M on Monday 1st September 19:05

[Campo]

That breather pipe looks gash, I wouldn't expect the dealer to replace the tyre though. It might be worth just unscrewing it to see if it has actually punctured the tyre. New tyres have plenty of tread and may well have not caused a puncture.

Only way to be sure with the breather is check some others on the forecourt.

[hilly10]

Bloody hell what a start. The pipe looks crap just sticking out

[Andy M]

An update:

The dealership acknowledged that the pipe was unnecessarily loose and replaced the tyre no questions asked.

[cayman-black]

Andy M said:

An update:

The dealership acknowledged that the pipe was unnecessarily loose and replaced the tyre no questions asked.

Bloody hell you have found the only good LR dealer!

[farmeryellow]

Hi,

The tube in the photo is not the battery breather, It is the fuel filler drain tube.....the screw in the tyre should be holding the tube in place. (just had a look)

Paul.

[Freakuk]

farmeryellow said:

Hi,

The tube in the photo is not the battery breather, It is the fuel filler drain tube.....the screw in the tyre should be holding the tube in place. (just had a look)

I can't see the pics but my first thought was has the breather pipe been fitted incorrectly and the screw in the tyre is because of this...

Paul.

[Andy M]

farmeryellow said:

Hi,

The tube in the photo is not the battery breather, It is the fuel filler drain tube.....the screw in the tyre should be holding the tube in place. (just had a look)

Freakuk said:

I can't see the pics but my first thought was has the breather pipe been fitted incorrectly and the screw in the tyre is because of this...

Paul.

This is correct, hence why they were so willing to replace the tyre. Otherwise, the service has been so-so...