Coolant problem

Hi,

I have a 1999 Freelander 1.8, which I bought for £900 back in June. So far I've had no problems.

Recenlty though I've been having trouble starting. I thought it was the cold but it may be more than that.

It will usually start fine, but if I switch the engine off within about 5 minutes, it won't be easy to restart (I pump the accelerator etc). Often the engine won't sound right until about 5 - 10 minutes into the journey, accompanined by a loss in power.

This came to a head on sunday when it wouldn't restart at all, and I had to bump start. The engine again didn't sound like it should until it had warmed up.

This morning when reversing in the school car park there was a big cloud of blue smoke from the exhaust. There was more smoke when I left, and again when reversing outside work and during lunchtime.

I checked the coolant level (after reading something here) and the resevoir was empty. Although I don't have any antifreeze yet, I thought that water on its own is better than nothing and pured some in. I had to pour some in again after a short journey this lunchtime, so I'm not sure if it leaks or just very empty.

When I checked after getting back the level had dipped and there was also some pink antifreeze in there. I'll be getting some later tonight.

I took a pic of the engine compartment: imgur: the simple image sharer

I think the power steering resevoir is also leaking, seeing the liquid that's on the pipe leading down.

It failed an MOT on Thursday, with 1.5% CO levels. The exhaust baffle was loose, which I'm having looked at this morning, but he also advised me to take it to a garage so they can hook it up to an ECU. Apart from that he said the car was in very good condition.

I would appreciate any thoughts on the matter.

Best regards,

Mei

sounds like the dreaded head gasket issuemabob !

Could be the manifold gasket leaking check and get a green one

Power steering leaks on mine its the clip on the reservoir

:welcome2: must agree i think headgasket may have gone.or maybe waterpump is leaking because they go on these like the head gasket.

I always check the easy and less painful things first

Quite agree with you but loss of coolant like that generally points to one of two things on the k series.

Hoyt-Protec said:

I always check the easy and less painful things first

Click to expand...

good point well put

Failed Head Gasket...

Thanks for all the replies on this.

It does indeed look like the head gasket. But it gets worse.

After fixing the exhaust I retook the test and it failed again. The 4WD warning lamp was on, the mechanic told me that the bolt that holds the rear axle to the chassis was loose, because the nut had come away from the chassis and needed welding back on. He thinks a hole would need to be made for access, so this is lots of work for a £900 car.

I'll be ringing the scrap yard next...

Mayo

one thing is never put cold water into a hot engin you will crack the engin

mayo said:

Thanks for all the replies on this.

It does indeed look like the head gasket. But it gets worse.

After fixing the exhaust I retook the test and it failed again. The 4WD warning lamp was on, the mechanic told me that the bolt that holds the rear axle to the chassis was loose, because the nut had come away from the chassis and needed welding back on. He thinks a hole would need to be made for access, so this is lots of work for a £900 car.

I'll be ringing the scrap yard next...

Mayo

Click to expand...

The axle or the driveshaft? You can remove the driveshaft. You'll have a FWD freelander, but it's better that the scrapyard. The rear axle isn't bolted to the chassis, I hope. There's usually some kind of suspention between them...

Cmdr_Keen said:

The axle or the driveshaft? You can remove the driveshaft. You'll have a FWD freelander, but it's better that the scrapyard. The rear axle isn't bolted to the chassis, I hope. There's usually some kind of suspention between them...

Click to expand...

No axles on a FL
If you remove the driveshafts it will be a no wheel drive, removing the rear prop gives you fwd.

There is a fix for the rear diff sub frame search and you will find.

The rear axle isn't bolted to the chassis, I hope. There's usually some kind of suspention between them.

Click to expand...

You're right, the mechanic mentioned it was bolted on to a sub frame. Sorry, I'm more of a web geek than a petrol head!