Sudden increase in fuel consumption

Hi guys,

My Freelander 1.8 2000 reg hardback has suddenly decided to give me around 60 miles to £20 worth of fuel. Ive had the car since Dec 2011 (previously running fine and giving normal amounts of mpg) and in february I had the 2 front tyres replaced. It seems the increase has occured since this change.

Also in recent weeks, when the car is cold and the parking break is on, the back end seems to 'get caught' on something and upon moving away from a stationary position, it makes a 'clunking' noise and leaps forward a little. Almost as if the tow bar is caught on something and then releases. Obviously it isnt the tow bar. It feels as if the back end 'rest's' on 'something' and upon moving away it does something. Obviously i dont know what.

Please help! Im on the verge of selling the damn thing. Only 47k! ..... any takers?!

Thanks.

New tyres ( bigger radius) should always be on the rear.
If not this can cause the transmission to wind up and damage the IRD

Take the rear prop off to prevent further damage.

eek ok.

Ps whats IRD?

It's the intermediate reduction drive effectively a transfer box.

It sounds very much like what happened to mine and a lot of other peeps on this forum.
Use the search to find other accounts of this failure.
It is a common problem.

Sorry to be the possible bearer of bad news but you need to be aware.

EDIT: the increase in fuel usage is unrelated to this you will find other posts on this also.

OK thanks for your help.

PS is any of this an MOT failure? and/or expensive to fix?

PPS - I orig had the tyres replaced as it was pulling to one side. FYI

Shouldn't affect your mot, unless your in Northern Ireland apparently.
Did changing the tyres stop it pulling?

Edit: btw if you need to replace the ird and vcu(recommended strongly) it's a big bill.

Chaging the tyres stopped the pulling yes. Just upped the fuel. Haha

Your fuel consumption went up when you changed the tyres!

Does it leap forward or crunch any other time you set off?

It may just be that your handbrake and rear brakes are binding.

No only does it when cold.

Check your rear brakes and swap round the tyres !

will do. Thanks for all your help. x

nosnor123 said:

will do. Thanks for all your help. x

Click to expand...

No worries







"x" I really do hope you're female

indeed. ! x

nosnor123 said:

indeed. ! X

Click to expand...

Clunking noise could be the Diff mounts gone. If they have, when you put it in reverse it will spin the diff the opposite way to which it is normally sitting causing a clunk. There will also be more "take up" as the rear wheels will be out of sink with the front which can make the car jump (not litterally).

Worth a check

the jolt sounds like the rear drums sticking, usually happens tomine on cold mornings to. if its a one off then this will be the issue. if its constant then that will explain any dragging effect and the fuel comsumption but would be backed up by a god awful brake smell