Recent content by manxmike

Quick note of thanks to everyone who's offered advice and help over the years. I've just sold the Freelander and bought a Honda CR-V instead.:crazy_driver:

Given that I'll get bu**er all for my Freelander with a blown head gasket I have decided to try out "Steel Seal" as a fix. They have a money back guarantee if it doesn't work, so apart from the cost of a new filter and oil there's very little to lose and everything else to gain. The guy who...

Cheapest quote I got for replacing head gasket on the original was over £800 - at the time the replacement engine with supposed new water pump, cam belt, head gasket, most other gaskets, etc etc etc seemed like a better bet for a couple of hundred extra. Sadly when it arrived we had to replace...

UPDATE Just over one year later and the head gasket has gone on the "reconditioned engine"!. This despite full service, under 1000 miles use and very VERY careful weekly checks on oil and daily checks on water. Noticed the water level was dropping and the oil was emulsified. Had it checked and...

I have noticed that the rear top of the drivers door in my three door freelander is noisy. It sounds like the top of the door is not closing properly but there doesn't seem to be any water ingress even during a downpour, static or moving. The rest of the door is shutting well. Any ideas...

Thanks guys (and girls?) local dealer sounds like the route, after I've had the tyre fixed and am mobile again! I think I'll probably replace all the security nuts with ordinary ones while I'm at it.

HELP! Got a flat tyre - no problem, undo the bolts, remove the wheel, go to get the spare from the back, the security key I have is nothing like the security bolt. The bolt has two grooves, opposite each other. The security key has two grooves - opposite each other! Does anyone have a spare...

Hmmm, thought that might be the case. If you check out my previous thread regarding the replacement engine you'll see why I'm not that surprised. Ho hum, there are times when I would rather not be proved right!

My 1800 petrol is trying to tick-over at 500 rpm or slower, guess what - it keeps stalling. I recently had the engine replaced with a "recon" unit and have been told by the garage who fitted it that the idle speed is automatically adjusted by the chip. I am sure there must be a way of speeding...

Hippo, can't leave feedback, didn't buy it through ebay. They may well have excellent feedback Blue Beasty, but that doesn't alter the fact that I've been sold a lemon with no comeback. It's the dogged repetition that it's a fully reconditioned engine which meets all the criteria on their...

To answer you questions - no I didn't buy through paypal. Yes I did fit the engine - strange to say I couldn't afford not to. It was at least a running engine, with head gasket and new cam belt. Leaving the vehicle with the old dead engine was not an option - sod all resale value, returning the...

I must admit I did think about that, but I haven't yet examined all my options. To be honest it's not as if they'll be that hard to find - do a search on ebay for "Freelander Engine" and the choice of people offering the service as described is fairly limited!

Having had the head-gasket go on my Freelander I examined the options and decided that I would replace the engine with a reconditioned unit. Looking on ebay I found a company who shall remain nameless offering recon units for £545. OK, including carriage to the Isle of Man that's £700...

Oops, that should say more expensive (wishful thinking!)

Getting a full replacement recon engine from a company in Devon called "Gentlemen of Salvage" - the cost of the full engine and the garage charge for fitting it is only a couple of hundred cheaper than just doing just the head gasket! (£750+VAT) I end up with a fully recon engine, upgraded water...