2020 from your freelanders point of view - what have you done to / with it this year?

In some of the other forums I am in, I often start a thread purely to stimulate conversation, this is one fo my first such threads here...

So, 2020's been a weird as heck year, and thankfully there are only a few more days before 2021 comes along and says "COVID year - do one!" I'm acutely aware that this year my freelander has went straight through what is covered by the term "problem child" and it's now well into "spoiled brat" territory. Part of this has been exacerbated by COVID restrictions, other things I've done to it this year mightn't have been touched in a "normal" year. So I was wondering what all have you guys done to your hippos this year that this could be a good discussion, giving us a chance to recap all our projects, and discuss our own or other guys projects almost like a club? I'm going to blag the second post in this thread as a placeholder for adding my years project stuff, which I'll gather up the various photos etc later on and update that placeholder, but I'd like to see you guys 2020 freelander summaries, and hopefully, we all enjoy happy motoring in 2021...

Cheers - Jay

[placeholder]

I've had the joy of 2 troublesome Freelanders this year. The FL1 TD4 SE auto was being a pain in the proverbial from start, until I got rid of it in October.
The FL2 that I bought cheap from a dealer on ebay, has been just as troublesome, actually more so now the rear diff has had me sliding sideways down the road.

It's now waiting for me to find the time and inclination to pull the diff out for assessment, and possibly repair.

For the moment, the daughter's Fiat 500 is giving me all the automotive aggravation I need to keep me on my toes.

Did this........
https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/td4-refurbishment.358278/

Once again 2020 has been a year where the Freelander needed (almost) no fixes or money spent on it.

The only work it needed was the front diff mount replaced - think it cost about £15.

She continues to be totally reliable... but the roof lining is sagging more, the seats (all of them) are falling apart and it is looking its age inside.

I know I'm going to need 2 tyres for the next WOF (MOT). I forget off the top of my head when I put them on, but they will have done somewhere between 50k and 80k kms though, so can't complain.

repairs in 2020,front springs& strut top bearings,another battery,tyres,track rod ends twice,
bottom ball joints ,oil& filter change,air filter& pollen filter.that`s it for now.at least no welding

Poly bushed and collared the ARB, which made a world of difference. Done the usual service stuff and replaced sticky caliper guide pins. I also fitted a dash cam and, back in the early days of lockdown 1.0 I polished the hell out of the paintwork (not that you'd know now). New track rods and ends sorted out a bit of tyre wear but other than all those things, 2020 has seen less reactive maintenance than most years. I'm slightly better off financially as a result, going into the beginning of Feb MOT date!

My FL related worries of 2020 that persist are, will the reverse band hold, will the turbo be okay and, must must must keep looking after tyres and the transmission.

2020 saw me finally start something I'd wanted to do for years and that is replace the engine with something else.
In the past I would have been thinking of a V6 or V8 but from I first saw electric cars I was hooked so that's what I'm doing, I'm turning my Freelander into an EV.
Funny old thing but until I decided to rip it apart I hadn't laid a spanner on it in 2020.

2020, was a funny old year. Freelander wise, things aren't too bad. If you ignore me putting a full tank of 4 star into the diesel tank!
We carried out a FULL service, this revealed some chassis rust, a failed bush on the aft prop shaft, and a small oil leak from the engine sump bolt.
the local mechanic here in Brittany and I decided to do a Clutch change at the same time as replacing the prop shaft bush.
So a new Dual Mass Clutch was fitted, the chassis was scrubbed clean and extensively under-sealed.
The only thing not working now is the A/C. I have the pump running. so a re-gas and we should be there.
I have to say that the Freelander is a very nice car to drive on the road, Off-road the car has never got stuck, it has bottomed out a few times but the excellent four-wheel-drive system works seamlessly from road to field. Towing the trailer around the fields collecting the felled trees, 1/2 a ton or so each time, causes no problems at all.

Took the battery out and recharged it

Alibro said:

2020 saw me finally start something I'd wanted to do for years and that is replace the engine with something else.
In the past I would have been thinking of a V6 or V8 but from I first saw electric cars I was hooked so that's what I'm doing, I'm turning my Freelander into an EV.
Funny old thing but until I decided to rip it apart I hadn't laid a spanner on it in 2020.

Click to expand...

Let me know when you're ready to take orders for your new EV business
(My TD4 engine is running great, but you can keep it as a bonus)

bukko said:

Let me know when you're ready to take orders for your new EV business
(My TD4 engine is running great, but you can keep it as a bonus)

Click to expand...

Yer on!
Of course I would need to take a small deposit in advance - say £10k

What I’ve done to mine this year all started pretty normal,a service to start then tinted my windows and sun screen on the front,I then fitted a bonnet wind deflector and gave it a good valeting,took my prop shaft off and reconditioned my vcu and new bearings,painted my fuel tank cradle,rear sub frame and tow bar with hammerite,stainless steal screws for the rear lights so could get rid of the fudge headed originals,a new crank shaft pulley and belt,a new synergy 2 Ron box,night eye led bulbs in all front lights,including the fogs,now the bad news,had to replace three injectors which I thought ho well they’re due,then my brake band went in my auto gearbox for reverse nearly got rid but I do love my motor so got it done at a cost but now running absolutely mint,then fitted a muddy mods rear box and last of all an Amazon echo auto running through a Bluetooth adapter so can change music,use my sat nav on my phone and other stuff all through voice control,hopefully last me a while now lol

Guys, quick question. Dash brake system light. Comes on when the emergency brake is disengaged but does not illuminate when engaged. THREE AMIGOS all gone. Brake fluid full to the brim, brake pads relatively new and no noise. Car sometimes applies a lil bit of braking on its own when in motion, almost feels like a lil bit of binding for a sec or two especially when changing gears. Is it a faulty brake switch or something more sinister?

King The Gr8 said:

Guys, quick question. Dash brake system light. Comes on when the emergency brake is disengaged but does not illuminate when engaged. THREE AMIGOS all gone. Brake fluid full to the brim, brake pads relatively new and no noise. Car sometimes applies a lil bit of braking on its own when in motion, almost feels like a lil bit of binding for a sec or two especially when changing gears. Is it a faulty brake switch or something more sinister?

Click to expand...

Had to google "emergency brake" - not heard that before, looks like the hand brake. Is is an "emergency" when you park up and leave the car?

There have been threads about the brake warning light or '4 amigos' - I always thought it was just low fluid, but can be other things, forget what they were though, sorry. Pretty sure it won't be the brake switch as that would throw other amigos. Might be something to do with the hand brake switch though. If no one has any additional advice, a search might help (top right), or maybe have the codes read (dunno if the brake warning light throws a code), or maybe have a look in the Rave workshop manual - this describes conditions for the various braking system lights being illuminated.

Have you have a (safe) feel of wheels to see if 1 is hotter than the rest - which would indicate that it is binding?

Have you checked your tyre pressures and done a 1 wheel up test on the VCU? These can cause wind up that is felt as if the brakes are binding.

Problem started after I hauled a mobile freezer. After I connected the tractor trailer connector, the system went hay-wire and the trailer started indicating with brake lights. Since then, the Landy's brake light were gone. Manual states that brake lights and rear indicator lights uses the same fuse. Indicators are working fine and brake lights bulbs are fine. And if its not the brake switch (which would cut off all brake lights) than I will have to attribute it to some kinda witchcraft.

GrumpyGel said:

"emergency brake"

Click to expand...

In some parts of the world, the handbrake/parking brake is known as the emergency brake or E brake. It is actually there for that very purpose, as well as to hold the vehicle stationery when parked.

Thanks @Nodge68 . Can you touch on the subject though before we attribute it to some kind of witchcraft? I recently towed a mobile freezer and that was the beginning of the problem. Do you think the tractor-trailer connector could f-up something?

I did the one thing to my FL1 to stop it giving me any more trouble, I got rid of it. Not because it was unreliable but it was just sitting there not doing anything except eat away at its mot and tax. Overall, I was very impressed with it and if I was in the market for another 4x4 a freelander would top the list.

Col

Colthebrummie said:

I did the one thing to my FL1 to stop it giving me any more trouble, I got rid of it. Not because it was unreliable but it was just sitting there not doing anything except eat away at its mot and tax. Overall, I was very impressed with it and if I was in the market for another 4x4 a freelander would top the list.

Col

Click to expand...

Shame.

Are you trying to tell me that you outed it because it wasn't being used, and the very next day the daily drive didn't break down? Don't believe you