Advice on issues with my Freelander

Dear All,

I have a 2000/V XDi (L-series) 5 door which I am very happy with, however it does have a few 'features' that will need sorting out at some point!

On the plus side the vehicle is economical, tows my caravan like a dream and I don't THINK I have any VCU/IRD issues. It's an eight year old Freelander with 95k on the clock so I expect some problems along the way but if anyone as any comments on below and what is involved with fixing that would be excellent.

1. Cold starting problem - reluctant to fire in mornings, takes quite a bit of turning over before it goes. I have changed the following in last few weeks which has made it better but not brilliant - battery, glow-plugs (3 of them anyway!), fuel filter and air filter. Once engine is started in morning it runs fine, no hesitancy or cutting out and generally is OK starting for rest of the day. A local 4x4 specialist suggested it may be a 'lazy glow-plug relay' which I will change.

2. Sometimes if I go over a speedbump or pot-hole too fast a small bang is heard from the rear. I thought at first it was just the boot-safe lid banging as that's what it sounded like but I've locked that shut now and it still does it !!

3. Noise I can only describe as a 'twang' from underneath of driver/rear passender off-side area - it's intermittent and only usually sounds once when I start off after reversing (e.g. out of a parking space) although I think I heard it today while going round a fairly tight roundabout. This issue sounds very similar to that described in a recent post by 'brithdir' where someone suggested the VCU mounting bolts?

4. Noise from off-side front wheel area which sounds like loose linkage, usually heard when coming to halt or slowly starting off. I thought a recent new clutch had sorted it but alas no!


TIA

Jonathan

snifferg said:

1. Cold starting problem - reluctant to fire in mornings, takes quite a bit of turning over before it goes.

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Sounds like you are considering all the right things. If the glow plugs/relay don;t sort it out, have the injectors tested.

2. Sometimes if I go over a speedbump or pot-hole too fast a small bang is heard from the rear.

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Probably the front "rear diff mount" which wears and allows the transmission to jolt. There are threads on how to replace that on here, £20 and an hour or two for the first time DIY-er.

3. Noise I can only describe as a 'twang' from underneath of driver/rear passender off-side area - it's intermittent and only usually sounds once when I start off after reversing (e.g. out of a parking space) although I think I heard it today while going round a fairly tight roundabout. This issue sounds very similar to that described in a recent post by 'brithdir' where someone suggested the VCU mounting bolts?

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Either the "rear diff mount" as above, or the VCU mounts. The parts are £20 quid each and about an hour or so labour for a garage (needs a press so not really for the DIY-er)



Cheers

Blippie

Thanks Blippie, much appreciated.

Issues don't sound too onerous (and more importantly not too expensive!) so will get them checked and sorted ASAP.

Jonathan

Point 3 sounds like cracked chasis/subframe mount. do a search

4 = drop arm.

Well, I changed the glow plug relay under the bonnet and alas it made no difference.

Could the starting thing be just a fuse problem? - i.e. it's gone and is not using the relay at all, or would this mean the engine would not start at all? This problem has only really started as the mornings have got colder - it never fires on the first turn over but does so on the second time after a second or two.

If so is the fuse in the box under the bonnet?, or under the dash?

try bleeding the fuel system [follow heinz destructions] the td4 is self bleed but your model int. . . . .

Burn It