Freelander 2 (LR2) Cold weather starting issue- this is a weird one.

Hi I'm new to the group and I'm hoping someone can help me with this. I drive a 2011 freelander 2 which drivesgreat. However during very cold spellsI get this issue.
1. Car opens up OK using the key fob
2. Key fob inserted ok.
3. Push start button radio & satnav come on but the dash readout is blank no self check.
4. Push start button second time radio and satnav die.
To me this all sounds like a bad earth of duff battery. I've checked and both and there ok. Tried jump starting and I fully charging up the battery overnight but still have the same issue. Now this isthe point it gets weird, weather warms up and its back to normal, self checks and starts first time. Called an auto electrician but he could not find any faults. Has anyone else had this issue?

Sounds like a bad connection somewhere. The Ipack is known to suffer bad connections on occasion, so worth checking there.

Has it had a diagnostic read done? Any relevant codes coming up?

Thanks for the reply, diagnostics came up with a multitude of faults, but I was informed by the auto electrician that they may have been generated by disconnecting the battery. He cleared them and and they did not reoccur. Showing my ignorance hear what is the Ipack?

That's a weird one.
Could it be a short, or very low resistance issue with the glowplugs? When things are warm they're not called upon. When it's cold they are, and they could be dragging the battery voltage down.
More likely is a bad connection from the battery. No need for the glowplugs = just enough juice to self-check and turn the engine over. Glowplugs needed = big volt drop across a bad connection so not enough for self-check and engine start.

Hi, I can't make it out its definitely cold related, but saying that it been out in some really hard frosts and has started up as good as gold. The other problem is, so I've been told by the auto electrician, is that when this issue happens, you can't run a diagnostic because it won't run through the cars own self check, and I'm reluctant to take it to a main dealers.

To state the obvious it sounds like something that is linked to cold weather is causing a fault?

Only thing I can think of is the glow plugs.

So what if there is a bad connection feeding the engine fuse box or wore still in the fuse box? Then when something starts drawing a high current it gets worse (like glow plugs for instance)

Tricky to track down as its intermittent (but will probably get worse)

Fuse FE4 feeds the glow plugs.

Check with a meter if the supply to FE4 is dropping drastically when you try to start in cold weather, or alternatively next time it does it pull FE4 so that the glow plugs don’t come on. It probably wont start but if it cranks over on the starter it confirms your on the right track.

After that its probably the +ve supply to the fuse box or internal to the fuse box.

Worth checking all the battery connections are tight and clean.

Any bad smells near the fuse box when it does it?

Not an easy one, good luck and let us know when you solve it.

Great thanks for the advise I'll give it ago next time it happens. Do you know if there is any other way of checking the glow plugs for excessive current draw?

Does your car have the extra earth strap connected to the starter motor bolt?


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No just the standard one from the negative battery terminal to the chasis. I've checked it, there's no corrosion and tight. I've seen a few articles around fitting a secondary earth strap, but I would have thought if it was an earthing problem it would be happing all the time.

Manicbass said:

Great thanks for the advise I'll give it ago next time it happens. Do you know if there is any other way of checking the glow plugs for excessive current draw?

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If it was excessive current draw it would blow the fuse assuming the battery is ok. Its most likely a voltage drop across a bad connection somewhere.
Manicbass has a point the extra engine earth strap always helps but unlikely that is the cause of your fault.

Sorry I meant Arctic2

Manicbass said:

He cleared them and and they did not reoccur.

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Were they recorded? I actually don't think it's sensible to simply clear historic codes, as they can point to an impending issue.

Manicbass said:

Showing my ignorance hear what is the Ipack?

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Ipack = Instrument pack or dashboard.

Have you checked to see if things like the interior lights dim down when the ignition is turned on?

The earth strap where it bolts to the body can corrode, which could affect the current carrying capacity.

These also a connector in the vicinity of passenger foot-well, which has been known to get knocked and so cause intermittent issues, so maybe worth checking all the connectors down there, behind the carpet.

next time it is below 5 degrees out try this-
dont start the engine but turn on the ignition, this will cycle the glow plugs so if it is an issue with them i would imagine you will get the same fault but without cranking the engine. the glow plug light will stay on for a second longer than the dash light test as they operate.

Did you get to the bottom of it?

Thanks for all the advice, I've fitted the additional earth strap and checked connections as far as possible, but I'm seeing multiple intermittent across a number of control module's during diagnostics that you can reset, but when you restart they are all back. Time to say good bye to the beast.

Manicbass said:

Time to say good bye to the beast.

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Multiple random codes after a start is normally a failing battery.

I can rule that one out I fitted a brand new heavy duty Bosh battery.

Manicbass said:

I can rule that one out I fitted a brand new heavy duty Bosh battery.

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Did check the connections to the various modules under the glove box, which can get knocked by passengers feet.

I am getting all sorts of starting issues with mine in the very cold weather but I will get to the bottom of it. I will let you know when I solve it.