Freelander 1

Hi everyone, I'm new to this site and usually struggle on alone. However living with a freelander for some time finally has me on my knees. I emigrated to Greece where the freelander 1 is still a pretty nice car and great for driving the awful roads here. I was doing OK and had my lr fixed up last year, headgasket replaced, clutch, timing belt, skimmed head and cam belt. All was great until the water hose popped and although I thought I caught it in time the headgasket failed again with less than 10k on it. My trusty useless local mechanic is obviously having some issues as this time the headgasket replacement and skim hasn't even lasted 150 miles. He did say this was the last time it could be skimmed which leaves me in a spot. So trying to keep the old girl on the road I've bought another doner freelander. Good engine but generally tatty, a lot lower miles too. My main question is, my freelander is a 2001/2002, the doner is a 1999/2000 and has a distributer where mine has a coil pack. Will this engine be compatible to my ecu and in general? I'd like to also swap the auxily components off mine to the other engine and new clutch before I fit it as they are a lot better. Can anyone see any major problems here before I take the two motors to the local garage?

Thanks for reading and I look forward to being in the group.

Nige

Hello and welcome

You need a like for like engine unless the world of pain in changing ecus and sensors is your Sunday hobby.
If it's the 1.8i petrol engine then they were never guaranteed to be any better even after the rectification work and some certain modifications were made. Those engines are the luck of the draw... Although after 150miles they are obligated to go over their work under their guarantee. Some garages won't touch the 1.8 petrol unit.
That's a tough decision.. Sorry I can't help with that one

Thanks everyone for welcoming me here and thank you Mark for the reply. Yes the engine is a 1.8 petrol. I would swap it out for a Td4 but its impossible here in Greece. Anything over a 1.8 is ridiculous to tax and I think the paperwork would take years.

I wasn't sure there was a difference in the petrol 1.8 engines until this other doner arrived. I presumed they was all the same K series engine. I'm pretty sure the block and head are the same, however the ecu looks different and there is a distributor where the coil pack is on mine.

I can't see any other difference, I do have the whole vehicle and thought at worst I might have to swap the the ecu as well.

If the engine is physically the same and you can refit or change things to make your replacement engine go in then you've nothing to lose. I'd go over it very carefully before you start and note down things you can change and things you can't.

Thanks Mark, I'm planning to do just that. I want to swap the clutches, starter motor, cam belt, ac pump and alternator. I've heard or read somewhere that the cam belts could be different. So I thought I'd ask here if anyone has knowledge of these engines before I make a start on it.

Good thinking but if your going to do the cambelt. Replace it don't swap it, we never re-use an old belt. Replace the pulleys and waterpump with new also.
They cheaper than another engine if they fail!!

Yes your right, I think I will stick a new belt on it, I might re use the tensioner though as its only been on there two weeks and not done 200 miles. If it will fit that is, apparently there is also another sensor on the top of the block that the earlier engine doesn't have. This job could become complicated

Your right, just take your time making sure it's a good move

Welcome to the forum