Freelander steam from front end

Hi,
I am a newbe here & have a couple of questions none that I seem to find be able to find on forum (they prob are here just I cant find them)

ok I have the following issues with my 2001 freelander

while driving today I noticed steam coming from the front grill part to the left as i was sitting, when driving nothing it only starts when not driving & when sitting in traffic, temp is at half way I cant here fans kicking in but not sure if they should when at half way temp never goes above half way & when driving drops a little..... anyone got any ideas what could be the issue could it be just coz its cold or some thing else????

My second issue is to do with rough idle...... when car starts all is fine when it warms up & sitting at lights engine rev is twitching not much about 2 to 3 mm anyone have any ideas as to what this could be....???

Sorry new with freelander & also basic car skills but wants to learn....

Thanks in advance for your help
J

Is it steam or exhaust gas?

Search for fbh

Not a 100% looks like steam..... but couldnt get out & check & when I parked up nothing but it did it like 3 to 4 times when stuck in traffic it apears to come from front end I thought snow on rad of something at first but then it did it when at car wash having it jet washed by the time finished nothing...

have you looked under the bonnet when its doing this to see if you can identify the source?

As soon as I stopped nothing from it....... it is not loads of steam just a small amount every now & then

Hoube84 said:

As soon as I stopped nothing from it....... it is not loads of steam just a small amount every now & then

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you said it only happens when sitting in traffic. get out and lift the bonnet.

this could be something as simple as water from the road (or car wash) getting onto a radiator hose, or the radiator or similar.

however, as this is the 1.8, you need to pay real close attention to the cooling system in every way.

the only way you can trace this is to recreate the fault. the steam will be dispersed when driving due to air movement through the engine bay, but when you stop in traffic, it comes out of the front. maybe it needs an instant "hazard lights on, bonnet straight up for a look" next time it happens. you'll maybe annoy some people that get stuck behind you, but better that then never finding the problem until it's too late.

I'm also thinking about a pin hole in a hose or similar, which is allowing water under pressure of water pump to spray out onto a hot surface, when you stop to look, the engine is only idling so the pump isn't turning nearly so fast, maybe even the water pump itself.

only real way is to look for any witness marks of water leaks using a real bright torch, and get some covers off to look.

sorry to not be any more help, as I have a TD4.

good luck though.

By the time it starts I move as soon as I drive nothing I was also on the motorway when it was doing it so thought best not to get out......

can't you get the engine warm outside your house:doh:

Thanks for your help... I am going to have to stop & open it up just was hoping someone might of had same issue.... like you said i have to be carefull or it might do more harm than good hence why I did'nt want to drive if it is.....

When I started this moring nothing was sitting for like 20 mins on drive def etc nothing what so ever I had been driving about 2 hrs when it started by the time I got to car park nothing.....

howardo said:

can't you get the engine warm outside your house:doh:

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check the coolant level before you drive it.

Yeah wil do in morning will open it up check level & then start up & run for 20 mins see if I can see anything was hoping it might just be water spray or something from road.... but deep down new it would prob be something else...... hay welcome to being a freelander owner I bet your saying

I have a similar problem with my 1999 L series - had the cooling system pressure tested and the only obvious problem was that the pressure cap on the coolant reservoir may be releasing at slightly below spec. There was no evidence of HGF or obvious leaks. On my "to do" list to get a new rad cap - just need to remember at the right time!

I have had no problems with the engine running hot or significant coolant loss, so it's not been a major problem. I just keep the coolant topped up.

There are a number of threads on here about different types of coolant leaks, would be worth checking them for any other tips.

Oi sniff
although yu have a doozil it is imperative yugix that at once. Coolant caps and cracked bottles are common on Hippoos. On petrol Hippoos it is a CRITICAL parr of the cooling system. If the coolant system on a petrol hippoo is not pressurused it canbe catestrophic .

sorry what engine you got petrol or diesel

The Mad Hat Man said:

Oi sniff
although yu have a doozil it is imperative yugix that at once.

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Have duly put post-it on 'puter that should remind me :doh:

yugix = you fix (bloody I-phone)

The Mad Hat Man said:

Search for fbh

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my fbh exhaust looks like steam from front left on these cold mornings

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