Freelander TD4 EGR problem?

I have been trying to resolve a problem with my sons 2004 Freelander TD4 since he bought it 18 months ago and could use some helpful suggestions now. Car drives fine for about 40 mins but then develops a problem where if maintain a steady 70 mph there is is a power loss. Slow down for a few seconds and can then drive normally again but not at 70. Thought this was egr related as removing pipe from solenoid to egr cured problem. However after hours of driving like this the engine management light comes on. Have cleaned EGR. Also replaced both vacuum pipes which had holes in them. Interestingly since replacing the hoses the problem persists but it now happens at 60mph rather than 70. Have tried an egr bipass kit and this seemed to work for a while but then after some hours of driving the engine management light came on and then had major power loss so had to remove it. Just tried plugging the vaccuum pipe pre solenoid and this had same effect as bipass kit. Car has recently had new turbo boost control valve as was throwing up fault codes for this, but this had no impact on the issue. It is starting to wind me up now as every attempt to fix takes so long to test. Any ideas would be much appreciated.

black solenoid box related to turbo a common cause, no doubt gaylander boys will be along to give more details

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f9/td4-lack-power-70mph-fixed-77147.html

The above thread seems to address the issue...

HELLO EARTHLING OZONE. . . .Try disconnecting the vacuum inlet filter [a lot on hear call it summit else,but there wrong ] its located on the rear lhs looking at the Engine ,and looks like an old fashioned fuel filter, but its plastic and open ended, any hows disconnect it and try again if it cures it then replace [with a new un] asap as it stops ****e in the vacuum system, thats assuming you've checked ,the air filter , fuel filter, and no splits in the three inlet turbo rubbers [the three large rubber fings ] hope this helps ya. Ming the Merfiless

Thanks everyone for responses so far. I did go in search of the vaccuum filter some months ago after reading the previous threads. I even bought a new one. I found the 3 pipes but could'nt find the filter. From what I remember I thought the pipe concerned went up towards the back of the head and connected to another metal pipe. I assumed it was a variant and didn't have one. I will have to get under there again tomorrow and check it out to remind myself what was there. Cheers

Ozone said:

Thanks everyone for responses so far. I did go in search of the vaccuum filter some months ago after reading the previous threads. I even bought a new one. I found the 3 pipes but could'nt find the filter. From what I remember I thought the pipe concerned went up towards the back of the head and connected to another metal pipe. I assumed it was a variant and didn't have one. I will have to get under there again tomorrow and check it out to remind myself what was there. Cheers

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bet its been taken off. . .a lot of Earthlings dont understand how vacuum works and see an open ended filter and think its wrong

Has it ever had the LP fuel pump replaced? a weak pump that can't keep up with demand could give these symptoms.

Thanks again to all. From what is being said I'm starting to think someone has removed the filter on the turbo control valve, and then the next idiot has decided that the poor lonely pipe should be connected to something and stuck it onto a metal pipe that is a breather for something else or other. It definately doesn't have this filter and the 3 pipes are all connected to something anyway. Further investigation tomorrow will hopefully reveal all. I'm guessing that connecting this pipe to some other random pipe would not help so maybe thats the problem. I'll report back later. Would the stuff weve been doing with the EGR be influenced by this? I keep drifting back to that thing. Kind of weird that everyone else can blank off their EGR but our car gets seriously ****ed when we try to do that. How does it know what we are doing?

Hi Ozone, just had a look at the vacuum pipes behind the engine (02 TD4) as I remember an open pipe and sure enough there is a metal pipe rising almost to the top of the engine then has 180 bend and protrudes downwards for about 3 cm. I assume this must be a breather pipe - for the gearbox or IRD perhaps? The rubber vacuum pipe hangs down with the filter below it, clipped to the back of the engine. I can see that it would be possible for the uninitiated to re- route the rubber pipe, remove the filter and connect it to the metal one! Might be worth a check! Hope this helps, Eric.

It wouldn't be the first time if someone has connected the boost solenoid breather to the upturned metal pipe of the IRD breather.

Thanks to you all again, I think I'm going to find the vacuum pipe connected to the IRD breather then. Trouble is if you dont know any different it looks like it should be there so I never doubted it. Hope this will cure what is a very niggling little fault on an otherwise very good car. Might even mean that we can put the EGR bipass back on without annoying the thing, but that's for another day. I'll let you know what I find tomorrow.

Ok so just been out and had another look at the setup and sure enough one of the pipes from the turbo control valve /solenoid was connected to a metal pipe which comes from down below up to just behind the oil filler and then has a bend and goes down a 4 or 5 cms. I guess that is the breather from the IRD. Looks like someone thought they should be connnected and binned the filter and joined them. I have put a new filter in and done a quick test. Only noticable change at this stage is that there appears to be more top end power. Car did feel a bit flat by the time you reach 80 but definately felt like it had more legs today. Need to go on a longish test at some point to see if this has cured the original problem. My bet is it has. It is easy to see why someone would do this and I bet there are dozens of Freelanders out there where the same mistake has been made. Thanks for all the help everyone, just got to play wait and see now.

It sounds hopeful so far.....

Its long overdue but the car has just done its first really good long run ( over4 hours). Son is officially declaring his Freelander fixed so thanks again to all and a good place to start for anyone else with a similar power loss problem.

Hi Just reading your message and my td4 05 has the same problem,that is it looses power at 70 mph and sometimes the warning light comes on and sometimes it does not,i have had the turbo tested and the boost control was said to be at fault,another guy thinks that the turbo is at fault.Im not convinced by either of these as it drives perfectly most of the time. Did you have any joy in resolving the issue?
sean

sean421 said:

Hi Just reading your message and my td4 05 has the same problem,that is it looses power at 70 mph and sometimes the warning light comes on and sometimes it does not,i have had the turbo tested and the boost control was said to be at fault,another guy thinks that the turbo is at fault.Im not convinced by either of these as it drives perfectly most of the time. Did you have any joy in resolving the issue?
sean

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See post #12. In this instance it appears that someone had removed the filter from the end of the vent pipe for the boost control solenoid and instead fitted the pipe to the end of the metal IRD breather pipe.

The part in question is known as the Turbocharger boost control solenoid valve vent filter around £3 from LR dealer. The pipe that's conected to the top only, is held by clips at the back of the engine. The filter is left to hang free. i.j

Or go to yr local motor factor for a universal fuel filter for £2

Mine was a bit bunged up with Salisbury mud

guys question.
Where exactly is this located at the back?Do you need to take the plastic engine cover off to see it?
Has anyone a picture?
Thanks

There's a long u-shaped tube at rear of engine bay and filter hangs on a rubber pipe, passenger side, right at the back (unless some gherkin has connected it up!)



I can't remember if you can get to it with the cover on but no harm in trying.....