Freelander td4 - problem!! Plz help!!

Hi all,

Ok, I apologise in advance if im posting in the wrong section!

My Freelander 2003 with 45k genuine miles has started playing up.

It has a very slight mis-fire, and drives rough. It used to be silky smooth and a pleasure to drive, however now its the opposite!

There are no warning lights on, had it on diagnostics anyway, but no fault detected.

There is a 'tinny' noise (cat?) when I accelerate, which dissapears after a second or two. Apart from that, there is no other obvious noises.

Doing a bit of research, Im led to believe that it could be one of few things:

Faulty maf sensor, blocked cat, fuel filter, injector.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE CAN SOMEONE ADVISE ME OF WHAT THE PROBLEM MAY BE!!

Many thanks,

N

Will be following with interest because I have exactly the same symptoms.

Not long ago I changed the fuel filter after the warning light came on, so you could probably cross that off the list - you've got no displayed lights (low fuel pressure?).

I'm going to do a leakback test on the injectors -if only because it feels so like a missing cylinder. But I suppose it could be a mixture of things. Also going to clean out EGR and check/change MAF. Probably in that order, but it'll all take a moment because I need to use the car so much at the moment, and despite the misfire it still seems to work well.

R

Hi, and :welcome2:

Here are some suggestions based on my experience.

I suggest you run through a series of simple checks for things that are easy to fix. Not always cheap though.

Try disconnecting the MAF and see if it runs better, if it does then the MAF is Kaput.

With the engine idling take out the dip stick slowly - there should be no escape of pressure or oil trickle out / escape up the tube. If there is pressure then the pcv is clogged. You should be changing it for the BMW plastic vortex/cyclone updated one anyway at 60K maximum.

I feel that low mileage cars possibly get a bigger build up of crap in the EGR than high mileage ones due to the shorter journeys etc. So take off the 90 degree bend Turbo Hose and shine a torch inside. If there is a significant load of gunge then that needs to be fixed. An EGR by-pass is the best solution rather than cleaning up the original valve assembly that is not really of any use anyway. Beware of a small quantity of soot laden oil coming out when you take off the 90 degree hose - difficult to get off the hands - wear rubber gloves.

The fuel filter choking up usually leads to fuel starvation on hard acceleration and at high cruising speeds - should be changed at 60K anyway.

If you suspect injectors it will do no harm to tip in a bottle of injector cleaner and give the engine a good fast run, perhaps keeping in 4th gear for a bit at over 3000rpm.

Have you been using supermarket fuel? I avoid it now as it makes my car smoke on overtaking and is much 'dirtier' than the big name premium stuff with additives which help to keep the whole system cleaner.

Your problem may turn out to be none of these of course, but I feel these things need to be crossed of the list asap.

Good luck,
Singvogel.