Freelander vcu

I have just bought a '98 Diesel & think that the vcu could be seized. The vehicle feels as though it "tightens up" when on full lock. I'm assuming that the vcu actually slips a little under load?? If so, would a chalk mark drawn accross the 2 halves show this up after a drive?? Mine hasn't moved in 2 weeks. I'm sure someone else has had this happen, but cant find any threads. If it is faulty, I guess it's expensive???? Tad

Hi Tad. . .very hard ta pin this one ,cannot imagine that steering could effect it, most of the time the freelander is more drive to the front if wheel slipping occurs then the clever vcu applies more drive ta all four wheels, so you have a vcu thats not working at all ,one that is seized [all four wheels all the time] or one that works ,and yes if you've got the first problem then mark it up,best oh luck. . .

Tad said:

The vehicle feels as though it "tightens up" when on full lock.

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This is normal for a Freelander Tad. Don't let it bother you

Welcome tad!

Ashcroft transmition have a good daignosing bit,
give it a google!

Thanks, guys, I'm sure my vcu is seized, but needed to know how to check it. Ashcroft Tranny explain it good. I'm in Oz so now have to find a supplier. I'll let you know how I go. Thanks again, Tad

Tad said:

Thanks, guys, I'm sure my vcu is seized, but needed to know how to check it. Ashcroft Tranny explain it good. I'm in Oz so now have to find a supplier. I'll let you know how I go. Thanks again, Tad

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If its seized Tad, might be worth taking off yer prop so as not to cause any damage to the IRD or rear diff! At least your still mobile then!

Mornin By the way

Hope you can read this upside down???

WELL, I checked the vcu and it wouldnt budge, then "BANG" & now it moves. I have chalked it, then took it for a drive & YES, its now moving. The car doesnt feel as "tight" on full lock now. Thanks guys, I would never have known what to test without visiting here. By the way, I like the car a lot. Tad

Evening Tad!

Go for a play on some Grass, mate!????

See if yer still have drive to the rear wheels, ?

Tad said:

WELL, I checked the vcu and it wouldnt budge, then "BANG" & now it moves. I have chalked it, then took it for a drive & YES, its now moving. The car doesnt feel as "tight" on full lock now. Thanks guys, I would never have known what to test without visiting here. By the way, I like the car a lot. Tad

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Sounds like ya unjamed it,glad ya like it,glad yer came on here ,we are all glad ta know ya ,Mrs Ming is very glad, we are glad your glad ,Tad. . .

I am glad that you guys are so glad. Just back from 2 weeks on Zog. You could have warned me about the temperature Ming!

tinytdi said:

I am glad that you guys are so glad. Just back from 2 weeks on Zog. You could have warned me about the temperature Ming!

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Oh yes tis very hot on earth,i put ma thunders in the freezer ,very cool when ya put them back on [good tip earthlings]. . .

Urgh!
You just put me off me fish fingers

I never knew fish had fingers. Ya Live and learn...

ming said:

Oh yes tis very hot on earth,i put ma thunders in the freezer ,very cool when ya put them back on [good tip earthlings]. . .

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Is thunders something like knickers (boxershorts or slips or so??)

willo said:

Is thunders something like knickers (boxershorts or slips or so??)

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Yes willo!

not a pretty sight! Ming in his knickers with a string vest,Grey socks and Sandals

mondo said:

Yes willo!

not a pretty sight! Ming in his knickers with a string vest,Grey socks and Sandals

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By the above description I'd say a real tourist .. (paesant/boor tourist that is of course )

Originally Posted by Tad
WELL, I checked the vcu and it wouldnt budge, then "BANG" & now it moves. I have chalked it, then took it for a drive & YES, its now moving. The car doesnt feel as "tight" on full lock now. Thanks guys, I would never have known what to test without visiting here. By the way, I like the car a lot. Tad
Sounds like ya unjamed it,glad ya like it,glad yer came on here ,we are all glad ta know ya ,Mrs Ming is very glad, we are glad your glad ,Tad.


Hmmmmm ..... is that thing not a viscious coupling .... sorry ... VISCOUS coupling?

It should not be capable of getting stuck.
I think it needs some exercise.

Standard way to exercise a thing like this is to find a big open space, engage reverse, and spend half an hour reversing steering from full lock left to full lock right alternately. What this does is make the front wheels travel FURTHER than the back ones, forcing the VCU to slip the OTHER WAY to usual, and this might ease it off a bit.

The final solution as already suggested is to remove the entire drive train to the rear, VCU and all. It isn't as if it does much anyway.

CharlesY

Hi tad and all,
For a VCU to go from "siezed" to "free" (and working correctly)with a bang, sounds odd to me, and not really consistent with the internals of a VCU.
Mondos advice to go on grass and see if you still have any drive at all to the rear is sound.
If your VCU has in fact gone from "stuffed" (totally siezed) to free (and functioning correctly -- transmitting torque to the rear depending on differential slip between from and rear axles), with a bang whatsmore, you have been witness to what is in Freelander context a miracle!!
By far the majority of VCU failures are due to overworking of the viscous fluid causing the unit to sieze solid - until now this process has been generally accepted as irreversible. The other type of failure - internal collapse resulting in no torque transmission to rear at all, is much more rare.
There may be an outside chance you have experienced the first, followed immediately by the second, hence the bang.-- alternatively the VCU may not have been siezed "conventionally" in the first place.

If the situation is as you describe , you should find out how you did it, bottle it, and sell it to all '97 to 2002 Freelander owners,

Cheers
Ian Hughes
Tassie

Ch