Help me fix up my freelander!

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krisboats

Active Member
Posts
254
So i got given a freelander as it has a numerous amount of small issues and wasn't really in a fit state to sell. My dad owned it previously and didn't have the time to fix it up to get some money back so it's now been handed down to me for my first car! :D

My plan is to get it all ship shape so i've got a happy motor on my hands should i come to exchange it or sell it when i choose my own car eventually. Last week the head gasket went so that's already been replaced, seems the water pump had seized/lost some fins and the car had been overheating a bit. When doing the head gasket the garage said it had slight scoring and a slightly dropped liner on the 4th cylinder. Is this a big problem or can i just leave it as an advisory and carry on using it like normal?

So now i'm going to list the faults and if people could help me out with ideas of what might need doing and i'll get things done one by one.

So, to the list:

  1. Central locking on rear drivers door just doesn't work. Can only be unlocked by handle from the inside, doesn't work for key or for remote central locking.
  2. Drivers door intermittently locks/unlocks using the remote central locking. Locks more consistently than unlocks. Stiff to lock/unlock using key.
  3. Leak at the back end of the car causing water to collect in the subwoofer (toolbox originally)
  4. Drivers door window cable snapped, window slides down about 1cm and motor makes grinding noise when switch is pressed.
  5. Gear stick wobbles about 2 inches left and right when in gear
  6. clunk from the front of car when taking speed bump a little too quick. Seems to clunk on the downside of the speed bump.
  7. Sunroof doesn't work. Makes a noise but only moves 1-2mm before stopping.
  8. Car judder quite badly when pulling away in first, something clutch related i think...
  9. Car noticeably noisier in reverse and hard/awkward to reverse without stalling (needs high revs, can't be done on clutch alone)

It's not had the modified oil rails on the engine and the thermostat is in the original position, but the garage drilled a hole in it as a mod to allow some coolant past so as not to shock the engine. I know it isn't as good as the pressure relief thermostat mod but they advised not to throw any more money into this car. :(

I've already swapped the tyres to slightly bigger BFG all terrains and was thinking of getting a suspension lift kit. Basically the things i need to know is if it's worth spending money on the car given the damaged liner in the engine and how to fix the other issues first before i go spending money on cosmetic mods and lift kits etc.
 
hope this isn't being rude my friend but if u do a search there is a minefield of info on here

plus please go to the introduce section
 
I guess you didn't read the post fully then?

I've listed the faults for possible ideas and or people to help me out with whether or not the faults are worth the time and money fixing when the engine has this damage. The search threw up next to nothing about damaged cylinder liners, let alone giving me enough of an idea as to whether i would be wasting my time or not with these other fixes.
 
krisboats said:
So i got given a freelander as it has a numerous amount of small issues and wasn't really in a fit state to sell. My dad owned it previously and didn't have the time to fix it up to get some money back so it's now been handed down to me for my first car! :D

My plan is to get it all ship shape so i've got a happy motor on my hands should i come to exchange it or sell it when i choose my own car eventually. Last week the head gasket went so that's already been replaced, seems the water pump had seized/lost some fins and the car had been overheating a bit. When doing the head gasket the garage said it had slight scoring and a slightly dropped liner on the 4th cylinder. Is this a big problem or can i just leave it as an advisory and carry on using it like normal?

So now i'm going to list the faults and if people could help me out with ideas of what might need doing and i'll get things done one by one.

So, to the list:

  1. Central locking on rear drivers door just doesn't work. Can only be unlocked by handle from the inside, doesn't work for key or for remote central locking.
  2. Drivers door intermittently locks/unlocks using the remote central locking. Locks more consistently than unlocks. Stiff to lock/unlock using key.
  3. Leak at the back end of the car causing water to collect in the subwoofer (toolbox originally)
  4. Drivers door window cable snapped, window slides down about 1cm and motor makes grinding noise when switch is pressed.
  5. Gear stick wobbles about 2 inches left and right when in gear
  6. clunk from the front of car when taking speed bump a little too quick. Seems to clunk on the downside of the speed bump.
  7. Sunroof doesn't work. Makes a noise but only moves 1-2mm before stopping.
  8. Car judder quite badly when pulling away in first, something clutch related i think...
  9. Car noticeably noisier in reverse and hard/awkward to reverse without stalling (needs high revs, can't be done on clutch alone)

It's not had the modified oil rails on the engine and the thermostat is in the original position, but the garage drilled a hole in it as a mod to allow some coolant past so as not to shock the engine. I know it isn't as good as the pressure relief thermostat mod but they advised not to throw any more money into this car. :(

I've already swapped the tyres to slightly bigger BFG all terrains and was thinking of getting a suspension lift kit. Basically the things i need to know is if it's worth spending money on the car given the damaged liner in the engine and how to fix the other issues first before i go spending money on cosmetic mods and lift kits etc.
Click to expand...

Hi there,

I have few, but not all, answers:

4. Get a new regulator from someone like island4x4. Door card off, move window if poss to expose bolts that clamp mech to window, undo, lift window up and wedge in place. Undo bolts holding mech in and remove.

5. Don't worry about it.

6. Probably a ball joint or anti-roll bar link. Either wait for the next MoT and let them find it, or get under the car both jacked up and on the ground and use a pry bar to find the looseness.

7. From vague memory - remove trim in front of the sunroof (interior light I think) to expose motor - it has a slot you can turn to get it going. Once moving, lubricate with silicone spray.

8. + 9. Could be binding rear brakes or, oh dear, a stiff VCU. Jack up the rear wheels to check for binding. If none, try driving forwards and backwards on full lock - if the engine really wants to stall, either A) new VCU or B) remove VCU and propshaft and use in 2WD.

Cheers
 
don't worry about 2" lifts and other crap - if you have a dropped liner - that is a major engine fault - possibly the cause of your overheating, water loss and HGF.

1-9 have all been covered in some detail. Do the wheel up test and see what you find. you might have major transmission problems as well. DO NOT drive it.
 
krisboats said:
I guess you didn't read the post fully then?

I've listed the faults for possible ideas and or people to help me out with whether or not the faults are worth the time and money fixing when the engine has this damage. The search threw up next to nothing about damaged cylinder liners, let alone giving me enough of an idea as to whether i would be wasting my time or not with these other fixes.
Click to expand...

sorry I spoke , oh well good luck
 
it IS usual practice to introduce yourself before asking Q's.
at least it is considered the polite thing to do.
Unfortunately by slagging off well known members you might be on a hiding to nothing....


I suppose it depends if you want help - or an argument :eek:
 
Well the coolant loss has happened for about a year, last time my dad had the head gasket done he used a second hand water pump and it was never right after that. Coolant loss gradually got worse to the point where it lost the entire tank in 1-2 short 5 mile trips (or sat still overnight) and then the water pump apparently seized and wrecked everything. The garage replaced with a new water pump and touch wood, no coolant loss noted since the car was back on saturday.

Okay, cheers guys. So my first port of call (after getting the exhaust welded back together today) will have to be checking the VCU? I've had the car for around 5 months now and it's been rubbish at reversing the whole time i've had it. My dad said it's always been like that but he tends to downplay issues somewhat, even when they could be bad. If the VCU is on it's ay out does it go gradually or just wreck the IRD in a catastrophic way?

Also, i take it your own thread on the wheel up test is the one to follow?
http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f38/definitive-freelander-vcu-testing-thread-99163.html

Car had the MOT in september and nothing showed up regarding the clunking noise at the time. Track rod end ball joint was replaced though.
 
The Mad Hat Man said:
it IS usual practice to introduce yourself before asking Q's.
at least it is considered the polite thing to do.
Unfortunately by slagging off well known members you might be on a hiding to nothing....


I suppose it depends if you want help - or an argument :eek:
Click to expand...

I did look at the introduce yourself section, but i just didn't think there was much point adding to the sea of "i'm new" posts only to get the generic "welcome" replies.

I honestly didn't slag anyone off, merely asked a question. It didn't come across like he'd read the topic fully and presumed i was just asking for a list of basic fixes. I wanted to know from more experienced people if the cost of the fixes was justified given the state of the engine.
 
krisboats said:
I did look at the introduce yourself section, but i just didn't think there was much point adding to the sea of "i'm new" posts only to get the generic "welcome" replies.

I honestly didn't slag anyone off, merely asked a question. It didn't come across like he'd read the topic fully and presumed i was just asking for a list of basic fixes. I wanted to know from more experienced people if the cost of the fixes was justified given the state of the engine.
Click to expand...

oh dear , u want to learn some manners

i said not being rude have u looked in the search button yet

oh I didn't read the post , sorry being so in experianced

I was mearly trying to help , we are all here to help each other but maybe a few manners along the way wouldn't go amiss , I like others will bend over backwards to help anyone

oh well
 
Last edited:
Kris stop being a jumped up twunt, introduce yourself properly and then get into the fixes. Quite frankly you are coming over as c0ck and it really won't help you in the long run,but then again it doesn't sound like your gaylander is going to last the long run anyway with your obvious lack of mechanical knowledge ( or social skills either for that matter)
 
gstuart said:
oh dear , u want to learn some manners

i said not being rude have u looked in the search button yet

oh I didn't read the post , sorry being so in experianced

I was mearly trying to help , we are all here to help each other but maybe a few manners along the way wouldn't go amiss , I like others will bend over backwards to help anyone

oh well
Click to expand...

That's a bit of an over-reaction! I want to learn some manners? At what point have i been rude? :confused: I put a pretty comprehensive list and rather than be helpful you told me to use the search and go look elsewhere on the forum. It just came across like you hadn't read what i'd written and despite saying it wasn't meant to be, it seemed a bit rude. Now you're being sarcastic and similarly unhelpful, but it's apparently me that needs manners?

I just don't honestly see the point in using the introduction section, they just don't really make sense on internet forums. The people i say hello to in there, most likely won't be the same ones that help me out in here or the ones i'm conversing with throughout the thread. It's kind of like saying hello to the people at the back of the pub when you need to talk to the person near the bar. :p

By more experienced, i meant more experienced than myself. Not more experienced than you. no need to get your knickers in a twist :lol:
 
DiscoPol said:
Kris stop being a jumped up twunt, introduce yourself properly and then get into the fixes. Quite frankly you are coming over as c0ck and it really won't help you in the long run,but then again it doesn't sound like your gaylander is going to last the long run anyway with your obvious lack of mechanical knowledge ( or social skills either for that matter)
Click to expand...

Cheers mate! :D
 
krisboats said:
That's a bit of an over-reaction! I want to learn some manners? At what point have i been rude? :confused: I put a pretty comprehensive list and rather than be helpful you told me to use the search and go look elsewhere on the forum. It just came across like you hadn't read what i'd written and despite saying it wasn't meant to be, it seemed a bit rude. Now you're being sarcastic and similarly unhelpful, but it's apparently me that needs manners?

I just don't honestly see the point in using the introduction section, they just don't really make sense on internet forums. The people i say hello to in there, most likely won't be the same ones that help me out in here or the ones i'm conversing with throughout the thread. It's kind of like saying hello to the people at the back of the pub when you need to talk to the person near the bar. :p

By more experienced, i meant more experienced than myself. Not more experienced than you. no need to get your knickers in a twist :lol:
Click to expand...
But if the person at the bar has no interest in talking to you, you go dry.
 
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