New Freelander owner. What should I do first?

Hi everyone.
I couldn't find a Newbie section so I had better introduce myself here.
I've just purchased my first Freelander. Its a 2001 3 door TD4.

As I've never owned one of these before can you recommend anything I should check out so I can catch any problems before they get serious?

I've already dropped off the rear wheels and cleaned out the drum brakes because they were squealing loudly when braking after a long journey.
A lot of dust came out and so far they're fine. I also got the rust off the outside and gave them a coat of black paint to give them a fighting chance against the salt air!

My stereo went in today and my speakers are going in tomorrow so now that I have my tunes I can concentrate on the rest of the car!

Have you checked if the VCU has been replaced? Due around every 70k miles. If the car feels tight like its holding back on full lock it needs changing ASAP. If not changed can cause damage to other parts meaning hefty repair bills.

mikey7985 said:

If the car feels tight like its holding back on full lock it needs changing ASAP. If not changed can cause damage to other parts meaning hefty repair bills.

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That's exactly how it feels. I didn't know if this was normal!
What is involved in changing it and how much do they cost?

Just had mine done at a local specialist. Mine was a Recon Beaumont unit......(have a look for the thread a few lines down) avoid Beaumont units like you would the plague!! Mine wasn't supplying drive to the rear wheels when required....this is termed as a "loose" VCU manufactured to put less strain on the system not a bad idea if you don't use 4wd but then why buy a LR????

The VCU is in the centre of the two propshafts under the car. The props have to be split and the VCU and often bearings at the same time. Bell Engineering are highly regarded on her for recon units and they are where I am getting mine from. Depending on where you buy your Parts and wether or not you do your own work expect it to cost anywhere from £200-£500

I should add a small amount of tightness is expected from a good VCU. Have a look at the one wheel up test if you want to get a good idea of the condition of yours.

Just had a "Bell" VCU delivered and fitted and their service and price was excellent

Oh and if you want to know what can go wrong if it goes, have a look here:
http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f9/destroyed-ird-pics-238154.html

Have a look in the common faults thread at a post titles Freelander everything you need to know.

Thanks everyone for your replies.
Plenty for me to be getting on with now then!

Make sure you get proper GKN support bearings for the VCU or you'll be doing them every few months... They will cost about £90+ a pair. If they're cheaper and don't say GKN then don't bother!

Check also diff mounts, there's 3 and a tight VCU knurdles them.

You'll almost definitely need a MAF sensor too. If you get a Ronbox and Pierburgh MAF (DEAD easy to fit) and put it on setting 10 it will be a totally transformed car! If idle is still lumpy and smokey then investigate intercooler hoses and injectors. Injectors are a total sod to get out and you WILL need to recut the seats when you replace (dead easy and tool is only about £25) or you'll get blow by and back to square one again. No matter how clean the seats are you MUST cut them even if ever so slightly. You'll get a mirror finish when done and it doesn't take much at all. I had my injectors reconned at £75 +vat each at Lynx Diesels as recommended by Rover Ron of the Ronbox. Car is born again bad now! HUUUGE difference!

ROVER 75 MGZT SERVICING

tuning-diesels pdf guides

Top one is what you want: Special offers on RonBox 2a and Digimafams

Thank you for all the suggestions.
With that long list I just have to start saving!

Having got a second opinion today I've been advised that the VCU seems to be working fine. It only has slight holding back on full lock and there is no noises that shouldn't be there. The Freelander has full Land Rover service history so I'm hoping it would have been taken care of in the past now that its on 120,000 miles.

Hmmmmmmmmm..... Is there any paperwork to support that the VCU might have been changed recently?

Who did the second opinion come from? Do you trust them 100%

For example I had a LR Specialist fit me a new VCU that only supplies drive to the front wheels....(Note to self....Trust no one but myself)

IMHO at least think about getting it changed....Do the one wheel up test so you get an idea of the condition and speak to the guys at Bell Engineering the supply and fit the whole lot for £300

120k is almost double the recommended mileage before it should be changed having said that I have heard FL's have failed with no prior warning at 35k!!!!

for the sake of saving £300 now you could be looking at £650 for a new IRD, £350 for a rear diff, £300 for new VCU and bearings......possibly more!!

Your call!!

You make a good point!
New VCU it is then!

Just in case you are confused the VCU is not a serviceable part....ie... Its a sealed unit. So no amount of taking care of the car would really extend the life of the VCU as far as I am led to believe.

Seriously if you are anywhere near Worcestershire give the guys at Bell Engineering a call. £300 job done is a bargain it cost me nearly £1k for a right c*ck job!!!!

mikey7985 said:

Just in case you are confused the VCU is not a serviceable part....ie... Its a sealed unit. So no amount of taking care of the car would really extend the life of the VCU as far as I am led to believe.

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But would a hard life of considerable off-roading reduce its life?
From the looks of things the only off-roading my TD4 has seen may have been a curb stone in Tesco car park!

Still better to get it changed though it seems.

mikey7985 said:

Seriously if you are anywhere near Worcestershire give the guys at Bell Engineering a call. £300 job done is a bargain it cost me nearly £1k for a right c*ck job!!!!

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I'm East Sussex so it looks like I'll be paying for postage and getting grubby myself :doh:

Ha ha.... I was told that off roading is better for it so it keeps it working properly.....Do you know what is does exactly? Not being funny there just incase u don't know..

Not exactly, as I understand it, it joins two parts of the prop shaft together?

Yeah I have a basic understanding of it that someone might be able to elaborate upon.

Your FL is effectively front wheel drive until it actually needs to be a 4WD!!!!

The VCU sits between the front and rear propshaft and is filled with Viscous fluid and several metal plates that when the front wheels lose traction the fluid inside the VCU is heated and becomes solid which then makes the rear wheels drive.

The action of off roading will encourage this and supposedly keep the VCU healthy!!

Not sure if that last part is accurate!!