New to EVERYTHING!

Hey,

I'm new to the whole Landrover thing. I've just bought a 2002 1.8 GS 3dr (with the removable hardback roof thing) for my wife. We collect it on Monday. I am a bit concerned from reading all the stuff about head gasket failures and the "10 fun things to do in a Freelander" thread. Ours will have done 22k miles.

I'm not a novice when it comes to cars and have changed head gaskets on previous cars before but after around 100k miles+++, never after 30k miles (which seems to be when the Freelanders go).

If the inevitible happens, are they really that hard to change? (other than the fact that the engine is so low down).

The other thing I dont know about is HDC. I suppose I will just read all about it when I get the manual with the car. Unless you can shed any light on it?

Thanks,

Big Mac.

Mac remember that only problems get posted up on these boards and for every head gasket failure there are probably 3 without any issues.

One point i saw raised about the failures is due to the Freelander being 2 tons in weight and the 1.8 isnt the most powerfull engine and most are driven short journeys by ''School Run Mums'' who screw the nads off the car when cold, stop it and then do it all over again, repeatedly, without the engine warming up as dare i say it women tend not to be mechanically sympathetic.
They start the car and drive it til it dies.

Short journeys with lots of stop starting of the engine will kill most cars head gaskets earlier than normal.

As for the HDC it only works in 1st and reverse gears, you should get a Green light on your dash when its engaged in either of the above gears to show it operating and in any other gear it will flash repeatedly to show its not active.
It works by using your ABS to control a desent down a hill, you engage it and dont touch any of the pedals the car will brake itself and keep to a certain speed during the desent.
If the light doesnt come on dont panic as a common fault is the 2 wires which connect to the HDC switch under the gearlever can snap and its a 2 minute job to re-solder them.

Enjoy the new car.

Zippy

Hi Big Mac. . . don't worry to much about the h g ,yes the early 1.8s had a problem with the h.g but on forums such as this your gonna read the grief story's also people asking for advice, the 1.8s and there's loads with no problems might never come to a site like this, and as for the 10 things bout a freelander thingy, thats just fun and banter, then you have in every family a thing called a black sheep , we freelander people have them to ,we call them the tractor boys, now they shout and a holler very aggressive and sometimes very rude to their own family, but don't be intimidated by them , treat them kindly, cos deep down [bless em] they would like a freelander to, so next time you overtake a tractor boy and you see him a shouting and a cursin, just drive away[he will never catch up] , hope this puts you at ease. . .Ming

Big mac . . . forgot bout the hill decent wot a brill bit of kit ,ive used and yes it works its for off roading or snowy decent it looks to see if any wheel looses traction , no matter wot is said the freelander is very good off road and class on road, ok off road it will not even get near the tractor boys,but those guys buy their motors for that and a lot of them specialise in that subject, and though i hate to admit it they are very good at what they do, but that said compared to its class freelander is the tops, enjoy , Ming

ming said:

Big mac . . . forgot bout the hill decent wot a brill bit of kit ,ive used and yes it works its for off roading or snowy decent it looks to see if any wheel looses traction , no matter wot is said the freelander is very good off road and class on road, ok off road it will not even get near the tractor boys,but those guys buy their motors for that and a lot of them specialise in that subject, and though i hate to admit it they are very good at what they do, but that said compared to its class freelander is the tops, enjoy , Ming

Click to expand...

dam right ive taken mine off road a few times and its good and comfortable ! I have to say tho' most freelander owners are new to the 4x4 seen and are not x mechanics so a lot of problems get posted that the tractor boys now how to fix! small,quick,nimble,cheap,versatile,capable and very loveable! 3dr take ya back of even in the winter like today good fun!

hough i hate to admit it they are very good at what they do,

Click to expand...

Just you wait 'till Slob reads that.

nah! nah! nah! nah! nah!

nah! nah! nah! nah! nah! what you have to realise is that the series landies was built in the first place to replace tractors and the freelander was built for school runs and carrying hairdresser's combs and stuff. so the series was built with nothing but off road in mind and the other ..well its a fashion accessory! so it stands to reason that the series will be far better orf road and the freelander will be more comfy for them pot holes in tesco's carpark

Yeahbut wot we do is take the **** out of hairdressers. And there veehikles.

is the freelander strictly a veehick ell as a vehick ell is meant to move under it own power, not that of a tow truck

Go home to the piggy farm cabbage, oink oink, Ming

well we would ask you to come visit some time, but there is a gravel drive and you might get stuck or brake down.

yer not askin him to come here!!! that freelander would just lower the whole tone of the place, assuming it made it this far. and don't furgit that slightly damp patch where the outside tap is drippin. the noise of his alarm going off might frighten daisy

cheers gusmagoo ,


sadley I think your right, why oh why did I ever buy this car, I never dreamed that owning a landrover would be such a nightmare, it is by far the worst car I have ever owned

I think I'll torch it!

Thanks again,

Ben
Reply With Quote

i found this on the freelander forum mighty funny i thought